Tuesday's Thoughts

Hi friends! How is your day going? I wonder who is reading this sometimes. . .who ever you are - thanks for caring, I care about you too! :) I've head a pretty relaxed morning. I'm preparing to lead the Bible study tonight on Luke 15 (the lost sheep, lost coin, and lost son). . .pray that we would grow in our understanding of God's heart for His people. . .and in turn that we would become women after His own heart. I'd love to see the girls grow in this because they are living amongst many "lost sons" and daughters. . .wouldn't it be amazing to see these girls not only love the Lord but also desire to share and show that love to others?

In an hour or so I'm going "sharing" on campus with Kelly. Really, "sharing" isn't always the best name for it. . .but what is? We, prayerfully, will talk to several girls about spiritual things by using a survey to initiate conversation. On of the reasons I love engaging in conversation with women who don't know the Lord is that so often, sadly, no one takes the time to truly listen and truly care about who they are and what their story is. "Sharing", or whatever you want to call it, provides such great opportunities for this. Within Crusade we have a definition for successful witnessing which states: successful witnessing is taking the initiate by the power of the Holy Spirit to share Christ and leaving the results up to God. I love that! Yes, it's important (and hard!) to take the initiative but so freeing to know that it's the Lord who does the work. For this reason I have never had a conversation with someone that turned negative or hostile. . .I refuse to push the Gospel on someone who doesn't care to hear it. The Lord is in charge!

I will also be meeting with Jamey, the campus director, to talk and pray for the Fellowship Dinner. It's coming up FAST! I had a nightmare a couple of nights ago that hardly anyone showed up, the program was a mess, and the food was terrible. Ha, ha! So far so good! As of today 130 people have RSVPed. . .that already 30 more then last year, praise God! I have been checking the mail and putting info into the spreadsheet. . .trying to stay on top of it all. Feels like I'm planning a wedding - except I know that I'm not because that would require a special someone in my life that currently does not exist (in case you were wondering :))!

On a personal note, last week I had blood work done to see if I have Celiac Disease, otherwise known as a gluten allergy. Well the test came back negative so . . . wheat is still my friend! :) Now I am really curious as to what might be going on. . .yay for the colonoscopy on Monday. I'm not excited, but I am thankful that eventually I'll be feeling better then I am now.

I'm cooking dinner tonight - chili (a recipe from the Grace Church cookbook) and cornbread (Marie Callandars. . .just add water, it was on sale at Food 4 Less!) and I've been calling around to see if someone wants to enjoy this meal with my roommate and I. Perhaps you can drive over. . .just give me a call? :)

Fall Fun!

A few days ago it felt like summer. . .but now, as I sit here sipping hot tea, it feels like fall. I thought I'd share some pictures to prove it! Yesterday I went over to do a "Nasi Cooking Class" for some of the girlfriends I disciple - it was so fun! Nasi is a Dutch (well, really Indonesian. . .) rice dish, it's easy and always hits the spot!

Kelly did such a nice job setting the table (nasi, pickles, peanuts, fried egg, and peanut sauce. . .sounds weird but it's so good!)

Here are the lovely ladies I enjoyed a lovely evening with!

The girls also made Pumpkin Cake. . .so yummy with a cup of tea, a great chick-flick and a game of Catch Phrase!

As for today, I had one of the most productive and domestic mornings ever! I cleaned a ton (the kitchen, living room, and bathroom. . .thankfully this doesn't take too long when you live in a small apartment), changed my sheets and towels, did two loads of laundry, emptied the trash, got gas, and went grocery shopping! This afternoon Hannah and I took a bunch of the Bible study girls to the Avila Valley Barn - what a blast (petting zoo, pumpkins galore, fudge, roasted corn, ice cream, hay maze, and lots of picture-taking)!

Here we are. . .in the rain - but it was totally worth it!

A hay maze, not as easy as it first appeared! Ashley and Ashley sure look terrified!

