Last spring I was asked to pray about leading a freshmen girls Bible study, well after praying about it and considering my schedule I really felt led to lead a group of girls this year. Last week was the first week Anna Beth and I led our group of girls (who live in Manning.)
Anyways last week we had 20!!! girls come to small group. It was incredible to see an eagerness and a desire to grow from these girls. God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good. I already love these girls to death and want to get to know them so much better! Their consistency in coming to Crusade, asking questions, and even participating in discussion the first week blew me away. I really shouldn't be surprised because God is just that good! :)
On top of all that, my bible study is WOW! I left Megan's house Monday night mentally exhausted because of the depth we are taking this year. I sat there with such a peace and I could feel God surronding his beautiful daughters with a deep love and joy. I can't imagine how he feels to see all of us gathered, reading his word, discussing our struggles, and growing more intimate with Him. We are starting 1 Peter next week and man am I stoked! Pastor Johnny did an expository series of 1 Peter when I was in highschool but I have matured spiritually since then and I cannot wait for what I will learn.
On top of all that is this thing called school. YUCK!
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
TWO MONTHS
Yep, you read that correctly...so to rewind a little bit.
This summer while I was in Russia I spoke to one of the pastors and leo about staying longer than 10 days in Russia. Yesterday I got an email from Mike about the 10 day Russia trip and that reminded me to email Leo about the entire summer. So, here it goes...Leo and the pastor want me for 2 months!! I would help with the youth, different church activities, teach ESL, go to summer camps, orphanages, and be a PR for TEAR. Omgosh my excitement is bubbling over! Granted I am definitely going to pray hard and long about this and see what happens with studying in St. Petersburg but seriously...two months spending with the sweet people I love so dearly! AAHH!
This summer while I was in Russia I spoke to one of the pastors and leo about staying longer than 10 days in Russia. Yesterday I got an email from Mike about the 10 day Russia trip and that reminded me to email Leo about the entire summer. So, here it goes...Leo and the pastor want me for 2 months!! I would help with the youth, different church activities, teach ESL, go to summer camps, orphanages, and be a PR for TEAR. Omgosh my excitement is bubbling over! Granted I am definitely going to pray hard and long about this and see what happens with studying in St. Petersburg but seriously...two months spending with the sweet people I love so dearly! AAHH!
Monday, August 25, 2008
words of wisdom
Not a lot to say but I have some words of wisdom from Elisabeth Elliot, author of "Passion and Purity"
-"I do know that waiting on God requires the willingness to bear uncertainity, to carry within oneself the unanswered question, lifting the heart to God about it whenever it intrudes upon one's thoughts."
Just medidate on that when you feel like screaming because of all the unanswered questions life tends to throw at you and don't worry, we are all facing them. I am clueless as to what I am going to do with my major, passion for writing, and my desire to share Jesus Christ with the people of Russia. I am scared but not full of doubt because God has the answers!
Just some food for thought! :)
-"I do know that waiting on God requires the willingness to bear uncertainity, to carry within oneself the unanswered question, lifting the heart to God about it whenever it intrudes upon one's thoughts."
Just medidate on that when you feel like screaming because of all the unanswered questions life tends to throw at you and don't worry, we are all facing them. I am clueless as to what I am going to do with my major, passion for writing, and my desire to share Jesus Christ with the people of Russia. I am scared but not full of doubt because God has the answers!
Just some food for thought! :)
Thursday, August 21, 2008
a 100 miles a minute
Wow, the past 7 days have been non-stop madness. I moved into Clemson last Friday, helped freshmen move in on Saturday, went to church Sunday morning then left Sunday evening for the Crusade Leadership Retreat..got very little sleep then came home Monday afternoon.
Monday afternoon I got to help Crusade with the organization fair and met soo many girls for the bible study Anna Beth and I are leading. Then Tuesday night was our first Crusade for the year! It was fantastic. The worship was good, I was able to share a little bit about small groups, and what mine meant to me last year. Then on Wednesday Manning had the first small group kick-off. There were 19 girls!! It was so exciting! I am pumped for what God has in store for this year in the entire Crusade. Tonight was a bowling outreach. Tomorrow is a cook-out for crusade!
