"But Mom, I don't wanna go home, I wanna live at the Honey forever."

Unfortunately, this is not reality. After already being thrown back into the real world after less than 24 hours, I've already begun to notice how important OLSP is to me. And because I can't fit how much I love it into one silly photo caption, I'll share it in one silly blog post instead. (And eventually I'll share something more eloquently-written after I've gotten more than 5 hours of sleep and haven't spent 14 hours in a car). 

Project was amazing. And as cheesy as it sounds, we are a family. I already miss having to constantly feel like I need to scold the boys for doing dumb things, or coming and crying to Shay or Erin about whatever my problem of the day has been, or persistently asking David & Mikayla what's for dinner. I miss seeing obvious growth in people. I miss community. I miss the stupid strip and all of its stupid traffic. I miss the yellow umbrellas. I miss everything that is project. But I rejoice so wholeheartedly in the fact that this is where the Lord placed 31 college students from all over the country to serve Him, to share the gospel, to live intentionally, and to learn not only from Him but from each other. Just because I didn't cry upon leaving the beloved Honeysuckle Inn doesn't mean I care any less. I just honestly think that I've already used up my allotted tears for the summer. As heartbreaking as it is to officially be gone and back in good old San Marcos, it's a whole new chapter that I'm ready to take on with Holy Spirit as my guide. Long live the summer of snaps, the DTR table, and the Wolf Pack. 

6 Things for Singles to Remember

Collection of my thoughts, ideas, and opinions on relationships and singleness with some spiritual application. Drawn from several sermons, books, and wisdom of the older women who have poured into my life. Enjoy. Xx. 

-If you are not happy single, you probably won't be happy married either. 

"But the holy spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23

Your spouse is not your savior. Nowhere in the bible does it state that we we will find joy or any other fruits from an earthly being. Our joy comes from the Lord, and is not found in a man or a woman, but rather shared between a man and a woman. 

-Focus on becoming the one rather than finding the one.

"I want your to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord's work and thinking how to please Him, but a married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities, and how to please his wife. His interests are divided." 1 Corinthians 7:32-34

The quickest way to find The One is to become The One. Allow Jesus to mold you into the future husband/wife that you are meant to be. When you're single, you have freedom. Instead of checking with your spouse to make sure that it is okay to go and do something, you are given the freedom to go where you want to go without the need of serving them first. When you are single, God is truly number one in your life, and that vision is not blinded by another earthly being.

-God has no trouble putting two people together.

"Those who obey him will not be punished. Those who are wise will find a time and a way to do what is right, for there is a time and a way for everything, even when a person is in trouble." Ecclesiastes 8:6-7

Trust God with the timing of things. There are many good reasons for being where you are in life. You don't know why, but the King certainly does. Trust Him with the timing, and don't settle in the meantime for less than His best for you.

-Who you hang out with (and where you hang out) is a good sign of who you'll end up with.

"For bad company corrupts good character. Think carefully about what is right and stop sinning. For to your shame I say that some of you don't know God at all." 1 Corinthians 15:33-34

You become like the people you hang out with. Chances are that if you become like them, you will end up with them. How do you intend to find a Godly man to lead you in your walk with Christ if you're not hanging around with them? Say what you will, but a great place to meet your future spouse is a place where people that you'd like your future spouse to be like exist (i.e. church, small groups, bible studies, etc.)

-If you are a believer, you should only date believers. 

"Don't team up with unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?" 2 Corinthians 6:14

Plain and simple, the Lord calls us to be equally yoked in our relationships, and as seen in the previous point, bad company brings about poor morals. Don't go into a relationship thinking that you will change someone. The last thing that you want to do is "flirt to convert". Think about the way you would feel if someone came into your life and tell you that you were doing everything wrong? Being in a relationship is meant to be a time for growth of two individuals, not change.

-Purity is priceless.

"Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God's people." Ephesians 5:2-3

Sex is fun, or so I've been told, and guess what? It was created by God. Therefore, it was not something that He is trying to keep from you or tease you with, but it is also not something that he gave to us to play around with. Sex is life fire. If you keep it in the fireplace, where it belongs, it is put to use and serves its purpose, but the minute that fire escapes from the fireplace, it will burn down the entire house. Sex is not wrong, as long as it is used in the context of which the Lord created it: in marriage. He is only protecting us from getting burned.

Keeping these things in mind, the struggle of singleness should be put at some slight ease, but never forget that who you are is not defined by your relationship status.

I Went on Summer Project and All I Got Was This Lousy Blog Post

Just kidding. Duh. Here's a life update in photographic form for those of you who aren't constantly stalking my Facebook/Instagram/Twitter updates (and shame on you for that). 

It all started with a Jesus Calling devotional...

Followed by a trip to the outlook at College of the Ozarks for worship. 

Where I got to meet (part of) my sweet growth team. 

Then, somehow, we misplaced out staff members, and had to go find them at the Branson Landing. 

