Tomorrow

A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for. 

– John A. Shedd

God confirmed what was promised with an oath. He did this so that we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever. 

Hebrews 6:16-20

My anchor is not a place, but a person. 

I cracked with my phone. But the Spirit gives life.

Well, there are some exciting things in the pipeline. Among them are:

1. Moving all my worldly possessions into my parents garage. Bless them.

2. Wrapping up sweet Triangle FCA opportunities.

Webb at our Spring Lunch

3. Packing for 3 to 5 difference countries and climates.

4. Preparing to be MIA for 3 months: bills, finances, car, out of office reports, friendships....you know.

Roommates helping me alot!!

5. Helping lead twenty-eight college students in South Africa for 6 weeks. Have mercy. 

2011

6. Traveling on to several new countries to experience what God's up to.

All these things are fruitless, pointless and lifeless if apart from the Holy Spirit.

I can't pinpoint when it started, but it's been building for days. I've been irritated, selfish, sad, overwhelmed...and downright mean lately. Not at all like a girl who has been blessed with the above-mentioned opportunities.

It's crept in so slowly and inconspicuously. I didn't even realize I was having a problem. I guess we learn to say the right things and look the right way, so I was even faking myself out.  Until my phone broke.

I woke up worrying about life on Tuesday morning at 5 am [hello, this wasn't even the first red flag]. I didn't technically have to be up and at'em until 7. I decided to go on a little jog in the neighborhood to kill time, clear my head and hopefully pray. I got my worship music going and took off. Somehow, my phone-slash-music-source fell face down on the concrete. As I picked it up, I saw the front was shattered.

The phone was [and is] still functional, but when I saw the shattered front, it had an impact on me. It's like something inside me broke too. I kind of cry/laughed, and recognized, in my reaction, that something deeper was wrong. It finally clicked that I was struggling and needed help.  In that moment, it became clear that I have been dealing with all of this stress and worry as if I'm a "well" person - meaning I have been trying to do it on my own. But in reality, I am broken and sick and incapable of doing anything and I need Jesus. So, the good news is - since Tuesday - I've been aware of my brokenness, but hallelujah I have a healer, doctor and friend named Jesus. He is sufficient.

"Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." 2 Corinthians 3:4-6

My Shield and Great Reward

Psalm 3:3 "But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory and the lifter of my head." 

Because He is my shield and my glory.....

“Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood and probably themselves will not be realized.  Make big plans.  Aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will never die, but long after we are gone will be a living thing, asserting itself with ever-growing insistency.  Remember that our sons and grandsons are going to do things that would stagger us.”

Daniel Burnham, architect of Chicago (via Ray Ortlund)

Genesis 15:1 "After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram" The first thing God told Abram was, "Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward". God knows all about human nature. He knew that Abraham would have a great measure of joy when he got his son. Yet God also knew that Abraham would not be totally fulfilled when the child came. He would still have an inner hunger, a restlessness, an inexplicable need that no human could touch.

Isn't this what happens to us when we finally get the thing we have wanted so badly? All along we think, "If only I can get this one thing, I'll be happy. It will make my life wonderful and end all my problems." No, it won't! Only the Lord Himself can fully satisfy our deepest need. 

Our High Priest says, "The secret of My blessing is that I am what you are looking for. I am your reward — your answer — your blessing." David Wilkerson

Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, Or what’s a heaven for? - Oswald Chambers

Knowing that Jesus is my shield (protection) and my great reward (joy); what does this enable me to do today? this week? this month?

Images from FCA Middle School Retreat

God's promises. 

Preparation

A creative Dream

The unexpected

High Schoolers pouring out their lives

Fun

self explanatory 

"But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me. " Psalm 13:5-6


Praise the Lord, 30 students were met by Jesus this weekend! 

What's in a name?

What do these have in common? 

The name Quinn!

