I can't believe today is already June 30th!! Last night before we began our Heart for the World discussion, we had to go over the calendar for the next couple of weeks. I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw that June is over and there are only 4 weeks of project left. Time has flown by already and I know that no matter how many more weeks we could have left, I will not be ready to leave on July 31st.
On a lighter note, the Heart for the World discussion was great!! We got to hear from two international students who are on project with us, Aya from Mongolia and Daniel from India, about their testimonies and what it is like to be a believer in their countries. Afterwards we also got to hear from some Campus Crusade staff who are working internationally. It was such a good night, it really ignited my passion for the world even more.
I got to cook with Miss Cindy again this morning because Sally is still working on getting better. It was actually a ton of fun to get into the kitchen and cook. I got to make some Ghiradelli cookie bars for dinner tonight, and of course got to taste test :)
Other than that, today has been pretty chill. Yesterday I started going through Colossians for the second time this year. The more I read through this scripture, I feel like it is really relevant for me today, like the society that these believers were struggling with is very similar to the struggles I have had in Madison the last couple of years. I have to go to the Boys and Girls club soon for orientation, so I'm gonna keep it short today, I'll talk to you later.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Monday, June 29th
This weekend I went back to Wisconsin for a family wedding. The time I got to spend at home was so nice! I have to admit, it was hard to miss action back at the house (I heard there was even an impromptu dance party Friday night), but I loved getting to celebrate Matt and Tanya’s wedding with everyone back home and having a couple quality slumber parties with Alex.
Other than the wedding and reception, I had a pretty uneventful weekend, spent a few hours in the Minneapolis airport on layover and got to do a little shopping with mom before I hit the Milwaukee airport which was much more fun than they layover.
Today has been pretty good so far. Sally is sick :( but that meant I got take her job and help Miss Cindy in the kitchen this morning. I made a strawberry shortcake dessert which makes me look forward to dinner much more than usual. Also, I finally got a call from Boys and Girls Club headquarters and my paperwork is through!!!! I go in tomorrow for orientation and training and will hopefully be working with them everyday from here on out!! So, that's a huge praise, I can't wait to start!
Last week in our small group Bible study we went over 2nd Timothy 1. I've gone through this chapter a few different times, but last week as we worked through it, it really stuck me that this book is not only a great epistle in the New Testament, but it is actually a letter from Paul to Timothy. I know that sounds pretty basic, but taking this into consideration really put some things in perspective for me.
A verse that has fueled my pursuit of being more bold the past couple weeks is 2nd Timothy 1:7.
For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.
Seeing this verse as reassurance from God's Word has been great for me. There were definitely a few times during the SPECIAL where I was able to push through knowing that God gave me a spirit especially designed to endure through that moment in time. However, thinking of this verse in a less broad sense, but simply as a reassurance from one old and faithful Christ follower to his disciple, shed a completely new light on the verse.
Often times I think I read the Bible with the impression that the people in the Bible, especially New Testament, were perfect Christians that I could never measure up to. I see how God was able to use them to start His church on earth and jump to the conclusion that they were “way better” than me and that God could never use me as effectively. But seeing here that Paul was compelled by God to reassure Timothy that he was able to overcome his own inadequacies, I am honestly comforted in the fact that God could use someone with the same fears and doubts that I have to do great things. Not that I feel justified in doubting God or that I think it is a good thing I struggle with boldness, but knowing that I even in the midst of weakness, God is able to use us, His servants, to do great things for His kingdom, if only we take that first step and let Him work through us. I think I may always struggle to embrace the boldness that Paul encourages Timothy to take hold of throughout this book, but knowing that I can grasp onto the same promises that Paul brings to Timothy to overcome his own doubts give me hope that maybe I will be able to do the same.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Thursday, June 25
The last few days have been pretty uneventful for me. I am still waiting for my paperwork to clear at the Boys and Girls club, so until then, my schedule until dinner is filled with a whole lot of free time. Although I am beginning to get impatient with this process and want to start my volunteer work as soon as possible, it was nice to have the time to connect with people in the house one-on-one while everyone else is at work. Yesterday I was able to take a 2 hour lunch break with Hannah once she got off work, it was great. We had some great conversations and the food was wonderful. If you are ever in Fort Collins, I definitely suggest the Pickle Barrel for sandwiches and iced tea.
Today the boredom of free time could not be contained by lunch or the 1000 piece puzzle of the Last Supper that is in progress at the house, so to fill the time I decided to help Sally with her day job, cleaning the house and in general being the house mom. That's right Mom, I was cleaning, and I liked it! Seriously though, it is such a blessing to have Sally taking care of us at the house, she does a great job cleaning up after everyone and has the patience of a saint. Take a second and imagine cleaning up after 60 college kids who are your peers everyday...
