I recently (as in a few months ago) had a conversation with a good friend that changed my life...and I'm not even sure he knew how influential it was! Let me clarify, changed my life as in how I view God.
To explain the impact of this conversation, I must go back two summers. I was an intern at an amazing church in Kansas City and was working alongside two beautiful women whom I will always be connected with because of the events of that summer. I would like to tell you everything that happened that summer but that would probably be an entire post by itself. So, unfortunately, I may be really vague with the promise that if you were to ask me about it, I would tell you more in depth the events of that summer. To put it simply, we encountered the spiritual world together, and since have been on a journey to discover what we experienced. All three of us have grappled with it in different ways and have come to different conclusions, but in my search for explanation over the last two years, nothing has even come close to the hour conversation I had with my friend.
I will summarize some things that happened that summer: went to IHOP (International House of Prayer) in the middle of the Awakening services: witnessed people talking in tongues, shaking uncontrollably, and healings taking place. Prayed through the church I lived at: was frozen to a table I was sitting on while praying, had to be held up so as not to pass out for being faint with the Spirit, and had black shadows flee from a room/hallway we were praying over/in. Like I said I would love to explain more of that summer to you, because from that synopsis, y'all probably think I'm crazy, so please don't hesitate to ask me more about it. I, as well, thought that what I experienced and witnessed was crazy at times. So fast forward my journey....
Most of us grew up in an environment that focus' on the Father and the Son of the Trinity and happens to mostly ignore the Holy Spirit and it's power. We tend to only experience or want to experience God in so far as we can comprehend, and the Spirit is usually outside that realm of comprehension. However, we are told in Matthew that it is better for Jesus to leave so that the Holy Spirit can enter us. Stop and reread the last sentence and try to take in the impact of that statement....Do we fully believe that? Do we fully believe how much power the Spirit has?
What could this power look like in our lives? Could it be someone laughing uncontrollably to experience joy? Could it be someone shaking uncontrollably to experience what it's like to just let go? Could it be someone speaking in tongues in order to talk to their God? Could it be people receiving prophesies about others? Could it be that our God wants us to experience him FULLY (or at least want to) in every way he has given us. Why can't God work in ways like this?!
To further risk you thinking I'm crazy, I'm going to continue by telling you about a church my friend told me about in California. Bethel Church has feathers that appear out of no where, places that animals with feathers wouldn't even be. They experience gold dust floating upward (not falling, but floating upward) during services. They believe these and many other experiences to be the Shekinah (greek word) glory of God in heaven meeting the earth. Why can't we believe that God would give us his Shekinah glory on earth?!
After this summer and experiencing many more spiritual ways of God the last few months that is too much to put on just one post, I know that I personally even tend to put God in a box. To not take him at his word of how powerful his Spirit, who lives INSIDE of us, can be. So why not start stepping out of our box, our comfort zone, and experience everything God has for us!!
I'll leave you with this quote a fellow EDGEr posted today: Q: "What do you think Jesus would have to say to our generation if He was talking with us right now?" A: "Are you satisfied with too little of me?"
PS. this blog post has been a long time coming....I really am bad at keeping up with this....
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
Jesus makes me happy.
I often get the question, "So what do you do every week?" Well, that's a good question, but the answer depends on the week. I can only usually share the constants from week to week. One of these constants is being able to meet with students one-on-one and share life with them. I am currently reading through John with one girl and Matthew with another friend. The connections between the two make it really fun to read them at the same time! I want to share with you a little from the latest reading in John, which is also coincidentally part of what our Prayer Retreat from this weekend was focused on so I'll start there.
Cool thing that happened: Before going to the prayer retreat to set up, I had decided to do this weeks reading in John which happened to be chapters 10-12. Later that night at the prayer retreat, we were introduced to the passages that we would focus on for the weekend. Are you ready for this? John 10 and Psalm 23. How cool is it that? I studied it just that day and then got to meditate on it more?!
