Photos!

"Privet!" (Greetings, from Russia!) Have a look at our journey in this scrapbook. Our teammate, Stephen, has been working hard on it!  Share it, and be praying for the health and safety of our team this last week!

https://www.icloud.com/journal/#2;CAEQARoQdU81nfEb_n1Bx4sheP92Xw;9BD806F8-5F02-4329-90D7-2844541CC2C6

The Moon and the Stars

So every night, my Russia roommate, Kiya, listens to the Phil Whickham cd as she goes to sleep. Going to sleep after her, I can hear the cd each night through her headphones volume being so loud! I've met with Kiya in discipleship this past year, and it is a blessing to be overseas with her. Last night, "cannons" came on declaring, " the moon and the stars, declare who you are.". I love the stars and the night sky! At one point in my youth, I wanted to be an astronomer out of this infatuation. One of my favorite things to do at ASU was to drive out into the desert and stare at the sky while singing and processing to God. It's weird for me to be in Russia, a land where there are no stars at night during this summer season! The sun "sets" around 11pm and "rises around 4:30 in the morning. At night, the moon and the stars never show up here! We get to reflect the Son in this land, just as the moon does not shine itself, but refelects the light of the sun. What a blessing to be in Russia as Christ's ambassadors doing everything for Christ's glory. May we declare who He is together in this land!

Russian Fruit

My roommate, Tiffanie, once told me that when God squeezes the heart, the juice comes out our eyes.  There was a lot of juice flowing the first three nights for our team in Russia, but the fruit is so good!

I've lost count, but I believe this is our 5th day in Pushkin, and this is the first time I've had a computer to update you all properly!  So I am sorry you have had to wait, but we are here!

We landed on the last day of June after a long day of flights and team members throwing up on the plane and in the airport!  We still have no idea what caused the sickness outside of a strange bout in warfare.  I am pleased to say that after two days and much prayer and rest for those four students, the illness has fled our team!

We are definitely battling in a war, but I am so glad to know that with Christ, we are on the victorious side!  As a team, we are reading through 1 John together on this trip.  What really struck me was 1 John 2:8 which reads, "the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining." 

For the past two years I've prayed for Russia to be flooded as a country with color and life after Alissa shared Is. 60:1-3 with me before she left for Russia in 2010. 

1“Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
2 See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.
3 Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

I am excited to see what God wants to do this summer for His great name.  We are not here without Christ being here before us!  I am excited that both you and I are partnering to contribute this summer.  One of our largest problems this year has been that the students who have been a part of this English camp over the past 10 years have started spreading the word and inviting their friends!  In prior years, the camp has had 30-40 students, but this year we have 78 plus about 15 University students in a night class with us!  What a good problem to have!  The students from school 606 had recruited high school and university students from other cities even!  How amazing!  This is not because of who we are, but becasue of what God is doing in this place! 

The juice God has been squeezing has been some great team bonding through pain and hurts that have been brought into the light based off of team relations, as well as, individuals getting some processing time by being away from the everyday life back in America.  The other 14 teammates are a joy to be around, and I can't wait to look back and praise God with you on all He is going to do! 

I am teaching the sports class with Tannor, Sherin, Nick, and Tanya (my Russian friend who came with other students to America almost 4 years ago while I was at ASU!)  I am excited to invest in these 42 students!  Pray I can remember names, and my back has grace with me!  I wish I could upload new photos, but those will have to wait!  Thankfully, my internationally phone allows me to upload some occassionally to facebook!

PRAY as tomorrow night we begin our Personal Belief Discussions (PBDs) with any students who are interested in talking with us.  In the past, Gd has used these discussions to draw many brothers and sisters to himself. 

Much love to all of you, I hope I get the chance to update again soon!

-Alicia

Here is a picture of Tannor and Tanya from our first day with the students at School 606!  I love our Sports class teaching team!

