25 Fun Weekend Activities for College Students

/ Christian in College, College / 7 Comments

During my freshman year of college, I worried that I wasn’t experiencing college because I wasn’t drinking and partying. What a lie I believed, because college was insanely fun! College may be portrayed as a party scene, but that is not how your college experience has to be. As a Christian in college, you can still have the time of your life!

Here are some ideas on what to do during the weekend! (P.S. Yes, these are all photos of my crazy friends. We have a lot of fun together!)

Craft night! This is a favorite in my apartment.

(more…)

How can we maintain an authentic relationship with Jesus in college?

/ Christian in College, College, Guest Posts, Relationship with Jesus / 2 Comments

In college, it is easy to go through the motions and forget why we follow Jesus, but our walks with God do not have to dry out or become fake. We can constantly experience the love of Christ even during the busy days of college. In this series, Christian in College, guest bloggers will answer questions about faith and college. I’m very excited for you to read blogger Plylicia D. Masonheimer’s post answering, “How can we maintain an authentic relationship with Jesus in college?” (more…)

Can God heal our hurting hearts?

/ Devotional, How to Believe in God, Sexual Abuse / 5 Comments

JoyPedrow.com

I’ve seen God work miracles in my life and have experienced a healing that could only have come from God, yet there are still some issues that I struggle believing that he will heal.

My freshman year of college I was in a very dark place. Rape can destroy a girl. It takes her heart and makes it feel used, broken, worthless, and disgusting. During the heartache, I believed God could never heal me.

How could God make me feel valuable, loved, protected and beautiful? (more…)

“I can’t” = “God, you can’t”

/ Devotional, Goals / 3 Comments

When we limit God, we are also changing his character. For example, saying “I can’t” actually puts us in disagreement with what scripture says about God.

Scripture does not say anywhere that we are powerless when God is with us. In fact, every part of God’s word tells us we can!

^“I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” -Philippians 4:12-13.

^“Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” -Matthew 19:24-26.

^“So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” -1 Corinthians 12: 7-10.

If you are doubting the power of God, spend some time journaling and praying through these verses. You can also read two of my other posts about this topic: Stop Limiting God and “I’m not qualified”.

I pray that you will begin to understand that the power that created the world is inside of you. You can experience more life change than you ever dreamed possible.

Save

Cry out to God: When will this hurt end?

/ Devotional, Healing / 3 Comments

^“Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will you be to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail?” -Jeremiah 15:18.

When was the last time you cried out to God like this? Jeremiah was a lonely social outcast who wanted to be healed and find comfort. Today our cries might be worded slightly differently, but the pain is the same. Our prayers might be like these: God will you ever heal us? God will you make our pain stop? Will you take away this loneliness?

God listens to our prayers. God cares about our hurt. God replies with comfort. Here is how he replied to Jeremiah:

¹⁹Therefore thus says the Lord:
“If you return, I will restore you,
    and you shall stand before me.
If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless,
    you shall be as my mouth.
They shall turn to you,
    but you shall not turn to them.
²⁰And I will make you to this people
    a fortified wall of bronze;
they will fight against you,
    but they shall not prevail over you,
for I am with you
    to save you and deliver you,
declares the Lord.
²¹I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked,
    and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.”

Read those verses again, and this time think of it as a letter written to you from God.

God promises that if we come back to him, he will restore us. God will take away our loneliness. God will protect us from our enemies. God will save us and deliver us. He will redeem us!

Cry out to God. He hears your prayers.

Join me in finding joy in the journey.

Save

Can I have non-Christian friends in college?

/ Christian in College, College, The Journey / 2 Comments

Yes! Yes, you can. Christians ask, “How can I socialize with people that have different beliefs than me and not be lead astray from God?”

People tell you to be careful not to let non-Christians influence you negatively and say, “Don’t be “un-equally yoked” with a friend.” This can be good advice in some situations, but it can also stop us from loving and befriending others. I have many friends that I love who aren’t walking with God. That doesn’t stop me from loving them or being friends with them.

If we don’t befriend non-Christians, how will they hear about Jesus?

(more…)

Who does God say you are?

/ Bible Study, Dear Friend Series / 3 Comments

Dear friend, God says that you are:

Forgiven.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” -1 John 1:9.
Justified.
“and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” -Romans 3:24.
Set free.
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” -Romans 8:1-2. (more…)

Stop Limiting God

/ Goals, The Journey / 25 Comments

Back in June, I wrote a post titled, “I’m not qualified”, about how we quickly believe the lie that we are not qualified for any leadership role. Think back to this key statement: God doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies the called. Do you still feel unqualified? Maybe the root problem is that we limit God. We don’t believe that he can qualify us.

Has God put something on your heart to do, but you have pushed those thoughts away?

Maybe you doubt God’s power to make you qualified. Maybe you keep telling yourself that God could never make you more_____(Fill in the blank.)

Friends, stop telling yourself lies. (more…)

August 2014 archive

“Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will you be to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail?” -Jeremiah 15:18.

^“Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will you be to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail?” -Jeremiah 15:18.