Cedarville University Yellow Jackets

May 2, 2016

And just like that, the 2016 spring season is over. We came into the G-MAC as the defending champions, and took on our first competitor on Friday. We have competed against Alderson Broaddus multiple times this season, and thankfully were able to move on to the G-MAC championship, defeating AB 5-1. The next fight began on Saturday. The #1 seed, Davis & Elkins, facing the #2 seed…your very own…Cedarville Lady Jackets. Due to rain, Dayton Center Courts indoor complex hosted this championship.

After three and a half hours of blood, sweat, and tears, Davis & Elkins took the title (minus the blood and tears). Being the runner-up of this year’s G-MAC tournament could of course be seen as a negative…but not in my book. Being the runner-up means that we will come into the next G-MAC tournament as the underdogs. We will go into the tournament with no pressure of maintaining the title, but instead we will come into it with complete confidence in ourselves to win that title back. I could not be more proud of my teammates, playing or not playing, this entire season. I cannot believe that yet another season is complete. I praise Jesus that we have had not one injury this entire season. No matter what the weather was like, or what kind of day we may have had going into each match…we could and can always count on Him for being the same yesterday, today, and forever. And for that, we praise and glorify King Jesus.

"Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’" Genesis 1:26

To be created in the image of God means that we are created in the likeness of God. What do I mean, "likeness of God"? Well…

God created the heavens and the earth…and guess what? We are pretty creative beings.

God is relational. His very being is relational, as He is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, all wrapped up into one. Don’t even get me started on trying to fathom that…it just hurts my head. In the verse above, Genesis 1:26, we see God says, "Let us make man in OUR image". Just as God is relational, so are we. That is why God created Eve for Adam, as God clearly says, "It is not good for the man to be alone" (Genesis 2:18).

God loves, and God hates…Interesting….so do we!

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

"Therefore, the proud may not stand in Your presence, for You hate all who do evil." Psalm 5:5

Being created in the image of God means that God has given us some of His qualities, but not all of His. God is omniscient and omnipresent, meaning He is all-knowing and all-present…that is a quality of God that we definitely do not have.

Whether you are a believer and follower of Jesus or not, you have been created in the image of God. No matter how hard people may try to deny that there is a God, there will always be a little piece in them that keeps telling them there is a God. Why? Because He made us. He made us in HIS likeness. We were created to know and love Him, but sin tends to get in the way all too often. Thankfully He is a merciful and forgiving Father.

This is a bittersweet blog for me. My heart is a bit heavy in knowing that this is my last blog for the year. I cannot express into words just how much I have enjoyed writing a new blog each week. I feel extremely humbled that the Lord has chosen to give me a platform as great as this. I am continually amazed that a God as mighty, and powerful as Him, a God who needs absolutely nothing, would allow me to be a part of His great work. He doesn’t need one ounce of my help, and yet He lets me help Him? I don’t understand it, but I sure am thankful. I get so excited to see what the Holy Spirit will have me write about each week. I cannot take credit for any one of my blogs. Every single word is given to me by Him.

All glory to You, sweet, sweet Jesus.

Thank you to those who have read my blogs this year. Thank you for letting me share the greatness of my favorite person ever. I’m going to end this blog how I always end my blogs; with a song of the week and reminding myself that I need Jesus always. Praise to Jesus’ great and perfect name forever and ever.

Song of the week: After All (Holy) by David Crowder Band

Needing Jesus always,

Kendall Heydt


April 25, 2016

The Cedarville Lady Jackets had an undefeated streak of 6-0 in the G-MAC. Finishing 9-0 against Ursuline on Tuesday last week got us to the 6-0 record. Then Davis & Elkins happened…

What a close match it was. We lost 5-4. So extremely close. That pushes us to only fight harder, play stronger, and grunt louder (kidding about the grunting). As we face Davis & Elkins again this weekend in the G-MAC Tournament, we know that it is anybody’s game. Ready to give it all we have and play for the One who gives us the ability to play.

Liz Lothrop, a friend of mine from high school, has been fighting glioblastoma, an awful brain cancer, since last summer. Her and her family have so many people lifting them up in prayer…so many. I was reminded this past week that God tells us to pray, not because He needs it, as He is a God who needs absolutely nothing; but it is because we need it. Prayer reminds us how desperately in need of Jesus we are. As we are brought down to our knees in prayer, we realize just how small and needy we are, and how BIG and mighty He is.

Why should we pray?

1) Well, for starters, because our Heavenly Father has commanded that we do.

