Saturday, December 7, 2013

Growth Books List

Over the past couple of months, I've been slowly creating a list of books I would like to read that are centred on learning more about my loving, grace-filled Lord and how to be a better disciple for Him. This list started out with only a few books and has turned into a list of 47! I've written in my second 101 list that I want to read 50 of them - I'm still looking for 3 more that speak to me. Here is my (almost finished) list:

(6/47)
The Allure of Hope by Jan Meyers
A Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
Better Than My Dreams by Paula Rinehart
Boundaries in Dating by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend
Captivating by John & Stasi Eldredge
Crazy Love by Francis Chan
Disciplines of a Godly Woman by Barbara Hughes
Drops like Stars by Rob Bell
Erasing Hell by Francis Chan
The Five Love Languages, Singles Edition by Gary D. Chapman
Forgotten God by Francis Chan
God in the Mirror by Miles McPherson
God is in the Small Stuff and it all Matters by Bruce Bickel & Stan Jantz
God is the Gospel by John Piper
God Loves Broken People by Sheila Walsh
The God Who Hears by W. Bingham Hunter
The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis
Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo
Help Thanks Wow by Anne Lamott
His Princess: Love Letters from your King by Sheri Rose Shepherd
How to Hear From God by Joyce Meyer
In the Arms of Angels by John Wester Anderson
Jesus > Religion by Jefferson Bethke
Jesus Wants to Save Christians by Rob Bell
The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer
Lady in Waiting by Debby Jones
Listening to Love by Jan Meyers
Love Does by Bob Goff & Donald Miller
The Love Languages of God by Gary D. Chapman
Love Wins by Rob Bell
Meaning of Marriage by Timothy Keller
Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman
One Thousand Gifts (with devo) by Ann Voskamp
The Power of a Praying Woman by Stormie Omartian
Praying God's Word by Beth Moore
Proof of Heaven by Eben Alexander, M.D.
Radical by David Platt
Sex God by Rob Bell
The Shack by Wm. Paul Young
The Shelter of God's Promises by Sheila Walsh
Stories Behind Women of Extraordinary Faith by Ace Collins
Twelve Extraordinary Women by John MacArthur
Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell
Waking Up in Heaven by Alex Tresniowski
What Happens When Women Say Yes to God by Lysa TerKeurst
What We Talk About When We Talk About God by Rob Bell
Wild at Heart by John Eldredge

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Joining a Christian Group on Campus

Growth Group BBQ

Who: Myself & College Life
What: Joining a Christian Group
Where: UC Davis
When: Spring Quarter 2013
From101 List #2

For a long time now, I've been wanting to get connected with a Christian group on campus. My faith is the most important thing in my life, but my health had been holding me back from joining. I was finally feeling better this quarter, so no longer had an excuse. Halfway through the quarter, I emailed a girl asking if I could join her Growth Group (like a Bible Study), and it went from there!

I emailed Evelyn on Monday (April 22) and the next day met someone else from College Life. Clara and I decided to study at Starbucks (which we never do) and had to sit outside (there were no tables inside), and there we overheard a conversation. After eavesdropping for a few minutes, I turned around and informed them that I was doing that, and asked if they were apart of College Life - they were! We talked for a little bit and he mentioned Spring Retreat which was the following weekend. That night, I received an email from the coordinator and then paid at my first growth group meeting.

Timeline:
1) emailed Evelyn about Growth Group on Monday, April 22
2) met Zach on Tuesday, April 23
3) went to Growth Group & paid for retreat on Wednesday, April 24
4) left for Spring Retreat (with complete strangers) on Friday, April 26 - Sunday April 28

Going on Spring Retreat, despite it being so far outside my comfort zone, was the best decision! My faith was encouraged, the speaker was incredible, and that weekend solidified my feeling that College Life was where God wanted me.

Growth Group became the highlight of my quarter. The women were great! My friends from high school are some of the most wonderful, Godly women that I have ever met, and this group reminded me so much of them! They made me feel so welcomed and loved, and taught me so much and brought me closer to the Lord in such a small amount of time! I am so unbelievably grateful to have spent the second half of spring quarter with them and cannot wait for next year!

Spring Retreat - the Juniors

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Where in the world have I been?

It has been almost a year since I have written on this blog! This past year of school has been beyond crazy and I just haven't had time. However, as of yesterday, summer vacation has arrived! This summer I will continually be updating this blog, getting back to sharing what I love.

Over this quarter, as I was reviewing my 101 Things list, it occurred to me how much has changed and how my goals have changed. Because of that, I have decided to start another 101 Things list. I will still work on my original one, but will now have even more things to do. Some of the goals crossover onto both lists because they are still very much goals of mine, but many are completely new! To check out this list, go here!

As I begin another chapter of my life, I welcome you to come along for the journey!

xo Ainsley