tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5279631295895869972024-03-05T07:11:03.814-08:00Soli Deo Gloria"For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." ~ 2 Corinthians 4:6shine4Himhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302711336428087430noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527963129589586997.post-946459334728914622014-08-18T18:36:00.001-07:002014-08-18T18:37:02.736-07:00the new & improved!hello readers & followers! wow. it has been forever! i wanted to update you guys and inform you of the new transition to WordPress. my new blog is titled <a href="http://relishinggrace.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Relishing Grace</a> (relishinggrace.wordpress.com). looking forward to hopping back on the blogging bandwagon and catching up on writing of God's great faithfulness. he has indeed done great things this year!shine4Himhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302711336428087430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527963129589586997.post-22025798248646156172013-08-04T19:39:00.001-07:002014-03-30T14:14:43.372-07:00the open-handed life<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gloriously Ruined</span>.</span> A phrase used by a fellow blogger, defining how God uses challenges, pain and difficult seasons to bring about a refined heart. One that is continually molded into the image of Christ through moment-by-moment grace. This has been my summer. And more precisely, it's the entire Christian life.<br />
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The majority of my time is spent living life in the future.<br />
What about now?<br />
I'm dissatisfied with the precious, undeserved moments I'm given.<br />
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Time falls away so quickly. What will we do when it's all gone? 20 years seems like a lifetime, but yet our next breathe is not even our own. I like writing my own story. In fact, I've convinced myself on many occasions that I'm quite good at it. I have dreams. I have hopes. I want adventure. A recurring response to God lately has been, "I got this." What pride. What foolishness! "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." {proverbs 16:9} I'm a student at Mayo Clinic, majoring in ultrasound. Frisbee, dancing, cleaning houses, bible study, laughing and sharing life with friends.... I've been so foolish {multiple times actually} to ask God, "Where is the adventure in that?" I've been brought so far.<br />
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May 2014 seems like a long ways away... It's the month I graduate from college. Everyone asks, "So what happens next??" Well, I don't really have an answer. A wise friend once told me that God tends to give details on a need-to-know basis. If we knew all the details, having them lined up perfectly, we wouldn't need him! So let's be real here. I'd like to say 10 months from now I'll be an official employee at Mayo Clinic? Working at a doctor's office scanning babies? Somehow paying off student loans? Getting to be apart of a ministry that has changed my life? Living at an orphanage in Uganda? ...oh, and marriage & raising a family has to fit somewhere in there too!...*whew* {I know, it's ridiculous.} The question mark at the end of each "idea" is the most comforting, yet frustrating piece of the puzzle. But praise God that we have such a limited vision! We try so hard <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">to take control</span>... How many times do I have to tell myself before finally coming to grips with the fact that <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">it's not my job</span>?<br />
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What if I endlessly craved the presence of God as much I craved my own dreams? Ever since I was young I've had a very detailed dream {because as we've already established, I'm a very detailed person}. I want to graduate college and be asked to give up everything. I want to passionately pursue a vision that requires the loss of all things. I want more the anything to GO. But how does that all fit together?<br />
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Yet, glancing back over my shoulder, I ponder God's faithfulness and relish this beautiful truth: the details are not mine to control or orchestrate. "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit' -- yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE? For you are midst that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, 'IF THE LORD WILLS, we will live and do this or that.'" {james 4:13-15} What a peace there is in just getting to ENJOY life! How often do we <i>enjoy God</i>? Relishing in his splendor and majesty.<br />
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And so we return to the <i>now</i>.<br />
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Now is not irrelevant. It a season -- a very specific season in fact. And so we continue to run this race to the praise of his glory! How are we <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">meeting the moments</span> that are given to us? "<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I rest on his unchanging grace. In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil.</span>" At certain points in our life, it's easy to hold a clenched fist in God's face, asking the classic three-letter-question, "W-H-Y?" As humans, we enjoy living life by our own rules. But oh what joy and freedom there is in the open-handed life... binding our time here on earth with palms toward heaven, accepting his good, pleasing and perfect will. Because our story is already written. {And he's a much more perfect author!} Trust and obedience is all that is required.<br />
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"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; <i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">great is your faithfulness</span></i>. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him.' The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him." {lamentations 3:22-25}shine4Himhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302711336428087430noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527963129589586997.post-24924293533921152552012-10-15T18:26:00.000-07:002012-12-26T07:19:17.900-08:00No Place Like Home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There's just something about airports. Something about them that creates butterflies in your stomach, immense anticipation, tears of joy, and sometimes tears of sadness. But I think it's being "on the other side" that makes airports one of the happiest places to be. It's a place of reunion. A place of complete joy, waiting patiently (or maybe impatiently) for a loved one to come walking around the corner... Colorful signs with the names of those arriving, little ones clenching their fists, squirming and ready to burst with excitement. And then the run! The beloved has been spotted and the long awaited moment has finally arrived.<br />
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Airports remind me of how heaven will be... the arrival of those coming Home to Glory. When we finally meet our Maker face to face and those who have long awaited sweet reunion. ...When Christ comes back for us, to take us Home. Oh what a day that will be!<br />
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As many of you know, I spent my second summer with Worldview Academy this year, and each experience only seems to be sweeter than the last! Now I know it's October, and camp ended nearly 3 months ago. Nonetheless, it's all coming in bits and pieces... =)<br />
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It was week 5 and we were headed to Grove City, PA for Camp #4. God's grace was truly sufficient during weeks prior. There were many battles and He was indeed faithful! But nothing could have prepared me for the week to come. From the moment I shook four of my girls hands in the hallway, my heart overflowed with joy. "These are my girls..." I gasped inside. By Friday, I was humbled to pieces after contemplating the precious memories made with these 9 faces of grace. But the hurt came that day as we packed up and left. There were many tears as I hugged each one goodbye.<br />
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It's difficult, looking back and telling how God changed my life through that week of camp. That next van ride was filled with devastation, hurt, pain, and feeling frustrated with God. "How could you allow such a deep love for these girls to grow in my heart, knowing that I would have to say goodbye in just 6 days?" I didn't understand. Never had I experienced such a refreshing, inspiring, and overwhelming week of sharing life with these students.<br />
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But the remaining weeks of camp would reveal that answer. For me, camp is "Narnia" -- a place where I glimpse a taste of heaven. I long for this place. And this summer was definitely the same, but I dealt with much more pain and loss. A piece of my heart had been taken by these girls and now suddenly was no longer mine.<br />
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In C.S. Lewis' <i>The Great Divorce</i>, heaven is described with grass too sharp for human feet ("as hard as diamonds"), apples too heavy to pick up, and waterfalls that pierce the human ears. How could such a perfect place, a place of perfect unity, be so painful? The answer is that we (as humans) are not ready for such a place. Scripture says that we will receive new bodies for our new Home in heaven. If camp is a glimpse of heaven, we glimpse a taste of that perfect love... a place of unity, united with our brothers and sisters in Christ, worshiping at the Throne of our Maker.<br />
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But it's only a glimpse. At some point, we have to come back through the wardrobe. And it is a very painful process to come back to reality. This life will never compare to our abundant life in heaven. Dorothy had it right when she said, "There's no place like<i> home</i>!" When those glimpses suddenly end, we feel hurt and disappointment. But their purpose is to encourage us, to excite us and create that same anticipation found in airports --- anticipation that makes us long for home!<br />
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During those precious moments of glimpsing eternity, Christ desires for us to run to Him, praising Him for such a gift! "Weeping may stay for the night, but joy will come in the morning." My girls showed me heaven... as we ran in thunderstorms, threw pillows in the dark, laughed 'til we couldn't breathe, discussed theology in "secluded" gardens, and sat on the sidewalk crying and wishing camp didn't have to end. But our response to this hurt can be a glorious thing! We must fix our gaze on Him who makes all things new, resting in His perfect grace.<br />
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SDGshine4Himhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302711336428087430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527963129589586997.post-1478156210634643402012-09-15T17:44:00.002-07:002012-09-30T18:09:17.320-07:00Adventures Begin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On August 27th, my long-aspired journey began. I'm overwhelmed with joy and unworthiness as I praise God for such a calling to pursue ultrasound as my career. I thought I'd share with you guys this new season of rejoicing! It has been long-awaited and it's crazy to think that it's finally happening -- everything I'll be learning is what I've been wanting to do for the past 7 years!<br />
The goal of and desire for this pursuit is to glorify God through loving, cherishing, and protecting life. I believe God has called me to use my career to do just that! I will be attending Mayo Clinic for the next years pursuing a degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography. I am one of two students and the training that I will receive is above and beyond anything I could ever imagine! I'm so excited and look forward to the challenges and joys that lie ahead. This God-given passion will drive me as I embrace this journey! I praise my Lord and Savior for allowing my life to influence the lives that are yet to be.<br />
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To God be the glory!shine4Himhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302711336428087430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527963129589586997.post-91284008490886732872012-03-16T19:31:00.004-07:002012-08-20T15:08:57.310-07:00Grace - DependentI never thought one week -- one simple (well, far from simple) week -- could paint such a perfect picture of grace. Early last Thursday morning, before starting my day, I wrote this post:<br />
<i><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Lord, in my times of weakness and pain, You remain sovereign. In my lack of understanding, You remain sovereign. In my times of fear and doubt, You remain sovereign. In circumstances that allow me to realize I'm not in control, You remain sovereign. I praise you, Lord, for You are sovereign - and just as Your love endures forever, Your supreme power, authority, and perfect Will shall endure forever. Give me strength to listen to that gentle voice that whispers, 'Do not fear! I am the Lord!'</span></i><br />