"Pray continually." 1 Thessalonians 5:17
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12
"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." Colossians 4:2
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6

2) Prayer is how we communicate with God. God wants a personal relationship with each of us, through His Son, Jesus Christ. For any relationship to begin, and to flourish, communication is crucial; that goes for our relationship with the Creator as well. As we talk to God, laying our requests down at His feet, we worship Him. We praise Him for hearing our requests, for letting us come to Him with anything and everything, and most of all…we praise and adore Him for who He is.

3) The evil one is always lurking, but the more we praise and worship our Lord and Savior, the more he shudders. We cannot defeat the enemy without the power of the Holy Spirit within us, so may we worship His mighty name and all that He is, as He is worthy of ALL our praise!

4) Prayer reminds us that we have no control, and that He has complete control. We are humbled before Him as we come to Him in prayer. James 4:6 says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." God desires for us all to have humility, and we can practice it through prayer.

This list only touches a few of the reasons why we should pray. But to close, I want you all to understand that prayer does not have to be a formal act, in a certain place, sitting in a certain posture, saying certain words. No. The Father wants us to come to Him at any time of the day, wherever we are, talking to Him about the heaviness in our hearts, the blessings we see Him pouring out on us, and all the little things in between. We are His first priority…now let’s make Him ours.

Liz is currently in hospice. Join me and all the others in praying for Lizzy and her family. Pleading with the Lord to do a wonderful miracle and completely heal her body, as we trust and believe that nothing is too hard for Him (Jeremiah 32:27). May His great comfort, strength and peace rain down heavily on them, as they wait to see what God’s will is.

Song of the week: I Choose Jesus by Moriah Peters

Needing Jesus Always,


April 18, 2016

The Cedarville Lady Jackets had no issue battling the Panthers this past Friday. We defeated Kentucky Wesleyan 9-0. Facing Huntington on Saturday was a different story. My team put up quite a fight, but came up a little short, leaving the match at 6-3. Win or lose, I am proud of my girls. They have some pretty intense sunburn from Saturday’s match to show just how rough ‘n tumble they truly are.

In just two short weeks, the G-MAC Tournament will be here. But before we can suit up for that, we have got to keep fighting the good fight. I have high hopes for this next week and a half of tennis, as I plan for my team to come out with three wins…first Ursuline on Tuesday, then Davis & Elkins on Saturday, and lastly, Indiana East next Tuesday. Although we lost to Huntington on Saturday, they are not a part of the conference so we continue to hold our 5-0 record in the G-MAC.

In the Bible, we are referred to as sheep and God is referred to as Shepherd, over and over again.

Psalm 79:13 "Then we Your people, the sheep of Your pasture, will praise you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise."

Ezekiel 34:31 "You My sheep, the sheep of My pasture, are people, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign Lord."

Psalm 23:1 "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want."

Just to name a few.

God is the Shepherd, and we are His sheep. So what does that mean?

Dictonary.com defines shepherd as a person who herds, tends, and guards sheep; a person who protects, guides, or watches over a person or group of people.

Shepherds look after their sheep day and night, keeping close watch to protect them from anything that may bring them harm. They guide their sheep, leading them in the right direction, and tending to their sheep; taking care of all their needs. If you have accepted Jesus into your heart, you are being protected, guided, and cared for by the Ultimate Shepherd, the Most High God. I pray that you find rest in knowing that. Have a great week, as you constantly see your Shepherd taking care of you in ways only He can.

Last but certainly not least…the answer you have all been waiting for…who would I like to interview? Here it is folks.

Kendall Heydt (MVB- Most Valuable Benchwarmer): "I would interview Bruce Jenner. Why exactly? I would want to ask him if he is truly happy after making the change to ‘Caitlyn’. I would then tell him all about Jesus. How amazing would it be if Bruce Jenner, now Caitlyn, accepted Jesus into his heart?"

Song of the week: You Carry Me by Moriah Peters

Needing Jesus Always,


April 11, 2016

A victorious week for the Lady Jackets. Faced Ursuline on Wednesday, and then had back-to-back matches; Salem International on Friday and Bethel on Saturday, getting us to a record of 4-0 in the G-MAC. These stud athletes, who I like to call "team", didn’t let Ursuline OR Salem International get even one court, leaving with 9-0 on the record. Bethel put up a fight, leaving us two courts short of a complete beat down (7-2). The team is already preparing themselves for Davis & Elkins…a tough competitor who we will go up against on Saturday April 23rd. It is a home match and one that you will not want to miss.

Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth".

For a long time I had always wondered what it really meant to actually be still before God. So I decided to do my research and figure it out. I want to share with you all what I found.

In Exodus14:13, Moses said, "Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord".

In Numbers 9:8, Moses said, "Stand still, and I will hear what the Lord will command concerning you".

The Greek word for "still", used in Psalm 46:10 is raphah.

raphah - feeble, idle, cease, to sink, relax, be disheartened, to be quiet

God is telling us to be alone, and quiet, sinking down, to better know who HE is.

In the two passages above, Moses heard from the Lord when he was still before Him. I bet if we were to really sit still, we would hear more of Jesus, just like Moses did.

I encourage you to take some time out of your busy lives to sit still before the King. You will be amazed at just how present He is in utter silence.

"Silence fosters awe for the Almighty, indicates submission to God, sets a stage for prayer, signifies respect for others, provides a Holy space, and renews wonder at the world."

"If you could interview/go to dinner/spend a day with anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be and why?"

Audra Kearney (Junior, biggest giggler): "I would probably interview King Solomon because regardless of his hundreds of wives and all the mistakes that he made I think we can learn a lot from his life. He has a lot to say about life choices that we make and the fact that the spiritual life is a marathon, not a sprint, and a good start is not always enough to finish well. It’s also a tie with David because David wrote the Psalms and I can relate so much to him. He has had tears streaming down his face in some times of his life and so have I."

Deanna Whalen (Fastest metabolism EVER): "My best friend, [Ellie], because we grew up in Michigan together, and even though she goes to Miami, I never get to spend more than a couple hours at a time with her; so getting to spend a whole day would be really awesome."

Song of the week: Yearn by Shane and Shane

Needing Jesus always,


April 5, 2016

Cedarville outdid themselves this past week. The Lady Jackets got themselves a victory over Kentucky Wesleyan 9-0…and they weren’t even on their home turf. I did not ride along with the team for this match. When I get better I will be at every match, no question about it. I have to also applaud the baseball team…they beat Oakland City 14-5. "W" after "W" on that fine April Fools Friday.

We were going to play Hillsdale this past Saturday, but did not, due to questionable weather. Coach thought it wouldn’t be very wise to have them make the trip, only to walk off the bus, see rain/lightning and get straight back on the bus. Coach is a smart one.

Webster’s defines famous as, being known or recognized by very many people…George Clooney, Barack Obama, Lebron James, Sandra Bullock, etc. It kinda hit me the other day that none of these people even come close to being as famous as Jesus.

You couldn’t have lunch, let alone five minutes, with any of those celebrities, even if you wanted to. They don’t know your name, where you’re from, and quite frankly, they could prolly care less.

Switch over to Jesus now, the most well-known person there has ever been and ever will be. People from both before and after His life on earth knew/know His name. Does the name George Bancroft ring any bells? He was a famous historian and journalist in the 1800’s. See, he was once famous, in his time, but that time has passed and the chances of someone bringing up his name in conversation are slim to none. Then there’s Jesus…If a picture of Him on the cross was to be thrown up on a screen, the majority of people would be able to tell you immediately, "That’s Jesus." We don’t know the exact year that Jesus was born, but let’s just say if He were like any other celebrity He would be WAAAAAYYYY past His time. And yet He’s not.

Now to the absolutely insane part…the most famous person that has ever set foot on this earth is not only available to talk with you whenever, wherever, but He WANTS to talk to you ALL THE TIME. He desires to have a relationship with you. AND, He already knows your name, where you’re from, your heart, your every thought…He made you. Take just a minute to soak that all in. And then try to think of somebody that would be more amazing to have in your life. Careful now, you’re gonna end up hurting yourself because there is no one better.

Song of the Week: Psalm 27 (One Thing) by Shane and Shane

I highly recommend their whole album: Psalms, Vol. 2


"If you could interview/go to dinner/spend a day with anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be and why?"

Kelly Fischer (Sophomore, lover of soft granola in Chucks): "I would spend the day with my grandmother. She was really important to my mom and died the day after I was born, which she said was ‘the happiest day of her life’. But my mom always says that she would have loved us and I would have really loved to have known her".

Kristen Heydt (Junior, baby-lover): "Roger Federer and his family. They seem so sweet and are such a cute family. I would love to know how they are able to take care of two sets of twins while traveling so much. And just hearing about their every day life and how they handle such a busy schedule. Also, I would want to know all about their two sets of twins; how they are. Were they excited about having more twins? Do the older twins understand how famous their dad is? I would want to ask how Roger and his wife met, and how their relationship is."

