It's so funny to me how God in His sovereignty works sometimes. I have been thinking through why I am here in DC. I know without a shadow of a doubt that I am supposed to be here, but sometimes I wonder why.
I recently listened to a sermon by Mark Driscoll (great pastor if you don't know of him) about having a heart for the city. The sermon was the first in a series going through the book of Nehemiah. He explained that the first chapter of the book (as well as a few other chapters in the book) is believed to be from Nehemiah's personal journal. The first three verses explain that Nehemiah had some visitors who came and told him how the people of Jerusalem are in exile, the wall around the city has been broken down and the gates are destroyed by fire. Nehemiah weeps and mourns and prays to God for the people of Jerusalem.
Here's the funny thing, this tragedy happened 141 years previous to when Nehemiah's friends came to tell him. That would be similar to someone coming to us and saying Abraham Lincoln was shot and killed. Would we weep and mourn? Probably not. That's old news that happened generations ago. No one we know is that personally affected.
Mark continues to say that Nehemiah is mourning because God the Holy Spirit has now given him a new heart for the city of Jerusalem, Jesus's heart for the city. Wouldn't most of us agree that God loves people? I mean that's why He sent His Son to die a criminal's death on a cross. It was the only way we could have a relationship with God, so He did it. Just think about one of the Bible's most common verses, John 3:16. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." God loves people. And way more than we love people!
Where are most people concentrated across the world? The cities. If we're called to have a heart like God's then we're called to have a heart for His people. That's why I'm here. God, only by His Spirit and grace, gave me a heart for people. That's why I'm here.
Adding up the population of Washington, DC, Arlington County, VA and Fairfax County, VA, I am in close (and maybe sometimes too close, haha) proximity to 2 million people. There aren't many other places in the world like this.
Is it hard? Extremely. Do I want to give up? All the time. But, is that God's heart? No. He never gave up on us, and He never will.
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."- 2 Corinthians 12:9
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Thursday, December 1, 2011
I'm not a very good blogger...
When the idea came to me, I had great intentions of blogging once a week. I was a journalism major, and I love to write! What I've come to realize is I had so much more energy in college. I come home from a day of work and just want to veg out! How do mothers do it?? I'm beginning to worry about what being a wife and a mother is going to do to me (not that it is coming anytime soon!) I guess I'll just have to trust God for that!
As for Cru, things are starting to become more routine. We've been able to meet with a handful of students in the past few days (that never happens!) to tell them about a six week project we're starting. We're calling it GIG, Girls and Guys Investigating God. The goal is to explore truth, investigate God and experience community. We're asking students to commit to doing it every Wednesday for the first six weeks of next semester. We're praying that students would come to dive deeper into their relationships with the Lord, but we're also making it seeker friendly so that students who aren't sure where they are in their faith can investigate the truth with us. We're really excited about it!
I've come to realize that if God doesn't move, nothing is going to happen. Being able to meet with about 10 students in the past three days is huge! I know it's nothing we have done because we didn't do anything different. Learning to stay faithful despite the circumstances is hard, but it's what God calls us to do. I have been really encouraged by a verse recently-Hebrews 11:39-40. Here it is, but I would encourage you to read it in context.
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
I went to a conference before Thanksgiving with all the Cru staff in the region. We went over this verse, and it made me realize a few things:
1. We are not entitled to anything in this world.
2. God's plans are so much higher and better than ours.
3. No matter how hard we work, we may not see results.
4. We are called to one thing: to stay faithful through all trials.
It's so interesting what God calls us to. It's not what the world calls us to by any means. During this holiday season, stay faithful to the real reason why we celebrate Christmas. Don't get caught up in the world's definition. I know I'm going to have a hard time, but God is faithful to those who let Him!
Friday, November 11, 2011
Heart is breaking
I came into this year expecting to see a lot. I had experience doing ministry on a college campus, and there couldn't be that much difference here, could there? I was wrong. I've come to believe that missionaries are desperately needed in our own country. Yes, most of these students have heard the gospel, but they have been so hardened to it. That's harder than never hearing it.
There is power in the gospel when we as Christians live it out the way we were called to. When we don't, there is so much more people have to work through before they will even be open to hearing the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Something we have started asking the students we have conversations with is, "What are you working toward in life?" or "When you die, what do you want to be remembered for?" The answer never fails. It's what the world teaches and even what most "good" parents teach - to be a good person and make a difference in the world, somehow and someway. "Good" answer, right? When you get to the heart of the issue of why they so deeply desire to make a difference in the world, it's because they have been failed. Someone in their life has failed them deeply. They then take it upon themselves to be the world changer because they don't understand that the world changer has already come.