If you don't know what John 10 talks about it focuses on the Shepherd/Sheep relationship of Jesus and his flock. I was able to have some time to study this more in depth on my own and really break it down, search other passages and come to conclusions. Some word choices stuck out to me while reading through the first time. Verse 5: "But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will RUN AWAY from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." So who's voice do the sheep recognize? The shepherds! Verse 14: "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me." So in order for the sheep to be able to run away from strangers, which are harmful to them, they must know the shepherd. They must spend time with him, let him care for them, listen to his voice, and follow the shepherd all in order to be rescued from the strangers.
Verse 16: "I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd." Jesus has one flock, one church who is always gathering more sheep from other pens. Want to know an awesome thing about this one flock?! "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand." Verse 28. This means us!! We are the flock that has eternal life, that never perishes AND cannot be snatched from Jesus hands. We are his!!
Now for my excitement over John 11...
John 11 is the story of the death and resurrection of Lazarus. The story insinuates that Jesus already had a relationship with this family of believers, which is why the sisters sent for Jesus to save Lazarus. We know that Lazarus dies, but Jesus tries to tell the disciples and the sisters many times that it wouldn't end in death for the glory of God. Everyone just figured this meant that it was eternal life Jesus was talking about. "'Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.'" verse 11. (foreshadowing!) "'Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.'" Jesus wants them to believe, but at this point they don't understand what. When Jesus finally arrives in Bethany, he is consistently told "If you had been here, my brother would not have died." Mary and Martha believed that Jesus could have saved Lazarus from dying, but nothing is ever thought about Jesus being able to make Lazarus rise again.
We know from Scripture that Jesus was filled with compassion over and over again. This scenario is no different. "...he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled." verse 33. Now for the kicker...Are you ready for this?! "Jesus wept." verse 35. Two words. Shortest verse. BIG reason. Many people believe that Jesus weeping was for the loss of his friend....but, what if.....just what if it was instead for the UNBELIEF of Mary and Martha?! What if Jesus wept for the lack of faith of his dear friends? They only believed he could have saved him, so why not make him rise from the dead?! Again, it is questioned, "'Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?'' verse 37.
To raise Lazarus from the dead Jesus prays, utilizing the power of his Father. Praying big! He prayed "for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me." All for the glory, right?! Even more so, Bethany was the same town, that the Jews had tried to stone Jesus in. How do you think Jesus coming back and raising someone from the dead helped that mindset? Jesus risked his life, again, in order for the glory of God to be shown to those who needed to believe.
Jesus has just as much compassion for us! He wants us to believe and spend time with him so we know the difference between the shepherd and the stranger. "He works everything out for the good of those who love him." All for the glory!!
As I write "How He Loves" started playing.....so.great. Sometimes I want a soundtrack to life. :)
Cool thing that happened: Before going to the prayer retreat to set up, I had decided to do this weeks reading in John which happened to be chapters 10-12. Later that night at the prayer retreat, we were introduced to the passages that we would focus on for the weekend. Are you ready for this? John 10 and Psalm 23. How cool is it that? I studied it just that day and then got to meditate on it more?!
If you don't know what John 10 talks about it focuses on the Shepherd/Sheep relationship of Jesus and his flock. I was able to have some time to study this more in depth on my own and really break it down, search other passages and come to conclusions. Some word choices stuck out to me while reading through the first time. Verse 5: "But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will RUN AWAY from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." So who's voice do the sheep recognize? The shepherds! Verse 14: "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me." So in order for the sheep to be able to run away from strangers, which are harmful to them, they must know the shepherd. They must spend time with him, let him care for them, listen to his voice, and follow the shepherd all in order to be rescued from the strangers.
Verse 16: "I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd." Jesus has one flock, one church who is always gathering more sheep from other pens. Want to know an awesome thing about this one flock?! "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand." Verse 28. This means us!! We are the flock that has eternal life, that never perishes AND cannot be snatched from Jesus hands. We are his!!
Now for my excitement over John 11...
John 11 is the story of the death and resurrection of Lazarus. The story insinuates that Jesus already had a relationship with this family of believers, which is why the sisters sent for Jesus to save Lazarus. We know that Lazarus dies, but Jesus tries to tell the disciples and the sisters many times that it wouldn't end in death for the glory of God. Everyone just figured this meant that it was eternal life Jesus was talking about. "'Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.'" verse 11. (foreshadowing!) "'Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.'" Jesus wants them to believe, but at this point they don't understand what. When Jesus finally arrives in Bethany, he is consistently told "If you had been here, my brother would not have died." Mary and Martha believed that Jesus could have saved Lazarus from dying, but nothing is ever thought about Jesus being able to make Lazarus rise again.