Needing Jesus always,


March 29, 2016

UPDATE: We came away from our first G-MAC match with a win! We went up against Alderson Broaddus, one of the many teams we played in Florida over Spring Break. This team played a much better game this past Friday compared to a few weeks ago in Florida. Kelly Fischer (sophomore), and Audra Kearney (first year, junior), made their debut on the courts at #3 doubles. They did an incredible job, earning us one more point over AB. A great way to start the G-MAC.

I am writing this blog on Easter Sunday. Thanking the Lord for giving me the family that He has, and the health to be able to wake up this morning, enjoy a church service, and spend the rest of the day together. Our pastor preached about the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and that He is alive! As I’m sure most all of you that attended a church service heard as well. But, it seemed that his main goal was to give the clear, and amazing truth of the Gospel. Easter Sunday might be the only time some people hear a church sermon all year, so what a perfect goal it was…to preach the truth, sharing the Gospel. I kept thinking how neat it was that our pastor got to tell so many people, about how great Jesus is. And what boldness he had to stand up in front of a large group of people, proclaiming the goodness of the risen King. Then I thought, why don’t I do that? Why would we not share this good news of Jesus with every one? I’m sure some of you have heard this before: If I found the cure for cancer, I wouldn’t keep it a secret, I would tell everybody. What good news that would be. If you are a believer, you have the best news in the whole entire world. We worship and follow a King who died on the cross for our sins (no love is greater than that), and has defeated death. If something is stopping you from being bold and sharing the most amazing gift…don’t let it. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the courage. Don’t worry, He isn’t gonna throw you out into the ocean, hope you can swim and walk away. No. If you let Him, He will walk behind you, next to you, and before you, holding on to you tightly every second of every day.

"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives all men life and breathe and everything else. From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though HE is not far from each one of us. For in Him we live and move and have our being.

Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone - an image made by man’s design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent. For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by RAISING HIM FROM THE DEAD."

Acts 17:24-31


"If you could interview/go to dinner/spend a day with anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be and why?"

Rosie Thompson (Freshman, Queen of Sarcasm): "I would like to have dinner with Rafa Nadal because he is hot and I bet we could go to a really nice lobster place."

Lauren Jackson (Junior, Basically Tennis Pro): "Joey Votto, the first baseman for the Reds. I could act like I know a bunch of stats about him, because [I can google them], (I do actually know some). But, really, he’s just a great athlete. I’ve also always admired his ability to stay (or appear to be) so mild mannered on the field. I just want to hear about his experiences, how he balances work and life, if he still actually enjoys playing baseball, etc. Also he started playing for the Dayton Dragons, so bonus points for that."

Song of the Week: You Are My All in All

Needing Jesus always,


Next match: @ Kentucky Wesleyan, Friday, 4:00 p.m.


March 22, 2016

As there were no matches this past week, I had to get creative. So, I have asked each one of my teammates, as well as Coach, to answer this question…

"If you could interview/go to dinner/spend a day with anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be and why?"

(P.S. - I told them they couldn’t pick Jesus, as I thought most of us would prolly choose to interview Him)

Each week you will get to read an answer from two. Up first we have Elise Perry and Coach.

Elise Perry (Junior, Bio genius): "I would interview Adolf Hitler. I have always been interested in the mind sets of ‘villains’. Especially in regards to what reasoning they use to justify actions the majority of people view as evil. I would really want to know what motivated him to carry out his actions and what drove/inspired him. I’d also ask what he thought about God and Christianity. Did religion play a role in his actions or other things? I just think he’d be interesting!"

Coach (Coach, Professor, PA…what can’t she do?!): "I think I would interview Lazarus. I would like to know what it was like to hear Jesus call him out of the tomb, and what the rest of his life was like."

----------------------------

I love Paul. Paul is the epitome of "the joy of the Lord is my strength" (Nehemiah 8:10). Paul suffered unbelievable pain and hardship for the name of Jesus, and yet he always responded with joy. "That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (II Corinthians 12:10). As hard as it can be sometimes, may we praise the Lord when we are weak, because it is then that we see His great power and strength made perfect in our weakness (II Corinthians 12:9).

