The Distant Whisper

So I am ALIVE! WOOOOO! Didn't know if I was going to make it there for a while. Plunge was rough- I'm not gonna lie! Full of new experiences and people- not like me, but that is the cool part about it all. I would not say that I found a new love of backpacking, hiking, going partially insane being in the woods by myself, BUT it was an amazing experience-hard to put in words. The big picture of the week for me was finding the difference between aloneness and solitude. The act of being alone means that there is no one else present. without another's help or participation. Solitude is similar but get this, it is the state or situation of being alone-NOT actually being alone-it says nothing about having no one... so similar I know, but really so different. There was one part of Plunge that was a 24 hour SOLO. Yes, a whole 24-hour period of solitude in the woods with the next person about 50 yards away. I definitely understand why people go mentally insane now-it's hard! But, during this time I was able to reflect on the mysteriousness of God- His love, grace, mercy, joy, and crazy ways! There were no interruptions (except the rain)...think about the last time you had a 24 hour period with no one to jump in to say hi or a call on the cellular! That was the big picture of the week...next is the HIKE!

Hospitality

It has been really cool to look at a lot of the ways God has
been at work in my life. Through friendships, roommates,
living situations, school, parents, etc. It has also been very
encouraging to see Him work in and through me to reach
and share with others. As I said in my last post, I love, love,
love hearing peoples stories and I am really excited to have
this experience at Plunge to hear 30 different stories from
all different backgrounds.
Through my study of 1 Timothy, in chapter 3 it talks a lot
about how women should hold themselves and live out
their lifestyles. At first when I was reading through this
I just merely read it because it was about marriage and
submitting to their husbands, and being a good mom, but
the last one has recently took a hold of my heart...
hospitality. You can think of hospitality of offering water
to someone when they come over or having the small group
at your house, but hospitality is the act of generously
providing care and kindness to whomever is in need.
Wow! That is such a big statement- It makes me think
of the passage of scripture where Jesus states: Matthew 23:33-40
33He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34Then the king will say to those on his right, "My father has
blessed you! Come and receive the kingdom that was prepared
for you before the world was created. 35When I was hungry,
you gave me something to eat, and when I was thirsty, you
gave me something to drink. When I was a stranger, you
welcomed me, 36and when I was naked, you gave me clothes
to wear. When I was sick, you took care of me, and when I was
in jail, you visited me."
37Then the ones who pleased the Lord will ask, "When did we
give you something to eat or drink? 38When did we welcome
you as a stranger or give you clothes to wear 39or visit you
while you were sick or in jail?"
40The king will answer, "Whenever you did it for any of my
people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me."

I used the Contemporary English version because I love how the last
line is stated..."whenever you did it for ANY of my people, no
matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me...."

So this trip for me is like a mission trip. 100% service to all of the
students and leaders going on this trip....and most of all, service to
the Lord! sweet!

-I'm off tomorrow bright and early----joy! haha

God my prayer is that my devotion to you is evident in all that
I say and do, and there is a seriousness and purpose to my life
that is not missed...thank you for this opportunity to serve you
others I don't even know...!

PlUnGe

This picture is from Pioneer Plunge (in the winter obviously). It is a Young life camp that is in the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. After wrestling through and praying about being a counselor for a group from Naples going on this trip, I felt led to take the journey. We leave June 10th and return (hopefully...jk) June 17th. CAMP- you think...fun, exciting, fun pictures, new friends, mountain top experience in your faith (most of the time), closer as a group, something to do over the summer...yada yada- but my heart doesn't want that. I know it is going to be fun, a push out of my comfort zone (once again), definitely meeting new people because I know no one I am going with, and let me just say..no lie...no mirrors, no deodorant, no running water, no electricity, wood burning stove (meaning we cut down the trees and take an ax to them), in the WOODS (there are bears there-YIKES!)- but why would people make a camp like this? Why would anyone want to go on this trip? Do you really meet God face to face? These are just questions running through my head...and if you can't tell- I am crazy nervous about this trip-but even more excited about it. I was doing a devotional this morning, from The Ransomed Heart,
- If you want to get to know someone, you need to know their story. Their life is a story. It, too, has a past and a future. It, too, unfolds in a series of scenes over the course of time. In order to make you understand their story, "to give you my life, I must tell you a story..." (Virginia Woolf). I expect all of us, at one time or another, in an attempt to understand our lives or discover what we ought to do, have gone to someone else with our stories. This is not merely the province of psychotherapists and priests, but of any good friend. "Tell me what happened. Tell me your story, and I'll try to help you make some sense of it."
We humans share these lingering questions: "Who am I really? Why am I here? Where will I find life? What does Go want of me?" The answers to these questions seem to come only when we know the rest of the story....

