THE Sunrise

It almost caused an accident this morning. It was HUGE and extremely bright! I mean it was “slam on the brakes, I can’t see” so bright! As I tried to stay on the road and maintain my composure, I couldn’t help but worship.

This week we’ve been studying the importance of the Word of God and our passage of scripture we looked at together was 2 Peter 1:16-21. A phrase that has stuck out to me all week is “until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”

You see, there’s a day I long for and it’s THAT day…the day when Jesus, the true Morning Star, returns in glory. As for today, as sure as the sun rises and sets, the Name of the Lord will be praised(Ps 50:1). Why?

Because the Sunrise from on high already came…

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS; To give to His people the knowledge of salvation
By the forgiveness of their sins, Because of the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH,
To guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:76-79 NASB)

Thank You Lord for shining on us in darkness. Because of Your tender mercy we can know true peace. I can look at that Sun and rest in peace.

I can’t wait until the dawn of THAT day.

Just a few pics…

Did you know…

“God, in His providence, IS working in your life. Do you believe it?!”

These were some words a professor of mine spoke today. I’m still in wonder at the fact that I’m actually here.  I left class today and said to my friend Emillie, “this is our “class”!” We get to sit under Biblical teaching and learn from men of faith who have and are going before us in this journey.  This class, in particular, is my favorite.  Our professor is passionate about counseling and shepherding the people of God. Like today, I walk away from almost every class with much to think about…

Now lets go back to the top.  I know they were simple words. I know God is working in your life and I know He is working in my life. I mean, I even know God is working in this whole world. Duh right?! Then, those piercing few words that the Lord has been “gently” pounding me with… Do you believe it?

There are so many behaviors of mine and areas of my life that do not honestly reflect that I believe God, in His providence, IS working in my life.  I want to. But then I don’t.

It’s a hard fight, this life.  I’m thankful for a King who has already fought the fight for us. In His providence and by His grace, He has made Himself known to us. I’m learning to believe… and the Lord is gracious and so very patient with my unbelieving heart. He IS working for His glory and for our good.  That’s our King.

I thought of this today as I left my class.

God IS working.

do you believe it?

A Song To Sing

Give Me Faith

Happy Birthday HP!

Today, in honor of Hannah, I wore a white t-shirt and jeans… and went for the ‘natural’ look that she can pull off oh SO beautifully.  Sadly, I was not able to take her to Starbucks or out to lunch to celebrate but I’m thankful for the many birthdays that I have been able to be physically present with her and I hope for more in the future.

Hannah is a precious friend and sister.  I am blessed, encouraged and challenged by her pursuit of the Lord and most recently, I have especially appreciated her steadfast spirit in hard times.  We both have experienced major change in the last couple of months.  She and her husband headed to Indiana in July and soon after I was on my way to NC.  As she continues to learn life in their new place and still as a new wife, I’m excited to see what the Lord has for her in this new year.

I love the seasons.  Just as we are entering this beautiful Autumn season, Hannah and Joey have ventured into a new life season… and today marks a new year for Hannah.

Lord,

Thank you for Hannah.  Please be gracious to her and bless her and cause Your face to shine upon her today and in this new year, so that YOU may be known in her heart, her marriage, her city, her workplace, her church and this whole world.  YOU are her help and shield.  Please help her heart be glad in You and help her to trust in Your holy name.  Let Your steadfast love be upon her.  Our HOPE is You, Lord.  Thank you.

Jesus is ALL we need.

From an early morning and my reading today…

The morning sky...

“Each morning that greets me is full of hope

Not because I am successful at what I am doing,

Or because the people near me appreciate me,

Or because circumstances are easy,

But because God is, and He is my Father.

To look at the morning any other way

Is to believe a lie.

To live in hope is to live in truth;

To live in truth is to bring Him glory;

To bring God glory in my daily living

Is the highest form of worship.”

(from How People Change by Lane & Tripp)

the To be Continued…

• August 16 – We made it to North Carolina in time to have a late dinner with my new roommate Shyana.  I don’t want to get ahead of myself but Shy has been a HUGE blessing in this new season of transition.  The Lord is faithful and has added another wonderful roommate to the list of amazing women I’ve had the privilege of living with.
• August 17-19 (the next morning if you didn’t catch that) – Orientation at SEBTS began.  I started the ‘school’ thing again and it was strange.  I had to sign up for classes, buy books and find classrooms… weird!  While it was a strange beginning, the Lord affirmed me in very specific ways in those first few days.  My God is a Provider.  I can’t tell you how many times He has proven that to me in this life.  WOW! (I also had to say goodbye to Carrie:(  It was so good to have her there and it was hard to say bye.)
• Aug 23 to Present – I’ve been in classes, building friendships, job searching, adventuring, laughing, crying, questioning and so much more.  I can collect a major portion of God’s blessings here in NC so far into one category and I’m going to title it Imago Dei.  And for that, I will have to write another post…

Tis the season for a LIST

A list because I have no idea where to begin.  It has been way too long since I last blogged, mainly due to the roller-coaster of LIFE that I’ve been on. I like to blame it on the roller-coaster but let’s be honest, my lack of discipline is the “driving” force behind it all.  So here goes the list and I really do hope many more posts are to follow because God has given me much to rejoice/write about!