As Paul was in prison, he wrote four of the books in the New Testament: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. These letters that Paul wrote are some of the most teaching-filled and encouraging books…and he wrote those in prison?! I am so thankful for Paul, and the life he lived for Christ, showing us what a true follower of Jesus looks like. May we not forget though, Paul wasn’t always Paul. Before the Lord came to him on his way to Damascus, he was Saul, a persecutor of the church (Jesus), seeking out Christians to throw into jail. BUT…

What a glorious day when…

"…suddenly, a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’

‘Who are you, Lord?’ Saul asked.

‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.’

Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything."

Once he was filled with the Holy Spirit, and could see again, he was a new man. His past life and sins were washed clean because of what Jesus did for us on the cross.

Look how God used Paul, who was once an enemy of Jesus, to further His kingdom. Absolutely amazing. It’s never too late to turn your life over to Jesus. If anyone should’ve been looked at as being "too late" or "in too deep", it would be Paul. But for God, nothing and no one is too late, and no sin is too great in the eyes of God. Remember that.

II Corinthians 6:2 "I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation."


Song of the Week: Holy One by Rush of Fools

Needing Jesus always,


March 14, 2016

Each time before I start writing a blog I welcome the Holy Spirit and ask that He will speak through me, pointing my blogging straight to Him. For some reason, I am struggling to think of what I am going to write about today. Of course I am going to fill you in on this past week in Florida, but I always like to write more than just tennis. Let’s start with our spring break trip to Florida and we’ll go from there.

It was such a great week. The weather was amazing…warm and sunny. I don’t think we felt a drop of rain while we were down there. Not only was the weather amazing, the girls played amazing. This week I definitely saw some of the best tennis I have seen from each of them. Their consistency and energy blew my mind. I don’t understand how they played as much tennis as they did and still managed to look as good as they did doing it. We had a match each day, and to top it off, two matches on our last day in Florida. Still, they played with a winner’s mindset, determined to win each point.

I want to publicly thank a few people that helped make our spring break what it was. Coach…she is somethin’. Thank you for taking such great care of us not only this week but all the time. Thank you for the yummy meals, your encouragement on and off the court, and your happy spirit that is contagious. We don’t deserve all that you do for us, but we sure do appreciate you more than you know, and I believe I can speak for the whole team when I say that.

Kathy and Becky…what a special and fun addition you two are to our team. Spring break would not be the same without you guys, and I sincerely mean that. You each add something so special with your personalities, as they are very different from each other. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy lives and coming down for the trip with us. We got two seats already saved ‘specially for you on the bus for next year ;)

Eddie (our bus driver), and Carol (Eddie’s wife)…thank you for your even keeled attitude while the bus had some technical difficulties along the way. Your calmness and patience only made each of us calmer and more patient, so thank you. It’s nice to have some new faces and we applaud you Eddie for spending a whole week, outnumbered, with all girls.

My teammates...I came away from this week feeling so thankful and blessed to be on a team with people like you. Thank you for sharing your testimonies, for giving it your all on the tennis court, and making it very clear by how you live your lives that you love Jesus.

Stats are obviously public knowledge and open to those who enjoy the numbers. I won’t go into too much detail…our record for this week was 2-3…not bad not bad, and we still got the whole season.

Praising Jesus for getting us there and back safely. Praising Him for His protection of all the Cedarville athletes. Praising Him for being SO good, and for being so constant. The only true constant in our lives. If you don’t know Him (Jesus), you ought to. He is the absolute best, there is no one like Him, and quite frankly, you are missing out on the best thing that has ever happened to you if you don’t yet have Him in your heart. And the craziest part is, He is just waiting for you to let Him in.

If you have any comments, questions, prayer requests, etc., don’t hesitate to contact me.

Just so you know, I can’t describe to you just how incredible Jesus is. This week I am not going to share a song, but something else. Just watch and you’ll see. Have a great week.
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHQPuok_LnY
 

Needing Jesus always,


Feb. 29, 2016

Hey there pretty people!!!

Haven’t talked to you guys in ages. Because I know you’re all dying to know how I am doing, I will take the time to fill you in with all the latest juicy details on ME.

It was a nice, cold, snowy day (typical for up here in Cedarville, Ohio), on a Wednesday, and I was just strolling along to my next class. THEN BAM! I got mono.

THE END.

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s blog.

JUST KIDDING. Except not about the mono part. So I do indeed have mono and I got diagnosed with it at the beginning of January, but have been dealing with symptoms of mono since the beginning of December. For those of you who are not familiar with what mono does to a person, it will absolutely kick your butt. So it’ll be quite a surprise if I am able to write this thing without falling asle-------------------!