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As I drove to my babysitting job, I received a phone call from my mom that my sister would be admitted into the hospital immediately to begin treatment for a disorder we had no idea how to pronounce. I thought the beginning of the week could have prepared me for this, but I was wrong. The night before, I sat in the laundry room crying and praying to the Lord for answers. My sister had an emergency visit, numerous blood tests, a spinal tap, and doctor visits with neurologists and ophthalmologists. We were anxiously waiting for answers and finally got what we asked for. She began her treatment for the next two days, bravely enduring the uncomfortable setting of a hospital room. I can think of no better example of someone who courageously endures pain like my sister! And, PRAISE GOD, Kelly is progressing and her treatment seems to be bringing her body back to normal. <br />
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I'd like to say that this past week was given to the Lord, that all my fears were absent because I was trusting that God would carry us through this trial. But unfortunately there were nights that I cried myself to sleep... wondering what was wrong with my sister and if she would ever be able to live a normal life again. Some may call this ironic, but I call it the sovereign work of God... my dad started a series on James just two weeks before this unexpected week. That Sunday, we read James 1:13-18. To refresh your memory, James is talking about trials and sufferings -- how we are to count them all JOY, "for this is God's will for you." James says that the testing of our faith produces steadfastness. And this steadfastness leads to making us perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.<br />
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Later in chapter one, James talks about temptation, and how each one of us is tempted by our <i>own</i> evil desire. The temptation, as part of our own sinful nature, is to become anxious - reflecting a heart that depends on self and not on Christ. This is the default. Notice in the verses James uses the word "lured," ...an attraction... an attraction of self. "Our struggles are tailor-made by our own desires." It's a natural weakness. It's an "enticement" of something seemingly attractive, but actually quite deadly. Our instinctive desire is to fix things ourselves, especially during trials. In verse five, James takes a seeming detour, and starts talking about wisdom. I think you would agree that we certainly lack wisdom in the midst of suffering, as we ask God the resounding question, "WHY?" When asking that question, we fail to give our burdens to the Lord - we fail to respond with a heart of surrender (the heart of Christ) .<br />
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So, what do trials and suffering, steadfastness, wisdom, and now this temptation all have in common? As I read these verses, I can't help but reflect on this past week. My default (my temptation; my own evil desire) is to depend on myself during trials. I try so diligently to figure out how I can fix the situation... thinking that somehow all my worries and tears will amount to a brilliance I could never imagine. As irrational as it sounds, it is my biggest temptation. And unfortunately, I give in to that temptation often. This temptation is the presence of fear, and the absence of trusting God and giving those fears to Him.<br />
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I go back to the post I wrote: God is sovereign! There is nothing that happens outside of his perfect control. I rest in that. He orchestrates our life to bring Him glory... I am so grateful that I serve a God who does not stand back and watch things happen. He uses all things to bring Him glory. For He is FAITHFUL. He reigns supreme, with glory and power, on His throne of grace.<br />
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Grace. Perhaps there is no other word that better describes the Christian life. We are so dependent upon it. I realized that this week... he so faithfully covers me with grace as I run my race. Even in the midst of my fear and many tears, he whispers, 'DO NOT FEAR! I am the Lord!' God's grace IS SUFFICIENT! We can rest in his grace!!!<br />
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My dad ended his Sunday school lesson with a quote, "Every problem is an opportunity to depend on His faithfulness." The day my mom told me Kelly was going to the hospital, she had to hang up rather quickly. I called a dear friend and spent 15 minutes listening to her sweet words as she prayed. The theme was "God is faithful!" (Who would have thought??) He IS our healer. He IS our shelter in the time of the storm. He IS the giver of grace. He IS the "lifter of my head" in times of worry and doubt. He IS always present, and promises to never leave us nor forsake us.<br />
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I run to the foot of the cross... where I fall on my knees, crying, "Lord, I surrender my fears to you. Lord, you are faithful and you are Sovereign... and I am grace-dependent -- dependent upon YOUR grace alone."<br />
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"For every good and perfect thing is from above, coming down from the Father of Heavenly lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." - James 1:16-17<br />
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SDGshine4Himhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302711336428087430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527963129589586997.post-30024942943681233482012-01-02T09:15:00.000-08:002012-10-20T10:50:05.489-07:00Bold WhispersI was excited. I had not worked as the dining room hostess in months. (For those of you who don't know, I have worked at Chick-fil-A for almost two years now.) The shift I had originally been scheduled for, I had traded with someone else. I was thrilled with my opportunity! - one I had been greatly missing. The day seemed normal... not too busy, keeping up with tables, refreshing beverages, clearing trays, mopping spills... as I made my rounds checking in with guests, I was pleasantly surprised as I heard a voice from the table in front of me, a high-pitched squeal of joy, "My name is Emily too!!!!" I had recognized the family --- a father with his two Chinese (I believe adopted) daughters. I'm filled with indescribable joy whenever I get to see them. Emily and Hannah are the names of these sweet faces. The lunch rush continued, and I was able to chat with the girls every so often, get their ice cream, etc. (I love my job!!)<br />
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As they made their way to the door, getting ready to leave, I was suddenly embraced around my legs by Emily as we said our goodbyes. "I get a hug today!!", I joyfully exclaimed. "And one from Hannah too!" Hannah ran as I bent down to embrace her tiny body. Waving goodbye to their dad, I was surprised by another gift... Emily suddenly grabbed my arms and pulled me down to her level. She placed her soft cheek to my ear, smiling, and whispered, "Emily, do you love Jesus?"<br />
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I could feel the tears rushing to my eyes, my throat swelling. I looked into her eyes, smiling from ear-to-ear. Among the chatter-filled dining room, it felt as if we were the only two in the room... "Yes, I <i>love</i> Jesus!" Instantly, she gasped, and exclaimed in exuberance, "You do??!!"<br />
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I've never seen such joy on a 7-year-old's face. She ran to her daddy and shared her joy, "Daddy, Emily loves Jesus too!!!"<br />
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I can barely share this story without crying. There is no doubt in my mind that God had planned that divine appointment with Emily. It has made this new year one like any other. How many times have I asked someone if they love Jesus? Is my response, if asked the same question, completely honest? Does my life reflect one that loves Jesus with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength? Is <u>Christ</u> an ever-present joy that causes me to run and tell others of this joy?<br />
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Resolutions are a wonderful thing. But this year, mine is so much more meaningful... living a life that loves Jesus, allowing my life to be one like Emily's: sharing that joy with others... making the most of every opportunity - those divine appointments - for the glory of God. I love how the most mundane circumstances are the ones that God uses to bring glory to Himself... causing the heart of Chick-fil-A dining room hostess to overflow with joy because of the bold whisper from the mouth of a child. Today, this year, I praise God for sweet whispers of Jesus' name... My heart is overwhelmed and I am inspired to be bold, grasping the arms of others in order to share Jesus with them.<br />
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SDGshine4Himhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302711336428087430noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527963129589586997.post-18360227549106965852011-12-19T07:50:00.001-08:002012-03-14T07:25:50.268-07:00Who am I to behold?What a pleasant morning... I sit on my bed, still in my pajamas, finishing my quiet time. And then I feel the urge --- the uncontrolled, overwhelming, joy-filled urge to WRITE. I run to the dining room and grab my laptop --- the medium through which this urge is alleviated. I experience the brisk, swift movements of my fingers across the keyboard, one after another, leaping with joy. Here, in this place of serene satisfaction I behold with an unveiled face the glory of God.<br />
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I find myself in this same place as I gaze at the stars... my eyes involuntarily meet the dark, blissful sky -- one large body encircling the spectacular realm, complementing the radiant moon.<br />
...in the embrace of mama's arms.<br />
...seeing a Christmas tree lit in the window from the street.<br />
...smelling the morning dew.<br />
...sitting on the porch with the very words of God in front of my eyes.<br />
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"BEHOLD"... my eyes fill with tears as I think about such a place. Who am I to behold such glory? Who am I to look upon the glory of a God who has breathed stars into existence that I cannot even fathom with my unsophisticated mind?<br />
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BEHOLD. The Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.<br />
BEHOLD. The Savior of the world in a feeding trough.<br />
BEHOLD. The man upon a cross, <i>my</i> sin upon His shoulders.<br />
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As I anticipate the season of Christmas, I set out on the traditional endeavor to prepare my heart for the celebration of our Savior --- to BEHOLD the glory of God. Should it be any different than other times of the year? No. But the specific beauty of God's glory is what is different. Daily, we see specific aspects, timely appointments, of beholding such beauty. In Scripture, <i>kabod</i> is the greek word that describes God's glory. "Heaviness." I yearn for this place. My heart grows heavy as I behold the splendor of God's glory. THE WHOLE EARTH IS FILLED WITH HIS GLORY.<br />
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Over 2000 years ago, God's glory became flesh: <br />
The beauty of a soul in submission to God's perfect will. "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word."<br />
The beauty of a willing, servant-hearted carpenter leading a donkey from Nazareth to Bethlehem.<br />
The beauty of a filled inn.<br />
The beauty of the aroma of a stable.<br />
The beauty of warm, sweating skin resting against wet, cold hay.<br />
The beauty of an exhausted mother, tightly grasping the hand of an anxious father.<br />
The beauty of angelic voices resounding in the fields of shepherds.<br />
The beauty of blinded eyes beholding the glory of God filling the night sky.<br />
The beauty of the Savior of the world, placed in a manger.<br />
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The setting is so simply, so lowly. But the glory of God filled that entire setting. Is this what we treasure? Does the splendor of the birth of our King cause our hearts to <b>rejoice</b>? Mary gathered ALL these things in her heart. She BEHELD the glory of God! This is the place of happiness, of rest, of comfort, of peace, of joy, of splendor. And guess what? THIS is what we were made for. We were created to give Him glory -- to reflect His glory.<br />
Let our hearts become <i>heavy</i>, as we rejoice and BEHOLD the glory of God, and celebrate the incarnation of our Savior.<br />
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SDGshine4Himhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302711336428087430noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527963129589586997.post-31976590884625832572011-11-24T10:21:00.000-08:002011-11-24T12:53:22.665-08:00eucharisteoTime is of the essence. It is a vapor that fills the air in a matter of seconds, and is gone the next. Time is a treasure that no one can seem to capture. Many pursue it, but lose sight of its key -- its purpose. We live in a sanctuary of time... and yet allow days - hours - minutes - seconds - to pass without any intention of savoring. There are many who search for ways to stop it. Others seek to fast forward -- to kill it -- in whatever way possible.<br />
