With scholarship season quickly approaching, I thought I'd repost some of my favorite scholarship essay quotes from last year. Here's hoping this year is just as...entertaining.
"I don’t want to waste the committee’s time with frivolous words about how much I love the school and want to go there."
from another scholarship app: Community Activities: "I reguarly walk dogs and take care of neighbors' pets."
"My name is ######### and I'm a Rennasiance man."
"I mean, I can admit that when I made it to high school, my drive to succeed was put away. I just do enough just to get by."
entire Scholarship essay: "I would like to play ice hockey for the hockey team and eventually play hockey after college and I believe UAHuntsville can help me with this goal."
"While UAHuntsville does not offer a major in Aerospace Engineering, I still feel that I will be able to gain the knowledge I need to have a career in space exploration." ---um...we DO have Aerospace Engineering, we are next door to NASA.
"Unlike most people my age, I am focused and have goals."
"I was an only child til about six when my mother gave birth to my sister,(who later on gave birth to my youngest brother)"
when asked to describe his goals for college, this student said: "I haven't put much thought into it yet. I'll set my college goals after I'm accepted."
And finally....drum roll please...
"I like my church like I like my women, loud and rowdy."
Monday, November 29, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Testimony
A few friends and I have been talking about testimonies lately so I thought I'd share mine.
Growing up I had the picture frame family. My dad was the chairman of the deacons at my church and my mom was my sunday school teacher. My dad was working for Chrysler and we were living the American Dream. I accepted Christ as my Savior at age 6 at a VBS. I know that at that point, I knew that lying to my mom was going to send me straight to hell and that I didn't want to go. I was always "the good kid" so my lifestyle didn't take a dramatic turn around. Living in a small town, a dry town at that, I had never really been exposed to the real world. I didn't know what it meant to really need God.
To tell you a little bit about Holly Pond, my parents were raised there, as was most of my friends parents..and their parents. No one leaves.....ever. I was one of very few that went off to college right after graduation. Now I know why God removed me from Holly Pond. He knew that I didn't have a reason to trust Him.
Soon after I moved, my parents went through a rough divorce. My parents were married for 27 years. A month after that, my dad was diagnosed with cancer. A week or two after that a relationship that I was in for 3 years come to an end. I remember laying on my dorm room crying and being mad at God. But I know now that He was teaching me why I need Him. I had never needed to trust Him, and now He was all I had.
In October of 2006, the man I thought I was to marry proposed. Things were perfect, we had our future planned as best as we thought that God wanted it. He was the romantic, thoughtful man of God that I had dreamed about. I took extra classes to graduate in May so that we could go to seminary. Around Christmas, the relationship came to an end. The only answer I got from him was "I just don't have a peace about it." I found myself doubting everything I had known, everything I had learned, everything I was. I didn't know why that the God I prayed to and asked to guard my heart would fail to do so. All I ever wanted to do was serve God alongside this man that I had fallen in love with. The God I had been taught about all my life didn't seem so merciful and just anymore. I began to quietly rebel. While I never strayed from church, or the BCM, my life outside of church began to struggle. I begin to turn to earthly pleasures for fulfillment instead of running closer to the only source of true peace. Nothing could fill the emptiness that I was feeling. Everyone around me would comment on "how well I was taking things", however I didn't feel strong at all. I felt abandoned by first my earthly father, then the man I thought would be my children's father, and now my heavenly father. Thankfully, one of God's promises is that "weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." Psalms 30:5 Thank You, God, for the morning, and thank You, God, for the people in my life that didn't cease to pray for me.
Today, I sit here four years later and I don't have a clue what God's plan for my immediate future is, but I am here to tell you that you don't have to have it all together. If there is one thing that I've learned, it is that God doesn't pay much attention to me telling Him what His plan for me is. Looking back, I know that my plans weren't God's best. I know that just because something looks Godly and just because you are doing something FOR God doesn't mean that God is IN it. The Bible tells us that God's plans are to prosper us and not bring us harm. He doesn't offer us a street light, He offers us a lamp unto our feet and we have to take it from day to day because if we were to know everything that lays ahead of us, there would be no need for Faith.