We know from Scripture that Jesus was filled with compassion over and over again. This scenario is no different. "...he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled." verse 33. Now for the kicker...Are you ready for this?! "Jesus wept." verse 35. Two words. Shortest verse. BIG reason. Many people believe that Jesus weeping was for the loss of his friend....but, what if.....just what if it was instead for the UNBELIEF of Mary and Martha?! What if Jesus wept for the lack of faith of his dear friends? They only believed he could have saved him, so why not make him rise from the dead?! Again, it is questioned, "'Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?'' verse 37.
To raise Lazarus from the dead Jesus prays, utilizing the power of his Father. Praying big! He prayed "for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me." All for the glory, right?! Even more so, Bethany was the same town, that the Jews had tried to stone Jesus in. How do you think Jesus coming back and raising someone from the dead helped that mindset? Jesus risked his life, again, in order for the glory of God to be shown to those who needed to believe.
Jesus has just as much compassion for us! He wants us to believe and spend time with him so we know the difference between the shepherd and the stranger. "He works everything out for the good of those who love him." All for the glory!!
As I write "How He Loves" started playing.....so.great. Sometimes I want a soundtrack to life. :)
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Contentment.
To start...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NlJr6TE7b4.... you should listen to this song. Set a Fire by Will Reagan and United Pursuit. AMAZING song. It has been a song I keep going back to over and over while I wrestle with some issues of the heart. "Set a fire down in my soul, that I can't contain, that I can't control."
"No place else I'd rather be, then here in your arms...." If there is one thing that I have found to be true these last few years, it is that Jesus never ceases to pursue me! He continues to do so even when I don't feel it or when I don't feel like I deserve to be pursued. He's really been after my heart this last month. My WHOLE heart, just not the parts that I chose to give to him and what a learning experience it has been.....
Contentment. Something that most single women my age struggle with. Something that is a daily struggle. Something that you may feel one week and the next week not in the slightest. An up and down battle of the heart that is, from experience, very exhausting. I found this in-between stage of life to be hard. There are days I am thankful I am exactly where I am in life, and there are days that I want so much more. The latter is where I become selfish and need to practice the patience that the Lord gives to me. I don't deserve anything that I want, especially when I want it. I don't even deserve the grace that God gives me when I demand those things that I want. I just hear "when will you be content with Me, with the joy that I give you, child?" Rom. 8:28 reminds us that "God works for the good of all those who love him." For now and forever this has to be and will be enough. So each day I will remind myself, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing....Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup...you will fill me with joy in your presence." Psalm 16.
Whether or not you are willing to admit it, most people, men included, have probably struggled with contentment even if it is not in a relationship sense. It is a culturally relevant topic in today's society. We are a society who wants everything bigger and better, and wants it as fast as we possibly can have it. If our fast food isn't given to us fast enough, we get irritated. If the person in front of us doesn't accelerate fast enough at a stop light, we get irritated. We are an addicted society, always searching for the thing that is going to satisfy the searching in our hearts. I think college students may be some of the most susceptible people to this discontentment issue. This is the time of discovery of who you are, where you are going, and all of a sudden you have so much freedom to do so. The decisions made on a daily basis are ultimately made to try to fill a void in a person's heart, or to compete with the person next to them. In such a technological age, there is always something new to try, but nothing satisfies. I have been there, and in different ways, still am. My heart hurts for this void to be filled for those around me. This is why I am here. A reminder on a daily basis as I look to those around me.
Jesus is not only the answer to discontentment of the heart in relationships, but also the answer to discontentment with life in general. "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink." John 7:37.
PS. sorry if this was a little scattered....
"No place else I'd rather be, then here in your arms...." If there is one thing that I have found to be true these last few years, it is that Jesus never ceases to pursue me! He continues to do so even when I don't feel it or when I don't feel like I deserve to be pursued. He's really been after my heart this last month. My WHOLE heart, just not the parts that I chose to give to him and what a learning experience it has been.....
