controlling my words

I know the last time I blogged I said my work was moving. Well, we have yet to move. But hopefully, we will actually be moving the beginning of this coming week. We started packing things up about two weeks ago, so we have lots of things in boxes and things at the new building. So it has been quite stressful and quite hectic getting things done when almost everything is in a box. But we are making it work. We just know that we will probably be down a few days from the move, but we are resilient and we'll keep on trucking.

The first weekend in June I went to another wedding. This time it was one of my roommates from college. Man, I feel like such a grown-up when all my friends from college start getting married. It was such a pretty ceremony, outside at a small airport. We sat on hay bales covered in sheets. Then the reception was inside one of the hangars. It was incredibly beautiful. So much thought put into every detail. There was even a hayride during the reception. One of the best weddings I've ever been too.

Recently, I've had to work on my patience, and holding my tongue — from James 1:19-20. Be quick to listen and slow to speak. I've heard this verse all my life, but I usually disregard it. Or think I'm doing it but don't actually do it. Now, I am really trying to control my tongue and listen more to others. And keep my emotions in check. It's easy to let what other people say get to me, and even more frequently, what they don't say. How often are we hurt when people don't compliment us or don't ask us how we are doing? And then we get angry. We joked the other night in our prayer group – it doesn't say you can't get angry, just be SLOW to get angry. But directly after that is says that the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. I think I would rather be righteous in the eyes of God than always being angry. Just something to think about.

1.) The verses I have to repeat to myself over and over throughout my days – James 1:19-20
2.) My sweet Hallee Jae loving her some watermelon & getting so stinkin' big
3.) Such sweet details at Bemily's big day
4.) Walking down the aisle – awwww
5.) Vows & getting married by one of our former campus pastors
6.) Officially Mr. & Mrs. Heidinger!!
7.) Me & A-Ro on the hayride
8.) We had a gigantic slip-n-slide at church for the Collide Youth
9.) My daddio, the one guy who has always been there for me & truly understands me
10.) My father's day gift to the best dad ever

living with purpose

a couple of Sundays ago at church, my pastor talked God having a purpose for our lives. God created the heavens & the earth, and in that there was order and purpose. my pastor gave an overview of his life starting at birth, pretty much hitting the highest points. he encouraged us to do the same. because everything that has happened in our lives, has happened because God has a specific plan and purpose for our lives. nothing that happens goes without Him knowing. so here goes nothing.

the life & times of 

Evan Whitlock

I was born in 1990 in southwestern Indiana, but my family lived in southern Illinois. the town I was born in had the closest/nicest hospital to have a baby in when I was born. ever since then, I lived in the same old little bitty town with my parents and older brother.
we went to church about 7 miles from our house. we enjoyed going to church here, but all the kids went to a different school than me.
in 1995, I started kindergarten. school was my favorite. I was really good at it :)
January 1998, I accepted Christ as my Savior and I was baptized. I had grown up in a family of Christians, but I knew I had to make a decision for myself. even then, I wasn't quite sure what it meant.
fast forward to junior high, we had switched churches where I had more friends and the atmosphere was more of what we needed at the time. you could say I was athletic/outgoing: I was very involved in soccer, gymnastics & cheerleading with quite a large group of friends. within the two years of being in junior high, I lost four people very special to me: one close friend, two great-grandmas, and one young cousin. this was a very hard time in my life. at the time it seemed like the world was crashing down on me and God had abandoned me. God used that time to draw me closer to Him & to rely more Him.
then I went to high school, four years of soccer, studying, Christian friends, working hard to get into college.
I went to college in the same town I was born in with the intent to be a physical therapist, mostly because I knew they made a lot of money and because I was super skilled in science & math. but after two years of taking classes in my major, I realized that this career path was not meant for me. so after countless hours of prayer, I changed my major to graphic design, because art had always been one of my passions. while I was in college, I found some of the greatest friends ever through SCF (student christian fellowship). these people were incredible and I know God placed them in my life specifically to help me get along in school.
in the summer on 2011 between my junior and senior years, I went to Ukraine as a missions intern with CMF (christian missionary fellowship). here I learned about God's heart for other nations and how missionaries live and function. I felt like this was where I felt the most at touch with God.
this past spring, I graduated with my degree in Visual Communication Design basically graphic design. since then, I have been in a place of searching out God's will for my life.

I think God used everything in my life for a specific purpose and without every single thing that happened I wouldn't be where I am today. and even though some things weren't exactly pleasant and didn't go the way I would have planned, God had a plan and has yet to let me down. He is always there for me. I don't know where I'm going next, but God still has a plan and a purpose for me regardless.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." 

Jeremiah 29:11

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.

1 Peter 5:6-7

For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.
1 Corinthians 14:33

typical last first day

today marks an incredible day in my journey as a college student. it is my last first day of classes. just one semester left. eeeeeek!! somebody pinch me. it can't possibly be here already.

as expected, today was the typical "syllabus" day. nothing fancy, nothing over-the-top. just all my professors going through their expectations and requirements for the semester. as well as getting to know the students in their class. in one of my classes, my professor asked each of us what we want to be when we grow up. now, my last name starts with "W" so that means I had the longest time to think about what I wanted to say. as many of you know, I have really been struggling with what I want to do after college. after my summer abroad, I feel as though God is calling me into missions of some sort. though, I'm not quite sure where or for how long. so that's something I could be doing. considering I am a 'Visual Communications Design' major, I would really like to do something with art, specifically graphic design things and photography. I think working for a magazine, designing layouts would be awesome.

so the moral of the story is... I have no idea what to do after I graduate in May. maybe I'll move to NYC and get a job with a magazine. maybe I'll move to Ukraine and work as a missionary. maybe I'll move to Kansas City and do graphic design work for IHOP and being an intercessor. it doesn't matter what I do, as long as I am out there loving on people and sharing the good news of Christ with them.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

don't waste your life fearing what will come next. God has an awesome plan for everything that will happen. sometimes it feels like His plan is for you to fail, but that is so not true. I know I feel like that an awful lot, but I have to constantly remind myself that God is good, and awesome, and incredible, and always has my best interests in mind. some days it will feel like you are in the lowest valley, but God uses those valleys to bring you back up to the mountain top. just trust in Him. He knows what's up.