Last night after dinner I had to run to Hobby Lobby with Bryttany, Mark, and Mike to buy tye dye stuff for the swimmers, who had to make shirts for their meet this weekend. On the drive home, as we were all discussing where we were heading to for our own dates with Jesus that night, the song "Blessed Be Your Name" came up on the shuffle of Mark's Ipod. I love this song, but almost every time I hear it, I begin to remember times in my life when I have been "stuck in the desert place" and the song says. For some reason, this song more than many others that discuss trials, always brings memories of lose to the forefront of my mind. Especially at this time of year, hearing this song brings me to remember the loss of classmates and people in my life who have already gone to be with the Lord.
Later, as I sat in the park on a blanket with my Lord, my thoughts remained on this song, but in a much different way. After spending some time conversing with God, I looked over the park and just listened to His voice. With "Blessed be Your Name" still in the back of my mind, God began to bring to mind many of the ways He has blessed me this summer. I started to remember my prayers for His guidance and will in my life that I sent up to Him desperately this winter as I was conflicted between Colorado and Rhinelander, and see now how He has answered them. I thought of my family and support system at home. I was reminded that unlike many others in the house, I am not still looking for those last few support checks. I think of the growing relationships in the house that He has brought into my life.
Walking back to the house with the sunset in front of me and mosquitoes attacking my legs, I was overwhelmed with the love of my Savior. Even though my life isn't perfect and I struggle with sin and doubt everyday, the reassurances found in His blessings and faithfulness amaze me. Right now, there is no other place I would rather be then in His midst, and I love it here.
Today the boredom of free time could not be contained by lunch or the 1000 piece puzzle of the Last Supper that is in progress at the house, so to fill the time I decided to help Sally with her day job, cleaning the house and in general being the house mom. That's right Mom, I was cleaning, and I liked it! Seriously though, it is such a blessing to have Sally taking care of us at the house, she does a great job cleaning up after everyone and has the patience of a saint. Take a second and imagine cleaning up after 60 college kids who are your peers everyday...
Last night after dinner I had to run to Hobby Lobby with Bryttany, Mark, and Mike to buy tye dye stuff for the swimmers, who had to make shirts for their meet this weekend. On the drive home, as we were all discussing where we were heading to for our own dates with Jesus that night, the song "Blessed Be Your Name" came up on the shuffle of Mark's Ipod. I love this song, but almost every time I hear it, I begin to remember times in my life when I have been "stuck in the desert place" and the song says. For some reason, this song more than many others that discuss trials, always brings memories of lose to the forefront of my mind. Especially at this time of year, hearing this song brings me to remember the loss of classmates and people in my life who have already gone to be with the Lord.
Later, as I sat in the park on a blanket with my Lord, my thoughts remained on this song, but in a much different way. After spending some time conversing with God, I looked over the park and just listened to His voice. With "Blessed be Your Name" still in the back of my mind, God began to bring to mind many of the ways He has blessed me this summer. I started to remember my prayers for His guidance and will in my life that I sent up to Him desperately this winter as I was conflicted between Colorado and Rhinelander, and see now how He has answered them. I thought of my family and support system at home. I was reminded that unlike many others in the house, I am not still looking for those last few support checks. I think of the growing relationships in the house that He has brought into my life.
Walking back to the house with the sunset in front of me and mosquitoes attacking my legs, I was overwhelmed with the love of my Savior. Even though my life isn't perfect and I struggle with sin and doubt everyday, the reassurances found in His blessings and faithfulness amaze me. Right now, there is no other place I would rather be then in His midst, and I love it here.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
What is a sheep?
Monday nights at the house are “Heart for” nights, every week we discuss a different area of the Christian life we are called to have a heart for. Last night Dee talked to us about having a heart for ministry. One of her main points was that as Christians, we all have the blessing and obligation of carrying out our own ministry in life, even if no part of our lives into the category of full time ministry. Looking at Jesus’ call to the people in Matthew 5:13-16, it is clear that as children of the King, we are on this earth to make an impact, to use the gifts He has given us to light this world up. As Mark Stuart and Audio Adrenaline might say, we are here to “Start a Fire,” great song, check it out!
