Trusting God...

Most of the 10 days I spent in training at Colorado Springs had something dealing with the idea of trusting God. When I think of trusting God to provide in what may seem to me as strange or odd ways, I can't help but think of Elijah and the ravens feeding him in 1 Kings 17. So meet Elijah the duck. He is being given exactly what he needs by God, who is using a bird to provide.

This is my desktop background so while I am fund-raising $34,000 by Aug. 15th, I won't forget who my bread is ultimately coming from. Will you join me in praising God for the work I know He is doing and is going to do?

worse than silence...

I love Gomer Pyle. I remember waking up on the weekends and watching this show with my sister. I love how not everything is black and white like the Sargent thinks. I think sometimes we go about things in the wrong way. Preparation is good, but ultimately, decisions have to be made for individuals on their own. Here is the cool thing though, as believers, we are here to hold one another accountable and help see truth where Satan loves to keep it hidden. Gomer gets the point in knowing when to stop role-playing long enough to help Duke, his fellow marine, up. Even if in training Duke had his thumb injured, he probably learned to not stand off-balance, but instead to stand firm.

Though they are instructed to not pause, it is important to know when we need to stop what we are doing to try and help someone out. It's the idea of caring for someone else more than what you think they will think of you. It's caring for someone enough to tell them the truth in the way they need to hear it. There is something special about community, it is not just about living life all happy and contrite, but it is about living life together. And the reality of that is sometimes you do get to celebrate joy with one another, but other times you get to speak truth and appear as the 'bad guy' or outsider. Then there are times yet where you have truth spoken to you.

I think of the scene in Remember the Titans where Gary has a choice to make between letting Ray stay on the team even though he didn't block for Rev or telling him he's off the team. I can imagine that was perhaps one of the most difficult things Gary ever had to do. But sometimes we have to tell our friends the hard things...even if it means losing them for a bit in some capacity. I don't think anyone really likes being Gary in that situation...but how much worse would it have been for him to remain silent?

PRAYER REQUEST FOR MIKE BEDIENT

So if you know anything about my time with the Navigators at Arizona State, you can bet our campus director Mike Bedient played a large part in why I have grown in Christ these past four years. As he has stepped in numerous times on my behalf, I now come to you on his behalf. Mike is currently leading a team of staff and students in Russia where he and his family used to minister for years.

Mike just had a heart attack while over there and is currently in a hospital in Pushkin. PLEASE PRAY FOR MIKE'S HEALTH! These past two days I have seen tons of spiritual warfare so please pray for Navigator ministries at ASU and other campuses as Satan would love to have a foothold. Clothe Long Beach and Arizona State with prayers speaking of the power of the blood of Christ. Pray for Mike's family as they are in Arizona and are eager to find out news of their father's health.

I'll keep updated as soon as I know anything.

UPDATE FROM A FRIEND'S E-MAIL THAT I FEEL WRAPS IT UP 1am 27 June

Thank you for standing in the gap in prayer. Here is a prayer update I received on our campus director, Mike. He is in stable condition, and they have to transfer him to a hospital in Berlin for a procedure. Things are still critical and unknown, so please keep praying:

• Please pray that Mike will stay strong during the flight transfer - they had to find some specialized equipment in order to transport him - and there was concern regarding whether or not Mike was strong enough for the flight
• Please continue to pray for wisdom for the doctors and decision-makers - they still need to run some important tests in order to better assess the situation
• Mike's family is understandably very shaken by this - pray for peace and comfort for Sheri and the kids
• This has all been very taxing (emotionally and physically) on the remaining mission team in Russia - please pray for strength and wisdom to continue the work as God leads
• Pray that God would be glorified through this! Especially in Russia, as many Russians have been deeply affected by this

"O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption" Psalm 130:7

UPDATE 11:24pm Sat. night

In case you haven't heard, Mike will have bypass surgery sometime during the next 12 hours. He is now at a heart specialty hospital in Berlin. Sheri is staying with a sister of a German Navigator. Praise God for His family! Keep Praying!!

We got an update from Sheri. It turns out that Mike had a DOUBLE bypass instead of quadruple. He is still in an induced coma, although it is gradually being reduced. Sheri says he may as well sleep because of all the stuff he is is hooked up to! The doctors say he is progressing as they would expect and hope. They are talking of 7-10 days in intensive care. They still have a long road ahead of them.

Good Advice...