Most don't believe in a higher power, much less the grace that comes from a God humbling Himself enough to come to earth, live a perfect life and die a criminals death to set us free. What they have known about Christianity doesn't align with this, so why should they believe it?
These questions have been on my heart for some time now. I have learned that it doesn't matter what I do or what I say, God is going to have to move in the hearts of these students. They need stability and they need love. As Christians, we are called to be that stability and love. If I accomplish nothing more this year than loving these students with Christ's love, I will be content. Transformation is a process, and the process takes time.
If you're reading this, please take five seconds to pray for the students living in DC. Prayer is our only avenue to reach these students for Christ.
There is power in the gospel when we as Christians live it out the way we were called to. When we don't, there is so much more people have to work through before they will even be open to hearing the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Something we have started asking the students we have conversations with is, "What are you working toward in life?" or "When you die, what do you want to be remembered for?" The answer never fails. It's what the world teaches and even what most "good" parents teach - to be a good person and make a difference in the world, somehow and someway. "Good" answer, right? When you get to the heart of the issue of why they so deeply desire to make a difference in the world, it's because they have been failed. Someone in their life has failed them deeply. They then take it upon themselves to be the world changer because they don't understand that the world changer has already come.
Most don't believe in a higher power, much less the grace that comes from a God humbling Himself enough to come to earth, live a perfect life and die a criminals death to set us free. What they have known about Christianity doesn't align with this, so why should they believe it?
These questions have been on my heart for some time now. I have learned that it doesn't matter what I do or what I say, God is going to have to move in the hearts of these students. They need stability and they need love. As Christians, we are called to be that stability and love. If I accomplish nothing more this year than loving these students with Christ's love, I will be content. Transformation is a process, and the process takes time.
If you're reading this, please take five seconds to pray for the students living in DC. Prayer is our only avenue to reach these students for Christ.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
100 pink tents and all kinds of busy...
So, it's been a while since I last posted. I promise, I have good reasons.
Things have really started to pick up, and working around student's schedules makes for pretty hectic days. I've been meeting regularly with girls at both American University and Marymount. They have been such a blessing and make me realize how much I love my job! We've also started Bible studies on both campuses which seem to be growing (slowly...but still growing!).
On Monday, September 26 we were given a great opportunity at American. GAiN (Global Aid Network) is an organization Cru partners with multiple times throughout the year. GAiN contacted us and said that the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation had a three day walk in the city where they used 2,000 pink tents. The foundation was going to donate them to GAiN. GAiN was going to pack them up and send them to Somalian refugees in Djibouti. Great, right?! There was one catch. The tents were obviously used, and they were wet, so GAiN needed the man power to set the tents up, air them out and repackage them so they could be sent to the refugees. My team (DC Metro) was given 100 tents which we set up on the quad at American University! 100 pink tents in the middle of campus obviously attracted tons of students. We asked the students as they walked by to help us set up or tear down the tents. It was a great way to serve and give students the opportunity to help these refugees! American University's students are very interested in community service and social justice, so we knew this opportunity would be great to do on their campus.
When we got back after the long day of setting up and tearing down tents, we had an e-mail from the school newspaper wanting to interview us for a story that was going to be run the following week! (What great publicity for Cru, right??!!)
Here is the link to the article The Eagle (American's student newspaper) wrote about the event: http://www.theeagleonline.com/news/story/students-help-air-out-pink-tents-before-sending-them-to-somalia/
On a more personal level, I'm adjusting to life in the city well! Here are a few things I've learned along the way:
1. LEARN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN! Don't try and go anywhere between 4pm and 7pm on any given day.
2. Drive aggressively (not sure if I'm proud of that one)
3. Act like you've been living here all your life (it paid off one day when two people in the metro asked me about where their stop was!)
4. Be willing to talk and hear about politics...all the time (I'm slowly becoming more interested in it!)
5. Patience is not a common virtue.
6. As a college student, it's not unusual to be involved in 10 different clubs at once (I'm guessing sleep is optional????)
7. If you're from anywhere in the south, people either love or make fun of your accent (yes, it's happened to me MANY times)
8. Most people who live here aren't locals. They are young professionals who live here for a few years and then move again.
9. There are rules about HOV highways (still haven't figured all those out yet)
10. When there is construction on any road, steer clear! (it took me two hours to get somewhere that should have taken 20 minutes!)
A quick last note: I've found a GREAT church! I've gotten involved in a small group Bible study with people my age, and I'm really enjoying it!
Okay, one more thing. This weekend is Fall Retreat! We're going to Northbay Adventure Camp in Maryland with the University of Maryland, Towsen and Salisbury. Pray for a great time and more students from DC Metro to sign up!
