Today I was thinking about all the things I learned at EXCEL; I decided to make a list. Soooo, here it is:
- Two months isn't nearly as long as it seems
- God really does answer prayer
- EIC is totally not worth stressing over, and if you do stress, it renders you incapable of getting anything accomplished. (Do I hear any "amens?")
- You can make friends really fast when you realize you're going to be with eachother for 2 months
- Vitamin C + prayer (lots) = staying healthy
- Good and evil run on parallel tracks, and they usually arrive at about the same time
- It is actually possible to climb 4 flights of stairs in a minute and a half :b
- Listen CAREFULLY to instructions. They do come in handy.
- Oh my goodness, NEVER EVER forget your name tag!!! That one seemed a little hard to learn. (Quit laughing Rachael)
- It's a good idea to not leave your key in the door. After all, you never know who's lurking around....
- You never know when you are being interviewed
- My DISC personality is C/I
- Wimpy theology makes wimpy women
- Keep calm and carry on
- A merry heart does wonders for your attitude
- Always keep your room in a presentable state (including the drawers)
- Breakfast on Monday is the best event of the day :)
- Do consider the consequences of not washing and drying your laundry within the allotted amount of time. (hint: wet clothes spread out ALL over the room)
- Quickly forgive and resolve any conflicts that arise
- My primary love language is Words of Affirmation
- My life has been custom tailored by God to form the perfect environment for me to come to know Him
- It's amazing all you can accomplish in 5 minutes!
- God really IS the God of the impossible
- Sunday is the BEST day of the week!
- Wearing a skirt over pj's is totally "in" within some circles
- It's actually possible to survive without chocolate
- You will not surely die if you must rise at 6:00 am every morning for 2 months
- Be a thinker, not a learner
- Feelings do not = truth
- "You will know the TRUTH, and the truth will set you free."
- It's very enjoyable to sing the "Star Spangled Banner" in 3-part harmony after lights out
- Be real!
- God is El Shaddai - My Almighty God and all sufficient, tender Lover
- The meanings of the words coruscate, laconic, and a whole bunch of others that I can't remember at the moment :)
- I am precious in God's eyes
- Smocking is not my absolute most favorite thing to do in the whole wide world (apologies to all avid "smockers.")
- It's actually possible for me to exist without music.....notice that I did not say "thrive."
- God is my God
- The way God made me is "very good."
- 6:00 means 6:00....not 5:59 or 6:01
- God created me with a purpose which only I can fulfill
- "Make what you do today important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it"
- To do what needs to be done whether I feel like doing it or not
- Act your way into feeling; don't feel your way into acting
- The name of my God is my help and strong tower
- Sewing is not near as hard as I thought - In fact, it's quite fun!
- "Ro-MANCE will make you cr-AA-zy"
- Once upon a time God loved me...and happily ever after started THEN!
So what did ya'll learn?
Love you all bunches! Every one of you are so precious to me.
Baylie
Wow, that is a great list of amazing things you learned! :) Many of them were not easy lessons, either.
ReplyDeleteI also learned a few important lessons.
1. God is my provider.
2. With God ALL things are possible!
3. ONLY God can change a heart.
4. God often teaches us our best lessons by putting us in tough situations.
5. It is very important to be on time, but never put being on time ahead of people and their needs.
6. You can not always trust your feelings.
7. How to properly rest my hands when standing - thanks Mrs. Cantrel. ;)
8. My mom is AMAZING!
9. I learned a ton of vocabulary words too!! ;)
10. Loving others is most always a choice and an action - not a feeling.
11. My God is faithful.
12. I love and miss my girls!!!
These are just a few of the many, many lessons that I learned over my eight weeks at EXCEL. Each day was a treasure and a had a lesson to be gleaned from it. Just because we are back home doesn't mean we have learned it all or have it all together now - I find that I still have a lot to work at. I love you girls and miss you tons!! :)
I loved your post, Baylie! As I think every single EXCEL graduate can say, I learned an immense amount of things! The biggest thing for me was learning that wherever God wants you to be, He will sustain you and give you the grace to rest in Him (this was special to me because of the struggle I had with homesickness). <3 you all <3
ReplyDeleteAmen Baylie! Loved the post!
ReplyDeleteI think the most important thing I learned is that I don't have to try and get through life by myself. It is so much easier to accept that I'm always stronger with GOD, and give my life to Him totally. I liked to think I was tough enough to handle hard things by myself, but I always ended up exhausted and upset. It wasn't so hard at EXCEL, because everyone was going through pretty much the same things, but at home it's way different, and I'm still learning a ton about completely surrendering to Him. Love you all!
~Lindsay