Contentment. Something that most single women my age struggle with. Something that is a daily struggle. Something that you may feel one week and the next week not in the slightest. An up and down battle of the heart that is, from experience, very exhausting. I found this in-between stage of life to be hard. There are days I am thankful I am exactly where I am in life, and there are days that I want so much more. The latter is where I become selfish and need to practice the patience that the Lord gives to me. I don't deserve anything that I want, especially when I want it. I don't even deserve the grace that God gives me when I demand those things that I want. I just hear "when will you be content with Me, with the joy that I give you, child?" Rom. 8:28 reminds us that "God works for the good of all those who love him." For now and forever this has to be and will be enough. So each day I will remind myself, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing....Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup...you will fill me with joy in your presence." Psalm 16.
Whether or not you are willing to admit it, most people, men included, have probably struggled with contentment even if it is not in a relationship sense. It is a culturally relevant topic in today's society. We are a society who wants everything bigger and better, and wants it as fast as we possibly can have it. If our fast food isn't given to us fast enough, we get irritated. If the person in front of us doesn't accelerate fast enough at a stop light, we get irritated. We are an addicted society, always searching for the thing that is going to satisfy the searching in our hearts. I think college students may be some of the most susceptible people to this discontentment issue. This is the time of discovery of who you are, where you are going, and all of a sudden you have so much freedom to do so. The decisions made on a daily basis are ultimately made to try to fill a void in a person's heart, or to compete with the person next to them. In such a technological age, there is always something new to try, but nothing satisfies. I have been there, and in different ways, still am. My heart hurts for this void to be filled for those around me. This is why I am here. A reminder on a daily basis as I look to those around me.
Jesus is not only the answer to discontentment of the heart in relationships, but also the answer to discontentment with life in general. "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink." John 7:37.
PS. sorry if this was a little scattered....
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Be More.
Here it is, the beginning of a new year again. The time of new hope that this will finally be your year, and putting last year behind you as you move forward. You may or may not make resolutions that that may or may not even make it past the first month. It could be to lose those extra ten pounds gained over the Christmas season or it could be to finally travel to that place you have always wanted to go. Whatever it is, there are always things holding us back. I have stopped making resolutions, but instead have made goals for this year allowing myself grace. (One of which is to update this more)! So what are these things that hold us back?!
A friend of mine had heard of a 30 day challenge called the Live Dead Challenge that a few of us decided to do over break. This is pretty much a compilation of different missionaries writing on different topics on how to Live Dead with a different unreached people group to pray for each day. In the introduction to this challenge, you are asked to consider tithing two and a half hours of your time a day to spend time with Jesus...I am here to tell you this is hard! I only was able to average about an hour to an hour and a half while home and still struggle finding when to have the time. But that is not the point...I have learned a lot in the time that I have spent and even though I'm already on Day 27 there was one day that stood out to me the most and has become almost my motto for this year. The topic of the day: A Learning Heart: The Call to Be More.
"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15
To quote the missionary directly because he states it so well: "In a recent e-mail exchange with a close friend, I wrote, 'Man, when I grow up I want to be just like you.' He replied simply, 'Be more.' Be more? That's it! That's what Paul is telling Timothy. Be more. Laziness and lethargy are the twin, ugly stepsisters of our fallen nature. But, following Christ demands of us: 'Be more'!" When you throw intimidation into the mix of stepsisters you have quite a heavy mess holding you back from being more for God. But "the call to the nations demands it of us. We cannot escape the conviction that following Christ compels us to uncompromising excellence in our normal Christian lives...We never eclipse the need to be more for Him. It's a lifelong endeavor, a wonderful journey that He takes with us."
This "Be More" principle is the overlying goal for my new year, but I know it won't be easy because the battle of the triplets is a fight we live everyday against Satan. But Jesus is with us, and He gives us strength to "Be more." So how do you want to be more this year?!
"Discipline requires action." And to be more starts today. Good luck, my friends!
