40 Seconds in SSR

It is seriously the wildest, most amazing thing when God starts bringing things in your life full circle. It is one of the best things about getting older, I think.

I was just sitting here at school during SSR (Sustained Silent Reading...now I'm on plan time), flipping through my copy of Louie Giglio's book, "I am not but I know I AM," when I came across this chapter called, "You can TRUST HIM."

So I stopped to read. Because honestly, I have trouble trusting God sometimes.

Basically, Louie starts talking about how when John the Baptist was imprisoned, John wondered why Jesus was standing by and doing nothing. Christ didn't swoop in and grant John with a miracle and get him released from jail. In fact, quite the opposite. John ends up being beheaded.

Louie relates this to our lives now...so often people pray for miracles and don't get them. While others get HUGE ones...lives saved, prayers answered. We've all heard those stories. So when we feel like God's not intervening in our own lives, answering our prayers, we start to wonder if He really cares.

Oh, but He DOES.

Louie goes on to point out that "If John had lived a little longer, he would have seen an even more senseless event than his own beheading. He would have witnessed the unthinkable -- the 'Lamb of God' being crucified at the hands of an angry mob. And for this cruel killing, John would also have concluded that God stood by and did nothing" (p142).

In typical female fashion, ha, my mind immediately started swirling. Within 20 seconds, I had thought through my depression 2 years ago (when I started having trouble trusting God), how it didn't make sense that YL was miserable for me, how I felt like God could have and should have swooped in. But then...was there a bigger picture there? Something He was saving me from? Preparing me for?

BAM.

Another 20 seconds. OF COURSE. It's all making sense now. Even though He knew that drawing me away from YL would feel like the worst breakup of my life (and oh boy, it did...hence the depression)...He had to do it. He knew it was the only way to get me to see a different plan. The only way to get me to work for Sarah and Andrew (and change my ideas of church). The only way to build connections for the future HE saw for me.

Don't get me wrong. I still love YL. And He allowed me to go back to leading my senior year. And I fell in love with a GREAT group of girls. (Some of whose feet are at the top of this page!) But He needed me to see a different plan for my life. HIS plan. So He did what He had to do.

So next time you are going through a rough time, wondering why God just isn't showing up...I encourage you to try to find hope in the fact that God is working in terms of a BIGGER plan. And maybe one day.....you'll get to watch it all come full circle.

Just maybe not during SSR. And it might take longer than 40 seconds. :)

God Bless.

Be Excited About The Call

So today I'm restarting my blog...but with a whole new spin on things. I feel as though my life changed recently and I want to start recording that journey here. Can you dig it?

The LORD has recently been moving in some big ways around my hometown and current residence of Liberty, Missouri, specifically in the neighborhood of Liberty United Methodist Church. Last week, Andrew and Sarah Beard (youth directors) announced they are moving to Dallas, Texas. (Andrew will be the youth worship leader at Highland Park United Methodist and attending seminary, and Sarah will be the Promotions Director for His Voice Global.) For people my age who aren't sure where they'll be in the coming years post-college, that may not seem like that big of a deal. But I assure you, their move is a complete act of obedience to the LORD and against everything that makes sense in terms of the world we live in.

All kinds of reactions have come in response to this announcement. I'd like to focus on one of those reactions, that not only I had, but that several other adults and students have had in response as well. That is the reaction of wondering, "Wow, they are doing as they've always taught. Being obedient to the LORD. And He is doing awesome things with them. How can I be obedient like that?"

Well, on February 14, 2011, I had the pleasure of sitting down for a 3 hour conversation with Sarah Beard on her couch. Sorting out my own walk with the Lord. Talking about what the future holds. And right around 4:30pm that day, truth that Sarah was speaking into my life as well as another mentor of mine all came weaving perfectly together to communicate to me MY CALL: FULL TIME YOUTH MINISTRY.

Now, if you have known me for any time at all, you may be thinking (as many have) that this is not surprising. I led YoungLife for all 4 years of college. I have worked for and volunteered with LUMY. I love youth. And I used to want to work for YL. But it has been almost 3 years since then. Ever since my few month bout of depression a few years ago, I've been running away from that in so many ways, running in search of new and "better" plans.

So when those conversations all came together that day at 4:30....I cannot describe to you the peace, joy, and excitement that came over me! It was an incredible moment that I will NEVER forget. And although I get it, it's not surprising, I wish more people would be EXCITED about the LORD's movement and call on my life!