Homelessness

Jesus says in Matt. 8:20 that, "the son of man has no place to rest his head.". When I first moved out to Long Beach, all these verses about the Levites not having their own land, but living off the land of others, no place to rest your head, and leaving everything behind we're bombarding me. I felt lonely far off in an unfamiliar land called "California.". I had a place to live with a widow and my new Edge teammate. I had my car, my parents were still in my childhood home for a few more months, but I felt so lonely. Have you ever felt homeless? Have you felt such a deep intense longing for familiarity and belonging to latch around you? I remember driving around lost and stopping the car not even knowing which way to turn despite receiving a GPS for graduation a few months before. Nothing would fill the void I felt. I hung art on my walls immediately, but it still didn't feel like home. I was in a stranger's home, trapped by myself. Yesterday morning I left my Long Beach home. God gave me a home, He gave it to me in Him. After seeing Him as my portion, I could find my home. My home has been in Long Beach, a place I had a hard time believing could transform into that in 2009. I clutched the metal house key in my hand for a moment. The hint of cold metal faded into my hand. I passed it to Lauren, and then the tears came. But you see, I can't hold God's hand until I open my own. I am homeless on the Earth at the moment. Even my parents house key is back in Texas. I have one backpack, purse, and suitcase with me. My furniture is sold, my last rent check at Park Place is written, but it feels different this time. I'm not homeless with Christ. In my quiet time yesterday, I'm in Acts as I read straight through the Bible. I thought about moving past it having just spent the semester studying the book I the R.I.O.T. Study, but in my indecision, I just started reading anyway. Verse 10 says, "they were looking intently up into the sky as he was going...". Our pastor, Darin, went through this a few months ago ad spoke of how the disciples were shellshocked. Jesus told them he was leaving so the Holy Spirit could come, and yet, here they are...staring up into the sky, wanting Him to just come back again. So often, I find myself staring at the sky, not wanting to fully move on just yet. I'm not in a place of despair. I'm in a place of waiting on the Lord as He is my portion. (Lam 3:34 says, "the Lord is my portion; therefore, I will wait for Him.") So here we go, off on this next adventure. I'm not gonna lie, I'm kinda scared and intimidated, but with His hand in mine, I'm two-stepping forward. :)

Who wants to spread Gangrene?!?

There is this painting by Peter Paul Rubens called the Lamentation of Christ that sticks engraved in my mind whenever I hear the word gangrene.  Granted, I don't hear of gangrene that often, but seeing this painting shown on a 40 foot projection sticks in your mind. Seven years later and it's still embedded! (I'll spare posting the image on here, but you can click here if you really want to see it, it's not that bad in retrospect.)

My professor stood at the front of the classroom going in detail of the disease and how Rubens, and a myriad of other artists at the time, chose to depict Christ in this way fully representing his picture of a disease in which massive amount of body tissue die and fall off the flesh after turning this sickly greenish/grey color.  There was one picture where the foot seemed to be rotting away!  Gross!

2 Timothy 2:14-16 says, "Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.  Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly." 

I like that it doesn't say those who indulge are ungodly, but paints this picture: that we are all becoming, and we can choose to be transformed into Christ, or away from Him.

Continuing onto verse 17, "Their teaching will spread like gangrene..."  The teaching of those who do not correctly handle the Word of truth and choose speaking against others in passing blame, doesn't just stay stagnant!  It spreads.  Teaching flooded with godlessness spreads like gangrene.  It rots our flesh and heart and organs until life is removed completely from our breath.  

What are you spreading?  The words of truth, life, and joy?  Or are you spreading like gangrene?  

Abraham - Lost in Het Nederlands

In Holland, biking is the main form of transportation.  And though housing is typically close together is a city, I lived in an abandoned military house a 30 minute bike ride from town. My first night I was dropped off after a younger youth group meeting and after picking up my bike, my boss pointed me in the general direction of my house and said goodbye and that we would meet tomorrow. I had about 48 hours of being awake at this point.  It was near midnight, and my bike light didn’t work.   Instead of traveling 30 minutes as it was supposed to take to get home, it took me almost 2 hours!

  I was so lost.

                                                                                                                                                                           

After 2 false starts, I headed down the correct bike path on the polder to get home.  I pedaled furiously, building up horror stories in my head of what the noises along the canal could be.  I rode over another small bridge and wondered if I had hit the main road.  Everything was so dark with no street light or bike lights.  Not even a working cell phone to hold up in hopes its screen would add clarity.  So I leaded forward and all of a sudden I saw two eyes looking at me.  It was a cow!  The guard dog was not happy and upon waking to my presence he began to chase me off of the farm!  I pedaled as hard as I could, hoping I would stay on the path and not fall into the water cradling both sides of the bike path.   A handful of ducks started by me flew in front of my face and some of their feathers brushed me, scaring me all the more.  I ended up in two more farms before I made it to the main road, and then there was one more problem…right or left?

