A Really Sad Story

Okay, first of all let me preface this story with the fact that it is really not that sad in the grande scheme of life, but in the moment it was truly devastating. 

September 14, 2013

It was the day of the A&M v. Bama game. The "biggest game of all of college football this season," according to ESPN. The hype in College Station was absolutely insane. We already have a traffic problem here but this week took it to a whole new level. 

So my roommates and I planned to leave several hours early to give ourselves time to get on campus, walk around to some tailgates, and just soak in the game day atmosphere. We tucked our IDs and tickets into our boots and started the very long trek from our car to campus. As we were coming up to Kyle Field, I looked down to check my boot for my ticket. My heart immediately dropped.. It wasn't there... I was overwhelmed with a sinking feeling of disappointment, anger at myself, self-pity, and the surprising urge to laugh/cry hysterically. Why me, out of all games...

Well really long story short, we did everything we could to find it, and believe me I mean everything. But I guess it just wasn't meant to be. I couldn't go to THE game of the year. I'm not going to lie, it was a very depressing time. 

So anyways I called up one of my friends who was unfortunately, but fortunately for me, unable to go to the game we as well. I asked her to come get me from campus so I could watch the game with her at her house. Once in the car I told her my pathetic story. I have to say I was proud of myself for holding back tears, but once I called my mom, I'll admit, a few did escape. 

But throughout this whole event so many truths were popping into my mind. 

1. God totally could have provided me with another opportunity to get into the game. (He didn't, but He sure could have)

2. Finding joy in all situations-- because our joy comes from The Lord and not from some overrated, over-priced football game. (I realize what I just said was blasphemous by an Aggie in the Deep South, but this is for the purpose of the lesson. Fact is, eternally, football doesn't last.)

3. Be thankful always, for everything. I was so glad that my friend didn't have to spend her Saturday watching the game alone because everyone else had plans to go. I knew in that instance how sad she must have been when she realized she wouldn't be able to attend. But also, selfishly, I was glad that I didn't have to spend my Saturday alone. God totally provided us with each other so we wouldn't be lonely!

The upside was we got a much better view of the game in the A/C. Why he allowed this to happen to me, besides reiterating these truths, I may never know.  I won't dwell on it anymore, but it does make a pretty sad yet comical story now that some time has passed.

And the outcome of the game.. Well, we won't talk about that. 

God's Blessings, 

Karsyn Penelope

Post Summer

Well I'm back in Aggieland! Camp ended and it was pretty sad to leave and the rest of summer was not so eventful except seeing friends and family.  And that ended and I packed up and moved back to College Station. 

At camp they told us that the whole experience would take some time to sink.  And they were definitely right.  It wasn't until I was back at school and talking to someone for the millionth time about my summer at Pine Cove that I realized what I had learned. 
My personality is one where I like to be on the frontlines.  I am not naturally a backstage person.  But this summer being on the program staff at Pine Cove and working a lot in the kitchen, cleaning dishes, cleaning the pool, working the store, I realized that God was teaching me how to work and serve behind the scenes, where you don't get a ton of recognition.  Humility is required for that kind of job and that is exactly why God had placed me there.  I learned how to encourage and serve whole-heartedly, not always being seen.  What a blessing it was to understand what my purpose was this summer.
Now that I am starting back up a routine and school and leading a Freshman Bible study through my church here, this passage has a new meaning.
1 Corinthians2:1-5 When I cam to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.
Paul is telling the Corinthians that we don't have to know it all, look fancy, be in the center of the crowd, or talk like a genius to share the Gospel.  It does take humility in who we are and faith in who our God is.

God's Blessings,

      Karsyn Penelope

Camp Life

So I think it's time I update on my life at camp so far this summer...

 I am working at Pine Cove Christian Camps and I am at the Ranch which is for 6th and 7th graders. I have been here for 4 weeks, 2 for training and we just finished our second week of having campers. Not going to lie this kind of work takes a toll on you mentally, emotionally, and physically. But the outcome is so worth it. Not only do we get to share the Gospel to kids but we as staff are learning as well.
 I had a moment last week where I was brought to a place where I was being taught by a 7th grader, who happened to be my little brother. I received a letter with the verse 1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. What a great reminder that in the midst of all the work that goes into camp that it is not by our own strength it is the strength of The Lord in us and even if we don't see immediate fruits of our labor we know that Gid will 'lift us up' in His own perfect timing. This definitely puts me in my place and still gives me such a strong sense of hope. What a great God we serve.


In other news I am getting to meet some awesome new God-loving people from all over the country and my brother got to attend the same camp I was working.  It was such a blessing to see him interacting and responding to Christ. I am so excited to see what else God has in store for me and the rest of the PC staff and campers.
Can I just stay at camp forever please?