All of this story is basically to say: BE EXCITED ABOUT THE CALL. Whether it's you, your best friend, your sibling, your parent, your youth student, your partner in ministry...whether it's surprising or expected, BE EXCITED when the LORD moves in their life and clearly calls them in a certain direction. That person is excited...so why not be excited with them???

"I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even GREATER things than these..." John 14:12

God Bless.

People I've Met

Ok so I'm in DC now but I just wanted to take a moment to document the fact that I met some of the coolest people my last full day on the Outer Banks.

First of all, everyone who worked at the KOA kampground I stayed at in Rodanthe was so ridiculously nice. All the old people remembered who I was even when I couldn't even remember meeting them in the first place. And they have these people there called SummerShiners...college students my age who work there as part of this ministry thing but also get paid. They were really nice too.

Then that night I was at Jockey's Ridge State Park, the largest sand dune on the East Coast. I was just sittin up there chillin when this family of boys started playing fooball by me. I finally got up and eventually started talking to the mom....found out they were from Fredericksburg, VA and all of her boys went to a Christian school and she worked as a nurse at the Christian Elementary. They were so nice and so fun. It was great to meet them...God kind of gave me the gift of a bit of companionship for the evening.

So anyway, my feet and legs are killing me after a day of walking all over DC.

My bed in this lovely little Quaker youth hostel is calling. hahaha.

Best Kept Secret

Ok so I think the Outer Banks of North Carolina is one of the best kept secrets in the United States.

You would too if you ever saw it.

Whenever I have a family, we are so totally vacationing out here.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2026536&l=08515&id=1300560086

Majestic Tranquility

hey hey. I finally got more pictures up. Everything from UNC to Wilmington to New Bern and finally down to Morehead City.

The beaches here are wonderful. Definitely different than Florida. Less tropical, I'd say. The palm trees are few and far between. Instead there are larger hills of sand with like wild grasses growing out of them. But behind those hills sit beautiful old or at least old style houses. Not huge mansions, hotels and condominium buildings. Much less popular. But people don't know what they're missing out on....although I'm sure the NC natives don't mind it that way. I'm pretty sure they're totally okay with the fact that their beaches are kept relatively quiet.

There's just an almost majestic tranquility to the coastline here.
You could actually just about describe the whole state that way.

Anyway, here are the pics. Enjoy.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2026520&l=6f0d5&id=1300560086
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2026521&l=22366&id=1300560086

Be Still, and Know that I am God

Today I am hanging out in New Bern. Home of the man who really initiated this trip because he makes North Carolina sound like a gorgeous place (which it is), Nicholas Sparks. haha. That probably makes me sound like SUCH a dork. But I can accept that. ha.

I'm staying at this Kamping Kabin at the New Bern KOA that sits right on this body of water that's like a bay. I went kayaking out on it this morning...it was so nice to just paddle out there and sit in the stillness. So quiet and peaceful.

The night before I stayed with Laura's family in Wilmington. They have the coolest house ever that's tucked away down this road in the midst of a bunch of trees. And they don't live very far from the beach, so I went down there and hung out for a while....I love being out there too. The ocean always reminds me of how big and endless God is....it's just comforting to be reminded of that.

Soon I am going to venture out to New Bern and go see this old palace place and then the birthplace of pepsi. haha. Get me some pepsi memorabilia.

Let's just say, I could live in this state. And maybe someday I will....?

Home of the Tar Heels

Well hello there. So I'm in chapel hill now with hannah, it's incredibly exciting. This is a BEAUTIFUL place holy cow. I could definitely live here I think. It's probably pretty expensive though.....but definitely cool.

I've gotten really tired from driving I think. Slept well last night and then took a pretty long nap today. Oh, ha, I went to this southern Presbyterian church with Hannah and her roommate this morning....and I wore a dress. Ha! I should have taken a picture. Hannah was making fun of me because I didn't bring any nice clothes for church but I didn't even think about it....I can't even remember the last time I really dressed up for church. And there were little things that made me feel like I was in the epitome of a southern church. haha. Like a couple old ladies with hats on. And just how nicely dressed everyone was. I'm just not used to that I guess. ha. But that's what this trip is all about...new experiences!!!!

I also went to this cool chimney rock park in NC yesterday....no, not chimney rock like the oregan trail that's in Nebraska (that one isn't near as cool as the one here)....cuz here you can hike around and stuff and go stand on the top of it. It's pretty sweet. I'm gonna load some pics up of it.

Gotta figure out my health form stuff for Saranac...I kinda dropped the ball. whoops.

Well, until next time......