Picking out perfect little pumpkins. . .the girls don't have enough space in their tiny dorm rooms for anything bigger!

And to close, a silly picture of yours truly! It's a green gourd, of course I'm happy. :)

What fun things have you done this weekend?!

Yay!

Hi friends! Just wanting to briefly update you on how last night went. Thanks so much for all of your prayers! It was easy to give God all the glory knowing that how the night went was a direct result of all the prayer that went into it. Overall, it was so much fun! I'm not the best with gauging numbers but I think there were about 150 students there, quite a few of whom I know either through leading a Bible study in the Liberal Arts dorm or having been a College of Liberal Arts student here the past 4 years. It was fun to speak to a crowd of familiar faces. The Lord really gave me a passion and joy for the topic I was speaking on and I think that's the reason it was so joyful to share with them from His Word. I taught from Daniel 1 because it is a great example of what it looks like to partake in a "transformational community" in the midst of Babylon. I likened Babylon to our lives and world today. . .self-centered, worldly, a society that adheres to the Babylonian motto of "I am and there is no one besides me" (Isaiah 47:10). Daniel and his friends RESOLVED (1:8) to live lives of integrity to the glory of God and the Lord blessed them richly for it. Daniel's experience in community encouraged him and challenged him to be in the world and yet not of it. This is also the case in Romans 12. . .verse 2 calls us to be transformed by the renewing of our mind, but to experience this, by the Lord's grace, in the presence of others (the rest of the chapter focuses on community, the body of Christ, and what it means and looks like to love others). Don't know if this is making any sense as you're reading it but prayerfully the Holy Spirit allowed it to touch the hearts of others as I spoke. And I hope to get to do it again sometime, more practice would be good - as with everything!

Today has been such a great day, I love Thursdays! Grace Church Women's Bible Study, The Well (Bible study leader training class) and two discipleship appointments. We did a Bible study through "holiness", God's holiness, our positional holiness, and our need to grow in our person and practice in terms of holiness. The Lord challenges me to be very real with my girls and openly share current struggles with sin. It was a joyful chance for me to let them into my life and prayerfully they will know that, in order to do ministry (of ANY kind that brings glory to God) you don't have to be, and quite frankly will NEVER be, perfect. . .until the day he calls us home of course. Then, finally, our position as well as our person and practice will be completely holy. . . and until then we must go on, knowing that the Lord sees Christ when He sees us - may this alone spur us on to to live lives that magnify His holiness. I am praying that you are enjoying the place of ministry that the Lord has you in currently and that you are allowing people into your humanity, your struggle with sin, knowing that it is only by the grace and mercy of God that He chooses to transform us and use us for His name's sake.

Okay, off to dinner with a friend. Have a great evening!

A Quicky!

I hope your week is going well! It is SOOO HOT in SLO right now, unbelievable! I am having some friends over for dinner tonight. . .I've planned to make a nice fall meal (including spaghetti squash and pumpkin pudding), I had no idea that I'd be making it on a summer day though. :) I love the heat so really I'm not complaining. I got to begin follow-up today with the student who prayed to receive Christ two weeks ago . . . it was so fun! We did a lesson about how we can have 100% assurance of salvation (1 John 5:9-13). . .it was neat to get to lead her into the truth of God's Word, and a great reminder for myself as well! I also took one of my discipleship girls sharing today. . .we talked to a Christian - but one who was wanting to grow (me too!). We discussed the role of the Holy Spirit and the need to submit our will to God. It was a good conversation! Fun, too, because tonight's Bible Study is on the Holy Spirit - He is so often misunderstood and neglected. . .I'm sure I'll learn a lot tonight as well! I'm still mulling over what to speak on tomorrow night. . .at this point I have too many thoughts to cram into 15 minutes - pray that the Lord would help me come up with a clear outline, something straight form His Word that will be both challenging and encouraging!

