Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Not a Popularity Contest
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
We didn't start the fire
When I arrived and saw the flames pilaging the inside of the condos three things went through my mind: 1. Oh my gosh, all my stuff is gone. . .and I'm wearing my ancient faded green shorts. 2. Did I start the fire?! and 3. "You will keep in perfect peace him whos mind is steadfast, because he trust in you." Isaiah 26:3
After the initial shock, I went around interviewing people to try and discover the cause of the fire. "Excuse me, did I start the fire?!" I'd ask. Hmm, perhaps I should have thought through my statements a little better. And why didn't I pick my favorite pair of jeans to go hiking in.
In a few short hours, my life was becoming exceedingly more complex, yet more simple. I was immediately awarded the coveted "minimalist" title that had been held since birth by my friend, Suz.
What I experienced that afternoon was an angelic chorus of provision surrounding my soul. Theresa, a stranger, cradled me in her arms and sung sweet prayers over me. My friend Kim sat on the grass with me for hours while I made phone calls and talked to firemen. Allison, another friend, came up to me and said, "I want to be here for you, and I'll stay if you need me, but would you like me to go get you some underwear?" I laughed-so thoughtful! "Yes, please, and a cell phone charger." "Done," she replied, and she was off. That evening I had cookies waiting for me, dozens of housing offers, and a tiny stuffed panda bear from a three year old girl who heard mine had perished in the fire.
The blessings didn't stop at 12:01 the next day. No. For the next two months I saw the Family of God rally around me and generously giving and providing. From towels to dishes, to gift cards to money, to meals and beds, I was flooded with love.
I am so grateful for my God and his people. I am so humbled. What the Psalmist said is true, "The Lord has done great things for [me] and I am filled with joy." Psalm 126:3
A little roommate reunion: I lived with these beautiful women in 2270 Stepping Stones Way (prefire, that is).
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Flowers in the In-Box
I believe God is always with us and he is always at work, but sometimes we forget it or we don’t feel it. And we slow down, but at just the right moment God lets us in on a little work that he’s been doing that fills us with courage to keep running in life.
If you’ve been a part of my life and ministry you have heard about Christina, my UCCS friend, who came to Jesus last fall and is beginning to walk a brisk pace down his path. God gave me a little push this morning to remind me, and hopefully you, that our labor in Him is not in vain.
Hey Lauren-I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate you meeting withThis email was more delicious to my soul than a Sunday morning large buttery Lucille’s biscuit (even with rhubarb jam). It was like a bouquet of flowers in my in-box from God telling me, I love you, and I am using you to bring glory to my name.
me one on one to learn more about the bible and Jesus. I know that life is busy
for you and I so greatly appreciate you taking time to meet with me!! I love our
time together and I have so much fun with you!!! Thank you so much again for
meeting with me and taking time to hang. I have learned so much from you and
your different lessons and for that I am forever grateful. Thank you for
everything that you do and I love chilling with you!! You are one of the most
amazing people I have ever met. Enjoy your Sunday and get some sunshine today!
(it will remind you of FL...he he he) Christina
God, thank you for the flowers, and may you continue to send them my way and the way of my friends at just the right time
Friday, September 4, 2009
Oh The Places You'll Go
Looking back at the past 8 years of my life hasn't looked as cookie cutter as I dreamed up in that biology lab while sitting next to the flour beetles in little glass test tubes (side note: our flour beetles failed to reproduce as fast as other groups' beetles, therefore, while they were trying to count the dozens of family beetle members crawling all over the table, our group neatly contained our American Dream Nuclear Beetle Family: Dad, Mom, and 2.5 kids; that's right 2.5, someone went cannibalistic.) By my 18 year old standards, my life has been messy, unorganized, poorly timed, and why don't I have 2.5 kids yet?!
Feeling nostalgic, I reread Dr. Suess's poem, and was caught by this stanza:
"You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.Some windows are
lighted. But mostly they're darked.
A place you could sprain both your elbow
and chin!Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?How much can you
lose? How much can you win?
And IF you go in, should you turn left or
right...or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?Or go around back and
sneak in from behind?
Simple it's not, I'm afraid you will find,for a
mind-maker-upper to make up his mind."
I have come to a place where the future is not clear, where there is no logical decision on where to go or what to do. I may very well sprain my elbow or chin, and I may even lose some, but I may even win. Summer ended, my apartment burned down, I began a relationship with a wonderful man, I have no job, and I certainly do not know where I am headed.
And I am in smack in the middle of making life decisions that may alter the course of my life. But then I am reminded with verses like Proverbs 21:30: There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD. Chew on that for awhile. So I am humbled in realizing that, yes, I will make decisions that will affect where I live, what I do, who I'm around, but really, God is bigger. (Can I get an amen?)