As Dee continued, she mentioned a familiar passage:
Matthew 9:36-38
Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plenty, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”
Throughout His life, Jesus used sheep to discuss countless topics. They come up so often, that I think that whenever I see them in a parable or illustration, I have kind of gotten used to glancing over them and looking for the deeper meaning in the scripture. Sheep don’t really stick out, you know. When I see a lion or a mouse or a camel used in scripture, I take notice. What is the size or roar or viciousness of this animal symbolizing? But when it’s a sheep there, I have gotten used to just reading sheep, thinking follower, and moving on. But, last night instead of focusing first on the other points in the scripture, Dee took a minute to focus on the sheep.
What is a sheep without its shepherd? Even now as I sit and ponder and try to communicate my thoughts which seemed so clear last night, I am having trouble answering this question constructively. A sheep without a shepherd has no one to follow, no one to keep it in the fold, no protection or defense. If a predator, say a wolf or lion seeking a sheep to devour, approached a shepherdless sheep, it’s done for. Sheep aren’t designed to run fast from predators, they don’t have crazy camouflage skills to blend in; it’s almost as if they were designed to be taken care of. A sheep without a shepherd is stuck wandering, serving no greater purpose waiting for greener grass to come its way, sometimes wandering looking for that perfect spot with no real direction. What kind of a life is that?
However, when you put a shepherd into the equation, the sheep’s life is transformed. Now the sheep has someone much wiser than itself directing its course, keeping it together with the others, leading it to new pastures, and protecting it from danger. The sheep is fulfilling a purpose in life. The shepherd grooms and keeps it, waiting for the right time to shear the sheep’s wool so that he can use the fruit of the sheep’s labor to serve others. With a shepherd, the sheep goes from a wild animal lost in the world, to the property of his Shepherd, loved like never before.
Thinking about people in my own life, how many lost sheep have I let walk past me without ever even considering pointing them to the Shepherd who has put the meaning and love into my life? In the passage Dee talked about, Jesus told the disciples to pray for more workers to lead the lost to Him. What if I was the answer to that prayer for someone in my life, but ignored the Spirit’s calling because I was afraid I might stick out, said I didn’t have time, was simply being lazy? When I begin to think about ministry like this, I am so convicted, knowing I have let so many ministry opportunities slip through my hands. How can I get that compassion for the lost to overcome the fear and lies that are my excuses to get out of ministry?
The ever-insightful Sally Prosen has suggested from the other side of the Starbucks table that perhaps only prayer has the power to overcome the lies of Satan that stand in the way of ministry. Praying for those you're minister to, with them, and with fellow believers. I'm sure I could ask 50 people this question and get 50 answers, but I will settle on this one tonight.
As Dee continued, she mentioned a familiar passage:
Matthew 9:36-38
Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plenty, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”
Throughout His life, Jesus used sheep to discuss countless topics. They come up so often, that I think that whenever I see them in a parable or illustration, I have kind of gotten used to glancing over them and looking for the deeper meaning in the scripture. Sheep don’t really stick out, you know. When I see a lion or a mouse or a camel used in scripture, I take notice. What is the size or roar or viciousness of this animal symbolizing? But when it’s a sheep there, I have gotten used to just reading sheep, thinking follower, and moving on. But, last night instead of focusing first on the other points in the scripture, Dee took a minute to focus on the sheep.
What is a sheep without its shepherd? Even now as I sit and ponder and try to communicate my thoughts which seemed so clear last night, I am having trouble answering this question constructively. A sheep without a shepherd has no one to follow, no one to keep it in the fold, no protection or defense. If a predator, say a wolf or lion seeking a sheep to devour, approached a shepherdless sheep, it’s done for. Sheep aren’t designed to run fast from predators, they don’t have crazy camouflage skills to blend in; it’s almost as if they were designed to be taken care of. A sheep without a shepherd is stuck wandering, serving no greater purpose waiting for greener grass to come its way, sometimes wandering looking for that perfect spot with no real direction. What kind of a life is that?
However, when you put a shepherd into the equation, the sheep’s life is transformed. Now the sheep has someone much wiser than itself directing its course, keeping it together with the others, leading it to new pastures, and protecting it from danger. The sheep is fulfilling a purpose in life. The shepherd grooms and keeps it, waiting for the right time to shear the sheep’s wool so that he can use the fruit of the sheep’s labor to serve others. With a shepherd, the sheep goes from a wild animal lost in the world, to the property of his Shepherd, loved like never before.