Growing up I had the picture frame family. My dad was the chairman of the deacons at my church and my mom was my sunday school teacher. My dad was working for Chrysler and we were living the American Dream. I accepted Christ as my Savior at age 6 at a VBS. I know that at that point, I knew that lying to my mom was going to send me straight to hell and that I didn't want to go. I was always "the good kid" so my lifestyle didn't take a dramatic turn around. Living in a small town, a dry town at that, I had never really been exposed to the real world. I didn't know what it meant to really need God.
To tell you a little bit about Holly Pond, my parents were raised there, as was most of my friends parents..and their parents. No one leaves.....ever. I was one of very few that went off to college right after graduation. Now I know why God removed me from Holly Pond. He knew that I didn't have a reason to trust Him.
Soon after I moved, my parents went through a rough divorce. My parents were married for 27 years. A month after that, my dad was diagnosed with cancer. A week or two after that a relationship that I was in for 3 years come to an end. I remember laying on my dorm room crying and being mad at God. But I know now that He was teaching me why I need Him. I had never needed to trust Him, and now He was all I had.
In October of 2006, the man I thought I was to marry proposed. Things were perfect, we had our future planned as best as we thought that God wanted it. He was the romantic, thoughtful man of God that I had dreamed about. I took extra classes to graduate in May so that we could go to seminary. Around Christmas, the relationship came to an end. The only answer I got from him was "I just don't have a peace about it." I found myself doubting everything I had known, everything I had learned, everything I was. I didn't know why that the God I prayed to and asked to guard my heart would fail to do so. All I ever wanted to do was serve God alongside this man that I had fallen in love with. The God I had been taught about all my life didn't seem so merciful and just anymore. I began to quietly rebel. While I never strayed from church, or the BCM, my life outside of church began to struggle. I begin to turn to earthly pleasures for fulfillment instead of running closer to the only source of true peace. Nothing could fill the emptiness that I was feeling. Everyone around me would comment on "how well I was taking things", however I didn't feel strong at all. I felt abandoned by first my earthly father, then the man I thought would be my children's father, and now my heavenly father. Thankfully, one of God's promises is that "weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." Psalms 30:5 Thank You, God, for the morning, and thank You, God, for the people in my life that didn't cease to pray for me.
Today, I sit here four years later and I don't have a clue what God's plan for my immediate future is, but I am here to tell you that you don't have to have it all together. If there is one thing that I've learned, it is that God doesn't pay much attention to me telling Him what His plan for me is. Looking back, I know that my plans weren't God's best. I know that just because something looks Godly and just because you are doing something FOR God doesn't mean that God is IN it. The Bible tells us that God's plans are to prosper us and not bring us harm. He doesn't offer us a street light, He offers us a lamp unto our feet and we have to take it from day to day because if we were to know everything that lays ahead of us, there would be no need for Faith.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
“IF” by Cassondra Marshall
“IF”
by Cassondra Marshall, written for the faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends of UAHuntsville
If it were just a school,
Surely we wouldn’t be so grieved.
And if they were only teachers,
We’d accept the news we have received
With no thought of what it means
To have walked up and down those halls,
Or the privilege of saying
We learned within those walls.
If it were merely an institution,
We’d just shrug off this disaster.
If they were just instructors,
None of this would even matter.
If we had only gotten
A receipt with our degrees
Then we’d see the same victims
That everyone else sees.
But if I could just be honest
In hopes of shedding light,
I’d tell a tale that’s different
From what others say and write.
I would say that I grew up
In Central Campus Residence Hall,
And that I’m a better person
For having answered the Charger call.
I would say that I was nurtured
By the best school staff in the nation.
And that I have walked away
With much more than education.
That I was mentored by professors
Whose classes I never took,
And gained more from their influence
Than from 20 million books.
I’d say that UAHuntsville
Is much more than just a college,
And as a UAH student,
I obtained much more than knowledge.
