Friday

What will it hold? Only the Lord knows each detail. . .but I can tell you what I currently have jotted down in my planner. Staff meeting in the morning - I always look forward to these times. Our team is so wonderful and I often leave so encouraged and spurred onward after our time together. It's my turn to help clean our office/library/student study center after the meeting. . .I love that we value keeping things tiddy - we want to be a good steward of what God has blessed us with! Then the plan is to begin typing up my prayer letter for February. . .if you are reading this and don't get my monthly letters then let me know and I'll add you to the list! At 3:30 I am meeting with our prayer coordinators, Bethany and Andrew, to guide them in an evaluation of how the prayer event, "Consumed", went last weekend as well as to help them prepare for Veritas prayer events for the coming week. And then at 6 we, as a staff team, are hosting a dinner for students that we would love to see Intern or Stint (to El Salvador or East Asia) with us next year. Approximately 40 students have been invited - this is so exciting! Pray that all of these students would seriously consider these opportunity and pray that the Lord would call many to join us. . .and that those called to this particular work (and any work, really!) would be obidient and heed His direction and will for their lives. So, it's another busy day tomorrow. . .I'm off to bed in a couple of minutes so that I will be well rested physically, pray that the Lord would continue to be faithful to revive me spiritually both while I sleep and as I spend time with Him when I wake. There is so much more that happend this week but this will have to do for now. . .make sure to read the posts down below as well!

Veritas

It's that time of year again - the week long Veritas Forum is about to begin! Veritas means "truth" in Latin and it is a week of daily seminars and evening events that allow the Cal Poly student body to wrestle with truth on many different levels. This year we have some nationally and locally acclaimed speakers (touching on topics such as evolution, atheism, science, and politics), an art tent, a dance and music concert, a film festival, and more. I believe that this will be the most thorough Veritas week that Cal Poly has ever seen. Several of us met early Tuesday morning to begin getting the word out by postering the campus and writing the web address (veritasforum.com - check it out, use it to info your prayers) on classroom chalkboards. This week is organized by our student leaders but it is also sponsered by ASI (the Cal Poly student organization) as well as the philosophy department on campus. This adds a lot of credibility to the week, and some funds, which is awesome.

The heart behind this upcoming week is that nonbelievers would come face to face with truth, in many different forms. We will be saturating each event in prayer - both at a prayer and training event on Sunday and before each and every event that is scheduled. We are praying that students would come to know the Lord through this week, or that they at least would come one step closer to personally knowing the God who loves them so much. It's so easy to feel "in over our heads" when trying to pull of something so big. . .thankfully we operate by Christ's strength, not our own, rejoicing in the fact that He is most glorified in our weaknesses. Would you please be praying with me for the upcoming week?! Don't forget to check out the website: www.veritasforum.com

Discipleship

It is a huge joy of mine to guide women to walk closely with the Lord. I am certainly challenged in this role as the Lord gradually gives me the wisdom to asses areas that He would have them grow in. This past week I have been talking with my women about what it means to dream big for the Lord. I love the quote by William Carey (the father of modern missions, at least that's what Wikipedia says :)) where he states "Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God". We must realize that how we spend our days on earth really do matter, that there is eternal significance in each moment of every day, that we will all be judged for the good and the bad that we have done during our time here (I thank Jesus for the complete forgiveness that I am in need of daily). After taking my women into the Word we spent some time brain-storming ways that we can attempt great things for God for His glory. It is amazing how the Lord works both in their lives and in mine during our times together. One of the woman I meet with had it in her heart to have a baptism in the Stenner Glen (a housing complex for students close to campus) swimming pool. . .after much prayer she followed through and 4 women were baptised on Monday night! And for a personal story. . . last week I began dreaming big in the sense that the Lord would double the size of the weekly Destino meetings by the start of next quarter. Well, I found out on Tuesday that the meeting doubled in size the night before - Praise God, He truely is able to do exceedingly more then we could ever ask or imagine! It is so fun to "expect great things from God and attempt great things for God" - I pray that you too would take the opportunity to dream big for God's glory in every area of your life. Doing so will both encourage and challenge your daily walk with Him!