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What is this key to treasuring time? How do we exercise the practice of living in the moment?<br />
<i>Eucharisteo: thanksgiving.</i><br />
Ann Voskamp, author of <i>One Thousand Gifts</i>, received a challenge to write down one thousands things that she was thankful for...<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> 1. Morning shadows across the wood floors</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> 37. Windmills droning in day's last breeze</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> 119. Still warm cookies</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> 245. Bare toes in early light</span><br />
... Ann writes that she "speaks [writes] God's graces into visibility." The more she looks for grace and writes down what she is thankful for, the more she sees God's hand in each moment.<br />
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Recognizing that each gift is part of His steadfast love and grace, is what causes us to treasure life -- to treasure time. Our life and focus is challenged to be seekers of beauty... seekers of grace. To find joy in the mundane! "Joy is the realist reality, the fullest life, and joy is always given, never grasped God <i>gives gifts </i>and I <i>give thanks </i>and I unwrap the gift given: <i>joy</i>."<br />
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I've taken this challenge to live fully - to be "happy in all these little things that God gives. Ridiculously happy..." I now have a book that is carried with me at all times, where I document God's graces in my life. This list of gifts that is being created allows me to think upon His goodness - and this pleases Him most! In my state of reflection, my soul is filled with a grateful heart, a heart of joy. There is nothing more profitable. ...and I am so undeserving of all of it.<br />
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<i>Eucharisteo</i> -- "And [Jesus] took the bread, gave thanks (<i>eucharisteo</i>), and broke it, and gave it to them." ...<i>gave thanks.</i> It has become my life song. "A dare to live fully." We are called to thank God in every moment - as Christ did, even to the point of death. Giving thanks in every moment allows us to dwell in joy, to eliminate a spirit of ingratitude and selfishness... to pursue a life of abandon... the life of Christ.<br />
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One more thought to chew on...<br />
"Calm. Haste makes waste. Life is not an emergency. Life is brief and it is fleeting, but it is not an emergency. I pick up a coat and thank God for the arms that can do it. Emergencies are sudden, unexpected events - but is anything under the sun unexpected to God?... Stay calm, enter the moment, give thanks... And I can always gives because an all-powerful God has all these things - all things - always under control. I breathe deep and He preaches to me, soothing the time-frenzied soul with the grace river in whisper."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsnsZrJ-82_vR_IR_4JBOWQH02BQjSId3LsZHD1aO_lxKMZenaJlNfLPR-4xP0lqN187vxQGuWwtVED2VXO6T9e0SmQ_nKE5jdrAS9Mx6z-SLQ3-X6dUNdhI5uVeDbBlTb3mwFqxV5zA/s1600/DSC_6457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsnsZrJ-82_vR_IR_4JBOWQH02BQjSId3LsZHD1aO_lxKMZenaJlNfLPR-4xP0lqN187vxQGuWwtVED2VXO6T9e0SmQ_nKE5jdrAS9Mx6z-SLQ3-X6dUNdhI5uVeDbBlTb3mwFqxV5zA/s400/DSC_6457.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>eucharisteo</i></td></tr>
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<div>SDG</div>shine4Himhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302711336428087430noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527963129589586997.post-32580814827430376672011-10-29T16:28:00.000-07:002011-11-24T09:47:05.983-08:00Abiding in Perfect Love"How deep the Father's love for us; how vast beyond all measure." What a peace we have in the love of our Savior. This week, I've been pondering the verses in 1 John, which describe "perfect love" - the love that casts out all fear. "...whoever abides in love abides in God, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears <u>has not been perfected in love</u>." Casts. Out. All. Fear. A dear friend once said, "Of all sins, fear seems the most blatant, openly declaring, 'God, I don't trust you.'" How can I stand in the presence of my Savior, who loved me and gave His life for me, and yet still fear the circumstances of my life here on earth?<br />
<br />
To abide in Him - abiding in His love - is to abide in His faithfulness... resting in the perfect love of my Savior. Treasuring is to have full confidence in His steadfast, enduring love -- allowing it to become the only thing that occupies my mind. In John Piper's <i>Think</i>, he presents the reader with a definition of loving God with all our mind -- referring to the commandment given in Matthew 22:37. "Loving God with all our mind means wholly engaging our thinking to do all it can to awaken and express the heartfelt fullness of treasuring God above all things."<br />
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I'm baffled by the reality that no matter how many times I fail to give God glory in every moment of my life, His faithfulness is enduring. He is faithful even when I am not. As humans, we don't like the idea of letting go. When our knuckles have gone white from holding on so tightly, God whispers, "Let it go. I want your burden." We're so uncomfortable with the idea of not having things to control. It's almost like free-falling. During the first couple seconds, we frantically look about us. But when we come to realize that our lives are in the palm of His hand, we breathe --- breathe in one huge sigh of beautiful relief. This state is the complete opposite of our default... which is why it's so discomforting at first.<br />
<br />
But we rest in His perfect love (where there is no fear!). During my run the other night, the tears came flooding as I worried about the outcome of a physics test... I began thinking about how God was using this season of life... what I was supposed to learn during my "last stretch to the finish line" at St. John's. Memories brought me back to camp, and the discussions during lecture about "walking as Jesus did." Before we can walk as Jesus did, and "do what Jesus would do", we must first THINK as Jesus THOUGHT. ...this was key in my life at that moment, and it still is. "Thinking Christ's thoughts after Him." Christ's life had NO fear. The ultimate sacrifice for mankind desired the perfect will of His Father -- even to the point of death.<br />
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This perfect love is what causes us to be overwhelmed, and fall flat on our face before the cross. This perfect love causes an out-pour of our Father's love into the lives of others. Whom shall I fear? If God is for us, who can be against us? The things in our life that we allow fear to take over causes us to worship them. In Christ, there is<i> no</i> fear! ..Because His perfect love unites us with Him - our wonderful, merciful Savior. Let us allow our Savior to perfect us in that love!<br />
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SDGshine4Himhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302711336428087430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527963129589586997.post-34273979929990330972011-08-30T12:58:00.000-07:002012-01-03T10:14:43.134-08:00the empty life.the empty life. a life worth dying for. a theological paradox, perhaps.<br />
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lately i've realized a repetitive theme within my prayers... a desire to be broken. a desire to be brought back to that place of complete dependence on Christ. ...trying so helplessly to get to that place of brokenness --- the sense/state of being empty. why is it so difficult? why is it that the only times i've ever found complete satisfaction was when i was completely empty?<br />
<br />
how do we get there? why is this required for the Christian life? this was my conclusion:<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: large;"> the empty life <i>is</i> the fulfilled life. </span>when we are <i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">broken</span></i>, we are <i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">complete</span></i>. we are satisfied and filled with Christ. the importance of being emptied is so that we can be filled with Christ, reaching the goal that He has set for us --- to become more like Him. it is in this state of surrender that we are completely, fully, relying on Him, and thus giving Him glory.<br />
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in order to reach this point of fulfillment, complete joy, we must be emptied of self. can it really be true? "an emptier, fuller life," as in the words of Ann Voskamp. this is not a state of lacking, though the word "empty" may insinuate. i find the concept difficult to grasp, even fathom. the fact that we must be empty in order to be complete, satisfied. --- a state of fulfillment. it is when we are empty -- emptied of self -- that we realize we are truly filled.<br />
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the empty life. a life worth dying for.<br />
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most of you know how much i treasure the illustration in john 12:24 --- the kernel of wheat. recently i learned the physical reasons behind this metaphor. a kernel of wheat is literally stripped of everything it once was in order to be transformed into bread. from grain -- to bread. i think many of us tend to overlook this process. here's a glimpse into the life a grain of wheat...<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #bf9000;">first, it is cut down, bundled, and hung out to dry.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #bf9000;">it is threshed, beaten down, and trampled,</span><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000;">in order to break the grain away from the stalk.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #bf9000;">next it is winnowed, or thrown in the air</span><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000;">to remove the chaff.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #bf9000;">then it is shaken in a sieve</span><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000;">to sift out any remaining impurities.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #bf9000;">it is ground to powder (flour) and used </span><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000;">to make bread.</span></div><br />
we are commanded to be this kernel of wheat. to dye to self. the empty life is truly a life worth dying for. a life of dying to self. a life of giving up everything we've claimed as ours. we must be beaten, ripped from a life revolving around self, shaken, and sifted of impurities. but yet this life, is one that we should yearn for and desire above all things.<br />
<br />
broken. emptied. fulfilled.<br />
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the empty life. the life of <i>true, complete</i> joy.<br />
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"But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss...because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: large;"> the loss of all things</span> and count them as rubbish, in order that I may <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: large;">gain Christ </span>and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own... but that which comes through faith in Christ... <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: large;">that I may know Him</span>. <br />
- philippians 3:7-10<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">i'd love to hear thoughts on this idea i've been wrestling with... feel free to leave a comment after reading!<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">SDG</div></div>shine4Himhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302711336428087430noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527963129589586997.post-36069991446878998012011-08-11T08:42:00.000-07:002011-08-30T09:42:07.985-07:00All I Have is Christ<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #40464b; font-family: Georgia,'Trebuchet MS',serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I once was lost in darkest night<br />
Yet thought I knew the way.<br />
The sin that promised joy and life<br />
Had led me to the grave.<br />
I had no hope that You would own<br />
A rebel to Your will.<br />
And if You had not loved me first<br />
I would refuse You still.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">But as I ran my hell-bound race<br />
Indifferent to the cost<br />
You looked upon my helpless state<br />
And led me to the cross.<br />
And I beheld God’s love displayed<br />
You suffered in my place<br />
You bore the wrath reserved for me<br />
Now all I know is grace.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><i style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Hallelujah! All I have is Christ</i><br />
<i style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Hallelujah! Jesus is my life</i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone<br />
And live so all might see<br />
The strength to follow Your commands<br />
Could never come from me.<br />
Oh Father, use my ransomed life<br />