                                                                                                                                                        

I began to question why God had put me there after all.  Why me?  I was only 18.  I didn’t feel ready for this.  I was a foreigner in a strange and all I wanted was to find my home. I finally got off my bike and in my weeping and talking to God, I told Him I was lost and if he wanted me home, I needed his help to get there. I wanted to give up.  Stop right there and just lay down hoping the attacking ducks would keep their distance from me and I could magically tap my heels and be back in my bed.

 It was then I saw a familiar sign…one in English!  Texaco!  It wasn’t much to go off of, and I didn’t see it when Peter pointed out my house from the car earlier that day when I only been awake for 36 hours at that point.   Texaco…Texas!  A sign I could read that had lights around it! So I began to move towards it.  And eventually God led me home!  But I can’t even express to you how relived I was when I opened my front gate that night. 

It reminds me of old lyrics saying, I once was lost, but now I’m found. You see, I realized what a joy it is to be lost.  It means you are wanted, someone is searching for you.

Have you ever lost your keys?  They are of value to you, so you tear apart your room, pull of the couch pillows and look everywhere to find them.  See I was lost, and God searched and searched to find me...because he chose me and loved me.  No matter what paths I tried to take on my own, He brought me home.   (Isaiah 53:6) 

Where in your life do you feel/have felt like you are taking matters into your own hands?

What would it look like to wait on God for something He has promised you?

Wrong Expectations

As a result of my quiet time in Luke 23:8 and talking with a friend today about the root of Catholicism, these are my thoughts for the evening:

Where we can get mixed up in legalism is when the seemingly ritualistic side of our faith is in hopes of producing a response from Christ, instead of being in response to Christ.


Father, may I always treasure your presence over your presents.  May this be true of us all!  Help me respond to your loving kindness, and be more aware of your goodness to me.  

All the Time!

These past few days have been the recurrence of some of the most painful back-pain I've experienced in a while, and yet at the same time, God is unfolding His goodness in my life in ways that are so complex it is hard to make sense of it all!  I love Psalm 45:1 speaking of our heart being stirred by a noble theme.  I've definitely felt my heart stirred a lot from Friday unto tonight, and it is a beautiful thing.

How can I even describe this weekend with so many willing to go to the ends of the earth this summer, or having the Lord remind me that "I am my beloved's and He is mine" on Valentines Day followed with 30-something friends singing of God's love for us before discussing Acts 6&7.  Today, was a sweet, sweet time reading, going to my chiropractor, catching up with a dear sister and then lifegroup with some pretty amazing folk!

Father, thank you for the ways you are revealing yourself to me!  Thank you for the rain and ice packs and macaroons.  Guide me gently into your arms and take any anxiety that may lie deep within me.  Sustain my body and lead me to hear from you in your Word.  May my heart be yours completely.

My heart is stirred by a noble theme 
   as I recite my verses for the king;    my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.
I will perpetuate your memory through all generations; 
   therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever.

Psalm 45:1, 17

Vegas

In college, my roommate Katy received a beautiful half-boxer/ half-pitbull dog by the name of Vegas.  I was so excited to have a dog living with us because I never had one before!  Our bird and my two rabbits before we're great, but I always had a dream of getting a dog.  

Katy got Vegas a pink collar and tag before leaving for Namibia to serve and glorify God there. About 2 months later, Val, another one of my roommates, took Vegas for a walk but her tag popped off!  Like breaking apart a kit kat bar the metal broke as if it was meant to!  So I went to buy a new collar, and put our address and Katy's number on it. I had been working full days, 7am-3pm at a warehouse and then 6pm-midnight at my security job. 


One night, i got home and the gate was wide open. I open the sliding door to see a note from my other roomie, Becca, stating Vegas had run away!  I dropped my things on the counter and immediately grabbed my bike to go searching for Vegas.  I rode out on my bike calling her name. Part of me felt really stupid for not knowing which way to go or how long she had even been gone for.  All the time I was going over in my head an old sermon I heard about how wonderful it is to be lost. When we are lost it means someone cares and is looking for us as opposed to trash where it remains and is unwanted.  I wanted Vegas to be found!  I just couldn't turn around and go home, so I decided to keep searching. I asked a few people on the street if they had seen a dog running around and then i foolishly remembered i hadn't even prayed yet. 

So I prayed.

God answered.