Staff Ski Retreat

I finally have a moment to light some candles, listen to Shawn McDonald (still so obsessed!!), and update this blog. . .needless to say it has been a very busy week. I atribute that partially to the fact that I came home from Tahoe on Sunday night and jumped head first into very full couple of days. Thankfully I love what I do or else life would be a big bummer right now! :)

Anyways, I am sure you're all dying to know if I met the love of my life on the single staff ski retreat this weekend! I must report that this did not happen but it was well worth the crazy drive to and from Tahoe, no regrets. There were 13 of us (I think) on the trip. . .and I was by far the youngest. We all stayed in one cabin in the Heavenly Ski Restort area of Tahoe - so beautiful, especially considering how much snow dumped on us while we were there. On Saturday a group of us went cross country skiing - definitely a high light of the weekend. There are many reasons why I am a new fan, here are two: it's a lot cheaper and I don't feel utterly out of control (like I do when I attempt down-hill). . .usually. :) Though I did fall a couple of times, which always makes me laugh (I have yet to manage a graceful fall), it was such a joy to learn something new (we had a great leason from a 65+ year old man) while enjoying the beauty of God's creation. I would definitely do it again - even though I was sore for the next couple of days!

Another highlight of the trip was getting to stop and have lunch with my mom in Stockton on the way home. There's nothing like family. . .I am so blessed and thankful for them - and looking forward to seeing them next week as my parents are coming to visit for a couple of days. Speaking of family my brother, Joost, turned 21 yesterday! Took him out to dinner tonight, to an awesome hole-in-the-wall hamburger place in Los Osos. . .about 15 minutes from SLO. I am so proud of who my brother is becoming and feel very blessed to live near him during this stage in both of our lives.

Prayer Requests

I am headed out of town tomorrow for a regional staff ski retreat in Tahoe, for the weekend. Here are some ways you can be in prayer for the coming days:
- safe travel as I head to Fresno and then carpool the rest of the way to Tahoe
- good fellowship, I'm a little out of my comfort zone because I only know one woman going on this trip. . .pray that I would feel secure in who God has made me to be and that I would enjoy God's creation, the body of Christ, and the adventure that this little trip will be for me
- pray for our weekly meeting tonight. . .that nonbelievers would come and would have softened hearts to receive the Good News of Christ into their lives. That the hour and a half that we're together would be transformational for all who gather here
- on Saturday the prayer coordinators that I coach are putting on a night of prayer and worship called "Consumed" ("Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,for our God is a CONSUMING fire." Hebrews 12:28-29). Pray for Bethany and Andrew as all the details need to fall into place. Pray that the students would sense the need to come before the Lord in prayer. Pray that God would meet intimately with each and every student who devotes this Saturday night to seeking the Lord's face. Pray that worship leaders would be found for this time as that has been a challenge the past couple of days. Pray that God would be glorified above all else!

Oh Rainy Day!

My goodness, I feel like I'm back in Holland - it's raining so much! Makes getting onto campus not so fun. . .but then again it's fun to see what everyone is wearing - rainboots are in and they're so cute (I hear Target is selling them for 20 bucks. . .but by the time I get myself a pair rainy season will probably be over here!).

In the coming weeks I am taking each of the women I disciple out sharing. Because students aren't sitting outside in this weather yesterday Carolyn and I had some neat conversations with women in the Avenue, an indoor food court on campus. We used a tool called Soularium to engage students in conversation. Soularium is an evangelistic tool consisting of 50 photographs. Students are asked to pick out images that best answer questions like: Which images would you use to describe your life right now, which images would you use to describe what you wish were true of your life right now, which image would you choose to describe God, which image best describes what you've experienced spiritually, and when you think about your spiritual life or journey, which image best represents what you wish were true? As the student is responding to these questions it is our job to be good listeners and good question askers. It is also important that we be very intentional in guiding the conversation to the Gospel or else it is very easy to neglect the task of challenging someones thoughts on spiritual things. We have found that students really enjoy this tool and really open up quickly because images can illicit thoughts and feelings that wouldn't have come to the surface otherwise. Two women in particular, Nicole and Christine were very open to having spiritual conversation yesterday. For lack of time (I suppose students have to go to class once in a while :)) I didn't get to share the Gospel as thoroughly as I would have liked. . . thankfully God is in control and I am not. I did give them my contact information and invite them to our weekly meeting tonight at 8 - pray that they would come and that the Lord would be working in ways that I cannot even imagine to draw them to Himself.

Today Katelyn and I will be giving Soularium another try in the Avenue . . . because it's still raining. . .and because God is good and He calls us to go out and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ in season and out of season, for the praise of His glory!

Happy BIRTHday Abigail Lamb

I am so excited to announce the birth of a very healthy baby girl, Abigail Lamb, to the proud parents, Jenn and Kevin, at 4:30AM on January 21, 2008! Jenn and Kevin are on our staff team and therefore we welcome their little Lamb as our newest (and cutest!) staff member. Jenn is my discipler and it has been so special to watch her grow (literally!) into motherhood. . .it feels like years ago that she told me she was pregnant as we had lunch at Pizza Solo! Abigail has already traveled far and wide in the womb (she spent a summer in East Asia!) - oh the places she'll go now that she has burst forth into the world.

