#cmastsquared

Three weeks ago today I had the privilege of standing beside my best friend as he started a brand new chapter in his life. I couldn’t have been more proud of Cameron for getting a girl to say “I do” in a white dress.

My original intention was to blog immediately following the wedding because I like blogging after important events in my life. But…you know how blogging goes. And life. So here I am.

I’m currently sitting outside on a BEAUTIFUL December day here in Lakeland, Florida. This morning I was in downtown Lakeland, and can I tell you it was very strange for this Pennsylvanian boy to see a Christmas festival happening when the sun is shining and everyone is dressed in t-shirts. There were heaps of snow dumped in the middle of the streets for the kids to play in. Picture a bunch of little kids running around in shorts and t-shirts with gloves on and throwing snowballs while their parents look on through their sunglasses. Florida is weird.

It’s hard for me to believe that I’m essentially done with my first semester at Southeastern University. I can’t believe what God has done in this past year and I can’t believe how fast life is moving. It’s been so good. There have been so many transitions and changes in my life, but through it all God has proved Himself to be faithful and true time and time again. He has never left my side and His grace and forgiveness has been ever present as I seek to become more like Him and fail.

In previous posts, I’ve discussed my various friendship dilemmas. Well, I’m happy to say that my fears were unfounded and people actually do like me and I have friends now, so.

In my previous post, I also mentioned that I’d tell you how I became a murderer and then I never did tell you. I’m surprised no one called me out on that. Long story short: earlier in the semester I hit a coyote, got blood splattered all over the front of my car, and completely dented in my front bumper.

Back to friends: I have them. I’m so grateful for the people God has brought into my life here in Florida. It’s hard for me to imagine where I would be right now if I was still in PA and hadn’t met these phenomenal people.

I moved into an apartment close to campus (but still living at home on weekends and breaks), and my roommate is one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. He’s also a really great cellist so he sometimes guilts me into practicing more. That’s a good influence, right there. But he also sporadically threatens to kill me, so sometimes I’m not so sure. Once he asked me the best way to get rid of me and I wasn’t sure how to answer.

The other musicians here at SEU are incredible people, and I’ve so enjoyed getting to know them in my ensembles. The level of talent is impressive, but even more impressive is the humility and down-to-earth nature of practically every student. Add to that professors who not only care about the success of their ensemble, but also deeply care about the lives of their students, and you have a recipe for amazing fellowship and learning.

Even with all these wonderful new friendships, I was EXTREMELY blessed to be able to visit with old friends when I traveled to Pennsylvania for Cameron and Christa’s wedding. I’m amazed by how many people God has brought into my life, and how He has used each of them to have an impact of some kind.

I also think it’s really cool how you can have talked to someone very little and not seen them in months, but then spend an entire day with them as if no time has passed. God is doing cool things in my friends’ lives and I have the privilege of witnessing it! That’s an awesome thing.

I feel like I’m doing a lot of “God is cool”, “Friends are awesome”, “Hashtag blessed” right now, but legit I’m in a place of thanksgiving right now. It’s all true and sincere.

Don’t get me wrong, there have been struggles this semester. Being a music education major is a lot of work, and especially coming off of a year where I hadn’t been doing schoolwork, I’ve had to relearn how to manage my time well and do schoolwork well. I’ve been stressed a few times (which is saying something, because I rarely get stressed) but at the same time, I’ve received confirmation that I am most definitely on the right path. Learning about music education is the most fun I’ve ever had learning. Also, teaching is where it’s at.

My biggest struggle right now is making sure I’m spending time in God’s Word. I feel like I’ve allowed school and new friendships to dominate my time, and I’ve been neglecting my relationship with Christ. I want my relationship with Christ to be intimate and I want to feel His presence every day…yet I can’t do that when I don’t choose to spend time with Him.

“In Your presence, there is fullness of joy.” Psalm 16:11

These verse has been a mantra of mine this semester, because earlier this semester I was struggling with feeling a lack of fulfillment/contentment. I’ve challenged myself, and I challenge you, to consider how you are in God’s presence today. I desperately want to feel a fullness of joy, so clearly I need to dwell in God’s presence.

I’ve also been really challenged through the church my family has decided to attend, called Mosaic Church. There has been some serious teaching being dished out. It’s been encouraging, convicting, heart-warming, flesh-breaking, inspiring, uncomfortable, and ultimately Biblically-based and Christ-centered. I love it.

Let’s talk about the wedding before I completely forget about it and wrap up the post. It was beautiful. And it was so much fun for me to be Cameron’s best man! I had a fantastic time helping set-up and getting to know Christa and her family better. I’m so proud of Cameron and Christa for the godly example they’ve shown as a Christ-honoring couple and for the way the Gospel was displayed through their union.

I want to take a moment and brag about Cameron, because I feel that I have the right to do so. He’s been there for me through mountains and valleys and he’s always reminded me of God’s love for me both in his words and actions. He’s supported me, confronted me, and said stupid and embarrassing things in front of me.

He’s been the best example of a godly best friend that I could’ve ever asked for. Daniel had Jonathan, I have Cameron. God has blessed me more than I ever deserve with Cameron’s friendship.

All that to say, I’ve been so encouraged by his relationship with Christa. I’ve had the privilege to see it develop and how both of them are ultimately seeking out God’s will in everything they do. It was truly an honor to be part of their wedding day. I can’t wait to see what God is going to do through their lives!

Well.

If you’re still reading, I applaud you and I thank you. As a reward, I’ll give you a little juicy tidbit about my life that I haven’t mentioned in this blog post because it’s reserved for a blog post all by itself:

There’s this girl…

In Christ,

Chad