I rode to the 7-11 on the corner.  I never walked Vegas that direction before, but I felt like I was supposed to go there. Granted, by now it is late at night and i get spooked easily so i didn't want to walk up to this truck, but the window was rolled down and the guy didn't look too sketch. I wanted to ask him if he had seen a dog running around.


As i was asking if he saw Vegas, her head popped out of the window of the quad cab truck! It was her. Her collar and tag were gone but Vegas was there nonetheless. It turns out they found her running back and forth like frogger in the traffic! 


Honestly, I think they were trying to keep her for themselves as they tried to convince me this wasn't her.  But Vegas knew me, and started to climb through the window to get to me.  What a beauty in being found!   I offered to buy him something from the gas station but he declined. I took the long walk home, Vegas in one hand and my bike in the other.


Have you ever lost something you truly valued?


How do you think God feels in regards to seeking after that which has yet to be found?

SKYDIVING. aka: plummeting to Earth

I was planning on going to Eloy to film and photograph Josh, Amy, Bekah, and Willis skydive.  I had no idea I would end up jumping out of that plane as well!  Peer Pressure is the only way I can figure I suddenly went from being a bystander to participant that day.  I found myself in a small room watching a video of everything that could go wrong and signed a stack of waivers so large I actually felt bad for the tree. 

The shuttled us over to put on our harnesses and the next things I knew, a man named Dean was introducing himself to me to go over proper jump procedure. 

“Are you afraid?”  Dean asked politely, though I’m sure he could tell I was whiter than I ever have been in my life before!  “Don’t worry…me too,”  He said trying to ease the mood.

The steps between the golf cart and small propeller plane seemed enormous.  I stepped up the ladder and as we made our way inside, Dean strapped us together in preparation for the jump at 13,000 feet.

“So when we get ready to go, I will count to 3, and then we jump.” Dean explained.   ‘What in the world am I doing?!?  I paid to do this.  I’m not backing out.  What if I die?  I didn’t even tell my parents what I am doing today.  Lord, is this is my time, whatever.  Ok.  I’m going to jump.  Ah!’

The door slid open and whatever confidence I had mustered up flew out, it was probably somewhere over Phoenix by now.  We walked up to the door.  Oh my, ohmyohmyohmyohmy.

“Are you ready?”  Dean asked, but didn’t really give time for a reply.  “Ok, one…two…”  With a push we were tumbling out of the plane!  What happened to three?!?  Ok Dean, trust gone…but wait, this is kind of cool!  This is amazing!  I can see for miles and the heart-lodged-in-your-throat-making-you-want-to-throw-up feeling was nowhere to be found!  I waved to the cameraman and gave a ‘hi mom’ shout-out. 

Contrary to the movies, you can’t talk, so Dean signaled by waving his hand it was time to launch the chute out.  I prepared for the jerk…but nothing happened.  I looked up to see out chute in a clump above us.  We had slowed down some, but the ground was rapidly approaching! 

“Oh fudge.” Dean said.  What?!?  Ok God, is this really how you are going to take me?!?  That’s it.  I’m dead.  Alicia dies in skydiving incident.  Trust really gone now Dean..really! 

“Ok, don’t panic,”  yeah right.  I need to unhook you to pull the reserve chute on my chest.  Hold on here and here.  He moved my hands to the straps attached to the first chute.  Before I could protest or ask what was going on, my harness was loose.  My hands were clinging to the strap and all I could think was I was going to separate from him and die.  Whoosh.  The reserve chute came out and Dean quickly tightened my harness to his again.

“Well, that was interesting!”  Dean said.  What, interesting?!?  Terrifying!  “Wanna do some tricks now?”  I didn’t want to do some tricks.  I wanted ground and I wanted it 5 minutes ago! 

When things don’t go your way, who do you look to?

Do you really believe God can rescue you from whatever situation you are in?  

documenting reasons

Top Books read of 2011:

Lessons from San Quentin

The Great Divorce - C.S. Lewis

A Tale of Three Kings - Gene Edwards

Luke's Story - Lahaye/Jenkins

Redeeming Love

Leota's Garden

Cre Through the Eyes of the Cro

Erasing Hell

Witness

Maniac Magee

Just Do Something

Face Plant

Have you ever viewed yourself as truly washed pure as snow?  Snow is an interesting thing to me.  When the sun is shining brightly onto snow it is blinding to look at!  This was one of the thoughts passing through my mind as we drove up to Sunrise, a place to ski in Arizona.