A friend of mine had heard of a 30 day challenge called the Live Dead Challenge that a few of us decided to do over break. This is pretty much a compilation of different missionaries writing on different topics on how to Live Dead with a different unreached people group to pray for each day. In the introduction to this challenge, you are asked to consider tithing two and a half hours of your time a day to spend time with Jesus...I am here to tell you this is hard! I only was able to average about an hour to an hour and a half while home and still struggle finding when to have the time. But that is not the point...I have learned a lot in the time that I have spent and even though I'm already on Day 27 there was one day that stood out to me the most and has become almost my motto for this year. The topic of the day: A Learning Heart: The Call to Be More.
"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15
To quote the missionary directly because he states it so well: "In a recent e-mail exchange with a close friend, I wrote, 'Man, when I grow up I want to be just like you.' He replied simply, 'Be more.' Be more? That's it! That's what Paul is telling Timothy. Be more. Laziness and lethargy are the twin, ugly stepsisters of our fallen nature. But, following Christ demands of us: 'Be more'!" When you throw intimidation into the mix of stepsisters you have quite a heavy mess holding you back from being more for God. But "the call to the nations demands it of us. We cannot escape the conviction that following Christ compels us to uncompromising excellence in our normal Christian lives...We never eclipse the need to be more for Him. It's a lifelong endeavor, a wonderful journey that He takes with us."
This "Be More" principle is the overlying goal for my new year, but I know it won't be easy because the battle of the triplets is a fight we live everyday against Satan. But Jesus is with us, and He gives us strength to "Be more." So how do you want to be more this year?!
"Discipline requires action." And to be more starts today. Good luck, my friends!
Thursday, December 8, 2011
National Conference summary.
Ugh, I really need to get better at this whole blogging thing. I know I fail at updating this in a timely manner, and considering it's apparently been since October that I last updated it, there is a lots to update you on. Today will be just a brief overview (compared to everything I could say) of our second EDGE summit/National Staff Conference in Louisville, KY. To begin, a picture montage of some highlights, then to talk about the substance of the summit/conference.
Visiting the Louisville Slugger Factory/Museum where I was able to hold a bat used by Micky Mantle and see a bat used by Babe Ruth for 21 of his home runs. Fun fact: it only takes 30 seconds to make a bat used by a major league baseball player.
Staff picture on the Belle of Louisville where we all ate dinner for a night. It didn't leave the harbor, but it was still fun! Can you tell it is cold/windy outside though?!
We also had a dance party that night! A tradition that will probably be held every time my EDGE class is together.
Our hotel was located on the Ohio River, so we were able to take walks by the river and play Ultimate Frisbee during some down time in a park nearby.
The Robbie Seay Band played a small concert for us one night of the conference. Soo great! Here is Jenny and I with him after the concert, when he thought we were twins.
One of the last nights, part of my staff went out for dinner at Hard Rock Cafe in a little dining district close by. Always a good time with them!
My beautiful roommates that I was blessed to share not only my room with, but also my life with for the whole ten days! I love these girls so very much!
Now for the substance part of the ten days. As Navigator staff I am very blessed/privileged to be able to hear from some great speakers: Norm Hubbard, Jerry Bridges, Tom Yeakley, Gary Haugen and many others. You may or may not know all of those names, but trust me when I say they are talented and very heartfelt speakers. They are passionate for what they talk about which just spreads to those listening!
We got to wake up every morning of our EDGE summit to have worship led by one of our own and to listen to Norm talk about the Gospel, specifically Acts 11, 13, 14. In Acts 11 Norm talked about the first intentional outreach to Greeks and the principal of "do whatever you can, with whatever you have, anywhere you are." This saying you don't have to be this extraordinary Christian to share Jesus; you can have "common boldness." The passage also reminded us that our purpose is to bring people to Jesus, not church.
Acts 13 passage was about keeping our eyes/focus on the Lord. Many good points from this:
- Don't try doing great things for God until you are caught up in the greatness of God.
- Can you joyfully endure the loss of ALL things?
- Bloom where you are planted. Be fruitful right where God put you. Focus.
- He calls people not just overseas, but also home.
- God will never call us to do what He won't equip us to do.