While reading this devo- I could only think about all of the grace stories I am going to hear on this trip. After meeting with the other leader (Zach) and his wife (Blair) and hearing just a tad bit about each of the girls, my heart began to break for them. Yes, we all have a story- a wonderful story-and throughout the week everyone on this "retreat"/camp will get to share them....that make me excited!

...So if you think about it- please pray for me and the group of 15 from Naples that will be leaving June 10th- that we will experience God in a clear and authentic way- and most of all...that it would not just be a mountain top experience that will last who knows how long- but a real and exciting way to live out our faith.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, be prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4:6-7

James 1

James 1:2-8

(message) Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.
If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.

I cannot even begin to explain God's presence in my life...the past week or so has been a huge test of patience, trust, love, peace, and so much more. I have been trying to find another roommate for a while because it was just never a stable situation and God totally provided! So, I can say..God is good right...but my question is, would I be saying that if God has planned for Jessi and I to live in a 2 bedroom place?


On another note- at church we have been studying the book of Titus. I had never really read or studied it so I was stoked when we began the study. Today we read Titus 2:9-10 and Orlando did a wonderful job communicating to the people. This piece of scripture focuses on how to act in the workplace, and at first I was thinking, man I don't really deal with the business world directly right now, but I started to think about my attitude, words, and actions I have when I go into work at Old Navy. I was so convicted because working there has a negative effect on me now. I really don't like going into work and when I am there I count the minutes to when I get to leave. It is honestly, pathetic! God has me there for a reason and to glorify HIM in everything I do. so much to work on...how cool! ha

little buggers....

It is amazing to me how much you can learn from two little kids...man! So for a couple days this week I have been playing "mommy" not really but babysitting these two stinkers. I love them so much...they are awesome kids, but man are they hard work! haha It has been great, dont get me wrong I would do it again in a heartbeat- but I am worn out! They surprise me everyday I see them with new words and fun things to do...tonight during "bath time" we were coloring with their new crayons and we were all laughing so hard...why? I'm not really sure, but their smiles break me. I have to remember daily to thank God for them and their family, my family, my friends, etc. in my life because they are so important to me and God has blessed me with them. What a great gift!

God is Good...

But...am I just saying that because He provided a house? This is such a hard question to answer...I would like to say No, that God is good because He is worthy of all praise. So, would I be saying God is good if He didn't provide a place here but a place at home? interesting...good question though.

So school is almost over-my junior year, came and is going, going, pretty much gone! I cannot believe how fast it is going. I remember when I was in middle school, my school not being far from the local High school at all. I would watch the High schoolers leave class and walk through the halls with their text books in their hands, thinking wow! they are so cool...then high school came and left before I could blink my eyes...and now college is almost over. I was at the FGCU softball game the other night and a fond memory came to my random head- I remember going to USF softball games with my Daddy when I was playing ball and thinking how old those girls were and man, I would never be that good- CRAZY! I know I totally just went off subject, but I am thinking through different "bullets" in my relationship with Christ. I look at when I first gave my life to Him about 4 1/2 years ago and relate it to now. God is Good! From my last post, I had to look back and think about the last clear direction He gave to me, which was to come down to FGCU and play ball. Well, softball ended soon after that because of an injury, but the plan God has made for me and the way it has shown itself in my life the 3 years I have been down here is so hard to comprehend. Man!

I will go...

I cannot even begin to explain what has been going on. I was challenged, very very challenged, the other day at Staff meeting. We were talking about Samuel in 1 Samuel about saying, Yes, Lord. Is that your response to everything? Boy- this wasn't my answer. Ill try and make this short...I am trying to find a place to live for the summer and next year...I have found roommates, some have started to back out, others have stayed in, and others are half in half out...it is frustrating, Im not going to lie. But in these situations should be easy to say, Ok God do what you will in this situation, but for me, its not so easy. I feel like things keep falling through-so I say well its obviously not God's plan...so I search for more. Taking control of it and not letting God put his plan to practice...so as I wait and wait and wait I need to say Yes, Lord I will go... take me there.... so this is my response..

Desperation Band from Everyone Overcome © 2007.

Let Your kingdom come on earth. Let Your will be done
Let every kingdom of this earth bow.

Let the sinners sing for joy, we are saved by grace
Let every saint break through these doors and shout

You’re calling out, “who will go?”

I will go. I will live the life. I’ll give it all for Jesus Christ.
I’ll tell the world that You are God.
I will go. Hear my battle cry. Give me wings so I can fly
and tell the world that You are God.

Here am I, here am I, I will give all that is mine.
Here am I, here am I, Jesus come and spend my life.

I will go. I will live the life.
I’ll give it all for Jesus Christ. I’ll tell the world that You are God.
I will go. Hear my battle cry.
Give me wings so I can fly and tell the world that You are God


GOD- my response is for you...Lord it is so hard for me, and you know I don't want to leave this area that I am at/in right now. Lord but If you want me to I will go. If that means go back home, I will, if it means go to china, I will go. I trust you and you alone! I love you