I've never been skiing before last Monday, and I've also never had the most interesting shapes of bruises on my body!

I almost hit a tree, I got stuck in a tree, I had more problems standing up combined then I have since I was 18 months old, I flipped over more than once, and I face-planted.

I'm not sure if this is going to make sense to you, but  face-planting was one of the joyous events of the day.  It hurt a little (not too much Mom!), but I found myself unable to get up because I was laughing full of joy!  Sure I didn't make it as far as I wanted on that turn (still haven't mastered turning despite Troy's patience!), but I had to think of how funny I looked to other people!  I slid close to my friend Sarah and saw the panic on her face, but I just couldn't stop laughing!  As I was taking a second to regain my breath before continuing on, it made me think of the fact, as we are blinding others reflecting the Son with our faces white as snow, we are going to fall sometimes.  We are going to face-plant!  But the Lord loves us so and lays out a path for our feet.  Granted there are times we get stuck in trees or feel like we can't stand up long enough to go down the path, he provides His Spirit, friends, and everything we may need to come alongside and aide us for the journey.

I'm so grateful God doesn't expect me to get everything right off the bat or understand whether the path turns right or left just up ahead out of my vision.  I'm grateful for some pretty sweet friends and family both close and afar journeying down the mountain with me even when I can't see them.  I'm grateful for the ways God reveals His Glory to me and allows me to reflect it to this world in the ways He has designed for me.

If my face is going to be planted in the snow, I'm glad to know that while it is planted, God will cause the growth to come!  Praise the Lord for no major injuries and a sweet time with friends!

The Beautiful Mess

Baking is Messy.

When I start to bake, I always convince myself I don't need an apron.  I never wear one and afterwards I always have more flour on my shirt than in the batter!  It's kinda fun that way though.  Like when I'm making tortillas and the flour is all over the counter and floor.  It's kinda like snow I suppose.

I used to always think I enjoy cooking more than baking which is usually true, but lately cooking seems so exhausting!  Constant running around and trying to figure out what to throw in and what pairs well.  adjusting the heat and pans constantly so it's cooked jut right!  But there is a freedom in experimenting and being able to throw in whatever you want and seeing how it turns out.

Baking is a lot of prep, but once it's in the oven, you need only wait to see how it came out!  Is it good?  Do I need to adjust anything (or pretend i know how to fix it) before another batch goes in?

But I like that the baking I do comes with a recipe.  There is a set list to follow, what ingredients to use and exactly how much.  Even a cook time and temperature so I don't have to guess!

Lately, I feel like my life is like cooking adding numerous things here and there.  Leaving this out, discovering what pairs well with my passions and desires and being put under a variety of temperatures to come out just right.  But lately I'm wishing for my life to be a little more like baking.  I'd like to just be told what to do for how long and how much of certain ingredients I need.

But life is more messy than that.  It ends up scattered on the counter and while the majority makes it in the finished product, somethings can be tossed aside.  I'd like the direction in the midst of the stove top.  I guess life can be compared to a blend between the two.  We have a general idea thanks to God of where things are going, but until we get to the finished product, we keep adjusting, adding, and subtracting.

I can't wait until the timer goes off!



"Specific step-by-step instruction is not usually how God operates.  His way is to show His holiness, declare us Holy in Christ, then exhort us to grow in holiness in daily life."  Just Do Something p. 58

On a Mission

I was blessed to be given the opportunity by our life group leaders to join them volunteering at Operation Christmas Child today.  For those of who who don't know what that is, it is a non-profit group that sends shoe boxes of goodies to millions of children around the world in order to display Christ's love in a tangible way.  They also partner with churches overseas who have discipleship programs.

So our job had a few different parts.  We took the shoe boxes and processed them in a warehouse.  This particular warehouse was responsible for 700,000 boxes.  This is not the only plant, but a large one!  So one person would collect donations for Samaritan's Purse or shipping, and then another person would then check the boxes for items that were not acceptable.  Glass breakables or items that could be harmful were removed and replaced with new toys companies donated or candy or books.  Then the box was passed off to someone who would tape it up before someone else carefully packed it in a box.  Then I taped up the boxes and got to shoot them down this sweet conveyor belt.  (picture below)

As soon as the guy further down the line started heckling me to work faster, I made a goal to launch each box down the line as close to that end marker as possible!  Approximately a 25 yard-stretch in a shuffleboard type manner!  Each box, prepped, cleansed, stuffed, and sealed was traveling with other boxes down the line to head off to bless others and show them Jesus.