Not to mention I am stressed about classes because I have some pretty hard classes. Anyways, that is what is going on in my life. Please be praying that I use my time wisely and glorify God in everything I am involved in this year.
Love you guys!
Monday afternoon I got to help Crusade with the organization fair and met soo many girls for the bible study Anna Beth and I are leading. Then Tuesday night was our first Crusade for the year! It was fantastic. The worship was good, I was able to share a little bit about small groups, and what mine meant to me last year. Then on Wednesday Manning had the first small group kick-off. There were 19 girls!! It was so exciting! I am pumped for what God has in store for this year in the entire Crusade. Tonight was a bowling outreach. Tomorrow is a cook-out for crusade!
Not to mention I am stressed about classes because I have some pretty hard classes. Anyways, that is what is going on in my life. Please be praying that I use my time wisely and glorify God in everything I am involved in this year.
Love you guys!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
The Need to Break Down
Have you ever felt the need to just cry and the tears just wouldn't flow. I have kind of felt like that lately, especially Sunday night. See on Monday I had surgery to have all four of my wisdom teeth taken out. Not that big of a deal right? Well I don't do well with needles, blood, surgery..etc. And I was even more worried about my blood sugar cause I couldn't eat. They ended up adding sugar water to my IV. Despite my worrying, God was in control and I am recovering fine.
Because of my surgery I am having to lay around during my last week at home. I only get to see Ashley one day this week until who knows when, I don't like that at all. Granted I leave Friday to go back to Clemson, which I am ecstatic about, but once I get there my life is gonna be in high speed until Thanksgiving. Between football games, crusade, bible study x 2, classes, and the Kaleo conference I am really beginning to freak myself out.
But despite all my complaining I am recovering from surgery just fine, and I know that God is going to do awesome things this semester even with my hectic schedule if I devote my time to Him. So, that is kinda where I am right now. Ready to be back at school but savoring these last moments at home for awhile.
Lastly, I have a really serious prayer request, for the 3 or 4 people that read this. The Russia trip for next year is being prayed about right now. Not that it isn't always, but right now because of politics, gas prices, and money in general it might not happen. This alone has brought me to tears multiple times a day. I can't really grasp not going over there to see my sweet Eliza and Yana, their beautiful faces and precious hearts! So, despite the desires of my heart, I must pray that God's will be done in the decision the leaders of the team make.
With that,
Я люблю Вас всех, (I love you all)
До свидания (Goodbye)
Because of my surgery I am having to lay around during my last week at home. I only get to see Ashley one day this week until who knows when, I don't like that at all. Granted I leave Friday to go back to Clemson, which I am ecstatic about, but once I get there my life is gonna be in high speed until Thanksgiving. Between football games, crusade, bible study x 2, classes, and the Kaleo conference I am really beginning to freak myself out.
But despite all my complaining I am recovering from surgery just fine, and I know that God is going to do awesome things this semester even with my hectic schedule if I devote my time to Him. So, that is kinda where I am right now. Ready to be back at school but savoring these last moments at home for awhile.
Lastly, I have a really serious prayer request, for the 3 or 4 people that read this. The Russia trip for next year is being prayed about right now. Not that it isn't always, but right now because of politics, gas prices, and money in general it might not happen. This alone has brought me to tears multiple times a day. I can't really grasp not going over there to see my sweet Eliza and Yana, their beautiful faces and precious hearts! So, despite the desires of my heart, I must pray that God's will be done in the decision the leaders of the team make.
With that,
Я люблю Вас всех, (I love you all)
До свидания (Goodbye)
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Beloved and Forgiven
Here I go again guys, expressing my obsession with Tenth Avenue North, which I will be tying into with a word from my dear friend Beth Moore; so..here we go.
These lyrics have been a recent prayer of mine, that I would stop searching and let God do the match-making. I have messed up trying to find someone that would satisfy, but no one will satisfy until I am satisfied as God's beautiful bride. So the lyrics are...