In any way You choose.<br />
And let my song forever be<br />
My only boast is You.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 13px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">© 2008 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI), by Jordan Kauflin</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/fsp-WuZR40g?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">...my theme song for the summer...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ALL I HAVE IS CHRIST. JESUS IS MY LIFE.</span>shine4Himhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302711336428087430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527963129589586997.post-7905929537208666282011-08-07T12:29:00.000-07:002011-08-14T17:31:13.809-07:00Stepping Out of the Wardrobe: Part 2<div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(scroll down for part 1!...)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: large;"><b>"Stepping Out of the Wardrobe"</b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: large;">Part 2: Broken by the Lost</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixx5ZAfd0OfgyHPdQVirWx0piRW6WwEWYBghDCI2YCVkW5j10kgsu8l3aFpqXcV5bVHjYhpAKQFRnPCh6Gcb2vAbnxkXLWGccZw420aVjDd70fdyM31UOYQ0NUi8DPMCIU75V1FhzQPAU/s1600/wardrobe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixx5ZAfd0OfgyHPdQVirWx0piRW6WwEWYBghDCI2YCVkW5j10kgsu8l3aFpqXcV5bVHjYhpAKQFRnPCh6Gcb2vAbnxkXLWGccZw420aVjDd70fdyM31UOYQ0NUi8DPMCIU75V1FhzQPAU/s320/wardrobe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><u><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><br />
</span></b></u></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: large;">CAMP #6</span></b></u></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Our next destination was Winston Salem, NC at Wake Forest University. We pulled onto campus to check in, climbed back in the vans to grab some dinner, and came back for an epic frisbee game in one of the quad fields. These are the moments we treasure together as staff! =)</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Little did I know that this would be one of my most overwhelming weeks of camp. As stated in my last post, we have responsibilities as staff. I did registration as well as Evangelism Training/Debrief on "Witness Wednesdays." Encouraging the students and hearing their testimonies every week was truly an honor and blessing which taught me so much. Every week I would challenge the students during training to pray and ask God to break their hearts for the lost, realizing that the people they were going to talk to were not just faces, but faces that had "bound for hell" written across their forehead. This is the reality of where they're headed -- dying in their sin. I would continue by saying that this is something that breaks God's heart, therefore, as you desire the heart of God, pray and ask Him to break your heart for the things that break His.</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRx046RFmycFzeNcaoxyBGgK1vSpLURACZL2xmHRhUZn0qx8_Mm94HL3Ep5_fmVn3yTd1gPBucl9j33wSBWz5TCtWr6xYNO5yMZOZ1KEWAbVdgJkUmdCooGuyJaXjYFWacPVhtEoP6pU/s1600/DSC_0747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRx046RFmycFzeNcaoxyBGgK1vSpLURACZL2xmHRhUZn0qx8_Mm94HL3Ep5_fmVn3yTd1gPBucl9j33wSBWz5TCtWr6xYNO5yMZOZ1KEWAbVdgJkUmdCooGuyJaXjYFWacPVhtEoP6pU/s320/DSC_0747.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It's one thing to say this every week - to get into a routine of saying the same thing and giving the same challenge. But as the students in North Carolina finished their practicum that day and boarded the bus, there were about 5 students who were in tears. I began talking to a few of them and asking what was wrong. They responded in brokenness --- they were filled with sorrow by those who had rejected the Gospel. Their hearts had truly been broken by the lost. I was so overwhelmed by seeing this challenge in action. It was difficult doing debrief with the students... I hadn't expected the experience to be so heavy on my heart. What an honor to see God working in the hearts of these students! The fact that I was able to be part of it was truly humbling. ...We serve a God Who is beyond anything we think we can do. The reality is that we are nothing without Him - He is the One working in our hearts, and out of that growing love for Him, we begin to desire the heart of God.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: large;">CAMP #7</span></b></u></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Our last camp took anchor in Virginia Beach, VA at Regent University. I had my smallest group of the summer, consisting of 4 girls and they were all between fourteen and fifteen. The tiny size of our group allowed the girls to bond in a way that I hadn't seen all summer. They <i>wanted</i> to be with each other... it was beautiful seeing their desire to invest in their relationships and encourage one another throughout the week. My fondest memory with them has to be painting toenails before evangelism practicum. Nerves always tend to rise before going out, and I try to find ways to help them get their mind off worrying. Painting toenails was the perfect activity! Each of them began sharing how God was working in their heart, even before that week of camp. Again, it's moments like these where I realized the undeserved blessing of being a staffer. I'm overwhelmed by God's grace in giving me a role that I know I'm so unworthy of. But yet He uses me as His hands and feet anyway. What a humbling part to play as His instrument and vessel!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Now regardless of how much I've written at this point, unfortunately you're still in the dark about how any of it has to do with lampposts, battles, forest animals, and permanent winter snow --- the contents of a magical wardrobe! Coming home, I've quickly realized that this summer with Worldview Academy has been like stepping into Narnia. As child-like as this metaphor may sound, I caught a glimpse of eternity. Bonding with the body of Christ in such a way that each one of them felt like brothers and sisters was a beautiful thing to behold -- and experience. There were many, many tears at the airport as we all said our goodbyes. Being here at home has been difficult, and I wrestle with discontentment almost hourly (...glancing at my watch and still wondering where I should be according to the camp schedule... yea, that's bad.). Yet, I can still rest in knowing that these people are my family for eternity. What an honor it will be to worship at our King's feet in the presence of His people.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXqAq7latKOBzhk7XHUCm3rxaLiQpClk7gYZoY3vnvOvHtED4dVSPiuhp38-OqvGs6ERoQp5YhInZxLhuWohNJ-i_Cuc-NOVlxWu7vLiVIZAFoBTCyR5KSFjD4eYtFRESPidXWL7PH2K4/s1600/staff7.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXqAq7latKOBzhk7XHUCm3rxaLiQpClk7gYZoY3vnvOvHtED4dVSPiuhp38-OqvGs6ERoQp5YhInZxLhuWohNJ-i_Cuc-NOVlxWu7vLiVIZAFoBTCyR5KSFjD4eYtFRESPidXWL7PH2K4/s320/staff7.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">On July 22, our last camp in Virginia ended. Coming home has been an extremely difficult transition. But -- how sweet it is to know that He is always faithful! Many have asked me what my highlight of the summer was... this is absolutely impossible to articulate, because there isn't just one! This summer has not only been the best summer of my life but it has changed my life completely. Every week of camp had both its challenge and its joy -- both of which allowed me to realize how undeserving and inadequate I was for the job I had been given.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">SDG</div></div>shine4Himhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302711336428087430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527963129589586997.post-53476872907664106152011-08-07T12:14:00.000-07:002011-12-01T14:17:35.113-08:00Stepping Out of the Wardrobe: Part 1This will, by far, be the most difficult post I have yet to write. Due its longevity, I've chosen to divide it into 2 separate parts... in hopes that I won't bore you too much! There's just too much to write for one post. =)<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: large;"><b>"Stepping Out of the Wardrobe"</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: large;">Part 1: Sweet Surrender</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVkuyrcCK26-LHPC7Pm2g5ZtBv7rEOMe5hUeuiSUjU4_n6LiV9yu_qxevr6XpwdN0ELfRFPnCnfCU1SkIkJ42c6yXBwTV-iSehOCB8yRXD5DW9auwiDN3hVLU1wowv7g-JF9xdJuZlWs/s1600/wardrobe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVkuyrcCK26-LHPC7Pm2g5ZtBv7rEOMe5hUeuiSUjU4_n6LiV9yu_qxevr6XpwdN0ELfRFPnCnfCU1SkIkJ42c6yXBwTV-iSehOCB8yRXD5DW9auwiDN3hVLU1wowv7g-JF9xdJuZlWs/s320/wardrobe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
<u><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: large;">CAMP #4</span></b></u></div><div>In the week following Mississippi, we made our way to Lakeland, FL (stopping at Pensacola beach on our way... LOVE the gulf coast!) where I was able to visit with my family for the weekend (Aaron and Kelly were campers that week). We also gained 3 other staffers who would be with us for the last four weeks of camp. My girls in Florida were a blast... there were many moments of laughter as well as inside jokes - which was comforting for me to see their relationships building on such a deep level. It's amazing how quickly bonds can grow over the course of only one week!</div><blockquote><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi21tv97nPd7rTpmGQWDiMS_Beigz7rLNqYC_J27RuAp9g8BhwfVamHc3q4q49T2K7r7EXgwRg9WbWWX2r7SYWCc8sZG448UKbcdBoP5U_u1J1thntzl2mXJSfoeVIFk-nrBg96bi1hlB0/s1600/downtown+disney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi21tv97nPd7rTpmGQWDiMS_Beigz7rLNqYC_J27RuAp9g8BhwfVamHc3q4q49T2K7r7EXgwRg9WbWWX2r7SYWCc8sZG448UKbcdBoP5U_u1J1thntzl2mXJSfoeVIFk-nrBg96bi1hlB0/s200/downtown+disney.jpg" width="200" /></a></blockquote><div>As a fun excursion over the weekend, leadership took us to downtown Disney and bought us tickets for Cirque du Soleil. It was truly breath-taking to see the incredible skills of each of the acrobats!</div><div><br />
<u><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: large;">CAMP #5</span></b></u></div><div>My "home camp" - Berry College in Rome, GA - was our next stop. The memories from being a student at Berry for 4 years began flooding my mind as we drove around campus. I was thrilled to see how God would use our time we would spend at the same place He had done so much work in my own heart. Unfortunately, however, the excitement didn't last long. I had been told earlier in the summer that, as a staffer, there is always a point you reach known as the "crashing point" - where you hit the wall at the speed of light and fall flat on your face, certain that there's no hope of getting back up again... Week 5 was my crashing point. Not only was I sick, but I had been up later than usual with a couple of my students and wasn't able to get the rest that I needed. (Let's just say I was a complete disaster, and was failing miserably at trying to hide every bit of my sleep-deprivation and head cold.) On Tuesday, after making sure that my girls were on their way to lecture, I walked around the corner to find my staff director standing in eyesight. "I can't do this anymore," were the first words that came out of my mouth. At this point, there was no fighting tears. I was so overwhelmed and way past being tired. She quickly realized this and simply said, "I know... which is why you're going on a date this morning!" Minutes later, I jumped in the van and drove away with Sarah (a sweet friend who was also my small group leader in 2008).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRFqBWW8b_zelDF08LvSIpnBuaaA7-0F5Cl39RXaTlZSVTzaVOAKMTfGj4MjpSui1oucD07wT-HaS9ahHICFs3OZVJJPjHM7ynFHgHZBMHky6xMAsSP7YLlyLDrEADH4Aq5JXwYDEFn0/s1600/brokenness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRFqBWW8b_zelDF08LvSIpnBuaaA7-0F5Cl39RXaTlZSVTzaVOAKMTfGj4MjpSui1oucD07wT-HaS9ahHICFs3OZVJJPjHM7ynFHgHZBMHky6xMAsSP7YLlyLDrEADH4Aq5JXwYDEFn0/s200/brokenness.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>During our date, there was very little communication on my part. It was truly one of the most refreshing points of my summer! We talked about how small group time had been going and how my girls were doing. I began sharing how God had been expounding on my theme verse for the summer - 1 Peter 4:11 - and my goal of relying on His strength and not my own. I began pouring out my desires to give as much as I had been giving all the other weeks of camp. I found it discouraging that I was lacking in strength and thus not as enthusiastic as I had been in weeks prior. We started discussing what it looks like to rely on God's strength. Sarah encouraged me with the idea of surrender --- admitting that I CAN'T do it; confessing that I am completely incapable and inadequate to serve my girls. That was it... I had reached my point of total loss - loss of emotions, strength, sanity, and endurance. My fault was in the source of my strength. It's so easy for us to say/set out to give God glory through relying on His strength. But it's another to actually follow through with it during those times that <i>require</i> it. After leaving Starbucks, we arrived back on campus. Brandon, our camp director, told me to take the next lecture all the way through evangelism to sleep and rest. As Brandon stepped out of the van, I completely lost it. I began crying and releasing all of my stress and worries of what I "wasn't able to do this week." My list went on and on. It killed me to not be with my girls for evangelism. Sarah gently reminded me of what we had been talking about just moments before --- "You aren't the one doing all that!" If I truly believed that it was through God's strength and His own work that I was serving my girls, I would be resting in knowing that He IS using me (even in the times that I don't feel used). It was so comforting to be able to lay everything down at the feet of the cross. There, I relished in God's grace... That spirit of brokenness and surrender allowed me to rest completely in God's sufficient and infinite grace. What a beautiful place to be --- in the arms of Jesus, after He has picked you up off the floor, and said, "I know you can't do this. That's why I'm the One working through you!"<br />