Welp, guess no surprise here. Anyway, I am still dealing with mono, so I will not be playing on the court this spring break in Florida with my girls. If you know me but at all, you know I love the sun, so of course I am going to make the drive down with my team to Florida and cheer them on as loud as I possibly can, while getting a sun-kissed bronzey color on my skin.

Practice three days a week has been hyping us all up for this spring season as well as having Bible study every Wednesday with our wonderful chaplains, Becky Kuhn and Kathy Miller. They will both be joining us on this fun-filled trip to Florida, and we couldn’t be more thrilled for their joining our team as we head down to the Sunshine State.

I guess you could say the Lady Jackets are a teensy bit excited to be going down to Florida to start off the competitive spring season of tennis. Deanna, a sophomore nursing student on our team, has had the countdown going for months now (she prolly secretly started the countdown the day we got back from Florida last spring break…can you blame her?). The fact that we are down to single digits now makes it harder and harder to focus in class, as we can basically taste the sunshine.

I look oh so forward to reflecting on the week we will have in Florida, bonding on the 20-some hour bus ride down and back, laughing at the silly few of us who get burnt from forgetting to put sun screen on, celebrating the many WINS on the court, and the pure joy of spending time getting to know one another better.

It may be a new year, but you better believe it’s the SAME ME. Song of the week will be starting up again, and I pray that God will use my blogging to draw you closer to HIM.

Our chaplain brought up something in Bible study this past week that I would like to share with all of you. As we are extremely blessed to have the opportunity to go down south to Florida and play some good, fun, tennis, not everyone is looking forward to heading home during this break from school. Would you join me in praying for those who are struggling to feel excited about going home? May God rain down on those His wonderful peace that surpasses ALL understanding, and may we all cling to His goodness and rejoice knowing He is in control and we are not.

Excuse my excessive amount of writing, but it’s the first blog back BABY! You gotta do what you gotta do. Thanks for reading guys. Talk to you next week.

Song of the Week: Priceless by For King and Country

Needing Jesus always,


Oct. 12, 2015

What a fun week of tennis to close the fall season. We beat Wittenberg Thursday, but lost to Southern Indiana Saturday. Win or lose, we really did enjoy ourselves. The weather was absolutely beautiful. Couldn't have asked for better. I don’t share the exact score of each match because I don’t feel it necessary, but I know there are some people who like to know the stats. If you are one of those people, go to the athletics page on Cedarville’s website.

I have to thank the men’s tennis team for their sweet gesture after our match Thursday. Not only did they come out and cheer us on, but they gave each of us a Christmas stocking with goodies inside. We are truly blessed to have such a solid group of guys supporting us.

Join me now in this change of subject.

Sometimes there are problems in our lives that we just cannot fix, no matter how badly we want them fixed. It’s usually because it isn’t a job for us, but rather a job for the Holy Spirit, and it’s a matter of if and when the Holy Spirit wants to fix it. As we wait to see if He is going to do what we are praying He will do, we have to trust. We have to trust that He will do what we are asking if it is indeed in accordance with His will. We must also NOT sit around with a lousy attitude because our problem hasn’t been fixed yet. The waiting is the point, the waiting is the time that God shows Himself in ways we could have never imagined possible. May we find our hope in Christ this week because…

Isaiah 40:31

"but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint."

Find out where is it that you are placing your hope. If it is in someone or something else other than Jesus Christ, change it. The only person that will always be good, and constant in our lives is God. So put your hope in Him, unless you want to be let down over and over again.

More fresh, new blogs will be up this spring from yours truly. It's been real. I will miss writing but who knows, maybe I'll start my own personal blog...we'll see...I like to keep you on your toes.

Song of the Week: Loyal by Lauren Daigle

(She is my favorite right now, incredible voice and her lyrics are nothing short of TRUTH)

Needing Jesus Always,


Oct. 7, 2015

Feels like it's been a while since I wrote my last blog. It's only been a week...oh well, happy to be back.

If you were at the match on Thursday against Taylor, you need to come find me to get your chocolate and you now see why I dislike the cold weather...it was just miserable out there. The wind has a mind of its own here in Cedarville. With that being said, I appreciate the support we got from all five of you who showed up. Disappointed yet again but hopes remain high for our final two matches.

We lost to Taylor 9-0. The score definitely doesn't do a good job of showing the hard work and effort all the girls put into every point. As we would've loved to come out with a win, I believe I can say Coach was proud of how we played.