Thanks for your interest in what God is doing in the city! I'll try and do a better job of keeping you updated :)
Things have really started to pick up, and working around student's schedules makes for pretty hectic days. I've been meeting regularly with girls at both American University and Marymount. They have been such a blessing and make me realize how much I love my job! We've also started Bible studies on both campuses which seem to be growing (slowly...but still growing!).
On Monday, September 26 we were given a great opportunity at American. GAiN (Global Aid Network) is an organization Cru partners with multiple times throughout the year. GAiN contacted us and said that the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation had a three day walk in the city where they used 2,000 pink tents. The foundation was going to donate them to GAiN. GAiN was going to pack them up and send them to Somalian refugees in Djibouti. Great, right?! There was one catch. The tents were obviously used, and they were wet, so GAiN needed the man power to set the tents up, air them out and repackage them so they could be sent to the refugees. My team (DC Metro) was given 100 tents which we set up on the quad at American University! 100 pink tents in the middle of campus obviously attracted tons of students. We asked the students as they walked by to help us set up or tear down the tents. It was a great way to serve and give students the opportunity to help these refugees! American University's students are very interested in community service and social justice, so we knew this opportunity would be great to do on their campus.
When we got back after the long day of setting up and tearing down tents, we had an e-mail from the school newspaper wanting to interview us for a story that was going to be run the following week! (What great publicity for Cru, right??!!)
On a more personal level, I'm adjusting to life in the city well! Here are a few things I've learned along the way:
1. LEARN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN! Don't try and go anywhere between 4pm and 7pm on any given day.
2. Drive aggressively (not sure if I'm proud of that one)
3. Act like you've been living here all your life (it paid off one day when two people in the metro asked me about where their stop was!)
4. Be willing to talk and hear about politics...all the time (I'm slowly becoming more interested in it!)
5. Patience is not a common virtue.
6. As a college student, it's not unusual to be involved in 10 different clubs at once (I'm guessing sleep is optional????)
7. If you're from anywhere in the south, people either love or make fun of your accent (yes, it's happened to me MANY times)
8. Most people who live here aren't locals. They are young professionals who live here for a few years and then move again.
9. There are rules about HOV highways (still haven't figured all those out yet)
10. When there is construction on any road, steer clear! (it took me two hours to get somewhere that should have taken 20 minutes!)
A quick last note: I've found a GREAT church! I've gotten involved in a small group Bible study with people my age, and I'm really enjoying it!
Okay, one more thing. This weekend is Fall Retreat! We're going to Northbay Adventure Camp in Maryland with the University of Maryland, Towsen and Salisbury. Pray for a great time and more students from DC Metro to sign up!
Thanks for your interest in what God is doing in the city! I'll try and do a better job of keeping you updated :)
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
New year, new people, new job
I have officially been in the DC area for two and a half weeks! Some parts of me think that it has flown by, but other parts of me feel like it has been much longer. It's strange to me that school is starting, and I'm not going back. Is it weird that I miss being a student? It's all I've known for the past 17 years. Establishing a routine without it just seems foreign to me.
We are all settled into our new apartment, and we love it! We also just got our cable and internet hooked up (that is a whole different story that I won't even get into!) Our neighbor baked us cupcakes and children play in our backyard every night! We have a game stash, and they love to knock on our back door to borrow them.
We've had great times on American University's campus this week. We contacted the people who signed up saying they were interested and met with them just to chat and get to know them a little better. All of our meetings went so well, and we actually have more tomorrow! We have invited the students we met with over to our director's house to have dinner tomorrow night. We want to share our vision for the movement and also see what they want to see happen. We are so excited to meet new people interested in making Cru happen in DC!
I had the chance to meet with a girl on campus Monday. She was so enthusiastic about getting things started on campus. We actually found out that she has a good friend who is interning with Cru at Pitt. She told me she had been talking to her about wanting to get involved in something like Cru in college, but she didn't know what organizations would be on her campus. Little did she know that we would be there starting things for the very organization she wanted to get involved with! Sometimes it's funny how God works. Just hearing her excitement and the connection we had made me certain we were in the right place, and I was doing what the Lord had called me to do.
Our plan as of now is to take the students interested in leading the ministry to the University of Maryland's Cru meeting next Thursday. We want them to gain a better understanding of what it looks like to have a movement on campus. We're all very excited about that!
As for me, I'm looking for a church to get plugged into. I would love to start going to a Bible study and meeting people. It's strange being in a city with lots of people but not knowing many of them! I guess that's just the extrovert in me.
Please be praying for the students and the campuses. Pray God would make it clear what He wants us to do, and we would be obedient to that calling. I realize this post is a little all over the place, but that's just been the story of my life for the past few weeks!
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
You're the God of this city
I have finally made the big move to northern Virginia, and wow is it different than West Virginia! I'm experiencing a little bit of culture shock, but I feel like God prepared my heart for it. Everything is so different, and I'm going to have to learn to drive differently! Haha!
