I would just like to make a quick post and wish everyone a merry Christmas. I pray that we all remember the reason for our celebration, the birth of our savior, Jesus. He is the King of kings, above any ruler, and yet comes to us daily, dwelling within us as a friend and Lord. He is for all, the highest of high, to the most lowly; for presidents and kings, and for beggars and the homeless. Enjoy your time with family and friends, and remember the birth that we celebrate this season. This is the fulfillment of prophesy, the promise of salvation, the gift of God. In this Christmas season, let us all remember why we celebrate, what has been given to us, and just how we should respond to such love. The Lord reigns from age to age, He was in the beginning, and everything was created through Him, He knew you before you were born, He knew you would leave Him, and He made a way for you to return. God came to earth as a baby to die the death that we deserve. He also came to live the life that we should, we are blessed enough to still have the chance to live lives for Christ, I pray that this would be our legacy.
Merry Christmas to all! God bless you and yours.
24 December 2007
30 November 2007
Recap of Break and Outlook for this Quarter, etc.
So, over Thanksgiving break I went back to Cleveland. I don't say home, because it really isn't home, it's where my parents live and where I visit a couple times a year. Anyways, I was slightly ill the whole time and honestly did not want to do anything other than watch movies and sleep, and the obligatory Friday shopping. Needless to say, I chickened out and did not tell my dad what I want to do next year. I told a couple people at the church where I grew up, but avoided the topic with my dad. I had opportunities, I just chickened out. I feel horrible. Part of me wants to apply and make sure I get accepted before I tell him, no need to tell him if it won't happen, right? Well, I'm a chicken, hopefully I can tell him at Christmas. Everyone keeps asking what I am going to do with my degree, and honestly, I don't know what to tell them. I never had career aspirations, I just want to get coffee with people and dig into their lives... more on that later.
This quarter should be interesting, a large break in the middle, a trip to Boston for Boston Winter Conference, hopefully seeing Kelly while I'm there, and my classes should be pretty simple... 3 online and 1 in person. I should have a lot more free time this quarter. Time to meet people, catch up with old friends, work, SLEEP, and just enjoy life. Crusade should be fun, we are going to focus the quarter on really studying Jesus, starting with a 3 week series on Christmas. I'm definitely excited!
Now, what I said about digging into each others' lives, I hate that people are so secretive. We are afraid to be vulnerable, and it hurts us ultimately. We keep secrets inside because we're afraid of what people will think, what they'll say. I think if a lot of us were just honest with each other, we would see that none of us are perfect, not one of us is pure and untainted by the world, and we all need help and a savior. If we as Christians cannot be honest and admit our faults, then how can people trust us when we try to dig into their lives? How can we listen to people and their life stories, when they feel like we're judging them based on their deeds? If only they knew our struggles and our ongoing battles, would witnessing and discipling look different? Yes, we share some, but never all. We never bear our souls. We never talk about what we are dealing with at the moment, only what we seem to have under control. There are certain struggles that are ok to talk about, accepted as struggles that people deal with, but others are never touched upon. We are all so protective of our secrets, how different would it be if we really shared what we were struggling with? I say we because I do it too. There isn't a safe environment for people to really talk about real issues, what they desperately need help with or a friend to talk to about, because it is too scary. I have done things in life that I am not proud of, not by any means. It kills me to think that someone would judge me on it, that if asked I would have to be honest, and they might judge me based on my life. But honestly, in my opinion, sin is sin, God sees it all the same, if it is an inch off, it might as well be a mile. Who is man to judge what God has already forgotten.
I pray that we as a community and as the body of Christ would remember what Jesus did for us and count us all as sinners, all of us forgiven by God's grace, and all of us as works in progress. As long as we are trying to walk in God's will and follow His precepts, as long as we are trusting and obeying, that is what matters. It is a constant struggle against sin and the enemy's snares that we fight against, and as long as we are fighting, I say we're all even, no matter how long and how deep we've been in the battle, we're still fighting the same thing... my guy just might be bigger, or your guy has stronger weaponry. God is with us, working in us, pushing us, molding us into what He wants us to be. We aren't perfect, we all fail, no matter how saintly we claim to be. God doesn't call the equipped, he equips the called. Look at who He has used in the past; if we can't be open enough to accept everyone no matter their faults, as well as admit our own, are we really loving?
I realize this was long, I apologize. This was on my heart from a conversation earlier this evening and I thought I would mention it. I love you all, please continue to pray for me, and I will pray for you as well. As always, if you are reading, I'd love to hear from you if I haven't already. Comments are always welcome, emails, anything... I'm all yours. God bless.