Our last week of fall season is this week. Which means we have two more matches left and then we get to hibernate during these long, cold winter months. We face off Wittenberg Thursday at 4:00 p.m., and close the season with another home match vs. Southern Indiana on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. This is your chance to redeem yourself and show how much Cedarville Tennis Pride you really do have. We have all enjoyed these last couple of months getting great practice out on the courts and growing as a team.

Bible study every Wednesday, led by Kathy and Becky, has been incredible. Sharing prayer requests, having deep discussions, and enjoying yummy snacks makes for a pretty great time. I am happy to say that Bible study doesn't end when fall season ends.

I feel extremely blessed and privileged to have had the opportunity to be the messenger for the women's tennis team this fall and I look so forward to continuing this mission this coming spring when our season starts up full force. Don't miss me too much.

Colossians 2:2-3 says, "My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

We like answers. We like to know when and how something is going to happen. Not knowing brings about too many sins to count (fear, anxiety, doubt, control, etc.). I pray that this week we will spend more time learning about the mystery of Christ, and less time trying to figure out the questions in our own day-to-day lives we want answered. Maybe, just maybe, if we were to envelop (definition: surround completely) ourselves in knowing Jesus on a more personal level, we might begin to worry less about the mysteries in our own life and enjoy waiting for the surprise God has right around the corner.

Thank you so much for following my blog thus far. Glory to God for giving me a platform as great as this.

Song of the Week: Good to be Alive by Jason Gray

Needing Jesus always,


Sept. 29, 2015

Hello hello hello. Your very own women's tennis team blogger was sick with bronchitis this past week keeping me stuck in bed on Tuesday. Sadly, I did not get to watch my girls fight the good fight vs. Otterbein. We came out with a 7-2 loss. If you think that will bring us down...you're wrong. We are more than ready, including myself, to play our best tennis yet against Taylor this Thursday at home. DID I MENTION IT WAS A HOME MATCH? I hope you know you each have a responsibility this Thursday. Students, finish your homework before 4:00 pm. Faculty, those papers that need to be graded can wait. If knowing you are going to get to watch the women's tennis team isn't enough...I'll give you chocolate if you come.

Homecoming weekend is THIS weekend! A couple of our graduated seniors are going to be walking in the parade this Saturday. I'm sure they would be willing to sign autographs. Well maybe, they have a tight schedule. I'll see what I can do.

Sometimes we like to have control. It feels good to know we're in the drivers seat. But having too much control can also be overwhelming. That is exactly why Jesus wants us to lay our burdens at His feet and give our entire life to Him, to use for His glory. Isaiah 45:6-7 says, "That people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, who does all these things." He does it all, He created it all, and He is King over it all. The unknown or "sitting in the backseat" so to speak, can be scary, but knowing the Creator of the universe and all that is within is in control of our lives, is extremely comforting. Give every aspect and area of your life to Jesus, even the ones you think you got a pretty good handle on, because without Him you are nothing. Without Him, we are and have nothing. Praise be to His great, and powerful name.



The sunsets at Cedarville blow me away. Seeing His glory in that way is amazing. I wanted to share this picture with you. He is the best artist I know.

Song of the week: I Will Lift My Eyes by Bebo Norman

Needing Jesus always,





Sept. 23, 2015

Our first home match was completed this past Tuesday with a big ole W written all over it. All of our courts won, and the stands were decently packed. Could they have been more packed? Of course. Do I expect more from you guys next home match? Well, yes.

Ask yourselves why is it that you are not coming out to support the Lady Jackets tennis team. Is it because...

1. You don't think you know the game of tennis and are a bit worried you will yell at the wrong time

It's not that complicated, you will catch on quickly, and we can only hope that when you decide to cheer at the inappropriate time, it messes with the opponents and causes them to miss-hit. If it messes with us, I will have to personally escort you out.

2. You feel as though you will get the sudden urge to run onto the court and start doing laps around the players

The more the merrier.

3. You don't know which one is singles and which is doubles

Go back to kindergarten. Bless your heart.

Now that I have covered all possible reasons as to why one would not feel comfortable coming to support us, along with solutions for each, you have no excuse. I look forward to seeing the whole student body and faculty at our next home match on October 1st, at 4:00 p.m vs. Taylor.

We do have one match before our next home match. We are off to Otterbein on Tuesday, Sept. 22 to try and hunt down the Cardinals.