Thinking about people in my own life, how many lost sheep have I let walk past me without ever even considering pointing them to the Shepherd who has put the meaning and love into my life? In the passage Dee talked about, Jesus told the disciples to pray for more workers to lead the lost to Him. What if I was the answer to that prayer for someone in my life, but ignored the Spirit’s calling because I was afraid I might stick out, said I didn’t have time, was simply being lazy? When I begin to think about ministry like this, I am so convicted, knowing I have let so many ministry opportunities slip through my hands. How can I get that compassion for the lost to overcome the fear and lies that are my excuses to get out of ministry?
The ever-insightful Sally Prosen has suggested from the other side of the Starbucks table that perhaps only prayer has the power to overcome the lies of Satan that stand in the way of ministry. Praying for those you're minister to, with them, and with fellow believers. I'm sure I could ask 50 people this question and get 50 answers, but I will settle on this one tonight.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Week Two
Because there are almost 50 students in the house and over 10 staffers with a total of 16 kids, we split up between 3 churches. I was assigned to Immanuel Community Church, and I love it! Last week, we got to go the the College age Sunday school before church; the addition of the 16 of us at least doubled the class size :) After church we got to go to a church picnic. Playing beach volleyball while recovering from the SPECIAL made the game interesting, but tons of fun. Our church family has whole heatedly embraced us, and I love it!
This week, instead of going over AIA principles at night, we focused on having a Heart for the Body of Christ. We kicked off the week Monday night with a talk by Meg Akehi, one of the full time staffers on project. She discussed the Acts 2 church and the 1 Corinthians 12 body. Over the past year I have done a lot of reflecting on unity and community in the body. Unfortunately, I think this is something too often overlooked in the Church in America, but that I also realized in continuing to grow inside our project house.
As our week went on, I was continually amazed at the Christian friendships God has blessed me with in the house. Although I have only know most people in the house for less than two weeks, I have been able to build bonds deeper than I have with many people I have known my entire life. God has allowed me to begin to break down the barriers I so often set up to control relationships and instead truly connect with people. The fact that this genuine connecting generally calls me to stay up into the wee hours of the night is only a small detail, that makes itself known every morning when my alarm rings.
As the week continued and no job came my way, I felt God calling me to look into volunteer positions around town. On Thursday He led me to a Boys and Girls Club close to the house. After talking with the coordinator, I know this is exactly where God wants me to be this summer, I am so excited to start as soon as my background check goes through!! After spending a spring struggling with the fact that God was not going to allow me to serve again at Crescent Lake Bible Camp again this summer, He brought me to a position working with kids just as CLBC begins there own round of elementary camps. Sometimes God's timing makes perfect sense...
The week went out in style as we were blessed with a weekend completely off, no ministry responsibilities except church on Sunday. I hiked in Rocky Mountain National Park during the day and grabbed dinner at a local pizza place with Meg and Jen, two staffers. The mountains were so amazing!!! We hiked to "the Loch," a glarier lake with a great view. Its so easy to remember how big of a God we serve when I can stare at the Rocky's every morning and then climb them on the weekend!! I haven't trasferred any pics from my camers to computer yet, but hopefully I will get to soon. After dinner, the car I was riding in booked it back to Fort Collins as fast as we could to catch a drive-in showing of Up, so cute, definitely recommend it!
On Sunday, Colby and Sarah Keefer, the Project Coordinator and his wife, invited my Bible study to eat lunch with his family after church. Not only were the banana oatmeal pancakes wonderful, but it was such a blast to have dinner with their family. This year there are an unprecedented 16 kids under the age of 8 with the staff families. They are all around the house at dinner time, and I have to admit it makes for a loud, but super fun atmosphere. Getting to see the families intereact is just another blessing of project.
Well, that brings you up to date with me on project. Sorry the posts have been kinda dry, hopefully now that I am caught up I can put a little more into them. I really want to share how God moves in my life this summer. He has already done so much, and I can't wait to see where He takes me! Thanks so much to all my supporters for giving me this opportunity to grow with Christ, I wouldn't be out here without you faithful support, I love you all!
Week One
As most of you know, I have already been in Colorado for two weeks, so here is a "quick" recap of what has gone down so far.
The general format of a day on project is working or volunteering outside of the house until 5 and then using the evening to eat as a family and do some kind of training or evangelism activity. The first week we were here, we used our nights to do a modified version of what Athletes in Action calls "Ultimate Training Camp." Every night we went over a different principle of AIA and then we played ultimate frisbee for a couple hours, trying to put the principle discussed into practice on the field. All the principles apply directly to sport, but really are meant to be taken into everyday life as a Christian.