There was a bowling night where we all donned our best thrift shop attire that would even make Macklemore proud. 

There was a small group date to a mini-golf course. 

And a six-mile hike that ended with a rewarding swim in the Buffalo River. 

Gorgeous sunsets are abundant here; photos do no justice. 

Best 4th of July. Ever. 

A trip to Silver Dollar City to unwind. 

And the time to say farewell to our amazing staff came way too soon. They've taught us much, and have left the project in the hands of 31 very capable college students, as well as the Lord. 

I wholeheartedly believe that none of us are here by accident. God doesn't make mistakes. Our purpose and our intent has been made clear to us, and we are living it out. Thank you all so much for being some of the greatest people the Lord has ever placed in my life. 

"You did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you so that you would bear fruit--fruit that will last--and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give to you." John 15:16

The Head & the Heart (but not the band)

Friends. Romans. Countrymen. Lend me your ear. Or in this case, your eye(s). So I've been in Branson, MO for six weeks (!!!) now, and the Lord is working in sweet sweet ways. I've been struggling a lot with doubt. In myself, in the Lord, and wondering whether or not I'm enough. You're probably asking yourself, "So, why exactly is this sweet to you?" Trust me, if I'd heard that a year ago, I would've questioned myself too.

In this past year, I've been forced to make choices. Choices that I initially did not want to make, but thankfully my fear of not pleasing people was finally overtaken by my fear of not pleasing Jesus. Biblically speaking, I'd made the right decision. 

"For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."

Galatians 1:10

In the spring, I struggled with deciding what I was going to do with my summer. After finally deciding to apply to OLSP, I sat and waited. And waited. And waited. Until finally, it was the week before spring break, and I'd given up. I wasn't doing too hot in my history class, I was struggling with mid-semester slump, and was just generally upset. The day that I had an emotional breakdown  was the day that I received a call from one of our project directors asking if I wanted to join them for the summer. Literally in between crying sessions, I mustered up enough energy to say yes.

It's been the best decision that I've made in a long time.

A few weeks ago, we went on our women's re(treat yoself!), and we got to hear a few different talks from a sweet lady named Carolyn, who has been on staff with Cru for over 30 years. She was such an encouragement to myself, as I'm sure she was to many of the other women there that weekend. For so long, many of us have thought of marriage as the ultimate goal. I know that I have. I've struggled with idolizing relationships, planning my marriage before even having a serious boyfriend, and just generally falling for guys way too hard and way too fast. Carolyn shared with us her struggle of being single for long after her friends began getting engaged and married, and eventually didn't end up marrying until she was 51 years old. In the midst of all of that, she remained obedient to God, and answered His call to continue ministering with Cru. We went through a fantastic study in Ephesians about how life is all about the choices that we make. It seems like a simple enough concept, right? 

Wrong.

I was reminded of how easy it is to get side-tracked in our walk with the Lord, and how the Bible gives very clear directions on how to live a Christian life, and to not walk in the flesh of humanity, but in the Holy Spirit.

"That however, is not that way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in Him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be life God in true righteousness and holiness."

Ephesians 4:20-24

I am a completely different person than I was a year ago, six months ago, or even six weeks ago. I've learned a lot about myself, and how important it is to be transparent. There's a word that I hear a lot, but practice. Transparency should consist of real Marissa. Not this front that I believe that everyone wants to see. Talking too much, laughing way too loudly, and trying endlessly to be funny only carries me so far before actual pain starts to take over. I've allowed a lot of people (30 others, to be exact) into my life in a very short amount of time. It hasn't been easy. I've often seen tears and emotions as signs of vulnerability, and no one likes to see a strong girl cry. 

I now understand that the head and the heart coexist. Oftentimes, my heart has told me to let it all out, but my head has told me otherwise, but I've learned better. My head has a point, but you cannot base decisions on emotions alone. Make choices. Take God's hand. Don't justify your behavior when you know that it isn't pleasing to the Lord. Don't make excuses. Follow His plan, and His word, and you will live a life in the spirit, and will soon forget all about walking in the flesh. 

And when you're feeling bitter and alone? (Exhibit A: myself) Find comfort in the fact that God does not waste pain. 

"Would I ever bring this nation to the point of birth and then not deliver it?" asks the Lord. "No! I would never keep the nation from being born!" says the Lord, your God.

Isaiah 66:9

Check your silver linings every once in awhile, for "the Lord is good to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit". (Psalm 34:18) Remember how good and strong your heart is, but don't forget about your head knowledge.

I realize that this post is a little out in left field, unorganized, and all over the place, but hey. Then again, so is my life. What God is teaching me in Branson, MO of all places in the whole entire world IS AMAZINGLY SUPER AWESOME AND GREAT, and one day, I'd love to sit with your for 5 hours and tell you about it, but unfortunately, this blog is all you have (for now), so if I leave you with any encouragement, let it be this:

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. Psalm 84:11

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:3-5

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him. Psalm 34:8

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18