- Three things could be the center of our life: Jesus, self effort, or self deception.
SO much goodness to talk about; I'm trying to summarize most of it. I could write about all of theses separately in other blog posts so if you want to know more just ask! On to Acts 14....Norm posed five questions to us to think about:
- Will you allow opposition to divert you from the mission God has sent you on?
- Will you seek glory from men?
- Is the Gospel worth the surrender of your life?
- Do I live with an unaccountable confidence in the presence, power, and purposes of God?
- Is it my aim to raise up disciples?
Our mission is not a spectator sport!
We had so many other great speakers and workshops that I could go on and on about I will choose to only talk about one other. My favorite session was from a man by the name of Gary Haugen. You may have heard his name or seen his face on national news channels talking about his organization, International Justice Mission, which helps rescue people from situations such as those in the sex slave trade and helps to rehabilitate them and show them Jesus. He spoke to us about the unfamiliar passions of God, posing three questions (passion may be my favorite word, but it really was the content that made this my favorite):
- Are Jesus and I really interested in the same things?
- From my life, can people see the passions of Jesus?
- Do I have a passion for the world or do I send others?
Gary shared with us some of the atrocities he has witnessed in his line of work to show that the most difficult thing people can't understand about God is how He is good when they are in so much pain. This poses the question of what is God's plan to show He is good to these people? Answer: we are the plan. Matt. 5:14, 16 & 2 Cor. 5:20. "Injustice is the abuse of power that takes things from people that God wanted for them." God's call to us from this, Micah 6:8 and Matt. 23:23: do justice, love mercy, walk with God. Those suffering should be able to see God's goodness through God's people!
If you are interested in learning more about what Gary Haugen and his organization does, I would encourage you to check out the IJM website: http://www.ijm.org/ Pretty powerful stuff.
Okay! I think I'm done with this looooong post for now. Maybe my new years resolution should be to update this more...we will see how that goes! :)
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Focus.
As I was talking to a fellow EDGEr about a week ago about her experience on campus the topic of honesty came up. How we needed to share the struggles as well as the joyous moments on campus. That the struggles is what makes us stronger and may be able to be improved if shared and prayed about. October is now the month of honesty. So here goes...
Setting my own schedule; motivating myself to get off my bed and do things is hard. It's not that I lack passion or motivation for what I do. I absolutely love my job, don't get me wrong there, but I feel as though Satan has really been plaguing me with distractions. I don't have a set desk or office area so my "office" is my bed, but that doesn't feel like work. It feels like relaxing time. So I go to a coffee shop, but then I run into people I know. Then there is also the distractions of social networking. It's a never ending cycle.
William Borden, a gentlemen who radically changed the eternal destination of so many on his college campus and was called to missions in the early 1900s, wrote in the back of his Bible "No reserves, no retreats, no regrets." I ask that you boldly pray this for me. Pray that these students on campus become my unchanging focus. That this is my undying passion, rather then just my passion. That everything I do is to further the Kingdom and that "everything else is considered loss." (Phil. 3:8). That I am able to leave my comfort zone for the sake of the Gospel.
This is where God has called me and I have been reflecting on how this year is already a quarter of the way done. Wow. I don't want to reflect and have regrets that I didn't do enough. That I held back part of myself. That I was unwilling or too distracted to do something. This is where I want to be and I want to give everything I am to this cause. Please pray. Boldly.
Setting my own schedule; motivating myself to get off my bed and do things is hard. It's not that I lack passion or motivation for what I do. I absolutely love my job, don't get me wrong there, but I feel as though Satan has really been plaguing me with distractions. I don't have a set desk or office area so my "office" is my bed, but that doesn't feel like work. It feels like relaxing time. So I go to a coffee shop, but then I run into people I know. Then there is also the distractions of social networking. It's a never ending cycle.
William Borden, a gentlemen who radically changed the eternal destination of so many on his college campus and was called to missions in the early 1900s, wrote in the back of his Bible "No reserves, no retreats, no regrets." I ask that you boldly pray this for me. Pray that these students on campus become my unchanging focus. That this is my undying passion, rather then just my passion. That everything I do is to further the Kingdom and that "everything else is considered loss." (Phil. 3:8). That I am able to leave my comfort zone for the sake of the Gospel.