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SDG<br />
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<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://solideogloria-4him.blogspot.com/2011/08/stepping-out-of-wardrobe-part-2.html"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Click here</span> </b></a>for "Stepping Out of the Wardrobe: Part 2"</span></div></div>shine4Himhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302711336428087430noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527963129589586997.post-86071370966026291142011-06-20T13:14:00.000-07:002011-12-01T14:55:47.301-08:00Reflecting on His FaithfulnessGreetings from Jackson, Mississippi! Clearly it has been much more difficult to write than I thought it would be... but my time with the Worldview family has been an immense blessing. Unfortunately, the reason why I have found time to blog is a bit disappointing... This weekend I came down with a flu of some sort and am recovering in a bed at the moment. As frustrating as it may be, I know that God is faithful.<br />
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I'd like to fill you guys in on as much as I can, so we'll start with staff training!...<br />
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</div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: large;"><u>STAFF TRAINING</u></span></b></div><div>Week 1 consisted of role preparation (as a staff member), getting to know our coast team (Southeast), and lots of prayer for the weeks to come. As we pulled into Oklahoma Wesleyan's campus, I stepped off the van and was overwhelmed by the first glance - I was looking into the faces of those who I would be serving alongside this summer. ..I felt so undeserving! It was during that moment that I realized how much of an impact the Worldview Academy team would have on students all across America. What a grace it is to be part of the ministry!<br />
The list of things that had to be done was quite large and it was awesome seeing everyone work together, and having the honor of being apart of it. As staff training progressed, the Lord gave me a clear focus for the job I was given and helped me prepare for the weeks ahead. Brandon Booth, our camp director, gave a lecture on Wednesday morning on the book of Galatians... it pretty much wrapped up what I had been feeling days before -- the fact that I am completely inadequate to do a job like this. It's only by God's grace that I am able to serve with Worldview Academy. My strength will get me no where. During a typical week of camp, the students go out witnessing on Wednesday. As staff, we were able to have our own Evangelism Practicum in downtown Bartlesville. I'm thankful we were given the opportunity, since our role at camp is mainly watching over the students during the time of evangelism.<br />
Friday morning our week came to a close. Saying goodbye to the other teams was extremely difficult and included many tears... but we knew that those farewells were necessary and the excitement of getting to do the work of His kingdom in other places was truly overwhelming.<br />
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Over the weekend, it was a little different for our team. The West and Northeast teams were on the road to their first camp, but our Southeast team stayed put... Our first camp was at Oklahoma Wesleyan so we had the weekend to relax and prepare. On Friday evening we had a picnic at a nearby lake and played some Ultimate Frisbee. It was awesome getting to know everyone a little better... in fact, our bonding happened extremely fast and it was so encouraging to see the bond each of us had through Christ. Saturday night, the vice president of Oklahoma Wesleyan graciously invited us over to his house to have dinner with his family. It was absolutely beautiful and being in a home was truly refreshing!</div><div><br />
</div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: large;"><u>CAMP #1</u></span></b></div><div>"WELCOME TO THE BEST WEEK OF YOUR LIFE!!" ...this greeting is found in the front of every student notebook and it is our job as staff to fulfill this challenging promise. Each of us receive jobs at the beginning of the summer, and my job is registration! This entails checking students in, assigning color teams, and making their first 2 minutes of "intro to camp" absolutely amazing! ...what an honor!!</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmXP77IJLZytrknGQWE0NRle9sJU-P5765v-S-EzG_UVXcBFYVwkxw03TbpRU4lFecHMFsN50AvIg2ImGGJkY94aXChe445FwJfWc05lhbuy9BXu59gQ8ugVLIvS_Oh9oOowEB0OKNns/s1600/DSC_7591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmXP77IJLZytrknGQWE0NRle9sJU-P5765v-S-EzG_UVXcBFYVwkxw03TbpRU4lFecHMFsN50AvIg2ImGGJkY94aXChe445FwJfWc05lhbuy9BXu59gQ8ugVLIvS_Oh9oOowEB0OKNns/s320/DSC_7591.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>After meeting my girls that afternoon, I was SO excited for what God had in store. I had a group of 5 seventeen-year-old girls, which is relatively small compared to a normal camp. Throughout the week, our small group/t-times were filled with lots of deep discussion and great questions. It was evident that each of them were growing in the Lord and desired more of what they were learning. My one-on-ones were also incredible and treasured blessings... during that time I was able to get to know each of them on a deeper level and understand how I can pray for them specifically. Listening to what each of them were going through during that point in their life was encouraging. In fact, I noticed a recurring theme - trusting, desiring, and waiting patiently for God's will! What a blessing to be able to relate to them in this way.<br />
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<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: large;">CAMP #2</span></u></b><br />
Van ride #1!! I can confidently say that this is where most of staff bonding takes place -- as Brandon says, "Camp doesn't end until your back side hits the seat of that van." We were Texas-bound and ready for our second week of camp... little did I know this would be a bit more challenging. My staff director, Leah, informed me that I would have intern... This basically means that someone would be co-leading our small group alongside me, watching my every move -- giving me the opportunity to empower them as staff. My thoughts of feeling inadequate jumped from a 9 to a 99 (way off the scale). It took an entire van ride for Leah to convince me that I was ready for this, even during the second week of camp. But, God is faithful and it was evident that the Holy Spirit was graciously working through me.<br />
Our small group size doubled (with a camp consisting of 182 students) ..we were given 10 thirteen and fourteen-year-old girls. There were many huge transitions! ... an intern, doubled small group size, opposite age-group, and a massive camp. Let's just say I was feeling a bit overwhelmed here at Baylor University. God had so much to teach me: i AM incapable of serving these girls. i AM incapable of changing their lives. i AM incapable of loving them. It is only through CHRIST's steadfast love and mercy that I am able to do all of the above. One of the girls in my small group came to me during the second night of camp and poured every ounce of her precious heart on my lap. She was experiencing an immense amount of homesickness and I was overwhelmed by her willingness to be so open. For reasons I cannot express, my heart began to break as hers did the same. It was at this point that I didn't know what else to do besides pray - running to the Lord with our struggles and broken hearts. She came to me the next morning and explained that she had not slept that well in months - "It was so peaceful and I feel so rested!" Every night after that we went to the Lord in prayer, asking for sweet sleep. It was during those prayers that I was brought to the feet of Jesus - "You are strong when you feel weak, In your brokenness complete." Praise God, for His grace is truly sufficient.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: large;"><b><u>CAMP #3</u></b></span><br />
After the Baylor camp, we hit the road for 2 hours and stopped at the Craggett home in Dallas, TX. I was once again refreshed by the atmosphere of a home and a family - lots of jumping on the trampoline, swinging, catching grasshoppers with little ones, and some good ol' Texas barbeque. Who would have thought that the feeling of REAL carpet under your feet would be so amazing?? lol. Hanging out on the back porch with the staff was a beautiful picture of the Family of Christ - from different places, different backgrounds, with one purpose: to bring glory to God through serving Him and fulfilling His great commission.<br />
Saturday morning opened with prayer as we jumped in the vans for a 7-hour trip. We're excited to see how God will work in Mississippi. Though this past weekend has had its battles, I know that God's plan is bigger than mine and the entirety of His beautiful picture is unseen to my eyes. Please pray that I will rest in knowing that in my weakness God IS glorified. May God's grace rest in your hearts and may the hope of His precious Gospel pour from that same place into the hearts of others.<br />
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<i>"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." - Galatians 5:1</i><br />
<br />
SDG<br />
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<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://solideogloria-4him.blogspot.com/2011/08/part-1-sweet-surrender-stepping-out-of.html"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Click here</b></span></a> for a continued glimpse of my summer. </div></div>shine4Himhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302711336428087430noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527963129589586997.post-36696545565914470532011-05-28T17:50:00.000-07:002011-05-28T17:52:13.781-07:00Joyful Beginnings!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5kSkF_0rk8UR8PELpl0UeT5FwuZPw9T3Y-qYZsUlPYIsuwRiiCaI8SB5auZOv4VXnBazC84z5_QjQmHyXvpHQpZm2g0Yfq7pgY6UMmhUDXx7dW-cTmEiFA-AncF_yl6mTisx-n9cei3w/s1600/DSC_7479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5kSkF_0rk8UR8PELpl0UeT5FwuZPw9T3Y-qYZsUlPYIsuwRiiCaI8SB5auZOv4VXnBazC84z5_QjQmHyXvpHQpZm2g0Yfq7pgY6UMmhUDXx7dW-cTmEiFA-AncF_yl6mTisx-n9cei3w/s400/DSC_7479.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">...yes, this all fit in my suitcase (with a little strategy of course).</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">And the excitement begins!! I will be departing at 7:35 AM from the Jacksonville airport tomorrow morning. =) Oklahoma, here I come!</span>shine4Himhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302711336428087430noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527963129589586997.post-54005575783492953852011-05-26T17:27:00.000-07:002011-05-27T17:09:37.505-07:00Pursuing Excellence -- Not Perfection<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If any of you know me well, you would, unfortunately, be quick to describe me as a "perfectionist"... one who does everything in her power to maintain 100% accuracy in all areas. Pretty extreme, but true. Although this can be a positive attribute at times, lately I've realized the negative effects that it is capable of having on my life and mind. Let's just say that this semester I didn't meet my own "personal standards" for academic success. =) lol.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Lord graciously showed me that my eyes weren't fixed on the <i>right</i> standards... I was simply striving to meet complete perfection (..which is "simply" impossible), rather than giving God my best. ..striving to satisfy self, rather than bringing glory to God! The answer came as I read Philippians 1:9-11:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and in depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is excellent and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - <b style="color: #b4a7d6;">to the glory and praise of God</b>."</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Philippians 1:9-11</span></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My life was revolving around pursuing perfection, rather than EXCELLENCE. As some of you know, I will be leaving for 8 weeks to staff full-time with Worldview Academy. This verse, along with 1 Peter 4:11 have become my theme verses that I will carry close to my heart and treasure throughout the challenges I will face --- reminding me of the goal my eyes should be fixed on: bringing glory to the One who is worthy of all praise and honor!