Target closes @ 10!

Be advised, on Sundays Target closes at 10pm! Sam and I were trying to get groceries but were shut down. So we headed to Walgreens and got a pretty good deal! 99¢ for a dozen eggs! Sam was saying how that is how Walgreens makes their money; Good deals on a few things then outrageously priced on everything else! aka $5 hot dogs! haha

Today we had our first Sunday reflection time. It was really great. It's a scheduled two hours where we can read, think, and pray. We were given a book, The Search for Significance, by Robert S. McGee to read through and were given a few reflection questions to consider. Basically the book talks about how we feel the need to be loved and accepted and how that need will never be met by "success" or people or accomplishments. Nothing brings satisfaction other than Jesus Christ. It talks about understanding our worth because of what Jesus has done on the cross. When I first read the word "self-esteem" I was like....sketch!! Why esteem in yourself at all? Nothing good is there. But I liked how McGee went on to explain his position.

"Some secular psychologist focus on self-worth with a goal of simply feeling good about ourselves. A biblical self-concept, however, goes far beyond that limited perspective. It is an accurate perception of ourselves, God, and others based on the truths of God's Word. An accurate, biblical self-concept contains both strength and humility, both sorrow over sin and joy about forgiveness, a deep sense of our need for God's grace and a deep sense of the reality of God's grace."

It's more than just being positive and thinking good thoughts about yourself. It's basing your life, goals, and dreams off of the fact that you are loved by God. Deeply and unconditionaly. It was interesting that today at Christ Fellowship the speaker at one point was talking about love and saying it's not a feeling (or just a feeling I guess) but that it is an action. As an example, he emphasised the point that God DEMONSTERATED his love for us in this, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
So cool.
Thank you Jesus.

Great start to the day...

6:57 I get a call from Sam G-unit. Which was hard for my recently awakened brain to comprehend, considering I was suppose to be in the lobby at 6:45 to leave for church. In a scratchy, sleepy panic I uttered, "I slept through my alarm." But in reality I didn't sleep through anything, that alarm flat out did not go off! Dang! A few of us had signed up to help our church, Christ Fellowship, with the homeless ministry that happens on Sunday mornings. It starts around 7 and the church provides showers, haircuts, and meals, followed by a message. Then at 11 another service begins. We all met in the lobby and rode the people mover (it's like a monorail), the free public transportation, to church.

It was a great service similar to what I've heard coming out of Mars Hill. I'm pretty sure the sermon was modeled after Mark Driscoll's one on dating. The worship time was intense! A really talented band, almost reminded me of something hillsong. So that was really great and pleasant.

Came home and ate some spaghettios I really need to go to the store already and get bread and such. But so far I've been good on meals.

Last night we had a progressive dinner where we had different courses in the staffs' rooms around the condo (and we are talking some NICE rooms!!) We were split into groups of about 13 or so. Our groups order was very interesting...... desert, followed by punch, then appetizers, then salad, then main course (LASAGNA!). So that was kind of funny. It was cool though because it each room we got to meet/talk with the staff on a smaller group basis and we had discussion questions that everyone could answer. For example, one was "What movie start would you have play you in a move of your life?" I said Meg Ryan! Before she got weird.

Today is a rest day. No meetings or anything untill tonight we have a blocked out two hours for reflection with God etc. They have some materails for us to use I think. And we were also given a book we will read through and disucss. So anyway, that is what has gone on thus far today. Hope to swim later!
(P.S. I wore the white skirt today, Mom) =]

First Post!

Hey to all my several fans out there. Yeah, I made a blog to recount my Miami Summer Project. I know you are all impressed!

Got here on Tuesday. Drove in with Bekah from Orlando. Unpacked and mingled around some. I have really nice roommates. Jodi grew up on a farm which is cool. She is from Iowa. Emma is from Mississippi and has a cute accent. Alana is my friend from UCF! Erica is from USF (go bulls).

Search for jobs today at the Dolphin Mall. Calvin Klein was the most promising, we got a short interview there. Hopefully they will call back! Put in some other applications but I liked CK best!

Today we split up into ministry teams. I'm on the REC team. We plan the CRU meeting on Tuesday and other things to build on the SP. I may play piano some during worship times, but I don't want to be too heavily involved to where I don't do other new things. I made that pretty clear, I was like hey, can we sign up to be involved somewhat, but not be totally committed or what? And they said yes, so we shall see.

I'm freaking tired. This was a pretty poorly written and sparsely detailed post but that's Miami for you.