Monday, March 31, 2008
When I look at my staff account balance and contributions, I...
I don't know why but it just doesn't freak me out. Maybe I am too removed from it, but I also know that Alan and I have seen the Lord provide in huge ways through anonymous donations and such that I just know He is going to provide for us. I also find myself amazed at how many people faithfully and sacrificially give to us each month. This is an amazing job.
When students don't respond like I hoped for, I...
the performer in me feels like a failure. I analyze what I could have done differently, how I must not have prayed enough, or done enough to get people there. I have issues, I know. The Lord is working to reveal and change my heart, albeit slowly, but above is my initial response. I have been experiencing this lately through my Bible Studies in the College of Ed and Johnston as the attendance at both of these is so sporadic. The Lord is also using this to reveal in my heart, where my heart just isn't in things, and sometimes I go into things hoping students won't show up and I don't trust in His grace and that His Spirit will work despite me if I will trust, ask and allow it.
~Stephanie
~Stephanie
Taking a day with the Lord is...
awesome. I desire it so much right now. I see it as sitting before Him, sharing my heart with Him, letting Him have all the little things, getting to a place where those don't rule me, so that I can really experience Him deeply. It is coming back to the relationship we're in, not rushing to get only enought of what I need to be filled, but feeling the freedom of no time limit to just be with my savior and creator. The fact that we can come before Him is amazing.
My sleep, exericise and eating habits are...
I am thankful for my Personal Development plan as it has helped me to set some much needed goals in these areas. As of right now the best of these is my eating habits. Being pregnant has helped me really think about what I am taking in and what is best for my body and little Trenton. Sleeping, well my goal is to be to bed, at least winding down and in bed by 10:30 each night, which would help me to get up and spend time with the Lord in the morning. Right now, it looks more like midnight and then scrambling to make it to the office on time, which you all have witnessed. Exercise is non-existent right now, except for walks every once in awhile. Once Trenton is hear, I desire to make exercise a priority in my life. I need the Lord to really change my heart in this. I desire to run three times a week maybe with Trenton, and get to a place where it is life giving to me. I admire Miki so much to hear her talk about what a sweet time exercising is for her. I want to understand that, get to that place and, I want to steward well what the Lord has given me.
My financial partners know....
well, honestly I feel greatly disconnected from them. They know what to pray for, especially specific students. I do desire to update them on our lives and all that the Lord has provided and blessed us with specifically our new home and the health of little Trenton, and the rich community in our lives. I am excited to have a summer of prioritizing connecting with them. It seems like such a gift from them Lord.
~Stephanie
~Stephanie
Monday, March 10, 2008
Module 4 Blogspot
I have experienced God as...
I have experienced Him as I seek forgiveness for the daily sins in my life, as I read His Word. I have begun experiencing Him more and more as Jesus, the man who came to save my life but who also desires for so much more for me: He desires for me to know the Father as He knows Him; He desires for me to live an abundant life; He desires for me to have His peace and love.
Each Person on my team has been a role model and an example to me. To be more specific...
Miki has experienced grace this year in front of us all, which has been so good for me to see.
Elizabeth has continued to move forward in reaching the Greek students on campus and set up the tea party even when it intimidated her.
Jamie has been very vulnerable sharing where she's at when she's struggling financially. It's great to see that everyone struggles sometimes.
Laurie is always on time or early to work and does her job without complaining and gets things done.
Stephanie always has a good attitude and a smile even when she's having a bad day.
Liz has maintained such faith and honesty through the midst of some very tough times and has used those times to share with others and glorify God.
Alan has really taken his disciples places and helped them grow and is continually meeting with them and challenging them to share with the people around them.
Ryan has a great sense of humor and keeps the office attitudes light.
Dustin has worked so hard at the College of Ed. stuff and continued showing up even when only girls come.
Danny is a role model in learning to be an adult and to have a budget and continue working on reiumbursements.
Eric has been very vulnerable in sharing when he's in pain and allowing us all in to his life.
Chris has loved his wife well and I am blessed to see such a great example of a Godly husband.
Will maintains the attitude of volunteerism in the office and is always willing to help people out when they need an extra hand.
Matt has also been very vulnerable in his times of need and pain.
David has moved out in faith many times within the Greek system and it's great to see what the Lord is doing through him in the bible studies he's started.
Mandy and Jason have kept at it on the support front and continue to trust God to provide even when their support goes down or stays stagnant.
If I forgot anyone...forgive me, there are a lot of people on our team.
~Emily
I have experienced Him as I seek forgiveness for the daily sins in my life, as I read His Word. I have begun experiencing Him more and more as Jesus, the man who came to save my life but who also desires for so much more for me: He desires for me to know the Father as He knows Him; He desires for me to live an abundant life; He desires for me to have His peace and love.