It didn't hit me until halfway through our open-mic night at Navs that this is a picture of what I feel God has called me to do in this Missions Mobilizer role.  I didn't bring the boxes, or get to see where they are headed, but I am with them for a bit.  I get to help at times, as I started today, removing objects from within that are not acceptable and could harm others or the box itself.  I work with women helping them see themselves in the way Christ does and point them on towards being blessed to be a blessing.  Then I get to help put Jesus and the Word and other good things in.  Tools needed to know Christ and make it known.  Then after being sealed, the box is placed in a community of other boxes who have gone threw this same process to be shipped off to a destination of which I myself cannot go, but get to push the box and watch how far down the line it goes.  

In our case today, the boxes were headed to the Philippines.  I don't know where God will send these women and friends I am blessed to walked along.  But I get to help see them takeoff and praise God He chooses to use me in the process.

What a blessing to get to serve and see what the Lord is doing.

For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it.  But each one should be careful how he builds.  
1 Cor. 3:9-10

coconut cravings

I don't know why, but this past year my world has been taken over by the coconut.  I can't get enough of it!  I think it all started when my dear sister Alissa started baking chocolate-dipped macaroons.  (Is your mouth watering yet?)

There is just something so beautiful to me about the coconut itself.  When I went to Mexico my sophomore year at ASU, my friend Katy ordered a coconut to drink.  The man picked one from his cart, sliced the top with a machete, and proceeded to hand it to her with a straw.  That was it!  Pure coconut!

It seems strange to me that such a sweet and pure white substance can come from the inside of such a hard shell!  In considering Psalm 119:11 today, I thought of a coconut. "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."  If the Word protects us and keeps us from taunting as we keep reading, what would it look like to hide it in our hearts?  Hidden: kept in a safe place within us where no one can take it away.  I want the Word of the Lord to be at the center.  A delicious feast I can keep coming back to that is protected from the lies of the world and the bugs of the enemy.  I want its flavor to permeate into new tastes and show up in new and unexpected ways.

I want my mouth to water for the Word of God the way it does when I think of those macaroons!  Oh Father, your Word is like honey on my lips!  Too wonderful to describe.  Invade my heart with your presence and truth.  Remind me I am not alone.  Protect me from Satan.  Let your goodness and truth be the center of my life.   

Skilled Hands

My grandmother is a master quilter.  For years she used to say the only computer she'd ever need was her sewing machine.  Unlike most quilters today, she still makes every quilt stitch by hand!  Every stitch!

The idea of "all in" has been rolling around in my head the past few weeks.  Like how we are told to love the Lord our God will all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength!  Wow...what a task to be called to!  Col. 3:23 says, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men."

When I think of how every stitch is planned and purposed and meaningful, it adds beauty to the finished product as you can reflect on how much work and effort went into it.  But the end result is beautiful.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men."  

Commanding Waves

I walked ankle-deep into the ocean just staring out at the lines of waves crashing in. I thought about how vast God is and how great His ways that I could never piece them together. As my mind was headed out to sea, I heard a little girl yelling.

To my right, a girl was building a sandcastle with her Mom. The tide was rising and in fear of ruining all of her work, she pointed at the waves crashing and yelled, "NO! STAY AWAY! Don't come here..GO AWAY!"

She commanded the waves to depart and to her luck, the waves came within 3 inches of her sand castle, but did not touch it!

I think of how funny it is when we try to control God in our life. 'No God, not that...i'll be ok with anything but that! The truth is, we can't control what comes into our lives or what is happening, but we can control if we will let God do what He wills with joy...meanwhile watching others yelling at the waves.

Weakness...

Our Bible Study Introduction was tonight. Here is what it read in reference to 1 Cor. 1:26-2:5 and 1 Cor. 15:10

Weakness, Humility, & Gratitude :: Walking Perpendicular to the Ways of the World

There is a beauty in taking a walk. There is a rhythm, a movement in which you travel. Breathing in the air, observing the sights, but moving with purpose towards a given destination. When you walk, do you walk aimlessly? Do you ask for directions or follow the same path you have gone before? In a new city, who is your guide in the back streets? If Jesus asked you to take a walk with Him, would you? Would you let him lead even if it meant taking a new road you’ve only heard of before?