The big question in mind was, do I stay or do I go?! Do I leave The Navigators, or do I stay with them? After seeking the Lord through prayer, his word, and godly counsel, I have decided (drum roll please) to do part time work with The Navigators. I cannot deny my passion for reaching college students for the sake of Christ. I connect with them, I love them, and they are in desperate need of Jesus. So I want to stay. But I also have a big heart to work in a secular environment. So I am off to do both! What a journey this will be!
I am returning to Colorado Springs and will be living there and working with The Navigators at UCCS this fall. I will also be looking for a job. That means my work dress code just change dramatically! From jeans and flip flops to grown up clothes I will go. The great part is my apartment fire cleared the way for me to get these new, more professional threads.
But I am completely satisfied, because this is an adventure, and one that I did not write, nor is the pen in my hand even now. At 26 there are still a million decisions ahead of me and yes's and no's that will be said, prayers of petitions and help to be prayed, and wise counsel to be sought. Whew. And at 27 there will be more decisions, and at 28, and at 29, and maybe not at 30, I mean, we all need a break now and again, but definitely at 31.
The point is, I'm seeking God, and he's leading me. I am blind, but he promises to lead the blind. I am thankful.
"Congratulations! Today is your day. You're off to Great Places! You're off and away!"
-Dr. Suess
Summer Time: Bite-Sized Highlights
Highlight Three: Serving the Students!
Here Jamie, Leigh Ann, and I are making S'mores for the students. Our campfire got rained out but that didn't ruin our fun! I also helped run our student ministry Nav Night and set up various events all summer to encourage and bless the students.
Highlight Four: Baptizing Robyn!
Robyn is a freshman from UCCS who just became a believer this spring. She decided to come to STP this summer to learn more about God and at the end of the summer she approached me and my teammate, Jamie, asking us if we would baptize her. Robyn is a joy!
Highlight Five: UCCS STUDENTS!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Summer Time: The Great Outdoors
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Summer Time: Humble Beginnings
This marvelous and attractive young bunch are the Team Leaders and Navigator Staff that are up here in Granby, Colorado working hard and learning about Jesus. These are our humble beginnings back in May!! We took a hike and learned about the history of The Navigators. (By the way, before you go cross eyed looking for me, I'm smack dab in the middle. Sorry all you Where's Waldo fans for giving away the answer so casually. Maybe we'll have round two later.)
Currently I am meeting with two of the girl Team Leaders: Hannah from the University of Northern Colorado and Laura from Colorado State University. Both these ladies have demonstrated a heart that wants to follow God and help others do so. We spend a lot of time together in Team Leader training, Bible Study, One on Ones, and hiking/fun times of course! Please pray for Hannah and Laura to know God even more deeply this summer and for their futures as they both just graduated! Yay!
As for me, I'm so blessed by the mountains, the Staff team, the students, and all the adventures we've had so far. I am still waiting and praying to see a bull moose and touch a beaver's tail. Here's hoping :)
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Just a Couch?
Our goal with "Free Prayer" day was simple: to encourage students at UCCS as well as get them thinking about eternal things. What better way than offering prayer to people right before finals, graduation, and summer transitions.
We set up shop on a Wednesday, dragging a slightly used couch to the center of the Upper Plaza. (Ok, so the couch had definitely been sitting in a garage and been sat on by many a dog, but after intense vacuuming and some lint rollers, we were good to go.) Taking hour long shifts, we each sat on the couch and invited people to come over and share requests.
Here are some highlights:
1. Nav students who volunteered were strengthened in their faith as they stepped out and engaged in prayer with fellow peers.
2. Two of the girls in my Investigative Bible Study came specifically to pray with me about difficulties in their lives.
3. We prayed with the new student body president who has had some misunderstandings about Christianity.
4. People were vulnerable with hurt in their lives.
5. We all got our first taste of the summer sun (ie we all looked like lobsters at the end of the day).
Lots of prayer, lots of interested looks, and even a guy who said we should flip a coin to see if we should pray for him; all in all a fantastic day on campus.
Next time you see an old couch, think beyond it's character, where it's been, and how to get it to Good Will; look beyond what it is. . .even an old green couch can bring God glory.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
The Invitation
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Ski Art
What is it you ask?! How you can you be a part of the Ski Art experience?!
Well, first you need some end of season spring conditions. I'm talking slushy 7 eleven slurpy type snow. Then you need some great friends that will do weird things. Be sure to leave all expectations of an awesome ski day at the car, grab your camera, and start snapping away. There you have it, Ski Art. For the common folk who still wear bibs and scarves skiing. . .or who just can't make it to the slopes enough to brave the terrain park.
Cheers to spring conditions!!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Road Trip: Part Three, Making a Splash
I really enjoyed the last day in California. My teammate Jamie and I took two van fulls of landlocked students to Laguna Beach to boogie board, play in the sand, and explore the tide pools. As I sat on the beach and watch them conquer the waves I smiled and really felt the joy of their pleasure. I can only guess this is what a parent feels like when they see their kids truly enjoying something, and how God must feel when we're doing the very things he's created us for on earth.