Each Person on my team has been a role model and an example to me. To be more specific...
Miki has experienced grace this year in front of us all, which has been so good for me to see.
Elizabeth has continued to move forward in reaching the Greek students on campus and set up the tea party even when it intimidated her.
Jamie has been very vulnerable sharing where she's at when she's struggling financially. It's great to see that everyone struggles sometimes.
Laurie is always on time or early to work and does her job without complaining and gets things done.
Stephanie always has a good attitude and a smile even when she's having a bad day.
Liz has maintained such faith and honesty through the midst of some very tough times and has used those times to share with others and glorify God.
Alan has really taken his disciples places and helped them grow and is continually meeting with them and challenging them to share with the people around them.
Ryan has a great sense of humor and keeps the office attitudes light.
Dustin has worked so hard at the College of Ed. stuff and continued showing up even when only girls come.
Danny is a role model in learning to be an adult and to have a budget and continue working on reiumbursements.
Eric has been very vulnerable in sharing when he's in pain and allowing us all in to his life.
Chris has loved his wife well and I am blessed to see such a great example of a Godly husband.
Will maintains the attitude of volunteerism in the office and is always willing to help people out when they need an extra hand.
Matt has also been very vulnerable in his times of need and pain.
David has moved out in faith many times within the Greek system and it's great to see what the Lord is doing through him in the bible studies he's started.
Mandy and Jason have kept at it on the support front and continue to trust God to provide even when their support goes down or stays stagnant.
If I forgot anyone...forgive me, there are a lot of people on our team.
~Emily
My Team PART ONE (1 of 5)
My team -
I figure we are lucky enough to have one of the greatest teams in our region so I'd like to take the time to say how each is a role model (even though this may be done in multiple posts)...
Ryan - It's easiest to start here. Ryan has so much faith in the Lord that it continually encourages me to trust that Lord will provide and will bring us through whatever situation we are in. He's a role model to me in how laid back he is and his deep appreciation for rest and relaxation. It teaches me to enjoy life and spend time doing the things that make me happy. This ultimately allows me to love people better...
Liz - Can I just clone her parenting skills???? Liz is SUCH a role model to me in godly parenting. Pair that with the idea that I have never seen Godly parenting in action she's one of the most beautiful people I know. Being a fellow performance struggler, she continually speaks to me heart about living in grace, letting balls drop, and being loved by the Lord even when we don't do those things. She's a tremendous role model of friendship, love, and being loved by the Lord exactly how you are.
Laurie - Laur's a role model to me because she's a tangible example of how the Lord can dramatically change someone's life if you allow Him to. She continually perserveres to find out who she is in the Lord, walks by faith in her placement for next year, but more importantly is realistic about her emotions in all situations. She doesn't try to live out of "where I should be" but is willing to bear all and really open up to what she is struggling with and where she is at emotionally. I admire that SO much in her.
David - Wow. Can I just say that David really took his placement for next year and went for it! I look up to David's proactiveness and see that in his life in so many ways. I admire how he took the initiative to start greek ministry in Lambda Chi and then didint start there but went for three more houses. I admire how he networked at DCC and took advantage of his time to meet with campus directors and see where he would be a good fit. I'm thankful call David my firend and value the role model he is for living life fully, always having a good time, and yet always being willing to be real and authentic with where he is at. Thanks for being such a great friend David.
I think I'll do 4 a day for the next few days....
I figure we are lucky enough to have one of the greatest teams in our region so I'd like to take the time to say how each is a role model (even though this may be done in multiple posts)...
Ryan - It's easiest to start here. Ryan has so much faith in the Lord that it continually encourages me to trust that Lord will provide and will bring us through whatever situation we are in. He's a role model to me in how laid back he is and his deep appreciation for rest and relaxation. It teaches me to enjoy life and spend time doing the things that make me happy. This ultimately allows me to love people better...
Liz - Can I just clone her parenting skills???? Liz is SUCH a role model to me in godly parenting. Pair that with the idea that I have never seen Godly parenting in action she's one of the most beautiful people I know. Being a fellow performance struggler, she continually speaks to me heart about living in grace, letting balls drop, and being loved by the Lord even when we don't do those things. She's a tremendous role model of friendship, love, and being loved by the Lord exactly how you are.
Laurie - Laur's a role model to me because she's a tangible example of how the Lord can dramatically change someone's life if you allow Him to. She continually perserveres to find out who she is in the Lord, walks by faith in her placement for next year, but more importantly is realistic about her emotions in all situations. She doesn't try to live out of "where I should be" but is willing to bear all and really open up to what she is struggling with and where she is at emotionally. I admire that SO much in her.