On another note, I had to get some blood work done today. After the lady was done taking my blood I actually blacked out! Such a weird experience, I had no idea I was going to! The lady was so nice though. . .and I got some free apple juice out of it! :) They are checking to see if I might have Celiac Disease, which is just a funky name for someone who is allergic to gluten (wheat products!). Wouldn't that be a bummer? I've been feeling pretty crummy for quite some time now (months. . .) so the ball is finally rolling in terms of trying to figure out what is going on. On November 5th I'm getting a colonoscopy. . .that should be fun. Ultimately I know that this little ordeal really isn't a big deal, but if you think of praying for it that would be great! I'll keep you posted. . .

But for now, I'll keep living life like I have been. . .so now it's off to make dinner and then Bible study! Have a great night yourself!

A New Week!

Okay, a now a little about the week ahead - it'll be another full one. . .how I love this job so much! In discipleship this week two of my girls and I will be reading an article called "Faith Is Not a Feeling", so true! And the other girls and I will be learning about the need for, and gaining a desire for, scripture memorization - we'll select a passage to begin memorizing and then try to weekly hold each other accountable to reciting several verses. . .join us! I am also trying to take each of my girls sharing on campus (through the use of a survey typically) at least twice this quarter. . .last week was so fun, I'm already excited to go several times this week. Hannah will be leading the Trinity Bible study this week (last week I led on confession and forgiveness, I learned SO MUCH in preparation and really enjoyed leading the girls in discussion), I'll be there for support and to bring a yummy dessert (I'm planning on making a super good coffee cake thanks to the Roach family). I will begin doing "follow-up" with Danielle, my new friend in Trinity Hall who prayed to receive Christ at Andre Kole's show. We're starting with Assurance of Salvation, I am using a 5 week curriculum that Campus Crusade provides called "Life Concepts" - good stuff for me to hear again as well! On Wednesday evening I will be speaking for the College of Liberal Arts Unplugged meeting. About 150 students have attended the past several times we've had this meeting. . .I have butterflies in my stomach even now! I'll be speaking for 15 minutes about what it means to be a "transformational community" (which stems from our ministry's vision statement). . .using scripture from Daniel (thanks to an amazing Beth Moore study that I am going through right now!) and Romans 12 (thanks to Pastor Tim's great sermon today!) and then I'll be leading the students into a time of small group discussion based off of questions I will pose to them (I have no idea what those are currently!) as a result of my talk. Truly, I am excited and thankful for this opportunity to speak before such wonderful students. . .and nervous too! Pray that I would be as prepared as the Lord desires for me to be and that I would teach from His Word in such a way that conveys His great love. May I decrease so that He may increase! More great things are planned for this week. . .and I am sure your week will prove to be full as well. May we remember to "keep the main thing the main thing" which, of course, is Jesus Christ!

This Weekend!

This weekend has been a reminder of the fact that I am a college grad who has entered into a new stage of life. . .as have many of her friends! Take yesterday for example. . .I went to an afternoon wedding and an evening baby shower - what fun!

The beautiful bride and groom exchanging vows at the See Canyon Apple Ranch in Avila. What a perfect day for Mr. and Mrs. Morgan - it was an honor to celebrate with them!

And then off to Deb's baby shower. There she sits unpacking a gift in the green chair, while we play "Bingo" according to the gifts she receives. So fun - I made chocolate Fondue for the evening, yum! Last night was the first time ever that I touched a pregnant tummy. . .so weird, and so amazing - what a creative God we serve!

Last Weekend!

Here are some pictures that I have been meaning to post from Fall Retreat last weekend . . .where did the week go?!

I tried to capture the size of our group for you. . .although there were more students there that my camera could not get!