A dear friend of mine left me some very special advice..."If you get exhausted, or depressed, or overwhelmed or something, check out Isaiah 40:28-29. Or really all of Isaiah 40, and just remember how great and comforting our God is." Reading over this passage has been very encouraging to me during the stressful, tedious, and somewhat scary times in funding school.

I only have a day and a half left in Colorado, but it has been an amazing time. It's so amazing to me to see how God brought together 30 individuals and in just under 10 days made us feel truly like family members.

I just wish I could be in Tempe today to wish a very Happy Birthday to one of my best friends in person! So, happy birthday Brad!

Blessed

How many people get the privilege to say their job training takes place at a castle?

These past four days have been really encouraging as I prepare to venture into the next season of life God has called me into. I've made a bunch of new friends who have a passion to see Christ's irreversible truths spread onto college campuses and into our own styles of ministry. I still can't believe sometimes that I am a college graduate. Please continue to pray for my friends serving in Russia and if you feel so led, pray for those of us in training as well as we prepare to minister on college campuses in New York, Iowa, California, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, and even Australia.

For Amers...Caption Contest

So this is the chosen shot of the day...
I thought I'd be fun to have one of those caption contests here! So write a caption for this photo and post it and I'll pick a winner! The winner will get a very special prize!!!

For the joy of Russia!!!

So I'm coming to you asking for prayers for my brothers and sisters who currently are somewhere over the ocean on their way to spend the next few weeks in Pushkin, Russia. This team will be teaching English and sharing the gospel with as many as 45 students coming to the English camp.

Here is why this is close to my heart...

1) Because people are close on God's heart, so they should also be close on ours. Some of these students have been around for the summer teams for years on end and a few of them even came out to Arizona last year. God is working here! Pray these students want to take more steps towards Christ! How cool would it be in heaven to be able to meet someone you could be praying for now?!?

2) The people on this team are primarily staff and students involved with the Navigators in both Arizona and California. What a cool opportunity for God to stretch and grow each of the team and encourage them to trust Him above all.

Along with that, the woman who has discipled me this past year is on this team as well... Sarah Short has been nothing less than a prayer warrior, mentor, encourager, challenger and amazing friend to me in my senior year at ASU. I just served one week with her at a Christian music festival called spirit west coast (you can read more about it on her blog here), and now she is off to spend two weeks serving in Russia. Though commiting her summer to God, she has lost much financial support this past year due to the economy and her funding increased. Here is a copy of prayer requests she wrote in an e-mail both for her and for the trip...

--For travel safety for our team & for unity amongst our team. Pray that the Russians would see Christ through how we love and relate to one another (John 17)

--Pray for us as we teach English—pray that the classroom discussions would draw the Russians out and lead them to ask deeper questions about life.

--Pray for the evening personal belief discussion—pray that the students would take an interest in attending these optional sessions and for them to seek truth.

--Pray for the gospel to advance in Russia; we want to be instruments for God’s use, so pray that we would know and follow His leading.

--Pray for spiritual protection during this time.

--For me personally, would you pray for my energy to press on? The last 3 weeks have been intense, and I don’t want fatigue to be a hindrance. Pray that I can engage deeply with people and know God’s strength.

Would you join me in praying for this Russia team? Also, please pray for my friend that God would be faithful in providing her fundraising so she may return to ASU in the fall on time and serve other women just as she served me this past year. Your few minutes spent praying for God's joy to be spread in Russia are not in vain! God won't give us the nations unless we remember to ask! Thank you for YOUR hearts following after God's! Press on dear friends!

"I have stilled and quieted my soul..."

REST IS...

...a challenge for me.

It is something I've always been bad at doing and yet I see such a grand benefit in it. Sometimes I feel guilty resting knowing how much needs to be done, and yet by taking the time to rest I can accomplish what needs to be done both more efficiently and cheerfully. Both of which are important. So today I took some time aside for me and God...I feel able to function again. Rest has always been challenging for me, but as a good friend reminded me maybe I should be thanking God for this time instead of wishing for it to fly by. Only 11 more days in Texas until I leave for training and then come back full force to raise funds for the next year. Please pray in this economical time God will already be stirring hearts who have a desire to back God's work that I'll be blessed to have a part in next year through the Navigators. Maybe start praying how you can be trusting God with your finances through giving in general, even if not to the Navs, as many people are shying away in a time they could trust God the most. My prayer for each of you is you can run away with God and rest sometime soon...He's waiting.

Nav Year in Rewind!