• Early May – Leave a job I love.  Spend a precious few days at the beach with my family.  Celebrate the beautiful (and LONG awaited) marriage of Renee and Curtis.
• Mid-May – Fly to Nashville with Carrie and then drive south to PCB, Florida.  Begin training for a summer as Development Director for Fuge Camps.
• End of May – Fly to Mizzou for some camp action.  Meet most of my wonderful team and begin our adventures in good ‘ol Bolivar.
  

  Most of my crazy team in MO.

• June – Still in Missouri.  I learned a lot while in MO and I’m thankful for our time there.  There’s not much to be said for Bolivar (sorry Jana!).  The highlight of my time there may have been the discounts offered at the local coffee shop/grocery store… OK, not true but close to it;)
• Mid-June – The team and I take a road trip to North Carolina to work a special week of camp.  Our Fuge family at Ridgecrest was expecting 1,700ish students so we thought we’d join the party.  Loved the Ridgecrest team and enjoyed the week in NC (it prepared me for August).
  

  We be road trippin...

• End of June – Close up camp real quick in MO and pack fast to prep for the much anticipated month of July…aka JENNESS PARK.
• July – Arrive in my beautiful home state on the 2nd and enjoyed dinner in San Fran. Head on up to Jenness with Brady and Jaime (Director & Rec Director) to prepare for our team to arrive in what we thought would be 2 days.  Budget truck… need I say more? Sadly, they had car trouble somewhere in Montana and were delayed a bit.
  

  (Jaime B had never been to San Fran so of course we grab some Bux and hit up sushi near China town)

• July – The Lord continually poured His grace out on me and on my team as we served hard.  He was very gracious to remind me of His faithfulness in this month and definitely wasn’t shy in using His Creation in the mountains to humble me. Wow would be an understatement.
• Beginning of August – I had to say goodbye to a team I love.  I enjoyed serving with them and pray the Lord continues to use each of us to glorify His name.
  

  Don't ask;)

• 2nd week of August – Spend 4 days with family and friends in So Cal.  Helped my parents move out of our house of 25+ years.  Emotional.  Pack my little Silver Civic to move across the country.  Wave goodbye with tears in our eyes (Carrie was copilot), scones in our hands (thanks Kathy!) and 1 long, stinkin road ahead of us.
• 3rd week of August – Drive. Drive. Drive.  It was a beautiful few days of quality time with Carrie, beautiful scenery (minus Texas) and a plethora of fantastic music (thanks in part to Kins).  We were able to see friends along the way which was so fun!  Thanks Rachel and Courtney.  Hands down, highlight of the trip was seeing HP in Nashille.  I wasn’t able to send her off when she moved to Indiana in July so I was missing her terribly.  The Lord is good to allow sweet moments like our mini evening reunion in Nashville… TO BE CONTINUED.

• 

  HP & Me

“O Lord,

You are my God;  I will exalt you;  I will praise Your name, for You have done WONDERFUL things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.”

Psalm 25:1

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said “thank you Lord” this week.  I’m coming to the close of a CBU season and it is extremely difficult to walk away knowing all that God has done the past seven years while I’ve been here BUT, difficult is not the only word to describe the emotion of it all.  I’m blessed to have studied and worked here, honored to have worked for and with amazing people, excited for my new adventure and to see the ministry at CBU grow, sad that I won’t get to live everyday life with these people I love, encouraged that relationships do not end by this move (and so much more), comforted to know the Lord directs all of our steps, uncertain about what my future holds, hopeful to see the Lord’s glory in crazy ways and  THANKFUL.  I think thankful trumps them all today.  I’m thankful for the Lord’s “plans formed of old” and that in those plans He purposed to have me be a part of something great at CBU for so long.  He intended for me to work under amazing leaders like Kent, Kris, Anthony, John and Joe.  He allowed me the privilege of working with wonderful people in OSL and the Student Services Division.  He placed the best students in the world at our University and allowed me the honor to do life with a few of them.  I couldn’t ask for more and I’m so thankful!  I’ll always be a Lancer.

I’m in awe at the wonderful things the Lord has done and I’m most thankful that He is faithful and sure like the Psalm says.

As always, tis the season for thankfulness…