The students would occasionally run up from the icy Pacific waters with different types of seaweed wearing them as wigs, or scarves; it was quite entertaining. We also touched sea anemones and urchins, watched a few crabs fight over a meal, and found a very large and slimy sea slug making his daily rounds in his tide pool.
I really believe discipleship reaches it's most glorious points when you spend a lot of time together. Spending eight days with 17 students really allowed everyone to see the gamut of emotions and personalities under every kind of circumstance: stress, anxiety, fun, relaxation, quick decisions, etc. Each day held challenges and I really wanted to be a model, always responding in that angelic godly way. Haha. I laugh now. But despite the ups and downs I believe I got to exercise that humility muscle, you know that one small piece of our bodies that occasionally overpowers our opinions, sarcasm, irritation, and so on. And in God's grace, we all learned, we all loved, and we all are back safe and sound.
What an adventure!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Road Trip: Part Two, Service with a Smile
I really treasured our time here because not only did the students get to give their time and energy to helping out fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, but they were exposed to the nations, right here in America. When we arrived we were able to listen to a few stories of the difficult and tragic journey Cambodians have been traveling for the past thirty years. Lukina, a church member, said that most Cambodians have been exposed to at least 13 tragedies in their lifetime including death, starvation, rape, murder, prison, labor camps, and more. Many Cambodians escaped to the United States to begin new lives, but only if they were fortunate enough to get a sponsor to pay for their way over. And Cambodians are so hungry for good news, and respond quickly to the Gospel message.
Here were are, post work, in front of the Cambodian American church!
The next morning we were out the door before the sun woke up and headed to downtown Los Angeles to help Project Angel Food in the kitchen. Project Angel Food cooks meals and serves 1500 clients in the LA area who cannot afford proper nutrition and have medical problems.
After dressing up in the fashionable kitchen attire including, hair net, apron, and gloves (unfortunately no booties), we jumped right in making gravy, packaging meals, and slicing up anything they put in front of us.
After we sliced and diced and packaged and at some snacks, we went out and delivered the very meals we made! Our students were able to meet face to face people who relied on the love of others.
Here I am slicing up a honeydew. Gotta love the hair net!
Friday, March 20, 2009
Road Trip: Part One, Escape to LA
Cactus garden at The Getty Center overing looking a smoggy day in Los Angeles.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
No Tripping Allowed
I've always loved those verses. I can so clearly picture a runner, shoes rhythmically hitting the pavement, one after another, expending every last ounce of energy to get to the finish line. This past weekend, I was the runner, in real life, completing my first 5k; insignificant to the elite runner's world, but an accomplishment for me, the lay jogger.
My friend, Meredith, who serves with The Navigators at The University of Colorado (CU-Boulder), came down to run with me. She's experienced, fast, and full of energy. She was my cloud of witnesses on Saturday, keeping me on pace and heading toward the goal. We prepped our race with some "running" passages and Hebrews 12:1-2 came up, reminding me that when I run, I have to persevere. And believe me, that moment came, when Meredith looked at me and said, "less than a mile!" And I turned to her and through my pants said, "Yay!" even though I secretly wanted to trip myself and lie in the street to catch my breath.
But I finished (without tripping myself) and we drank our water and ate the celebratory bagels and oranges as we walked around the park waiting for the St. Patrick's Day parade to start.
What a great physical reminder to run the race of life with perseverance. The Spring semester at UCCS is in full swing with a host of activities, one on ones, and lots of Bible study. I'm exhausted at times, but those moments are when I need to fix my eyes on the goal, Jesus, and look at my cloud of witnesses to cheer me on.
Meredith and I after persevering the 5k on St. Patrick's Day in Colorado Springs.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
More than Familiar
There up on the bluff, within the public university, are dozens of faces that are more than familiar to me. They have names, they have personalities, they have pasts, they have futures, they have questions, they have thoughts, they exist to me. And every time I step foot on campus I enter into their world of activity. I am living life with them all the while showing them the light of Jesus.
I sat in Jazzman's, the on campus coffee shop, and talked with my freshman friend and we both occasionally paused to say hi to our passing friends. I think it's a testimony of God's grace and favor to give me friendships with these college students.
Thanks for your prayers-they are the foundations of these relationships.
Monday, January 19, 2009
And We're Off!
This is what my head feels like when I think about making a schedule. (This is actually from an Eagle Lake Extended Version day last January where we let children play with stacks of newspaper. . .another form of recycling, and a great way to make your eye twitch.)
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Scoping out Hollywood
Amy and I at Yogurtland-the most delicious place your tatsebuds will ever know!