Here's Jenn and me. . .holding Abigail a little awkwardly - she's only 10 hours old, I wanted to be careful!! :)

And here I am, a very proud Auntie to say the least!

Wow, what a weekend it has been. God has used these past couple of days to refine my understanding that He truly does give and take away. . .and through it all He calls us to bless His name. Blessing His name comes so easily with Abigail, but it's so much more difficult when I think of my friends who are mourning right now. And yet in the midst of life and death God, our Creator King, remains unchanged and therefore we worship Him, trust Him and obey Him - but all because, and only because, He first loved us through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of His perfect Son and my Savior, Jesus Christ.

John 16:20-23

20Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

It's Only the World

Hi friends. It has been a heavy couple of days with some friends who are really hurting right now because of very special people that the Lord has taken out of their earthly lives. As I was driving in the car yesterday after hearing from one friend this song came on the radio and really struck me. It's an upbeat song by Mandesa. . .a runner up on American Idol - the words really ring true right now. I am so thankful that we serve a God who is bigger than any circumstance her on this earth and that our perfect Heavenly home awaits us. I love you all!

"Only the World"

Verse 1:
Been a hard one, Been a bad one
Been a tough one, Been a sad one
It's been one of those days that keeps chipping away at my heart
Nothing new here, It's what I do here
its a stereotypical day, in the life
I'm surrounded by all of the pain and the strife
but I know it's alright, woah oh

Chorus:
Cause it's only the world i'm living in
It's only today i've been given
There ain't no way i'm giving in
Cause it's only the world (only the world)
I know the best is still yet to come
Cause even when my days in the world are done
There's gonna be so much more than only the world for me
do do do do do do do do do, yeah its only the world

Verse 2:
Anybody can you hear me?
Do you feel me? I mean, do you feel me?
I know I'm not the only one wearing the weight in this world
We got problems (said it's alright)
Just remember (yeah, it's alright)
Take a good look around we're just
stuck on the ground for a little while
Don't it make you smile

Bridge:
Heaven is a place where the tears on every face will be wiped away
And I can't wait to go, but for now it's enough to know
This is only temporary this is only, Yeah, Alright!

It's Thursday night already?!

Wow - where does the time go? I wanted to update you on how the www.everySLOstudent.com (have you checked it out yet?) campaign is going. First off it has been a blast to see our students wearing the t-shirts all week. With a ministry so big there are so many students walking around that I don't know so this has been a fun way to pin-point who's involved and get to know them a bit. Also, it has been so cool seeing all the signs, posters, and stakes up all over campus - they are everywhere you look so I'd say we did a good job of getting the word out. And now for the current stats:

As of Monday (just 4 days ago!) 1,200 students have visited the site and 12 have indicated that they made a decision for Christ.

Yipe!! I rejoice with the angels in Heaven. . .and I continue to pray that these students would let someone know about the decision they made so that they can be placed in an environment of growth. I love that abundant life in Christ can begin now; we don't have to wait til we get to Heaven. . .although "I can only imagine" that Heaven will be 1,000 times sweeter which just blows my mind!

As for other news of the week - all in all it has been a GREAT one. I am enjoying balanced days of work, reading, exercising (who can resist getting some fresh air when the sunshine is so warm in January!!), seeing friends, and downtime. . .all done with a desire to keep Christ at the center. Granted this is not always the case but it has been a joy to do life out of the overflow. . .pray that it keeps up this way!

And what will tomorrow hold? Well, staff meeting for a couple of hours in the morning, then off to meet my small group (of Bible study women from church - it has been so wonderful to be a part of this weekly time of study and fellowship!) for lunch, an appointment with a student in the early afternoon, the grocery store (to gear up for the stroopwafels that will be made Saturday morning, I just love being Dutch!), dinner at a friend's apartment across the street from mine, and a worship night at Grace Church that the college group worship band is putting on. Oh and maybe a hike in between the grocery store and dinner - that would be nice! A busy day with lots of variety. . .just how I like it. I hope your Friday goes "as you like it as well". . .and ultimately that it would be God-glorifying in every way!

Week 2

To think that week 2 of the quarter is already upon us is hard to believe! It's been a great weekend including lots of baking, watching a movie (Homeward Bound. . . ah, memory lane!) with friends, breakfast with a great girl friend, a nice hike (the weather is so amazing right now), trying on my bridesmaid dress for my roommate's wedding in June (it's coming fast!), Jenn's baby shower (hence all the baking, it was a tea - scrumptious!), a coffee house/open mic/ game night with Crusade students, a great sermon on prayer (from Luke 18, the persistent widow), watching David walk for the first time (God DOES answer prayers!), a refreshing swim, and preparing for the week ahead.