This is the video I put together to celebrate the 08-09 school year for the amazing ASU Navigators...enjoy. (It is in two parts)

my apologies...

I'm sorry to hear the photos didn't show up on the last Texas post, so sorry if I left any of you hanging, but I made it back alive!

It's been a long few weeks with finals, then graduation, then Spirit West Coast and now back in Texas...here are two of my favorite pics from SWC to hopefully make up for all that were missing from the last post!

movin' to Tejas y'all...

I thought to keep myself entertained as i head back to Texas, I'd share my journey with you guys!

It all started when I got back from the Navigators Summer Mission Program at Spirit West Coast on Tues...

It was a sad sight to see empty condos!

After 3 hard days the room was finally cleaned out!

I think the puppy was really sad to see me go!

She wanted to come to Texas, the happy heart state, with me!

But Tom Tom and I headed out alone...

We went through a 2 hour lightning storm! How cool to see God work as I was driving.

New Mexico...land of enchantment....I still don't buy it.

Getting closer to home!

It's starting to get dark...

I felt like reaching 85,000 miles was an accomplishment!

Finally! Texas! Home for the night in El Paso.

SNL and Bedtime!!! Goodnight!!!

On to Frosty Weather...

Nature's first green is gold

Her hardest hue to hold

Her early leaf's a flower;

But only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down to day.

Nothing gold can stay.

I think Frost was on to something as he discussed the reality of items of gold eventually having to go away. I've spent four years in the desert as a maroon and gold Sun Devil and today was officially the last day of the graduation festivities. When Frost spoke of Nothing gold being able to remain, he spoke of innocence and beauty being corrupted by the world. As I reflect on my time here at ASU, I can't stay here in the Maroon and Gold. I have to move on. It's an amazing thing to know the God of the universe has a plan for me that requires me walking in faith towards the treasure He has for me. I like that the treasure is not necessarily one of gold and wealth (i always was more a fan of silver anyway ;p), but a treasure of His love and glory and hte ability to share that truth with others. I look forward to these nest two years. I feel odd in the fact it is all actually over. In my graduation ceremony I keep trying to tell myself, 'alicia, you are the one he is talking about...this speech is for you. It's all over now. No more school.' And yet it still hasn't truly sunk in. I think when I am on campus ministering in the fall and yet not having to go to class it all may finally sink in. But for now I feel lost in the present. I know I am packing up the condo I have lived in for two years and leaving for Texas in just over a week, and yet the thought of having my diploma and being done forever is just a weird feeling for me to grasp my head and heart around.

plus, i always look for a time to insert a Frost poem. :)

Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city.

Acts 18:9-10....good stuff!

This has been my prayer for my friends remaining in Arizona through the next school year. The past couple of days, I've accepted it as a prayer for myself as well. I;, really no good at remembering to pray for myself. I was offering up peace from God for a friend so she wouldn't have nightmares tonight, and I remembered it has been a few days since I've really talked to God about everything I'm processing with graduating and moving on. In some ways, I feel like if I don't talk to God about it, it's not all really happening! But I know that's not true.

I'm freaking out about moving on...the details of moving and selling things and giving things away as long as the crazy drive back to Texas...it can all be overwhelming, but considering I still have 3 finals left I don't really have time to focus on it all right now. I've been thinking a lot about Paul as I just re-read Acts this semester. i think of how his heart longed to visit places he had been and yet God called him to move on. I know next year and even over the summer I am going to long to be back in the desert, but God has told me to move on and trust the plan He has made for me. If I'd been asked even a year ago if I thought I'd be doing full-time ministry with the Navigators after graduation I'm pretty sure I'd smile a little and have said no. But look at God's ways! Praise Him they are much better than mine. But it is scary sometimes to move forward.. the first step is always so scary.

As Jason reminded me it's like driving at night...you can only see as far as the headlights go, but you can make the whole trip that way.

Will you pray with me for a community of heart friends and authenticity next year? Pray for a few girls I can really invest in and pray for me to be able to use my love for art for His glory? Also, please pray I can be a good steward of my time, both in serving and resting next year. I know when entering new situations I tend to go all in and forget about myself and my need to rest. Speaking of which...I need to pray. For me for once...it's time I stop forgetting and recognize my father is waiting.