Although I was already somewhat familiar with the principles before I came here, going over them again was great! God really worked on my heart when we tried to apply the concept of " Hurtin' for Certain." While we were playing we were supposed to focus on dealing with trials in a Godly way and looking to God for support instead of getting mad. The story we went through for this principle was Joseph's life in Genesis. As we played we were allowed less and less rest time and the refs began purposefully making bad calls. I found my self getting exceedingly frustrated and angry, it was eye opening to think that while I was trying to focus on dealing with trials, how poor of a job I was doing. What would I do in "real life," surrounded by people who aren't going to encourage me in Christ? This definitely lead to a heart to heart with God later.
Our application of the principles in sport was pushed to the limit in our final days of UTC with and event called the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. (an acronym for Spiritual Principles + Exhaustion = Confindence In an Alimghty Lord). Over the course of 20 hours of team competition with little rest, the SPECIAL is meant to push athletes to the limit where they will completly surrender and rely solely on God. Throughout the breaks, leaders continued to read scripture about Jesus' last days on earth to remind us of Chirst's own sacrifice for us.
Reflecting on the SPECIAL later, I couldn't help but think of all the times I wanted to quit, moments throughout the day when I didn't want to go on. Although I hate that I would ever feel like this when trying to exemplify Christ, thinking about these moments only mkaes me fall more in love with Him. He payed the ultimate sacrifice for me, but instead of sp
rinting up and down endless hills or playing midnight basketball on the brink of exhaustion, He was tortured in the presence of Pilate and stumbled up a hill called Golgotha carrying the cross to which He would later be nailed for my sin. Comparing these experiences is almost laughable, but realizing that Christ never thought of giving up on me as He went through His own SPECIAL knowing that 2000 years later I would give up on Him takes my breath away. I have never felt closer to God than I did in the hour after the SPECIAL, and I thank God for bringing me through the pain to grow in Him.
The general format of a day on project is working or volunteering outside of the house until 5 and then using the evening to eat as a family and do some kind of training or evangelism activity. The first week we were here, we used our nights to do a modified version of what Athletes in Action calls "Ultimate Training Camp." Every night we went over a different principle of AIA and then we played ultimate frisbee for a couple hours, trying to put the principle discussed into practice on the field. All the principles apply directly to sport, but really are meant to be taken into everyday life as a Christian.
Although I was already somewhat familiar with the principles before I came here, going over them again was great! God really worked on my heart when we tried to apply the concept of " Hurtin' for Certain." While we were playing we were supposed to focus on dealing with trials in a Godly way and looking to God for support instead of getting mad. The story we went through for this principle was Joseph's life in Genesis. As we played we were allowed less and less rest time and the refs began purposefully making bad calls. I found my self getting exceedingly frustrated and angry, it was eye opening to think that while I was trying to focus on dealing with trials, how poor of a job I was doing. What would I do in "real life," surrounded by people who aren't going to encourage me in Christ? This definitely lead to a heart to heart with God later.
Our application of the principles in sport was pushed to the limit in our final days of UTC with and event called the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. (an acronym for Spiritual Principles + Exhaustion = Confindence In an Alimghty Lord). Over the course of 20 hours of team competition with little rest, the SPECIAL is meant to push athletes to the limit where they will completly surrender and rely solely on God. Throughout the breaks, leaders continued to read scripture about Jesus' last days on earth to remind us of Chirst's own sacrifice for us.
Reflecting on the SPECIAL later, I couldn't help but think of all the times I wanted to quit, moments throughout the day when I didn't want to go on. Although I hate that I would ever feel like this when trying to exemplify Christ, thinking about these moments only mkaes me fall more in love with Him. He payed the ultimate sacrifice for me, but instead of sp
rinting up and down endless hills or playing midnight basketball on the brink of exhaustion, He was tortured in the presence of Pilate and stumbled up a hill called Golgotha carrying the cross to which He would later be nailed for my sin. Comparing these experiences is almost laughable, but realizing that Christ never thought of giving up on me as He went through His own SPECIAL knowing that 2000 years later I would give up on Him takes my breath away. I have never felt closer to God than I did in the hour after the SPECIAL, and I thank God for bringing me through the pain to grow in Him.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Welcome
Hey All,
So I was planning on starting a blog before I left for Colorado, but somehow that didn't happen before I left and I saw the thought as a lost cause. However, as God continues to work in my life, I feel like I should be sharing these incredible experiences with you all.
Thanks so much for following me and I hope you enjoy the trip.
So I was planning on starting a blog before I left for Colorado, but somehow that didn't happen before I left and I saw the thought as a lost cause. However, as God continues to work in my life, I feel like I should be sharing these incredible experiences with you all.
Thanks so much for following me and I hope you enjoy the trip.
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