I went to the Ukraine when I was fourteen. It was my first time out of the U.S. Somehow the pronunciation of my name came out "Queen" instead of "Quinn". And so, I was called Queen for two weeks. It was endearing and I, honestly, thought it was something unique to the Ukraine. Well, I was interested to discover when I went to Belize and the same thing happened. And then Kenya..and Argentina....and Ethiopia...and Zimbabwe. So, I'm Quinn in the U.S. and Queen in the world (with the exception of the UK and Barbados). A good friend recently asked me what my name means. I just wiki-name.com'd it and was pleasantly surprised to find: 

"Additionally, Quinn originates as a surname deriving from the Old English “cwen” meaning “queen.” 

Really cool. Quinn also means "wisdom" or "counsel". Quinn is my mom's maiden name, too! 

What does your name mean? Who were you named after?

Our names are pretty important. It freaks me out to think of naming a child one day. What a task. It's infinitely better when someone says, "Hey (insert name)!" instead of "chica, dude, bud, man, bro-montana, chief".  Names are personal. Names give identity.

Did you know that if we know Christ, we have His name? His name is strong, powerful, safe, eternal.

Philippians 2:9-11

...the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,  in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is  Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

Proverbs 18:10
The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

Revelation 2:17
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.'

Revelation 3:12

The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.

Not Far

I really hate feeling far from people I love. Occasionally, I will feel emotional distance from family members or close friends. It's the worst, isnt it?!

undeniable emotional wall. 

I also like to be physically close. I'm a close-sitter. And a close-talker. I hate being physically away from the people I love. [example, I want to get my niece, Hannah, in my arms as soon as possible]. 

close-sitter

Sometimes I feel far from God. It can be the result of my own sin or apathy. It can also be circumstances that cause me to feel like He is far away. 

Here is the amazing truth.

“God’s goodness is near us.  It is not a goodness far away, but God follows us with his goodness in whatever situation we are.  He attaches himself to us, he has made himself close, that he might be near us in goodness.  He is a father, and everywhere to maintain us.  He is a husband, and everywhere to help.  He is a friend, and everywhere to comfort and counsel.  His love is a near love.  He has taken upon himself the closest kinds of relationships, so that we may never lack God and the evidences of his love.”

Richard Sibbes [via Ray Orlund blog]

Have you seen God's goodness in your life today? In or despite circumstances? In or despite the way you feel? Let's lift up our eyes. Let's believe what He says. 

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life. Psalm 23:6

I remain confident of this; I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Psalm 27:13

I say to the Lord, "You are my Lord, apart from you I have no good thing". Psalm 16:2

But as for me, it is good to be near God. Psalm 73:28

This moment contains all moments. -C.S. Lewis

This week has been so full of moments.


The moment I walked into the hospital room and saw my brother holding his newborn baby girl. 

The moment my dear friend entered my apartment, heartbroken -and we shared mexican food, prayers and tears.


The moment the two roommates and I finished our run around Shelley Lake. 

The moment my brand new niece sneezed in my arms 5 times in a row. 

The moment I was standing in the middle of a school gym leading "gorilla, man gun" in my dressy clothes. 


The moment I was sitting in my church's missions office, blown away at God's provision. 

The moment I was awakened in the middle of the night by a flash of lightening. 

The moment I bowed on my bedroom floor with my dear sisters over skype.

The moment I realized I confused Panera and Carolina Cafe. 


The moment I discovered packing for 5 countries is going to be a challenge. 

And it's not even Friday yet! 


Lord, thank you for these moments. What are some moments you have had this week? 

The real problem of the Christian life comes where people do not usually look for it. It comes the very moment you wake up each morning. All your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists simply in shoving them all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in. And so on, all day. Standing back from all your natural fussings and frettings; coming in out of the wind. We can only do it for moments at first. But from those moments the new sort of life will be spreading through our system: because now we are letting Him work at the right part of us. It is the difference between paint, which is merely laid on the surface, and a dye or stain which soaks right through. 

C.S. Lewis