Move it.

Awaken. I like this word. Why do we slumber? Because we are tired. we need a break. we need rejuvenation. we need rest. The cry of 'awaken' is one that says I've rested enough...I want more. Awake my senses. my thoughts. my heart. my passions. Let my cries not lie dormant in my mind. Shake me, and bring me from this place of slumber. We are hungry for more. and we want to wake up to what You are doing.

This is the name of (and the idea behind) the service last night that I left halfway through. It was an ihop worship night that was jam-packed full in the church next door. Although I love both the idea and the realization of this kind of service, I found myself unable to stay. One thought that crossed my mind is why are we all here searching when we have the Truth already? I recognize though the importance of seeking for more. being filled up. and refreshed. The importance of meeting with God in corporate praise and worship and of letting Him minister to us. Again though, I was unable to remain. I walked out and opened up my Bible to 1 Corinthians 12-14 where it talks about the Body of Christ and about Gifts of the Spirit. I love this passage. Especially when it brings up love. Love is the greatest of them all. Without it, everything else we do is worthless. Anyway... something super cool jumped out at me. I have read this passage time and time again, but I have never noticed this! One of the gifts listed under spiritual gifts is 'helping people work together' or something. [I just looked it up in another translation, and it says 'leadership' which is really cool too, because I didn't put that together earlier]. The reason this stood out to me so much today was because it is pretty much exactly what I had been doing all day!


For the past two weeks all I have been talking about is building an igloo. I think I kind of get caught in these ruts of thought sometimes and I usually just need to DO something about it and stop talking about it. So yesterday as soon as I woke up and got dressed, I headed with a shovel to the huge snow drift I had scoped out earlier this week. I started to dig. and dig. and dig. But my arms got tired pretty fast, and before I knew it, it was time for lunch. and for recruitment! I spread the word around the cafeteria and got a couple confirmed diggers. I took another person out there after lunch, and went back to search out more shovels and more helpers. All day, it was back and forth, telling people about my vision for a giant igloo and letting them buy into it with their imaginations...then convincing them to lend a hand. It was awesome to see so many people get excited about it and want to come help! We never had more than three at a time working on the igloo, and we were able to take shifts and stay relatively warm. Multiple people yesterday blessed me with the word 'visionary'. I like this word... it reminds me of my dad! Even though it was JUST an igloo, there was much more to it than it seemed. I had such joy in seeing an idea come to reality particularly because it could not have happened by myself. I am far too weak! I needed other people to catch on to it to make it happen. They helped construct it, and form the original idea to something more workable. It is through the Body that we are strong! It was such a cool representation of God's Church to me.

Back to the worship service: I think I was feeling a bit bummed because so often I watch the Holy Spirit's hand in services like these; watching people speak in languages that I don't understand, and people receiving visions of the Father's love or of His Kingdom... but rarely does God show up to me in these ways. Plus, I was super tired from being out in the snow digging all day! That's when I went back to read, and pray. I really think this was God speaking to me and reminding me of the purposes of His Body. This is not to diminish the supernatural acts of God.. because I love those things! Just a reminder to myself that He moves and acts in so many ways... and I'm not to only expect Him to move in one direction. How boring would that be :)

Now I want to go finish that igloo!

On Faith

Step onto the path and let the scenery unfold.

So, I tend to be a person that claims quotes for myself. I think I subconsciously store things away that I hear for later use, or something. I guess I like to think I am original. (Don't we all!?) I sometimes get caught with it, and sometimes I catch myself doing it. I also like to make up answers for people's questions just so they get answered - but don't worry - I usually tell the person that I just made that answer up! All that to say, as far as I am aware, the above stated quote is my own. In the very least, it holds personal meaning to me.

I have always thought of faith through pictures. I see it in my mind like walking from stone to stone in a river, not knowing really what is ahead, let alone on the other bank. Or like walking into a shaded forrest where you cannot see past the outer trees. You don't know what lies before you but you trust the one who tells you to walk. You know that there will be beauty regardless. It's the promise we can hold on to.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

This means a lot to me right now here at school. Just yesterday I had to say goodbye to three dear friends here at Bethany. It's been an emotional couple of days. You can sense the drain it has caused on the student body. It is hard to see friends leave, even when you know God has great things in store for these people. Through all the heaviness I have heard great words of encouragement and wisdom though. Mostly, it is amazing to see the faith that people have. So many students here are struggling for finances. Already we have lost 15 classmates just from our freshmen class and a number of those have been due to finances. It can be a hard pill to swallow. I know that God provides, and I have seen it done here time and time again. It's still hard. But to see the perseverance is encouraging. To see the hope. and to see the genuine love shared between those here. Community is not something that can be forced, but comes naturally out of the seeking and hungry heart.

One story in particular I think does a good job at explaining my thoughts about my statement on faith. One of our new students - Kelley - came here a couple weeks back with nothing. He came completely in faith that something would come up if he was meant to stay. I had an opportunity to get to know him a bit, and got to talk with him the night he was leaving campus. I was so encouraged by his attitude. His faith was not based on money, or school or even provision. His faith was based upon the knowledge that Jesus was with him and leading him on his great adventure of a life. He knows that all he is called to is obedience and that his own actions will add nothing to the beauty of his environment. The only beauty he knows is to follow the Lord, and he was excited to leave knowing that he gets to be with God no matter where he ends up. I really don't think this is a foolish way to live at all. Some might call it irresponsible to not have a plan or a fallback. I call it faith.

We are called to step out. To take the initial steps, and to even head into unknown territory. We are promised though that we do not walk alone. He will come alongside us to guide us and keep our feet steady... and to turn our eyes to His goodness.

Faith. Believing in what we cannot see. Hoping for what we cannot understand.

Even the smallest amount of this is enough to rearrange nature. How can we not stand up and boldly ask of the Lord to take us into new and exciting places!? We have nothing to lose by asking. God, increase our faith!