One of the huge things that's happening this week is a EVERYSLOSTUDENT.COM campaign. Let me explain! This is an amazing web-site (check it out!) designed for our Cal Poly and Cuesta students to go on in order to investigate spiritual things and get their questions answered. Students are led through the Gospel and are given the opportunity to make a decision for Christ. Then they can submit an email letting us know of their decision or of any questions they might have and we are able to follow up on them. How cool is that?! The Lord is using technology for His glory and it's working. . .students really are coming to know Him. Take this email received last week for example:

This email was generated by a visitor to your EverySloStudent.com website.

Name: Lauren

Location: San Luis Obispo, CA

Comments: I grew up as a Christian and went to a Christian school from kindergarten to middle school. I switched to a public high school and it was during those four years that I changed and grew distant from God. Now that I am a sophomore in college, I realize that I am lost without Him and I wanted to receive Him again in my life. I found your site through Campus Crusade's W8.Please email me information to help me grow in my relationship with God.

How cool is that?! So, this week we are going to push hard and blitz the campus to get the word out about this site. We are meeting tomorrow morning to hang up posters and fliers all over campus. We are also going to be wearing awesome t-shirts designed for this outreach all week to help get the word out as well.

Would you be praying with me that thousands of our students will go onto the website this week? Also, please pray that if a student does make a decision for Christ that they would be quick to tell someone, preferably through email on the website, so that we can get them connected with the body of Christ and with follow-up resources.

I promise to keep you posted - this is so exciting. I love my job. Have a blessed week!

God's Guidance

Hi again! Things are on a roll here and it feels so great to be back. I'm having refreshing times in the Word lately - I'm so thankful! I'm also experiencing some neat guidance from the Lord. I love my role as a discipler however, at the start of every quarter I tend to "freak out" :) because I have nothing planning and no idea of what we'll be doing for a 10 week quarter.

Of course the Lord always brings me out of this by reminding me that He knows what needs to happen in my life and the lives of the women I disciple, God is the key to effective discipleship. Also, He makes sure that I don't attempt to do it on my own strength by forcing me to trust in His timing and provision in how I fill me weekly appointments with these great women. However, this quarter in particular, I really have a more clear vision from the Lord as to why it matters that I disciple women and how I should structure our time together. Thanks to personal reflection and a great sermon by Pastor Steve at Grace on Sunday I've been able to put somethings together. How we live our lives here on earth really matters, and not only here but also in eternity. I want the women I work with to be women who are focused on eternity and all things eternal, the only things eternal: God, His Word, and the souls of men and women. If we can be wholly and solely about these things in discipleship times together, and in moment-by-moment living really, then I would dare say that God would be pleased (2 Corithians 5:9) and there would not be as much to burn away when the day of judgement comes (1 Corithians 3). We want to live lives of purpose and focus here on earth because it really does have an effect on eternity. Or as Maximus (from the "Gladiator" movie :))put it, "What we do in live echos in eternity". All this to say that I have a fresh perspective on discipleship and I'm excited to tackle this quarter thanks to the Lord's guidance.

Just some thoughts. Tonight Hannah and I will be back in Trinity, but instead of leading a formal Bible study we'll be decorating journals by creating collages out of magazine clippings. My prayer is that several non Christian girls will feel comfortable coming to a craft night. . .baby steps are fine with me! :) Have a great evening yourself!

I'm Back!

Hi friends! I'm back in SLO and back into blogging as well. . .it's been a while! I hope your Christmas and New Years were celebratory. . .giving God all glory for who He is and how He's blessed us.

I got back from Winter Conference on Tuesday. One thing I learned is that it's one thing to say I'm going to San Diego and it's a whole other thing to get there. . .lots and lots of driving but completely worth it. It was such a joy to serve the students at the conference in so many different ways and simultaneously be blessed my self. The speakers, seminars, worship band, Day of Faith, and New Years Eve party were all so amazing. One of the things that is sticking in my mind is the need to have Truth permeate every area of my life. . .that I would not water down the Word of God for myself and for the others I get to share it with. If I really believe that it's truth that sets us free then I need to boldly proclaim it always. How amazing that God has given us all that we need to live victorious and abundant lives in Him. . .lives of meaning, integrity, and adventure. May I be characterized by the Truth and no other thing!

The students start classes on Monday. . .I'm so excited and eager to get back onto campus and to continue trusting God for big things on our campuses in SLO. Pray for God's strength and wisdom as I will step into many leadership roles again. Pray for a healthy quarter. . .I'm fighting a cold right now so my energy is a little low. Pray for a continual focus on all things eternal - God, His Word, and the souls of men and women.

I am praying for you too! And I am excited for what 2008 will hold for all of us. Let's run with endurance the race that is set before us each moment of every day.