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

Mental Block

I haven't blogged because frankly I don't feel as if I have much to say lately. It's how I feel about most of my life right now. I feel a mental block. Emotions have been flooding over me this past week as I've had a lot of "lasts." Last SALT meeting, last day of class, last Nav Night, last cut from an art project for a grade (hopefully...i still have a week until my project is due!), last discipleship meeting, last time fountain hopping....a lot of lasts. I'm excited for next year and the "new thing" God has told me He will be doing, but I can't help crying while I thank Him for the old things I have and He has blessed me with while in the desert these four years. My first Navigator meeting I walked into the room and met a lot of people. The first worship song we sang was "Blessed Be Your Name." There is a line in the song that says,

Blessed Be Your name When I'm found in the desert place.

You see, it was at that time God put a peace in my heart I couldn't then describe. 
For the first time I realized I was in the desert.  I was in a place God needed
to humble me and let me have His name be blessed and not my own.  He needed me
to praise Him for who He is.  And through the process, God has given me great
gifts found in amazing friends to encourage and teach me along the way.  As I
was reaching out in the desert, I thank God for His hand already being there
ready to grasp mine and help me up.  I'm ready to leave the desert.  But the
tears may still come as I move into the "new thing" God has in store.
To all my friends in the desert with me...thank you.

Good Friends....

...are good for the soul.

Post #401

What an amazing week spent focusing on Christ and what he has done. When we realize it is His blood that continually covers our sin, it is amazing to see the unity and love that erupts from being around other believers. On Friday we hosted a prayer labyrinth in the Secret Garden on campus. The idea was stolen from my CBC family, altered in 2005 for my Dutch family, and re-altered back to English for my Sun Devil family. It was a sweet thing to see other students and faculty walk up and enjoy spending time with Jesus remembering all He has and is doing for us.

Saturday the Servant and Leadership Team (student leaders in the Navigators) drove up to Sedona and went hiking in the rain. My heart remembered bush walking in New Zealand through the creek as we walked by the greens. As we jumped over rivers and climbed off the path I thought of Colorado which God used to change my heart back in 2002. And as the rain soaked us to the bone, I remembered Holland and all the people who yearned for a break in the rain and yet needed the cleansing it brought more than they even realized! Then my heart wandered to the present and thought of all it is leaving soon. These friends and family and the home I've come to know in Arizona these past 4 years. I can't believe it's been that long! Don't tell my friend Sarah because I do still LOVE Texas, but I don't dislike Arizona as much anymore. You could say it's grown on me (though I'll never admit it in person!) By being away from water and lakes, I've just learned to appriciate it more.

Then after Sunday morning service, my heart was reignitied as we discussed the meaning behind two new paintings in our prision ministry. I want to serve God through art. I want the nations to proclaim His glory! We had an amazing lunch with 17 of us today, but my heart still yearns for more. Just a little more time in the desert. I'm trying to soak it all in.

As a few of us did in Sedona across the canyon, my heart cries out to God in Praise for what He has done; for the sacrifice He has made; and for the love He is currently showing me through the midst of it all.

One month and two days until graduation...Eeeeeek!

run away

There is one spot at ASU that I claim for my own. On a campus where 80,000 people can be surrounding you on a given day, I like to run away every now and again. There is a bowl shapped area of grass by the music building on campus. Maybe you don't understand how special that last phrase was. There is a place of green grass. Lusish, beautiful, vibrant green grass out here in Arizona! In the desert is a small place of green grass! (got it yet?) Anyways, on this rare and beautiful patch of grass you will find a tree. It is perfect for leaning on and due to the bowl shapped land, this place blocks all others out fo view. And just for a little bit, you may believe you are the only one on the campus.

This sanctuary is one of my favorite places to talk to God. No one else is around to influence, just me and my Lord. Needless to say, class was cancelled today and my spot and I were reunited for one glorious hour. I think God wanted to chat. I like that.

The Office Visits ASU

yea!

Alicia,

Congratulations! The EDGE Corps Director's Team would like to officially invite you to join our 2009 EDGE Corps Class!

D300!!!

Here are 2 of the first 10 photos I took with my new camera! The first is just a moment of "ah" God gave me as i looked through my camera's lens the first time! Kinda a cool initiation as I want to use my work to serve Him! The second is a flower behind my neighbor's house. So pretty!

the stem of echoes.

We walk together, footsteps echoing through the trees
Our steps possess the same rhythm,
Though the reason for which they beat does not align

One step in line with the others sounds the same
The same as one step marched to the beat of the heart.
The mind tells the foot to move,
The heart tells it where to go
The path moves along in its own way.

Thus, the mind, heart, and path venture together,
The destinations may vary,
But only one leads out of the forest.