And if I were a gambler,
I’d bet that I’m not alone
In writing, thinking, and feeling
That UAH was more like home.
by Cassondra Marshall, written for the faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends of UAHuntsville
If it were just a school,
Surely we wouldn’t be so grieved.
And if they were only teachers,
We’d accept the news we have received
With no thought of what it means
To have walked up and down those halls,
Or the privilege of saying
We learned within those walls.
If it were merely an institution,
We’d just shrug off this disaster.
If they were just instructors,
None of this would even matter.
If we had only gotten
A receipt with our degrees
Then we’d see the same victims
That everyone else sees.
But if I could just be honest
In hopes of shedding light,
I’d tell a tale that’s different
From what others say and write.
I would say that I grew up
In Central Campus Residence Hall,
And that I’m a better person
For having answered the Charger call.
I would say that I was nurtured
By the best school staff in the nation.
And that I have walked away
With much more than education.
That I was mentored by professors
Whose classes I never took,
And gained more from their influence
Than from 20 million books.
I’d say that UAHuntsville
Is much more than just a college,
And as a UAH student,
I obtained much more than knowledge.
And if I were a gambler,
I’d bet that I’m not alone
In writing, thinking, and feeling
That UAH was more like home.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Singles Awareness Day
I would just like to take a moment and address "Singles Awareness Day" aka Valentines Day. I hear so many of my Christian friends talk about celebrating S.A.D. It almost seems selfish to me to take a day that is centered around Love and turn it into a pitty party when we have THE most perfect Love that anyone could ever dream of in the Love of Christ. Seriously, this man was beaten, spat upon, mocked, tortured, nailed on a cross and crucified for YOUR sins so that you could have eternal life. If that's not Love then I don't know what is. I've been "in love"...a couple of times...and as great as it is, it pails in comparison to the Love that Christ shows me every day of my life. This Valentines day, single or not, I encourage you to have a new attitude and instead of celebrating "S.A.D." celebrate the love that you do have in your life. The love of friends, family, and Christ. Share that love with others this season, volunteer somewhere this weekend and share your love with someone in need. Celebrate life changing love this year and I promise it will beat any Singles Awareness Day you will ever have. Happiness is a choice, and joy is not circumstantial.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
What now God?
Sometimes I don't feel like I know what I am "called" to do. I think Christians get in this rut of trying to find their "calling" that they forget to slow down and figure out why God has them where they are right there in that very moment. We grow up thinking of a "calling" as a profession but the more I think about it, I don't think that is what a true calling is at all. I hear so many people, especially in my field of work, talking about being called to be a teacher, doctor, ect. While this may be true for some of us, I don't think those of us that are lacking that kind of direction are lacking anything.
I believe that God calls some of us to professions, but some of us he wants to steer along day by day. I made the comment to a friend once that "I don't believe Admissions is my calling, but it is an avenue to where God wants me to be." I was wrong for that. God's direction is greater than a career path. If he has me at UAHuntsville then that is where He wants me to work for the time being whether it be months, or years. Sometimes I doubt my decision to go to UA and major in Advertising. I am wrong for that. Even if I never use my degree, I know there was a purpose for why I was there. I knew that when I started, but somehow that belief got lost along the way. Whether it was a peer in my class, or a teacher, or someone that walked in to TISH Student Services, there was a divine reason that God had me there.
I am definitely not the first to ask these questions. When the Moses and his people were in the wilderness for so many tiresome, troubled years, some of them questioned. Some of them even wished they had never left. Were they crazy?? They wanted to go back to slavery?? No, they weren't crazy. They had just forgotten that God is a big picture God but only shows us a little at a time.
I don't know where I will end up. I don't know how long I will be at UAH. I do know that He will open the right door at the right place when I am ready, and THAT will be my "calling", even if it is just for a season.