God's Blessings,

Karsyn Penelope

Compromise

Currently I've really been struggling with healthy habits. I don't want to be gluttonous and be so dependent on food because believe me I like to eat. I mean who doesn't?  I have a major sweet tooth but I also have a problem with accepting my body the away it is. It is a constant battle of obsessing over eating healthy and indulging in my chocolate cravings. I don't want to feel guilty for eating what I want but I don't want to look at myself and realize that I don't like what I see. It is such a hard balance and for girls everywhere it is a battle.   You have to compromise. 
One of my mentors said to me that eating is a form of worship. You are enjoying what God has blessed us with and eating is also a way of survival. 
But on the other hand, I believe that our bodies are a temple and we are to treat it with care and discipline. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Recently one of my guy friends also called me out for "conforming to society" with what we think we, as girls, are supposed to look like. And I was a little standoffish because, uh no you didn't just call me out, and then I thought we'll at least there are guys out there that don't let this world obscure the beauty of a girl just the way our Creator made us. 

Wow that was a lot of rambling but I hope any of the girls reading this know that you are not the only one struggling with this. 

God's Blessings,

      Karsyn Penelope

Changing A Flat

Today I got in my car to go to the gym and run some errands.  I could feel something a little off about my car but it has had so many issues lately I just thought it was no big deal.  It wasn't unitl after I was headed home that a man in a car next to me at a stop light flagged me down and frantically pointed at my car. So I rolled down my window so that he could inform me that my tire was flat.  I babbled, "okay thanks," and drove off as the light turned green.  I wasn't quite sure what to do-- whether I should pull over or try to make it back to the parking garage.  I made it back and parked my car and saw that my tire was definitely deflated. 
I had to call up some of my guy friends and see if they could help me out. 

The point is that if that man hadn't have waved at me from the other lane I never would have known my tire was flat.  (Obviously I don't know much about cars.)  But this is true in life too, in our Christian lives. 
People are going through life and they know something isn't quite right but they dont know what that is.  We as Christians are called to chase after non-believers and tell them their tire is flat, they have sin and but the love of Christ covered that sin.  If we don't tell them then how will they know?
Now I know this might be kind of a stretch of a metaphor but for me this experience showed me alot.

God's Blessings,

Karsyn Penelope

If It Were Reality

So I just got back to school from Spring Break.  And reality is hitting me hard. First let me explain what I did over Spring Break.  I went on a mission trip to NY with my church here in College Station.  We were with the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief and we were working on houses that had been destroyed by hurricane Sandy.  We were roughin' it with port-a-potties, tents, cots, shower trailers, outside sinks, and 30 degree weather, but it was absolutely a blast!  We stayed and worked in Staten Island but on Tuesday we got to go to Brooklyn and visited the Brooklyn Tabernacle, which was awesome! And on Friday we got to spend the day in NYC and we all had so much fun.



But my dilemma is coming back home.  Life feels boring and a little pointless now to be back in this routine in a place I'm so used to.  I miss the excitement of being somewhere else and adventure.  Then I started thinking why can't life be that exciting all the time?  Yeah things become normal wherever we are but we can make life invigorating anytime we want.  God did not intend for this life to be stagnant and dull. 
We are called to go to all nations and proclaim the Gospel.  Now obviously we can't all always go to another country but we are aliens of this world.  We do not belong here and we are not from here, so really we are just visiting. 
I guess what I'm getting at is that we shouldn't let routine get us bummed out because God can use that and it is not an entirely bad thing but we also shouldn't become so comfortable in our routine that we become complacent. 
Just some thoughts as I get back into the swing of things here, let adventure and excitement become your reality.

God's Blessings,



Karsyn Penelope

Knowing when to DTR

Okay, so I am now adding blogging to my agenda for Wednesdays.  That way I can actually stay on top of things.  I may just be 'blogging' to myself but it is still a good way to think through things, reflect and remind myself of all the things God is doing in my life.

Lately I've found myself in situations of having to define the relationship and I forgot how awkward that conversation can be.  "I'm sorry, but I just want to be friends," "I'm not really looking for anything/a relationship right now."  YEAH its tough.  But I just want to remind all the girls out there and myself to not let your morals be questioned by getting involved with the wrong guy at the wrong time. 

If you're feeling like you need a guy then that's your first sign that you're not ready.  God will place someone in your life when you're least expecting it and you are mature enough.  When you stop looking at every guy as "possible boyfriend material" and start looking at them as your brothers in Chirst will be the time when something/someone comes along to sweep you off your feet.
Stay in the Word and these will not be so difficult.  Guard your heart with the Word and your relationships will stay pure and centered on Christ. 


God's Blessings,

Karsyn Penelope