Let’s spend the semester walking. Moving purposefully away from the World, unsure where God will ask us to go, but moving into a greater intimacy and understanding with Him.

As we walk, will you travel with your friends in weakness, humility, and gratitude? At times it may feel like they are slowing down your stride, but I want to ask you to embrace them and not run off leaving them behind, but running the race together. Building one another up in grace and truth as Christ first bestowed to us.

5 W's and the H

In journalism, I was always told to get a good story, look for the 5 W's and the H. The who, what, when, where, why, and the how something took place. Then, piece it all together for others to understand the text clearly.

As I look through scripture, I find the people I connect with the most are those who never received the W's or H and still decided to step out in faith.

Just think of Job. How many questions did he ask and yet in the time of waiting did not sin against God, but put his hope in the anchor. How often did Moses try to find his way out of speaking only to have the Lord prove Himself as I AM and appointing him to be his mouthpiece to Pharaoh along with Aaron. Isiah didn't ask the task, but responded with "Here am I." He didn't pull out his reporter's notebook asking for the location, time commitment, and what it would cost. He went.

I fell like my journalistic nature can hold me back at times. To feel like I see the beauty behind the story as a whole, I want all the details before I can piece it all together instead of letting it happen along the way. Who are you making me out to be? What does this dream mean and how does it fit in? When are you going to reveal yourself yet again? Where will you glorify your name next? Where do you want me to be? Why Lord is this piece suddenly moved across the country? Why are the cinder blocks suddenly on my feet? Why do the colors look like they are shifting? How am I supposed to know what you desire of me?

You see...these answers don't really matter if I am just focused on getting the end result. The end result is Christ Jesus. And He has given us himself in the Spirit, Father of our hearts, and the Word.

The answer to the question truly is Jesus.

Some books are harder to turn the page than others.

I came across this plague in Boston and I was blown away by its beauty and simplicity.

Here... D.L. Moody accepted the Lord.

I was wondering, what if we had these sort of place-markers in life to remind us of the things God has done in our lives to draw us closer to himself. What if we didn't make the mistake of the Israelites and could remember who God is and what He has done for us.

In talking with friends back in my college-town, I've been reflecting back on the past 6 years of my life. We talk about dorm-life and times we missed class (accidentally of course!) We've laughed about times ministering in Long Beach and ask where other friends are now. Things aren't always happy to reflect on though.

I don't know if the Israelites necessarily liked thinking about slavery in Egypt or wandering in the desert for 40 years, and yet God met them in such big ways during that time!

So I'm thumbing through mental images of placards in my mind. This one reading "Here, Alicia learned how to trust God more. Here, Alicia came to her knees realizing others' lives are in God's hands and not hers. Here, Alicia's heart broke for those on the outskirts, who are misunderstood. Here, Alicia remembered and praised God for who He is despite all the sandstorms blocking her nearsightedness at times."

Selah

now boarding

I finally got settled in my chair after another woman squeezed passed me to her seat by the airplane window. I opened up my book and was near brought to tears reading the words on the page. Stories of men who had stepped away from the status quo and shared their faith in Jesus in bold ways to friends.

"As soon as I finished my presentation (in Mark 5), there was a question-answer time. the first question was asked by one of the women. Politely she raised her her index finger and made a statement followed by a question: "I want to believe in Jesus. How do I do it?" I almost fell out of my chair. I had not expected a question like that to be asked in public. Most likely her husband was sitting on the other side of the room." (Jabbour CTtEotC p.169)

My heart was flooded with emotion thinking of the many ways in these past few weeks alone God has been reveling himself to me. Not in ways I expected, but in the journey and process of sanctification from this summer. I wanted to cry out and lift my hands praising God for who He is, not caring at all what the woman on the plane next to me may think. I probably would have started crying more to a greater extent had the women a few rows behind me not yelled in this exact moment burdened by an anxiety attack. The flight attendants rushed to her and my heart was filled with compassion that Jesus simply be with her in that moment.

And that is the exact picture I feel from this summer. Everything seems to be fine, but as soon as out plans lurch out of our control; we panic, worry, and question. But all the time, our pilot is in the cockpit granting us good things and peace that doesn't come from this world.

If only we all could respond so bluntly to truth presented in our lives. If only we could constantly cling to Christ, our anchor of hope. Father thank you for your gifts you give. Thank you that even when I can't see it, you are working all things together for my good and your glory.