I believe that God calls some of us to professions, but some of us he wants to steer along day by day. I made the comment to a friend once that "I don't believe Admissions is my calling, but it is an avenue to where God wants me to be." I was wrong for that. God's direction is greater than a career path. If he has me at UAHuntsville then that is where He wants me to work for the time being whether it be months, or years. Sometimes I doubt my decision to go to UA and major in Advertising. I am wrong for that. Even if I never use my degree, I know there was a purpose for why I was there. I knew that when I started, but somehow that belief got lost along the way. Whether it was a peer in my class, or a teacher, or someone that walked in to TISH Student Services, there was a divine reason that God had me there.
I am definitely not the first to ask these questions. When the Moses and his people were in the wilderness for so many tiresome, troubled years, some of them questioned. Some of them even wished they had never left. Were they crazy?? They wanted to go back to slavery?? No, they weren't crazy. They had just forgotten that God is a big picture God but only shows us a little at a time.
I don't know where I will end up. I don't know how long I will be at UAH. I do know that He will open the right door at the right place when I am ready, and THAT will be my "calling", even if it is just for a season.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Turkey or Grape Nuts?
Yesterday I had the privilege of worshiping at Gardendale First Baptist Church. The pastor said something that got my attention. He was speaking about the difference in a church that is living and on fire and a church that is dead and religious. He made the comparison that once you have a turkey and dressing dinner then a bowl of cereal just won't do it for you anymore. This statement was profound to me. I have grown up in church and been in many different types of worship services. There is a distinct difference in a service where the congregation is there to worship and when the congregation is there to "go to church". The three points, a prayer and a song worship services that litter our "christian society" may be the very thing that sends our nation to hell. The pastor's point was that once you experience true worship that you hunger for it and can't accept less. While I agree with this statement and wanted to jump up and clap, my bigger burden is those that are content with the cereal. Those that are content with "going to church" because it makes them feel like a good person. Our churches are filled with "Christians" that are playing church. I have been guilty of this myself. If the Christians of this nation were really experiencing true worship then this nation would not be in the place it is today. We accept leaders that speak of going to church with out demanding to see the fruit of their labor.
"True worshipers worship in Spirit and in Truth" Eph. 2:10
Are we as a modern church settling for less than we should? I believe we are. We have traded relationships for religion and Truth for tradition. We have reduced our church services to little more than a social gathering. We treat our church members as members of some elite club. Until we take a stand and no longer settle for a watered down version of worship we will never see great change. We need to hunger for the turkey dinner instead of settling for a bowl of grape nuts.
"WHEN THE TOAST IS BURNED
AND ALL THE MILK HAS TURNED
AND CAPTAIN CRUNCH IS WAVING FAREWELL,
WHEN THE BIG ONE FINDS YOU MAY THIS SONG REMIND YOU
THAT THEY DON’T SERVE BREAKFAST IN HELL"
- Newsboys, "Breakfast"
"True worshipers worship in Spirit and in Truth" Eph. 2:10
Are we as a modern church settling for less than we should? I believe we are. We have traded relationships for religion and Truth for tradition. We have reduced our church services to little more than a social gathering. We treat our church members as members of some elite club. Until we take a stand and no longer settle for a watered down version of worship we will never see great change. We need to hunger for the turkey dinner instead of settling for a bowl of grape nuts.
"WHEN THE TOAST IS BURNED
AND ALL THE MILK HAS TURNED
AND CAPTAIN CRUNCH IS WAVING FAREWELL,
WHEN THE BIG ONE FINDS YOU MAY THIS SONG REMIND YOU
THAT THEY DON’T SERVE BREAKFAST IN HELL"
- Newsboys, "Breakfast"
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
a blog from when I was stronger...reminder to myself
Written Oct 6, 2008
"the joy comes in the morning"
"For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." Psalms 30:5
Just because you go through dry areas doesn't mean you have fallen out of God's will. God sent Moses and the Israelites through the wilderness and through the dry and barren land without water but He never left them. As they continued to follow Him, He provided. The bible tells us in many places that we will endure trials. If life were perfect, there would be no need for the cross. If life were perfect, we would never have to exercise faith.