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">As mentioned earlier, God has graciously given me the opportunity to serve as a staff member with an organization called Worldview Academy. Worldview Academy is a leadership camp that encourages students to own a Biblical worldview, training them to become “leaders in grace and in Truth.” Throughout the week, students gain an understanding of servant leadership, learn about apologetics/evangelism, and critically analyze other worldviews while lining it up with the Truth of God’s Word. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">As a staff member, I will be pouring my life into girls between the ages of 13 and 16 years old. I cannot express to you my joy and excitement of being able to serve the Lord with my summer! Here is where I'll be traveling...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: silver; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Staff Training Bartlesville, OK Oklahoma Wesleyan University<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Camp #1 Bartlesville, OK Oklahoma Wesleyan University<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: silver; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Camp #2 Waco, TX Baylor University<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Camp #3 Jackson, MS Belhaven University<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: silver; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Camp #4 Lakeland, FL Southeastern University<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Camp #5 Rome, GA Berry College<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: silver; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Camp #6 Winston-Salem, NC Wake Forest University<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Camp #7 Virginia Beach, VA Regent University</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">All of my updates will be found on this website! If you are interested in receiving e-mail updates, simply type your address into the space provided at the top of the page. Your prayers are treasured during this exciting adventure I'll be embarking on this summer!</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">In the pursuit of excellence...</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">SDG</span></span></div></div>shine4Himhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302711336428087430noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527963129589586997.post-18476865764233793822011-02-15T19:04:00.000-08:002011-03-12T14:05:50.784-08:00Falling.What a refreshing month it has been! It began with our 3rd annual retreat at Lakeside, which was, as always, filled with fellowship and greatly-needed relaxation... and yesterday, being Valentine's Day (or Single Awareness Day, which ever you prefer), I received many sweet cards and gifts from my dear friends that the Lord has so graciously blessed me with.<br />
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In my last post, I ended with the idea of preparing for the next season -- and what that looked like. With this in mind, I'm going to attempt to combine these two events that have made a big impact on both my life and thought-process lately...<br />
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The central theme for our retreat this year was "Building Strongholds," and we had the pleasure of having Steve Demme speak (for all you home schoolers out there!). During one of the sessions, I found myself glancing back through my notes and noticing a pattern of one-particular reoccurring "idea." He continually referenced back to John 12:24... "Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." He explained that in literally every area of life, we must be that <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: x-large;">dying seed</span></b> -- one who is willing to die to one's own desires and serve someone else. We are called to be this dying seed no matter what season of life we are in. It applies to honoring our parents, loving our siblings, showing kindness to our enemies, and serving our spouse.<br />
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A couple years ago, I painted a canvas with this Scripture verse on it and hung it on my wall. Coming home from the retreat, I will never look at the same way. It has so much more meaning in my life. In addition to this new "outlook," I have added a new characteristic to diligently pursue during my precious season! --- the falling process. As many will notice, dying is usually not a fast (or easy) process, especially for a kernel of wheat! And <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: large;"><b>unless</b></span> that seed <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: large;"><b>dies</b></span>, it cannot produce more seeds. Christ calls us to deny ourselves, pick up our cross <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: large;">daily</span></b> and follow Him. As I seek to become more like Christ, I know that it will involve the denial of myself (my wants, desires, and needs). But as I continue to pursue this attribute of humility, I know that it will also be beneficial, years down the road, for marriage -- "Greater love has no one than this: that he lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). In fact, I've heard it said that marriage IS that picture of wheat... the giving of yourself in order to serve another person. Praise God for this beautiful picture He so clearly illustrates!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWq8F_DxaKXsW09_3xorJqVHjilxhGzaudXtGaqFQ5whZ1gjukhKSvbkCtg1joaS7T5_p4_Nqc75iY4I6-bMhpydfbaS_5Yrwpb_LP4Ul1C6cH0idgrii4YTs6dxa0v_SNq13baxfExk/s1600/wheat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWq8F_DxaKXsW09_3xorJqVHjilxhGzaudXtGaqFQ5whZ1gjukhKSvbkCtg1joaS7T5_p4_Nqc75iY4I6-bMhpydfbaS_5Yrwpb_LP4Ul1C6cH0idgrii4YTs6dxa0v_SNq13baxfExk/s400/wheat.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: x-small;"><b>~ John 12:24 ~</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: x-large;"> ...embrace falling.</span></b><br />
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SDG</div>shine4Himhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302711336428087430noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527963129589586997.post-92121588864581008342011-01-30T14:03:00.000-08:002011-03-12T14:06:16.999-08:00Savoring the SeasonThis is officially the first post of 2011... you will all have to excuse my extreme delay! It's taken me forever to actually sit down and just write. But, God has certainly placed a lot on my mind during the course of the last two months.<br />
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</div><div>Have you ever asked for something and were completely thrown off guard when God decides to answer your request almost immediately (He is so faithful!!)? That was me at the beginning of this new year!</div><div><br />
</div><div>If you remember, my goal for 2010 was to be a light to those around me, not only being willing to be used by God, but also ready for those opportunities when they are given... specifically, using St. John's (now a STATE College by the way) as my mission field. For 2011, I prayed and asked God to give me a peaceful and content heart for the new year. In recent weeks, I was constantly finding myself wishing I was in a different phase of my life... at times, I felt like dropping everything... asking myself, "Is there really a purpose in waiting?? I want to get married. I want to start a family. I'm tired of school and am ready for something new." Clearly, my heart needed a lot of work, and the Lord was so gracious to patiently show me where I went wrong. I began to pray and ask Him why I had let my thoughts go so far... was I not busy enough? I've always heard that the season of singleness is to be used for ministry... do I need to find other ways to be busy serving the Lord?</div><div><br />
</div><div>That was indeed my answer! At that point, I prayed that the Lord would open my eyes to needs that needed to be met. I wanted to find myself doing anything and everything, so that I didn't have time to dwell on the discontentment of my selfish heart. It was probably within a week that my prayers were quickly answered! Adding to my 3 classes and work, I have now started helping with a Bible study that targets middle/high school girls. The Lord also laid on my heart a family who just recently had their third baby, and I am now going to their house once a week to be an extra hand with whatever they may need (super excited about this one!). In addition, some moms at Lakeside have put together a girls' group which is focused around preparing to be a mother and wife (things like cooking, family worship, laundry, and many other wonderful things. :) And as the cherry on top, I will begin to go through the book by Sarah Mally, <i>Before You Meet Prince Charming,</i> with Kelly in the coming weeks.</div><div><br />
</div><div>As you can see, my life suddenly got a LOT busier all within the blink of an eye... but I am so thankful! Everything on this "list" is a blessing from the Lord, because I most likely wouldn't be able to do it if it wasn't for this beautiful season that I am in right now -- the season of singleness! I originally felt like quite the fool for thinking/wishing of such things! ...but God quickly pointed out that He designed me that way -- to be a mother and wife -- and it is indeed quite normal to have such a strong desire. But, He has placed me in this season for a reason, and it is my choice whether I use it to please myself or to serve Him.</div><div><br />
</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_bo-uKwScrlGHzb3Dwiv9Sl3VNQNY-WRS6RzVbleZne62hi4HkP8zAskf4zLNRTxXH00IJGK8YUflw-dsTSyQtvsR2muFi31227Nca3coKGPnEzjTCx4CBQlgK-onZJthaDFyawUV84/s1600/garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_bo-uKwScrlGHzb3Dwiv9Sl3VNQNY-WRS6RzVbleZne62hi4HkP8zAskf4zLNRTxXH00IJGK8YUflw-dsTSyQtvsR2muFi31227Nca3coKGPnEzjTCx4CBQlgK-onZJthaDFyawUV84/s320/garden.jpg" width="320" /></a>To close, I'd like to share a little story that my dear friend, Marilyn Coleman, always reminds us girls about... Our life is like a garden. When God created our garden, we started out as a patch of dirt! Until this garden can bring forth its harvest, it must be prepared, tilled, and plowed. If one is too quick to scatter the seeds, then the garden will not bring forth its best crops. But, if it is carefully prepared, the blessings will be bountiful! As a young woman, I am in this season of preparation... and I pray daily that God would give me a desire to be used by Him during this beautiful season of my life! May those who are in this same season seek to do the same, as our gracious Lord continues to make us more like Him.<br />
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<i>"For everything there is a season..." </i>~ Ecclesiastes 3:1<br />
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SDG</div>shine4Himhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302711336428087430noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527963129589586997.post-65711855842199557352010-12-09T06:54:00.000-08:002010-12-09T07:05:14.041-08:00Empty My Hands<div style="font-family: inherit;">I think I'll let this message speak for itself...</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(<i>Empty My Hands</i> is currently the Playlist choice for this blog.)</span></div><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;">"Empty My Hands"</div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><i>By Tenth Avenue North</i></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;">I've got voices in my head </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And they are so strong </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And I'm getting sick of this, oh Lord, how long </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Will I be haunted by the fear that I believe </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My hands like locks on cages </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Of these dreams I can't set free </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But if I let these dreams </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">die</b> <br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If I lay down all my wounded pride </span><br />
<b style="font-family: inherit;">If I let these dreams die </b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Will I find that letting go </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">lets me come alive </b><br />
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<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="color: #6aa84f;">So empty my hands <br />
Fill up my heart <br />
Capture my mind with You <br />
Oh empty my hands <br />
Fill up my heart <br />
Capture my mind with You <br />
With You, with You Lord </i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">These voices speak instead, what's right is wrong </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And I'm giving into them, please Lord, how long </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Will I be held captive by the lies that I believe </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My heart's in constant chaos and it keeps me so deceived </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But if I let these dreams die </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If I could just lay down my dark desire </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If I let these dreams die </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Will I find you brought me back to life </span><br />