This is where God has called me and I have been reflecting on how this year is already a quarter of the way done. Wow. I don't want to reflect and have regrets that I didn't do enough. That I held back part of myself. That I was unwilling or too distracted to do something. This is where I want to be and I want to give everything I am to this cause. Please pray. Boldly.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
And so it begins.
Wow. It's been awhile since my last post. Shows how busy I've been?! Since then, my job from this summer ended and I went home to fundraise full time for a few weeks before the start of school. Let me share a few things God showed me while I was home.
If you didn't know, my hometown is in a semi drought. We have water restrictions and the rain showers always seem to split right around our town. This has caused quite a bit of stress around my house and things get tense at times. So driving home for those two weeks, I prayed that God would let it rain just twice. That's once a week. I know God can do that! Meanwhile when I was home, I had a feeling of semi anxiousness/ helplessness because I didn't have as many appointments that I had thought I needed and felt like I wasn't doing enough to fundraise. I felt like God wasn't listening. Think again, Elizabeth! Well, not only did it rain twice while I was home, it rained four times in those two weeks. It was so great just to have rain that had it not been lightning outside, I probably would have gone and danced in the rain. God was listening to me, and answered in fine form!
Another way he had shown me he was listening to me and would provide all I needed was at the very beginning of those two weeks. A woman at my church had the great idea of having a garage sale that took place the first Saturday back in town. Friday night when I went to go help my mother set up, I was overwhelmed with the amount of donations that were given. With all the stuff that was there, I had prayed that God would provide $1000 from the garage sale including a matching donation from a church organization. Never thinking that a garage sale could actually bring in that much, I guess it didn't cross my mind "wait, God can bring in that much." It was almost as if God was like "watch this!" After the day was done and the money was counted, it actually turned out to be just a few dollars over $1000. Praise the Lord!! I was speechless, humbled, and overwhelmed!
After the two weeks, I was able to go to campus at 66% funded. I was still a little discouraged because I wouldn't have time to really fundraise while on campus for two weeks while we were doing all the welcome to campus activities and I knew I wouldn't want to leave after starting on campus. More on the beginning of school after this, but for now a large announcement: drumroll...........I am 75% funded and haven't had an appointment in the last two weeks, which means I am able to start full time on campus!!!!! It also means, more importantly that God has done everything. I came home this weekend for one appointment. After making a little more than 30 phone calls, I got one appointment . Feeling dejected Friday night I was talking to my parents, and the comment was made by my father "how are we going to get you to 75%?" Cue God again with his "watch this, you don't do anything!" Through a series of blessings the next 24 hours the funding came in! Thank. You. Lord.
Now for being on campus. I. love. these. people. That pretty much sums up my experience so far! I love my staff that I work with, the returning students who are so passionate about our ministry, and the freshman who have shared their heart with me these last two weeks.
God has been working in people, just by observing the response we have gotten from the many outreach activities we have done: handing out freshman bags, giving away free popsicles, and several other get to know you events. We had a good turn out for our first NavNite (sorry Tim if you read this, that's how everyone spells it). It was encouraging to see the number of freshman looking into our ministry.
However, numbers is not the basis of the ministry. A community of love, grace, and fellowship is what I would say is. And boy, do we have a great community!! Returners wanting to welcome new brothers and sisters to the ministry, wanting to show them what a relationship with Christ looks like, and also just the passion that they have for each other and Jesus. The openness of newcomers to sharing their lives with us. I have gotten such good time with old friends and new ones that at times I was so overjoyed and at rest with the Spirit! I wish you all could experience these people in our community!