Well you've been a mistress, my wife
Chasing lovers it won't satisfy
Won't you let me make you my bride
You will drink of my lips
And you'll taste new life
Cause you're my beloved
Lover I'm yours
Death shall not part us
It's you I died for
For better or worse
Forever we'll be
Our Love it unites us
& it binds you to me
And to tie in with my friend Beth Moore's words:
This past week one of the days was about God not keeping a record of our wrongs, and I always knew that but never fully grasped it. Recently, most specifically Tuesday when I was doing Psalms 130, I realized that I was the only person remembering what I did in the past. If God kept a record of wrong, who would be able to stand. I LOVE IT, just thinking about the fact that God has no recollection of what I did...almost unbelievable. It is amazing though, to remember this when I just feel like I am in a rut. To remember that God doesn't remember my past, and looks at me like a beautiful bride.
These lyrics have been a recent prayer of mine, that I would stop searching and let God do the match-making. I have messed up trying to find someone that would satisfy, but no one will satisfy until I am satisfied as God's beautiful bride. So the lyrics are...
Well you've been a mistress, my wife
Chasing lovers it won't satisfy
Won't you let me make you my bride
You will drink of my lips
And you'll taste new life
Cause you're my beloved
Lover I'm yours
Death shall not part us
It's you I died for
For better or worse
Forever we'll be
Our Love it unites us
& it binds you to me
And to tie in with my friend Beth Moore's words:
This past week one of the days was about God not keeping a record of our wrongs, and I always knew that but never fully grasped it. Recently, most specifically Tuesday when I was doing Psalms 130, I realized that I was the only person remembering what I did in the past. If God kept a record of wrong, who would be able to stand. I LOVE IT, just thinking about the fact that God has no recollection of what I did...almost unbelievable. It is amazing though, to remember this when I just feel like I am in a rut. To remember that God doesn't remember my past, and looks at me like a beautiful bride.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Lift Us Up to Fall
So a friend of mine, Caitlin, introduced me to a new band, Tenth Avenue North. And recently I have become quite addicted to them. For those that know Needtobreathe and like them, you'll like Tenth Avenue North. Anyways, by far my favorite song is Lift Us Up to Fall.
We’re waiting here
Waiting for you God
With our hopes and fears
We come empty hands held out
Lord draw us near
Heal these broken hearts
And lift us up to fall before everything you are
That's the chorus and it just reminds me of how unworthy we are to have the oppurtunity to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We do have empty hands and broken hearts, but we can come to God with all of that. The last line of the chorus has become my daily prayer lately; that God would lift me and bless my life so much that I can do nothing but fall at His feet and worship Him for all that He is. Maybe this makes no sense to anyone that actually reads this, but it has really hit home for me. Basically, I am striving to live in an attitude or worship towards my Father in Heaven.
So, thats that. Life is good, God is good (all the time). I am in a friend's wedding on Saturday and I am so excited for her. In a few weeks friends from Clemson are coming to go to a Hootie and the Blowfish concert, then I'll hopefully be going to the beach with the Big Ash, and next it is time for SCHOOL! Yes, I am excited about going back to school, not necessarily my classes but everything else. More to come about all of the awesome opportunities awaiting me in Clemson.
до свидания!!
We’re waiting here
Waiting for you God
With our hopes and fears
We come empty hands held out
Lord draw us near
Heal these broken hearts
And lift us up to fall before everything you are
That's the chorus and it just reminds me of how unworthy we are to have the oppurtunity to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We do have empty hands and broken hearts, but we can come to God with all of that. The last line of the chorus has become my daily prayer lately; that God would lift me and bless my life so much that I can do nothing but fall at His feet and worship Him for all that He is. Maybe this makes no sense to anyone that actually reads this, but it has really hit home for me. Basically, I am striving to live in an attitude or worship towards my Father in Heaven.
So, thats that. Life is good, God is good (all the time). I am in a friend's wedding on Saturday and I am so excited for her. In a few weeks friends from Clemson are coming to go to a Hootie and the Blowfish concert, then I'll hopefully be going to the beach with the Big Ash, and next it is time for SCHOOL! Yes, I am excited about going back to school, not necessarily my classes but everything else. More to come about all of the awesome opportunities awaiting me in Clemson.
до свидания!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