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<i style="color: #6aa84f;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">So <span style="font-size: small;">empty my hands</span> </span><br style="font-family: inherit;" /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fill up my heart </span><br style="font-family: inherit;" /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Capture my mind with You </span><br style="font-family: inherit;" /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Oh Lord, empty my hands </span><br style="font-family: inherit;" /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fill up my heart </span><br style="font-family: inherit;" /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Capture my mind with You </span></b></i> <br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Cause my mind is like a building burning down </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I need Your grace to keep me, keep me from the ground </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And my heart is just a prisoner of war </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A slave to what it wants and to what I'm fighting for </span><br />
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<i><b><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: inherit;">So won't you empty my hands </span><br style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: inherit;" /><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: inherit;">Fill up my heart </span><br style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: inherit;" /><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: inherit;">Capture my mind with You </span><br style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: inherit;" /><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: inherit;">Oh empty my hands </span><br style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: inherit;" /><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: inherit;">Fill up my heart </span><br style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: inherit;" /><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: inherit;">Capture my mind with You</span></b></i></div><div style="color: #6aa84f; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">SDG </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>shine4Himhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302711336428087430noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527963129589586997.post-84132026650057286262010-11-26T09:33:00.000-08:002010-11-26T09:47:48.096-08:00God is Faithful.I think many would agree that there is not a stronger or more deliberate theme found throughout the Bible than the truth of God's faithfulness. As I begin to reflect on 2010, how He has provided for me, I continue to find myself in awe of how faithful He has been in every area of my life.<br />
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At the beginning of this semester, I made an effort to do something which pretty much changed my life and opened my eyes to a truth that was so blatant (yet, I obviously had such a hard time seeing it!). I decided that before I took any exam or test or quiz, I would bow my head and pray, thanking God for the knowledge that He had equipped with (I was finding <i>rest</i> while trusting in Him!). This took away so much fear and worry... it sounds like something I should have already known and been in the practice of doing, but I wasn't. I truly cannot put into words how much this taught me!<br />
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It's something so little... You're probably thinking, "Praying.. before a test?? Why would you worry about something so silly?" School is my weakness. It can create so much stress if I let it. But, I'm learning... God has given a peace in knowing that my best is good enough for Him, and therefore it should be good enough for me.<br />
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As you can probably imagine, the biggest thing that I became aware of was how faithful God was (and IS!). He cares about the smallest things in my life, things that seem so big to me. He knows EVERYTHING about us! ..our struggles, our worries, the things make us angry.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Now, after every test/quiz (or grade, for that matter), I never fail to say to myself, "GOD IS FAITHFUL!" I'm so thankful that He knows my every need - thankful that He is "intimately acquainted with all my ways" (Psalm 119:3). Feel free to leave a comment sharing how God's faithfulness has been evident in your life. All the more reason to bring Him glory! :)<br />
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"Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name be the glory because of Your love and<i><span style="color: black;"> faithfulness</span></i>." ~ Psalm 115:1<br />
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"Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures." ~ Psalm 119:90 <br />
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SDGshine4Himhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302711336428087430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527963129589586997.post-5215303504274892212010-11-19T19:02:00.000-08:002010-11-23T17:16:07.018-08:00Restless No MoreWelcome to the new and improved blog! Special thanks to Mia who so graciously came over and spent quite a bit of time teaching this not-so-educated blogger the ropes. ...And I will be the first to admit that it is now much more attractive!<br />
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Tomorrow will be a month since my last post. And here is your promised part two. =)<br />
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"My flesh and my heart may fail, but GOD is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." ~ Psalm 73:26<br />
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I don't find it ironic that no matter where I go, whether it's Sunday School, worship service, or small group, all of the above have presented a study on REST. I mentioned in my last post that stress has been a major component of my life lately. And even though God has opened my eyes to see the purpose in running this race, I continually find myself gasping for air in the ocean of my to-do list!<br />
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<a href="http://www.gannsdeen.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/audrey-assad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.gannsdeen.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/audrey-assad.jpg" width="200" /></a>What's even more amazing is that God introduced this recurring theme into my life through an incredible music artist named Audrey Assad. She has a song titled "Restless" that spoke to my heart the minute the piano began playing through the speaker. She shares how entering God's rest is the only way we can find rest. To everyone's surprise, I'm sure, I was in tears by the end of song. I had realized that I was fighting against that rest. I began to understand that we are indeed restless til we rest in HIM! God knows how vulnerable I am when it comes to music. ;)<br />
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Isn't it wonderful that He doesn't leave us to run our race without rest? We are in great need of rest! Hebrews 4:9-11 says, "There remains then a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience."<br />
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In my Pastor's sermon, he made note of a very important point. This "Sabbath-rest," described in verse 9, is not just a rest for one single day of the week. It's a characterized rest -- a rest created by God that we have in Christ. We have peace as we rest in the sacrifice that Christ made for us. Because of His suffering, we are able to celebrate rest! In addition, the latter part of the excerpt stresses the correlation between obedience and rest. God has shown me over the past few months that when we obey Him, we are not only in His Will, but also in His rest! In fact, "spiritual rest brings the character of God" into our lives.<br />
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Sleepless nights dwelling over Precal tests or Anatomy exams have slowly decreased because of resting in God and knowing that He is faithful! <br />
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I encourage you to read Hebrews Chapter 4 for a full dose of God's rest. He never promised us that our race would be easy. In fact, he promised us trials, suffering, and tribulation (..obstacles, rocky areas, and steep inclines). But He also promised us that He will never leave us nor forsake us as we run our race. The beautiful reality of it all is that as we rely on God's strength, <i>He</i> is glorified!! <br />
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Continue to press on as your run this race, fixing your eyes on our Sovereign Lord and taking refuge in Him who gives our life purpose!<br />
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SDGshine4Himhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302711336428087430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527963129589586997.post-69588363684692145172010-10-20T18:03:00.000-07:002010-11-11T13:48:50.194-08:00Finding Purpose in the Race"Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has <span style="font-style:italic;">nothing</span> I desire besides you. My flesh and heart may fail, but <span style="font-style:italic;">God</span> is strength of my heart and my portion forever. Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds." ~ Psalm 73:25-28<br /><br />I am officially half-way done with the fall semester! (Yay!) My life has been so crazy - and let's just say that stress levels have literally made their way OFF the scale. And as most of you know, I'm not one to deal with stress very easily...<br /><br />Earlier in September, my best friend and I participated in a pro-life 5K race and had been training for it prior to the event. During my frequent runs, I found that they were an extremely helpful remedy to my stress issues. My humongous list of things to do would suddenly become irrelevant, and it was a <span style="font-style:italic;">wonderful</span> thing! It was also during my runs that I was able to have the best conversations with the Lord!<br /><br />He began to lay on my heart the question of WHY I was "running <span style="font-style:italic;">my</span> race." I then began to ponder what purpose my life currently had, and whether or not I was bearing fruit that displayed it. I quickly realized the many passions that had taken over my life - school, events, future plans that I had been "day dreaming" about. Instantaneously, I was constantly letting earthly treasure sit on the throne of my heart.<br /><br />It was during my quiet time a few weeks later that I read Psalm 73. What hit me the hardest was the verse, "...and earth has nothing I desire besides you."<br /><br />The world offers numerous things that look so appealing to us. But God calls us to store up our treasures in Heaven, and not on earth. We are called to run this race in such a way as to win the prize. What prize are you seeking? This race can be extremely tiring, and it would be a complete waste if we did not have our eyes fixed on the <span style="font-style:italic;">right</span> prize -- the only prize that will not fade away. God is who we should desire! Our eyes should be fixed on Him, the Author and Perfecter of our faith.<br /><br />However, it's when we get tired that our gaze tends to fall downward. My next post will be about verse 26 - finding strength during this race. There's only one person that can offer us the strength we really need, and that is Christ!<br /><br />"Run in such a way as to win the prize." ~ 1 Corinthians 9:24<br /><br />SDGshine4Himhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302711336428087430noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527963129589586997.post-87385095824269352292010-08-21T10:09:00.001-07:002010-10-10T17:18:23.319-07:00Dying on the InsideHave you ever thought about how many people love you? Sounds like a pretty weird question, right? I'm not talking about love as in the "feeling" - I mean the love that IS. The love that has no condition which defines its depth.<br /><br />I shared in my last post how God is continuing to break my heart for the same things that break His. And I'll be honest, it has been a completely overwhelming and burdensome experience. But lately, the faces of those I come in contact with are not just faces anymore... as soon as my eyes meet theirs, compassion overflows in the depths of my heart. How many times do we overlook those who are dying inside? - because that is exactly what takes place in the hearts of unsaved souls. We are oblivious to what is going on in their life, and at times we could care less. Is this the love that Christ showed to sinners - mockers, thieves, murderers, tax collectors, prostitutes?