Our staff: is great! God definitely had plans when he put us all together. We all think differently, but mesh well together. The four EDGErs had an especially great time bonding while learning a dance for an introduction video we played at the first NavNite. It was a hit! I don't have the final cut of the video with interviews beforehand, but I can show you the video that was recorded. I will apologize for the quality, there are times when you hear the amazingly cute three year old son of some of our EDGErs. The original video is by OK Go, A million ways. Here is our version (you only get the link until I figure out how to embed the video on here):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8afuAdSxCVM
If you didn't know, my hometown is in a semi drought. We have water restrictions and the rain showers always seem to split right around our town. This has caused quite a bit of stress around my house and things get tense at times. So driving home for those two weeks, I prayed that God would let it rain just twice. That's once a week. I know God can do that! Meanwhile when I was home, I had a feeling of semi anxiousness/ helplessness because I didn't have as many appointments that I had thought I needed and felt like I wasn't doing enough to fundraise. I felt like God wasn't listening. Think again, Elizabeth! Well, not only did it rain twice while I was home, it rained four times in those two weeks. It was so great just to have rain that had it not been lightning outside, I probably would have gone and danced in the rain. God was listening to me, and answered in fine form!
Another way he had shown me he was listening to me and would provide all I needed was at the very beginning of those two weeks. A woman at my church had the great idea of having a garage sale that took place the first Saturday back in town. Friday night when I went to go help my mother set up, I was overwhelmed with the amount of donations that were given. With all the stuff that was there, I had prayed that God would provide $1000 from the garage sale including a matching donation from a church organization. Never thinking that a garage sale could actually bring in that much, I guess it didn't cross my mind "wait, God can bring in that much." It was almost as if God was like "watch this!" After the day was done and the money was counted, it actually turned out to be just a few dollars over $1000. Praise the Lord!! I was speechless, humbled, and overwhelmed!
After the two weeks, I was able to go to campus at 66% funded. I was still a little discouraged because I wouldn't have time to really fundraise while on campus for two weeks while we were doing all the welcome to campus activities and I knew I wouldn't want to leave after starting on campus. More on the beginning of school after this, but for now a large announcement: drumroll...........I am 75% funded and haven't had an appointment in the last two weeks, which means I am able to start full time on campus!!!!! It also means, more importantly that God has done everything. I came home this weekend for one appointment. After making a little more than 30 phone calls, I got one appointment . Feeling dejected Friday night I was talking to my parents, and the comment was made by my father "how are we going to get you to 75%?" Cue God again with his "watch this, you don't do anything!" Through a series of blessings the next 24 hours the funding came in! Thank. You. Lord.
Now for being on campus. I. love. these. people. That pretty much sums up my experience so far! I love my staff that I work with, the returning students who are so passionate about our ministry, and the freshman who have shared their heart with me these last two weeks.
God has been working in people, just by observing the response we have gotten from the many outreach activities we have done: handing out freshman bags, giving away free popsicles, and several other get to know you events. We had a good turn out for our first NavNite (sorry Tim if you read this, that's how everyone spells it). It was encouraging to see the number of freshman looking into our ministry.
However, numbers is not the basis of the ministry. A community of love, grace, and fellowship is what I would say is. And boy, do we have a great community!! Returners wanting to welcome new brothers and sisters to the ministry, wanting to show them what a relationship with Christ looks like, and also just the passion that they have for each other and Jesus. The openness of newcomers to sharing their lives with us. I have gotten such good time with old friends and new ones that at times I was so overjoyed and at rest with the Spirit! I wish you all could experience these people in our community!
Our staff: is great! God definitely had plans when he put us all together. We all think differently, but mesh well together. The four EDGErs had an especially great time bonding while learning a dance for an introduction video we played at the first NavNite. It was a hit! I don't have the final cut of the video with interviews beforehand, but I can show you the video that was recorded. I will apologize for the quality, there are times when you hear the amazingly cute three year old son of some of our EDGErs. The original video is by OK Go, A million ways. Here is our version (you only get the link until I figure out how to embed the video on here):
After that little gem I don't know if there is much to say to capture your attention again, but I will leave you with a piece of some fellowship time I had recently. We were discussing how nothing in this life matters without Jesus. How nothing is certain; no absolute safeplace. It sounds like a scary thought, but it was actually comforting to know that Jesus is the ultimate safeplace; the only thing that matters. No anxiety, no worry, and no care matters. In the words of The Message translation:
"It's all smoke, nothing but smoke. The Quester says that everything is smoke." Ecc. 12:8
More to come on being on campus soon!
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