Our Decades Dance Party on Friday night was such a hit! Here are three juniors (two of whom I disciple, on the right). . .can you guess what decade they represent? :) Super Seniors and Staff were "the future", a lot of foil was involved in my costume!
Here is the discussion group that I led with Matt. We grabbed lunch on Saturday in downtown Ventura. . .this great group of students (and I) experienced "life change" this weekend. . .and we were just one of the 40ish groups that did!
What do college students like to do in their free time? Try to pull each other into trashcans of course! This is a game called "Cajabee Can Can". . .I chose to be a spectator and for those who know me this would not surprise you!

This has become a Fall Retreat classic called "Buck Buck". These students endure great self-inflicted pain for love of the game. What I love about this picture is that Kevin (the one who I captured in midair in the red shirt) is on staff and is expecting a baby with his wife in February. . .I hope he lives to see the birth of his child. :)

Here I am with some of the Trinity Bible Study girls that came to Fall Retreat. It was such a great time to get to know them and experience the Lord's working in their lives first-hand. I love these girls!

Fall Retreat!

Wow, I know I use this word a lot, but really - WOW is all I have to say! :)

The weekend was AMAZING, thanks for your prayers! Here are some highlights:

- great car rides to and from Ventura, fun conversations with the girls I drove
- In-and-Out. . .right across the street from the Marriott :)
- Chuck, our speaker, was a to-the-point Bible teacher. . .he was the perfect fit for our students (and me!) this weekend - challenging us to live as authentic Christ-followers ought
- amazing worship
- a chance to "talk" via Skype with our STINT team in East Asia, powerful
- Buck Buck and Cajabee Can Can (totally spelt wrong I assume) in the park. . .beautiful weather!
- a great discussion group full of students who were eager to learn and share with each other
- a mad crazy dance party like no other. . .so fun!
- met so many great students, what a blessing!
- lastly, two words: changed lives. That's what this weekend was about and that's exactly what happened.

And now it's a new week once again! Today the staff team took a day off. I had a very productive day running errands, having dinner with a couple from church, and getting prayer letters "signed, sealed, [and soon to be] delivered". . .check your mail boxes in the coming days! (if you're not on the list but want to be, just let me know!)

I'll post pictures from the weekend soon. . .but now it's off to bed, a very busy couple of days await. Yay!

And we're off!

Today over 400 students are headed out of SLO and to our Fall Retreat weekend in Ventura! Of the four years that I went as a student this weekend always proved to be a powerful time of teaching by a great speaker, worship, fellowship, and so much fun! We are staying at the Marriott hotel right on the coast for two nights. If you'd like, here's how you can pray:

- safe travel as students will be arriving at all times this afternoon/evening (it's about a 2 hr. drive, not bad!)
- that our speaker would teach clearly from the Word and that the Lord would soften all hearts to hear and apply what is taught so that He would be glorified through us
- that discussion group leaders (myself included) would with bold compassion show grace and truth toward the students in their group, that students would be vulnerable and that the Spirit would be directing our words, thoughts, and actions toward each other as we get to know many new faces
- that students would come to know the Lord (every year nonbelievers show up, by the grace of God!)
- that students would recognize how the living God is moving in their lives so that all are equipped to go back to SLO on Sunday with a new understanding of both the Great Commandment and the Great Commission and how that plays out in their day-to-day lives
- that I would seek strength from the Lord as this will probably be a tiring weekend, that I would have quality conversations with many students, that I would be secure in Christ alone as I try to figure out what it looks like to go to Fall Retreat as a staff member for the first time.

I hope this weekend provided you with opportunities to retreat with the Lord also. Thanks again so much for your prayers and support. Daily I am humbled by how all of you have shown the love of the Lord to me. Have a great weekend!

Wow, again!

