And That's a Wrap.

Well, tomorrow I graduate from the Focus Leadership Institute after two months of daily challenging yet growing experiences. We wrapped up our class sessions last week with John Stonestreet teaching us about what it means to hold a Christian worldview in this day and age. He is a broadcaster of Breakpoint Ministries, which is part of the Chuck Colson's ministry. He placed many challenging ideas in front of us, including how we should read the Bible versus how we're reading it right now. Some of his ideas I didn't quite agree with, but he was enlightened nonetheless.

Yesterday and today we had Symposium, which is when each student takes about ten minutes to get up in front of the class to talk about what they have taken the most insight from throughout the course of this semester. I was second to present on Monday, and took some time to talk to my fellow classmates about how I have drawn the most from the lesson of value. Through tears, I told part of my story to the class and proceeded to talk about where I used to gain value from; earthly things that were outside of me. Struggling through an eating disorder is part of my story that directly ties into my struggle with value. We learned in the first week of being here from Dr. Juli Slattery that our value has been predetermined by God and is unchanging. I am worth the redemption that he has to offer all who choose to believe, and that is one amazing gift to accept. As God's child, I am born, adopted, and living to be transformed. We learned from Pastor Jade Duncan in our sixth week here that the kingdom of God is transformational by nature. Everywhere the kingdom goes, it transforms. The cool thing is that I am becoming who I am in Christ through the transformational journey that I am on. It's not an easy journey by any means which Del Tackett helped us to understand yesterday. There are so many risks involved. But the reward from our sweet God makes it so worth it. So for those of you struggling to take steps on your transformation journey, take heart. For he is walking each step with you and wants you to keep going, more than you know. Keep fighting.

Graduation tomorrow is going to be bittersweet. The friendships I have been so blessed to make here are ones that I have no fear will last for eternity. I'm sad to leave this community, but excited to use this as a springboard into the rest of my life, living for HIM. Thank you all for your love, support, encouragement, letters, thoughts, and prayers throughout the past couple months. God truly is great :) See y'all in Michigan!!!