<br /><br />For some odd reason, my mind has convinced me that I have the right to judge these people. And guess what? It's wrong. JJ Heller's new single, "What Love Really Means" brought me to tears the first time I listened to it (thankfully, no one was in the car). But the song tells 3 stories of individuals whose lives are falling apart and we're told that these people have never experienced what love really is. I've got news for ya.. you pass at least 5 people who are experiencing this same sadness and loneliness - who are dying on the inside.<br /><br />When we think about the love that Christ showed us on the cross - beaten, mocked, whipped, spit on, and killed FOR US - how could we be so selfish to keep it for ourselves? WHY ARE WE NOT GIVING IT AWAY? We are called to share Christ's love with people who are dying on the inside, those are craving a love that lasts, a love that is unconditional. They're crying, "Who will love me for me? Not for what I have done, or what I will become. Who will love me for me? Cause NOBODY has shown me what love really means."<br /><br />SDG<br /><object width="400" height="250"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PgGUKWiw7Wk?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PgGUKWiw7Wk?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="250"></embed></object>shine4Himhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302711336428087430noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527963129589586997.post-77683282835525548862010-08-04T08:16:00.000-07:002010-08-04T10:32:12.106-07:00Buffalo - MISSION20TENWell, let’s just say that my senior summer has been absolutely AMAZING. During the week of July 3-10, I was able to take a trip with the Judson Student Youth Group to Buffalo, NY for a mission trip. I flew to Nashville, and then rode with them to Buffalo. My first flight was absolutely incredible!! The ride home was a bit more bumpy compared to the ride there, but, it was overall a positive first experience. (I officially LOVE flying!)<br /><br />After a 15 ½-hour bus ride to Buffalo on Saturday (which started at 4:00 a.m.), we finally arrived at our first destination. For Fourth of July, we stayed at a ranch in Owego and visited a New York-famous ice cream shop before watching fireworks. It was quite the memorable holiday! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBodpnyN_VUNlg2jHmNGzkMNxDmdF6LfhBKDWi59LWxH_avFC0dypuPTSB9bLJ2TTp_ASGacP2jzx1LH3IgP0xzTsPh_BDolzOnKr7Z0LyWb4OVVAQYg52h1yFBu1Rlm4Lpkrm4-ra7kU/s1600/SANY0058.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBodpnyN_VUNlg2jHmNGzkMNxDmdF6LfhBKDWi59LWxH_avFC0dypuPTSB9bLJ2TTp_ASGacP2jzx1LH3IgP0xzTsPh_BDolzOnKr7Z0LyWb4OVVAQYg52h1yFBu1Rlm4Lpkrm4-ra7kU/s200/SANY0058.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501579385540072226" /></a>We set off early Monday morning for our final destination: Buffalo! Thankfully, it was only three hours from where we were. Monday night consisted of World Changer’s “opening celebration” and worship. We also got to meet our crew that we would be working with all week long. (Churches from different states came to Buffalo and each was dispersed among the crews so that we could all get to know each other.) Tuesday was when the real work began! We would be getting up at 5:30 every morning, eating breakfast at 6, and heading out by 7.<br /><br />It would only take about 24 hours before I would have my first “attitude check.” I had assumed this mission trip would not be as intense as others, since it was in the states and not another country. However, let’s start with our living conditions: We stayed in a pretty old and run-down high school that reminded me of a fire station. This high school also had absolutely no air conditioning. And did I mention that Buffalo would be experiencing a record high on the exact week we would be there? Yeah, it was awesome. In addition, our meals consisted of good ol’ cafeteria mystery food and the same thing for lunch every single day – melted ham sandwiches on the whitest bread I’d ever seen. Yum! As you can imagine, this was a bit more “intense” than I had expected. Because my expectations didn’t exactly meet reality, a sour and discontent spirit began to form in my heart. God quickly made that known to me, and I was able to fix it. I realized that my trip was even more of a mission trip than I thought it was going to be! How exciting!!<br /><br />Our first day on the job was amazing. We would be re-doing a porch & staircase, restructuring columns, and giving the front of the house a fresh coat of paint. The owner of the home of our job site was Ms. Josephine, an older, single woman who pretty much lived on her front porch. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOem0hiFBB_N99nxD4Mn1mm5QRp6dq85Yzcygy7Vget9UexpCduRm5Dd_XlX50ek9nWUgTKLwGfB6xlzNVWv2lg23aJIaHRuVXUvQNIEYu_lhyX3FnSY61HONhrGPBQE4sbW2lJs_5AA/s1600/SANY0106.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOem0hiFBB_N99nxD4Mn1mm5QRp6dq85Yzcygy7Vget9UexpCduRm5Dd_XlX50ek9nWUgTKLwGfB6xlzNVWv2lg23aJIaHRuVXUvQNIEYu_lhyX3FnSY61HONhrGPBQE4sbW2lJs_5AA/s200/SANY0106.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501580368462013458" /></a>Thankfully, her neighbors were willing to let her sit on theirs while hers was under construction. That week, I did a variety of jobs, including scraping paint, peeling up rotted boards, caulking, and painting (LOTS of painting!). And I loved every moment of it. Every day after lunch, we had “crew devos” which was led by one of our crew members and included reading from God’s Word, discussion, and prayer. I was amazed at how we were all able to get to know each other through this activity.<br /><br />On Wednesday, the city of Buffalo had their annual “Buffalo Bash,” and World Changers was part of it! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcYUhGM7nQ-S6258VR3Lmxqy9RPicYIUJw46fF7STETc6GC-YWhl5ki3LEYeyJ0IbmktMH0RzzrIbPhyphenhyphen5z_PCNn-ljpPYNHTN11oLZd4HRsnUS01AGF4hWzFL5jPn__fK2ZSM2c0m-Xbs/s1600/SANY0099.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcYUhGM7nQ-S6258VR3Lmxqy9RPicYIUJw46fF7STETc6GC-YWhl5ki3LEYeyJ0IbmktMH0RzzrIbPhyphenhyphen5z_PCNn-ljpPYNHTN11oLZd4HRsnUS01AGF4hWzFL5jPn__fK2ZSM2c0m-Xbs/s200/SANY0099.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501581535133811746" /></a>As a youth group, Judson students were able to make balloon animals for the kids there. Lots of evangelism took place, thanks to this ministry!<br /><br />Thursday was pretty much my favorite day of the week. We all were able to sit and take a break every couple hours for a drink. On one of my breaks, I noticed some kids in the neighborhood riding bikes and goofing off. After introducing myself, they immediately stuck to me like glue! There were about five kids, all siblings, and were cute as could be! The youngest girl, two years old, would not stop talking and would not move from my lap. They were all quite intrigued by my camera as well (hence, the funny faces on the video). Earlier in the week, I had prayed that God would give me an opportunity to interact with kids, and He gave me exactly that! Their faces will always be engraved on my heart.<br /><br />Last but not least, my uncle surprised us on Saturday, and took us to Niagara Falls!! It was absolutely beautiful… All I could think the entire time was “What an awesome God we serve!” So, I have officially seen one of the Seven Wonders of the World!<br /><br />There are literally not enough words to explain the work that God did in my heart that week. Thursday night after worship, we had youth group devotions and my uncle (the youth pastor) encouraged us to share what God had taught/shown us that week – specifically the things that hinder us from serving him faithfully (the theme of the week was “UNHINDERED”). <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7V8wiLU_YgOvQzgIrw37eWkxDKNjlRlsVgrS-7HmNZGIZydvEpHFq1fvIEVVJQCFfPhWykCYtG116f-19cgBUhGF7Gcl0p4e_1Ji3qLJ3yXBDw8Wjuw9i1AtyEXp6WLQZ7pg_gAXG3c/s1600/unhindered-small-300x300.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 141px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7V8wiLU_YgOvQzgIrw37eWkxDKNjlRlsVgrS-7HmNZGIZydvEpHFq1fvIEVVJQCFfPhWykCYtG116f-19cgBUhGF7Gcl0p4e_1Ji3qLJ3yXBDw8Wjuw9i1AtyEXp6WLQZ7pg_gAXG3c/s200/unhindered-small-300x300.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501582551426987074" /></a> It was difficult for me to get the courage to share, but I did. During the past two weeks of being away from home, God revealed to me my lack of trust and dependency on Him, specifically in the area of giving Him control of my future. To be honest, I thought I had it all figured out. But to my surprise, God completely unraveled everything I thought I had organized. <br /><br />As you can imagine, I am in need of LOTS of prayer. God is teaching me to wait on HIS timing and trust Him with the answers. …Where? When? How? They are all so overwhelming! But lately I’ve slowly realized that I’m not the one in control, and no matter how hard I try to plan and “schedule,” God’s Plan will always exceed mine.<br /><br />In addition, the Lord is truly breaking my heart for the things that break His heart. Upon my return, I watched a movie with my family and was literally weeping after watching it. My heart was aching and mourning for the lost – for those who have no knowledge of the Truth and grace that comes through Christ Jesus. I literally feel like a different person. <br /><br />It’s exciting to see how God is going to use all of this in my life later on down the road. My trip is summed up by Acts 1:8: “And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ENDS OF THE EARTH."<br /><br />SDG<br /><br />VIDEO: COMING SOON!shine4Himhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302711336428087430noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527963129589586997.post-26812426025919259942010-06-26T12:23:00.000-07:002011-10-05T17:03:59.475-07:00For Such a Time as ThisGRADUATION. Isn't that a scary term? For a lot of people, it's a time of never-ending celebration and parties. Don't get me wrong, it is for me too! But for some reason, during the last 2 months, I've had this "black cloud" in the background that has brought an odd sense of depression and sadness as well. It's like everything is coming to an end! ...I mean, seriously, I'm no longer in a grade!!! I've wanted so badly to be able to freeze time and re-live everything that has already taken place.<br />
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Recently, it finally occurred to me how much the Lord has equipped me over the past 12 years of my education. I have accomplished so much and I've grown closer to Him through it all. As much as I want to rewind and re-live every past year of my life, God has placed me in this season for a reason! Here's a "mind-opening" fact: life goes on and there's simply nothing we can do about it!<br />
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The reason I'm writing to you is to share a verse that the Lord has really put on my heart during this exciting season. Last month, I studied the book of Esther in my quiet time. In chapter 4, verse 14, Mordecai is encouraging Esther to be bold in order to save her people, the Jews. He says, "And who knows but that you have come into royal position FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS."<br />
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I don't think it's ironic that the Lord laid this book on my heart around the time of my graduation. Can you imagine if we viewed every moment of our lives as "such a time as this"? Too often, I find myself rushing through opportunities or looking for ways to make time fly. (It's no wonder I felt so depressed when I was finally graduating!) My point is, God has ordained every moment in our life for one single purpose: to glorify Him. Every day, he gives us those opportunities to serve others, and, in turn, serve Him. But we're all too busy to stop and think about how God would want us to use these minutes, seconds of our day.<br />
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Who knew that graduating could teach you so much? One final thought to share... Revive's latest song "Blink" gives so much insight into truly considering how precious time is...<br />
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Teach me to number my days<br />
And count every moment before it slips away<br />
Taking all the colors before they fade to gray<br />
I don't want to miss even just a second more of this<br />
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It happens in a blink<br />
It happens in a flash<br />
It happens in the time it took to look back<br />
I try to hold on tight, but there's no stopping time<br />
WHAT IS IT I'VE DONE WITH MY LIFE?<br />
It happens in a blink<br />
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What is it that we're using our lives for? God's Word tells us that we are not promised our next breath. God placed you in the current season of your life FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS! Are you making the most of every opportunity before it all slips away? How true it is that it's all gone as soon we look back! These past few months have engraved that verse in my heart, so that I might treasure the days God gives me here on earth.<br />
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"You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before You. Each man's life is but a breath." ~ Psalm 39:5<br />
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SDGshine4Himhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302711336428087430noreply@blogger.com0