God provided us with an apartment! Praises! It was last minute, buy hey God is rarely early, but He's always on time! We actually filled out the paper work Monday before training and were told it would take 3-5 days to hear back because they would have to run a credit check. We told the group at training the housing issues we were experiencing (and that's a whole different story!), and they prayed for us multiple times. We heard back that we got the apartment the next day! What a relief! I moved in on Saturday, and the other girls moved in Sunday. Our apartment is in a great location, and we're already feeling at home in it. God has truly blessed us.
As for ministry, we have had two full days of meetings with our team. School hasn't started yet, so we're doing a lot of planning and prayer for direction. Our team is great, and we have a very clear vision of what we would like to see happen this semester. Our team consists of six people, five women and one man. We are praying that God would raise up student leaders on two campuses, and we would be a recognized student organization. Since these universities are private, there are different rules, and we're experiencing some struggles trying to get on campus at the beginning of the school year since it is the most crucial time.
A lot is unknown at this point, and we're being forced to rely on the Lord which is great! Please pray for direction and the ability to get on campus to start gathering Christians and sharing the Gospel!
God provided us with an apartment! Praises! It was last minute, buy hey God is rarely early, but He's always on time! We actually filled out the paper work Monday before training and were told it would take 3-5 days to hear back because they would have to run a credit check. We told the group at training the housing issues we were experiencing (and that's a whole different story!), and they prayed for us multiple times. We heard back that we got the apartment the next day! What a relief! I moved in on Saturday, and the other girls moved in Sunday. Our apartment is in a great location, and we're already feeling at home in it. God has truly blessed us.
As for ministry, we have had two full days of meetings with our team. School hasn't started yet, so we're doing a lot of planning and prayer for direction. Our team is great, and we have a very clear vision of what we would like to see happen this semester. Our team consists of six people, five women and one man. We are praying that God would raise up student leaders on two campuses, and we would be a recognized student organization. Since these universities are private, there are different rules, and we're experiencing some struggles trying to get on campus at the beginning of the school year since it is the most crucial time.
A lot is unknown at this point, and we're being forced to rely on the Lord which is great! Please pray for direction and the ability to get on campus to start gathering Christians and sharing the Gospel!
Sunday, July 24, 2011
2 Corinthians 12:9
So, you're probably wondering what the reason is behind the name of my blog. Well, here it is. 2 Corinthians 12:9 has always been one of my favorite verses, but this summer it has taken on a whole new meaning. During the process of raising support to work with Cru next year, I have come to realize how faithful and good God is yet how faithless and sinful I am.
I've been saying for some time now that every Christian should raise support. It causes you to learn so much about yourself. It pulls sins to the surface that you never new you struggled with before. It causes you to completely humble yourself before the Lord in order to do His work.
No one likes to ask for money. But, through this process, God has showed me the love His people have for His kingdom. When I doubted, He provided. It's so countercultural. We're taught from an early age if you want something, you have to earn it. But, that's not the way it is with God. We can't earn His love. His love was already given to us-freely.
The three month process has had its ups and downs, but God came out on top. When we're willing to go, He's willing to provide. He is rarely early, but He's always on time. If I've learned one thing this summer it's that God is ALWAYS good. We just have to trust Him.
I am leaving in two weeks to go to training for my internship, and I report to DC directly after. It's an exciting time, but it's also challenging. I am so grateful to all those who have supported me prayerfully and financially. In such a broken world, it's great to see God's people coming together to further His kingdom.
This is just the beginning of many posts about what's going on with the ministry. We currently are still in search of the place God wants us to live, but we know He will provide.
I've been saying for some time now that every Christian should raise support. It causes you to learn so much about yourself. It pulls sins to the surface that you never new you struggled with before. It causes you to completely humble yourself before the Lord in order to do His work.
No one likes to ask for money. But, through this process, God has showed me the love His people have for His kingdom. When I doubted, He provided. It's so countercultural. We're taught from an early age if you want something, you have to earn it. But, that's not the way it is with God. We can't earn His love. His love was already given to us-freely.
The three month process has had its ups and downs, but God came out on top. When we're willing to go, He's willing to provide. He is rarely early, but He's always on time. If I've learned one thing this summer it's that God is ALWAYS good. We just have to trust Him.
I am leaving in two weeks to go to training for my internship, and I report to DC directly after. It's an exciting time, but it's also challenging. I am so grateful to all those who have supported me prayerfully and financially. In such a broken world, it's great to see God's people coming together to further His kingdom.
This is just the beginning of many posts about what's going on with the ministry. We currently are still in search of the place God wants us to live, but we know He will provide.
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