This week’s weather here in Cedarville is looking gorgeous, yet again. As I see leaves are beginning to change colors and will eventually leave the trees bare, I am reminded that winter will be here soon enough. Lemme keep this short, I struggle to talk nicely about winter. But we are told in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." It may sound silly to you all that I need this verse to help me snap out of it and thank God for all the seasons He so beautifully created, but I do. I think we all need to be reminded to rejoice always! As easy as it can be to believe everything in our life is going wrong, we must shut down that lie from Satan and ask the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to the many blessings He has so graciously given to each of us. To pray continually. Talking to our Father not just when we are in need of a specific request, but continually as we go throughout each day, thanking Him all the while. And may we not forget to trust. To trust His perfect plan. Whether we like it or not, His plan is way, WAY better than ours.

Song of the week: Overwhelmed by Big Daddy Weave

Needing Jesus always,


Sept. 15, 2015

This past Saturday was going to be our first match of the season! Unfortunately the rain didn’t agree with that. We got an early start to our morning, heading off to New Concord, OH with our wonderful bus driver, Norris. Two hours later, we got there safely, only to squeegee for some time, and warmup for about 10 minutes, to find out that the rain wasn’t going to stop spitting. Back on the bus we go! Getting our match cancelled did not stop us from great fellowship and lots of laughter. We then made a stop at Culver’s on the way home (Coach’s favorite :)).

As I am bummed to not have any final scores to share with you, I do want to share with you a huge blessing. Not one girl on the Lady Jacket’s tennis team is injured. We have been beyond blessed with great health as we start off this season. As we praise Jesus for giving this health to us, we also cry out to Him to heal those that we know are sick. We can often feel dragged down when we see so many people hurting from all the sickness in this world, especially when it’s people we are close to. "But Jesus looked at them and said to them, ‘With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’" (Mark 10:27). We serve a God who does miracles.

If any of you have any prayer requests that you would like me, personally, to pray for or maybe the whole women’s tennis team to pray for, please email me. I would love to lift up your requests to the ultimate healer, giver of life, counselor, and father to us all, Jesus Christ.

knheydt@cedarville.edu

As we go throughout this week, may we not confine God into a tiny little box, putting "limits" on His power and goodness. He can do so much more than our little, human minds could ever think up.

ANNOUNCEMENT! ANNOUNCEMENT! The Lady Jacket’s first HOME tennis match is TODAY - Tuesday, September, 15 at 4:00 p.m. Come out and support us! We would love to see you there. GO JACKETS! BEAT INDIANA EAST!

Song of the week: Proof of Your Love by For King & Country

Needing Jesus Always,


Sept. 8, 2015

I am thrilled to introduce myself to you all as the newest Lady Jackets tennis team blogger. You should know that I am a sophomore communications major and always try to add my own personal, creative touch to whatever it is I am doing. Also keep in mind that I was a cheerleader all four years of my high school career, which means I cheer loud and hard for my girls on the courts, and it will carry on into my blogs as well. Enough about me, let’s talk about the Lady Jackets.

I have some sad, old news…we lost four great players this past Spring due to something called graduation. It definitely is not the same without Maryssa, Courtney, Lily, and Emily (retired tennis blogger), but just as the Lord says in Isaiah 43:19, "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." I believe I can speak for the 2015-16 Lady Jackets and myself when I say we are very excited to see what Jesus is going to do with and through us this season.

Practice started up the second week of school with a fresh and passionate work ethic. Challenge matches have been played, and the lineup is already starting to come together. Coach Morris does a fine job figuring out what spot fits each athlete best, for themselves individually and for the whole team.

The Cedarville Women’s tennis team now has a Facebook page, created to keep their followers updated with what is new and happening. Be sure to go "Like" our page on Facebook if you are interested in knowing final match scores, how practices are going, and pictures!

www.facebook.com/ladyjacketstennis

I am looking forward to entertaining, informing, and most importantly encouraging each of you who choose to follow the Cedarville Women’s tennis team through my blogging. May you walk closely with Jesus as you go throughout your week, and see all the glorious blessings He wants to show you. Don’t forget that you are each a son and daughter of the one true King. What a gift.

P.S. I LOVE music, and I want to share that love with you all. Which is why I will be picking a song each week that I find to be encouraging and helpful in reminding me to keep my eyes on Jesus.

Song of the week: First by Lauren Daigle

Needing Jesus always,


Kendall Heydt is a sophomore at Cedarville University from Mason, Ohio and is majoring in applied communications.