Once upon a time....

...there lived a young woman of God and she wanted to change the world. She knew that she was going to... because God told her that she would. She also knew that it would be amazing, because He had told her that too. But what she really didn't know specifics of how... or even exactly when for that matter. She wanted to know... and she wanted to get started!

She had just finished something that was amazing, and she knew that something else amazing was coming up, but right now she was inbetween. There was silence and stillness... not blinding flashes of the obvious. To be quite honest it was quite dull...

However, this young maiden knew one thing for absolute certain... it was that her God was big enough to work in the stillness, as well as in the raging storm. She knew, beyond the shadow of a doubt that she was right where her King wanted her for today, and therefore, it was meaningful. Even though it didn't look like she was changing the world.

You see, changing the world is not something that you wake up and decide to do one day... it's streched out over a lifetime. It is not an activity, it is a way of life. Sometimes, changing the world isn't doing something huge and obvious... sometimes, changing the world means reading to my little sister, or cleaning my room like my mom asked, or respecting my dad's decision... You see, changing the world is about heart movites and attitude, and being totally 100% where God has you for today!

You decisions of today are your destiny of tomorrow...

...how's your future shaping up?

"Watch your thoughts, they become your words.

Watch your words, they become your actions.

Watch your actions, they become your habits.

Watch your habits, they become your character.

Watch your character, it becomes your destiny."

This young girl is going Impact, Inspire, and Influence the world... not tomorrow, but TODAY. Not because of who she is or what she has done... but because of WHO HER GOD IS!

Non Nobis Domine!

Non Nobis Domine!

Sometimes, it just seems like yesterday that I was walking into the DMC on February the 8th for Advanced Excel 17. Other times, it seems like a lifetime ago. The journey has been long, and if I had known exactly what it was going to be, I am not at all sure that I would have even started it.

As I sit here and write my very last blog post for an assignment, I think about how far I have come. The things that I have lost, and the things that have been won. I can honestly say, that the final outcome of these five months has been worth it. Worth the hard moments; the moments when I didn’t want to go on; and the moments when all I could do was cry.

Because, you see, these have not only been the hardest five months of my entire life, they have also been the most amazing. I have seen God work, not just in the blinding flashes of the obvious, but also in the moments of silence. I have seen victories won, in the lives of those around me, and in my own. I have traded a religion of God, for a relationship with Him.
I would not go back, not even if I could. I know that the days ahead will be hard. That the hopeless moments will come again and that the lies and fears are not going to relinquish me this easily. But I also know this: it will be worth it, and He will be there, and therefore, it will be good, and I cannot wait to see what is next.

“Non nobis, Domine, Domine, non nobis, Domine
Sed nomini tuo da gloriam.”

“Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
But to your Name give glory."

Know He is there…

Know He will never let you go…

Know you are loved…

~Alaina Christine… soon to be graduate of Advanced Excel 17, not because of who she is or what she has done, but because of Who her God is… Non Nobis, Domine!