David - Wow. Can I just say that David really took his placement for next year and went for it! I look up to David's proactiveness and see that in his life in so many ways. I admire how he took the initiative to start greek ministry in Lambda Chi and then didint start there but went for three more houses. I admire how he networked at DCC and took advantage of his time to meet with campus directors and see where he would be a good fit. I'm thankful call David my firend and value the role model he is for living life fully, always having a good time, and yet always being willing to be real and authentic with where he is at. Thanks for being such a great friend David.
I think I'll do 4 a day for the next few days....
Role Models
Lets make'em quick---Over the years Matt has brought me to understand evangelism and grace in incredibly clearer ways. Liz has shown examples of incredible love and following of a Christian wife and mother. Chris has been a great example of leadership of which I strive for. Elizabeth has been a great role model of going with new ideas and sharing wisdom. Miki is awesome at pursuing with joy. (You get a hold of that softball coach yet?) I would love to be able be able to talk to guys like Eric. Alan has a great way of being able to see the future of people and also has a great bit of wisdom. Stephanie shows great humor and innocence to ministry that I love. David has such an incredible heart for guys in greek houses and is an incredible example in many ways of how to do ministry that I want to apply in my life. Danny is a great example of learning and following the Lord in marraige that I really appreciate. Nicole is a great role model in taking steps of faith for ministry when it may not seem comfortable. Emily is an incredible example of how to be great friends to students which can make ministry easier. Will is a great role model of following the Lord even when it is very hard and painfull. Dustin is a role model in the way that he is seemingly always being led by the Lord into areas that are unfamliar to him. Also amazing that he leads Melissa into these areas as well (and his sick dirty skills on the fussball table). And of course last but not lead my beautiful wife who is an example in so many ways but mostly for her love of the Lord which she always wants to grow in and exude.
Rybo
Rybo
I have experienced God as...
...a shepherd of me lately. Chris Gadsden's been having me do this experiment using Psalm 23. It's really got me thinking about the Lord being my shepherd and how He leads me. I really love this imagery. - Palf, (I wrote the last blog about Matt & Liz also)
Each person on my team has been a role model and an example to me. To be more specific,.....
...Matt has been an example of grace to me. He constantly surprises me by the depth of grace he extends to people.
...Liz has been an example of perseverance to me lately.
...Liz has been an example of perseverance to me lately.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Each person on my team has been a role model and an example to me.
Matt & Liz have taught me a lot about "extoling the Lord at all times." They have modeled so well how to trust that the Lord is good, even in the midst of trials. It is obvious that the Lord has used these circumstances to develop their character and to minister to others. Their response to difficulties has challenged me to examine how I respond to hard times and strive to see that the Lord is good. - Laurie
I have experienced God as...
...a provider and protecter. With my current financial situation, I have seen the Lord already providing for my most immediate needs. Two supporters gave random one-time gifts without even knowing of my situation, and I received a small payment that I wasn't expecting from some property that my siblings and I own. I have also seen him as a protector; I imagine the Soularium picture of the hand holding the bird. Although my placement is uncertain and I have struggled with understanding "why" about certain situations, I've been able to see that the Lord has me in his hand and is protecting me from things I can't foresee. The past couple of months have been a really sweet time as I have grown in my trust in the Lord. -Laurie
Monday, March 3, 2008
I have experienced God as . . .
a gracious God. I know it cliche, but I have noticed more and more the depth of my depravity. I have seen only more and more sin in my life as I have gone deeper in my relationship with Christ. God has opened my to see the times when I can be so disobedient to Him. It is really quite shocking how quickly I can turn my back on the Lord. If I tried to think of all the times I have kicked Christ off the throne of my life, it is a mystery why God would be so forgiving. If I didn't have the promises of His grace through the Word, then I would not be where I am now.
-David
-David
Role Models on my team
I think of myself as a really important role model on our team and other peoples lives. They haven't really told me that to my face. . . but I know its true. lol j/k
Ryan Wagner actually comes to mind as a role model of faith and perseverance. As I think about his journey in raising support and how he has persevered to be at where he is now, it is encouraging. And even now, as he has had to have faith in the Lord's calling (as their loans may prevent them from coming on staff this next year) he has never once complained or dishonored the Lord through their words. Every week in freshbread I see Ryan's tender heart for the Lord as he shares about what he has been learning. It is quite amazing to see his devotion to the Lord despite the challenges that he has endured in following HIm.
-David
Ryan Wagner actually comes to mind as a role model of faith and perseverance. As I think about his journey in raising support and how he has persevered to be at where he is now, it is encouraging. And even now, as he has had to have faith in the Lord's calling (as their loans may prevent them from coming on staff this next year) he has never once complained or dishonored the Lord through their words. Every week in freshbread I see Ryan's tender heart for the Lord as he shares about what he has been learning. It is quite amazing to see his devotion to the Lord despite the challenges that he has endured in following HIm.
-David
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