Two years ago today, the man I thought I would marry dropped to one knee and asked me to be his wife. When things didn't go as planned, I was devastated. I suddenly looked around and found myself in that desert.
The good news is that God is already prepared for the trials that we will face. He has gone before hand and prepared the way for us. When the Israelites needed water Moses cried out to God and asked for help. God told moses to uproot a tree and place it in the sea. He purified the water, He provided. It's amazing to think how years before Moses would arrive, God grew that tree knowing what it would be used for. When I reflect back on the past few years, it is amazing to me to think about how God knew the people he was going to put in my life to help me grow and help me heal, some for a moment, and some for a lifetime. It is amazing to think that before I was ever created, God knew how He would use me. He knew trials I would face and the people that I would be able to minister to because of them. He knew that I would bounce back, even though there were periods when I wasn't even sure He was there, or anywhere for that matter, because "weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." Thank You God for the morning.
Currently, I am learning that we can't let the trials of our past and present keep us from what God will do in the future. As a song that I used to sing in church says "lately I've been winning battles left and right, but even winners can get wounded in the fight, people say that I'm amazing, strong beyond my years, but they don't see inside of me, I'm hiding all the tears." We all get wounded, we all have scars, but we can't let ourselves be calloused. If we become calloused to keep from being wounded, we will inevitably miss what God will do in our future, or even what He is doing in our present. I don't want to be calloused or build walls or hide in the trenches. I don't want to be timid or defensive. I want to have a pure, open and receptive heart to what God is doing in every area of my life. I want to always look for the promised land no matter how many obstacles and detours I have to face.
"I need You like a hurricane
Thunder crashing wind and rain
Tear my walls down, I'm only Yours now
I need You like a burning flame
A wild fire untamed
Burn these walls down,
I'm only Yours now
"the joy comes in the morning"
"For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." Psalms 30:5
Just because you go through dry areas doesn't mean you have fallen out of God's will. God sent Moses and the Israelites through the wilderness and through the dry and barren land without water but He never left them. As they continued to follow Him, He provided. The bible tells us in many places that we will endure trials. If life were perfect, there would be no need for the cross. If life were perfect, we would never have to exercise faith.
Two years ago today, the man I thought I would marry dropped to one knee and asked me to be his wife. When things didn't go as planned, I was devastated. I suddenly looked around and found myself in that desert.
The good news is that God is already prepared for the trials that we will face. He has gone before hand and prepared the way for us. When the Israelites needed water Moses cried out to God and asked for help. God told moses to uproot a tree and place it in the sea. He purified the water, He provided. It's amazing to think how years before Moses would arrive, God grew that tree knowing what it would be used for. When I reflect back on the past few years, it is amazing to me to think about how God knew the people he was going to put in my life to help me grow and help me heal, some for a moment, and some for a lifetime. It is amazing to think that before I was ever created, God knew how He would use me. He knew trials I would face and the people that I would be able to minister to because of them. He knew that I would bounce back, even though there were periods when I wasn't even sure He was there, or anywhere for that matter, because "weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." Thank You God for the morning.
Currently, I am learning that we can't let the trials of our past and present keep us from what God will do in the future. As a song that I used to sing in church says "lately I've been winning battles left and right, but even winners can get wounded in the fight, people say that I'm amazing, strong beyond my years, but they don't see inside of me, I'm hiding all the tears." We all get wounded, we all have scars, but we can't let ourselves be calloused. If we become calloused to keep from being wounded, we will inevitably miss what God will do in our future, or even what He is doing in our present. I don't want to be calloused or build walls or hide in the trenches. I don't want to be timid or defensive. I want to have a pure, open and receptive heart to what God is doing in every area of my life. I want to always look for the promised land no matter how many obstacles and detours I have to face.
"I need You like a hurricane
Thunder crashing wind and rain
Tear my walls down, I'm only Yours now
I need You like a burning flame
A wild fire untamed
Burn these walls down,
I'm only Yours now
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