I love how you never know what a day will hold. . .read til the end, it's gonna be good! :)

I love my job. I love the fact that one of the main things I get to focus on is evangelism. . .sharing the greatest news I've ever heard with others. As I was reflecting on Andre Kole this morning I was praising God for him and his talents that he has used to proclaim the Gospel to hundreds of thousands in over 70 countries. However, I was also praising God that He did not (as far as I know) bless me with any crazy talents that I could put on display for large audiences. My heart is for one-on-one or small group evangelism. I love sharing Christ with those I know and those I don't know. . .but I love doing so in a very relational setting. As I was helping to count the response cards that we got after Andre Kole's show last night it was a joy to see that so many had accepted Christ but I was sad that I didn't get to rejoice with them in the moment they made the decision, and chances are that I won't even get to know them well enough to talk about the decision they made (but someone will, we put follow-up material in the mail for them today and they will also be contacted by us about ways that they can grow in their relationship with Christ now that their journey has begun). There's something so special in talking someone through the Gospel while hearing about who they are and where they are coming from.

That's what I'm focusing on during my discipleship appointments this week. We can all grow in the area of evangelism so the girls and I will be looking at how Christ shared the Good News with the woman at the well (John 4). And then we will be applying God's Word as I take them each out sharing this week and next. Melissa and I went today and had a great time initiating spiritual conversation with two girls, on two separate occasions. One was very open to share her beliefs but she wasn't a "seeker", she didn't care to hear the Gospel. . .so we thanked her for her time and we enjoyed praying for her afterwards. It was fun getting to know her! The second girl we talked to grew up in the Church of Christ (don't know a whole lot about this church. . .) and we had the opportunity to share the Gospel with her! She doesn't understand sin and that it's ONLY through Christ that we stand redeemed in the Lord's sight. . .but once again it was so fun to dive into spiritual conversation with her as well as love on her. Although Melissa and I took the initiative to start these conversations (through the use of a survey) both were very relational and enjoyable. I love how open college students are. . .the harvest is plentiful!

Now here comes the good part. . .last night a girl from Trinity joined us to see Andre Kole whom I had not met before. We sat together and had a great time connecting. She mentioned that she needed to go to the DMV but didn't have a car so I offered to give her a ride. Well, she took me up on it and while we were driving around together this afternoon I had the chance to ask her what last night was like for her. Well, she proceeded to tell me that she prayed to receive Christ!! How exciting. . .and how blessed beyond belief I am that the Lord allowed me to spend time with her today. . .He didn't have to ordain that time but He did and it encouraged me SO MUCH! Now she wants to get involved with Bible Study and come to our weekly meetings. I love how God really does work in whatever way He desires, whether it's through Andre Kole or a conversation at a bench on campus, or in class, or at your job. . .He is stirring in the hearts of people and calling them to enter into a thriving and exciting relationship with Him! I hope this finds you encourages as well, we really do serve a God who is mighty to save!

Wow!

Well, I found out a couple things about Andre Kole last night. He doesn't look like Prince Charles :), he has a lot of sparkly jackets, he's an AMAZING illusionist, and he loves the Lord and knows how to incorporate his crazy talents to boldly share Christ with about 1,000 college students. This is so exciting. . .90 students prayed to begin a personal relationship with Jesus last night!! And many more want more information. Praise God for the faithfulness of one man as he is doing what the Lord has called him to and is being used in mighty ways. Praise God that He, the Lord, is NOT an illusion and that I can put all my trust in Him alone, whether I can see the specific ways in which He is working or not. He is mighty to save!

Andre Kole

Ha, ha. . .so this picture of Andre Kole makes me laugh - he kinda looks like Prince Charles or something. We'll soon find out if he really looks like that in person! Would you all please pray for Andre Kole and the illusion show he will be performing tomorrow night at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center. This man is legit. . .check out the website: andrekole.org He is on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ and is using his gifts/skills/talents (not sure what to call it. . .) to glorify God by spreading the Good News. Pray that hundreds of believers and nonbelievers would come and be brought one step closer to knowing God more. May many put their trust in Christ for the very first time! Pray that we, as staff and students, would be faithful to quickly follow-up on any decisions made tomorrow night. This is so exciting, I'm looking forward to reporting back to you soon!

Happy Friday!

My internet is down in my apartment. . .so I haven't been able to be on the computer much the last couple of days. . .stressful at times but overall a nice break! I'm currently using the internet at the "Swanson Center" which is our office/library/study center. . .it's a great place for staff and students alike. We're very blessed by it and it's only a 10 minute walk away from the University Union, which is at the center of all the happenings on campus. It has been another very busy week with lots of ups and a few downs. I still LOVE my job! Tonight is the closing event of a week of prayer and fasting that we have been encouraging students to take part in. Tomorrow is our Freshmen/Transfer Student Dinner. . .38 groups, with 6-8 new students in each group, are gathering at the homes of upperclassmen to connect and enjoy a meal together. Then, all these groups are gathering at a local church to hang out, play a game, have dessert, and hear more about the ministry. I'm the staff member in charge. . .hoping it all goes as planned, for the most part at least!

The upcoming week is yet another exciting one! On Monday night a world-renowned illusionist, Andre Kole, is coming to do an amazing performance for students at our Performing Arts Center on campus. He is on staff with Campus Crusade and has been traveling around for 20 plus years. Thousands have hear the Gospel, interwoven into his show, and hundreds at a time have come to know Christ. This is SO EXCITING!! Pray that students would come, hear the Good News, and respond!

On Wednesday our regional director is coming to town. We'll, as a staff team, catch dinner with him. I love being reminded that we're a part of something so much bigger then what's going on at Cal Poly and Cuesta.

On Thursday I'm organizing a "hand-addressed envelops party". The goal is to put about 1,000 invitations for our Fellowship Dinner in the mail by Friday. We are hand-addressing all the envelops. . .and therefore are recruiting students, with nice handwriting :), to help us. I am learning how to delegate, it's a good thing!

And then, drum roll please. . .Friday-Sun is our Fall Retreat! We will be in Ventura this year. . .we're expecting about 500 (or more!) students to join us for a great weekend including a speaker, worship, discussion groups, lots of fellowship, a dance and lots more. Pray that the Lord would use this weekend to change lives and set hearts on fire for Him!

Wow, the quarter is flying by! I hope you are doing well and enjoying the Fall. Thanks for all of your support!

Faith

It's been a while. . .life has been so busy! I am trying to learn what it means to "work hard, play hard, and rest hard". The "work hard" aspect comes easiest perhaps. . .but then so does burn-out! My work is increasing my faith in God. . .there are so many things to trust Him for, there would be no way to get through my day except to have faith in my perfect Father. As you can see by the picture on the left the "40 Evangelistic Conversations" goal has been met. I am in awe of the Lord! Really, the goal has been surpassed - I have had the opportunity to connect with many students the last 2 weeks that Cal Poly has been in session. Writing down their names and random little facts about them has helped me to remember them when I see them around campus. This morning I am off to meet with the leaders of Destino, I'll spend some time "coaching" them (the term coaching cracks me up coming from someone who is not sports oriented or competitive. . .who knew that I'd ever be a coach?! :)). I have a discipleship appointment with Kelly and Sarah, I'll be sharing with them the individual vision plans that I mapped out for each of them (this part is hard for me to do!) and we'll be discussing a chapter that I photocopied from "The Gospel for Real Life" by Jerry Bridges what addresses the question: why the cross? Good stuff! Then off to lunch with a wonderful freshman friend Molly, who is the sister of a very dear college friend. Molly has a bunch of "plus dollars" so she's treating me to Sandwich Factory. . . I worked there for several quarters my freshman and sophomore year. After lunch Hannah and I will be meeting up to plan Bible study for tomorrow. Pray for discernment as we discuss the best way to structure our hour and a half with the girls. I'm hoping to spend the rest of the afternoon with a swim, making a dessert for tomorrow's study, and working on Discipleship vision plans for the 4 other girls that I meet with this quarter. May the Lord increase OUR faith this week. What are you trusting Him for?