This quarter should be interesting, a large break in the middle, a trip to Boston for Boston Winter Conference, hopefully seeing Kelly while I'm there, and my classes should be pretty simple... 3 online and 1 in person. I should have a lot more free time this quarter. Time to meet people, catch up with old friends, work, SLEEP, and just enjoy life. Crusade should be fun, we are going to focus the quarter on really studying Jesus, starting with a 3 week series on Christmas. I'm definitely excited!
Now, what I said about digging into each others' lives, I hate that people are so secretive. We are afraid to be vulnerable, and it hurts us ultimately. We keep secrets inside because we're afraid of what people will think, what they'll say. I think if a lot of us were just honest with each other, we would see that none of us are perfect, not one of us is pure and untainted by the world, and we all need help and a savior. If we as Christians cannot be honest and admit our faults, then how can people trust us when we try to dig into their lives? How can we listen to people and their life stories, when they feel like we're judging them based on their deeds? If only they knew our struggles and our ongoing battles, would witnessing and discipling look different? Yes, we share some, but never all. We never bear our souls. We never talk about what we are dealing with at the moment, only what we seem to have under control. There are certain struggles that are ok to talk about, accepted as struggles that people deal with, but others are never touched upon. We are all so protective of our secrets, how different would it be if we really shared what we were struggling with? I say we because I do it too. There isn't a safe environment for people to really talk about real issues, what they desperately need help with or a friend to talk to about, because it is too scary. I have done things in life that I am not proud of, not by any means. It kills me to think that someone would judge me on it, that if asked I would have to be honest, and they might judge me based on my life. But honestly, in my opinion, sin is sin, God sees it all the same, if it is an inch off, it might as well be a mile. Who is man to judge what God has already forgotten.
I pray that we as a community and as the body of Christ would remember what Jesus did for us and count us all as sinners, all of us forgiven by God's grace, and all of us as works in progress. As long as we are trying to walk in God's will and follow His precepts, as long as we are trusting and obeying, that is what matters. It is a constant struggle against sin and the enemy's snares that we fight against, and as long as we are fighting, I say we're all even, no matter how long and how deep we've been in the battle, we're still fighting the same thing... my guy just might be bigger, or your guy has stronger weaponry. God is with us, working in us, pushing us, molding us into what He wants us to be. We aren't perfect, we all fail, no matter how saintly we claim to be. God doesn't call the equipped, he equips the called. Look at who He has used in the past; if we can't be open enough to accept everyone no matter their faults, as well as admit our own, are we really loving?
I realize this was long, I apologize. This was on my heart from a conversation earlier this evening and I thought I would mention it. I love you all, please continue to pray for me, and I will pray for you as well. As always, if you are reading, I'd love to hear from you if I haven't already. Comments are always welcome, emails, anything... I'm all yours. God bless.
15 November 2007
Update
Nothing too big to mention, not much happening lately. I am going home next week, I'm in finals now, and could really use some prayer on both accounts. Finals are killing me, and I need to talk to my dad when I get home to explain the whole interning thing to him. Please pray for me.
Also, if you are reading this, please post a comment. I would love to know who is reading and keeping up with me. I love you all, don't be shy.
- Debbie
Also, if you are reading this, please post a comment. I would love to know who is reading and keeping up with me. I love you all, don't be shy.
- Debbie
28 October 2007
Opportunities of a Lifetime Conference
Well, I just got back, a couple hours ago, from the first ever Northeast Opportunities of a Lifetime conference in Hartford, CT. Really, it was a weekend of seeking God and His wisdom, and discerning where He wants us. We learned about faith, hope, and love, and they're part in a Christian's life.
Abraham's story was a real big influence on me this weekend, how he trusted God in everything, and it was credited to him as righteousness. He knew God as "God Almighty" or "El-Shadai" which basically translates as the all-powerful provider. It was amazing to see Abraham's faith and really study it, how he trusted God for the unseen, even that He would resurrect Isaac from the dead after he would be sacrificed, all because many years before God had promised to make Abraham a great nation through Isaac. He trusted in God that much. Abraham's hope was what God had promised him, that his descendants would be many, and that he would be a great nation. His faith was his certainty about his hope.
We also spoke about love, the love of God, how we experience it, and how we can love others. If we truly love God and are experiencing His love in our lives, it will overflow to others, and if it is overflowing to others then we will be sharing the gospel with others out of love for them and for God. If we are living for God, then our love for Him will just spill from our lips. Imagine when you find a new favorite restaurant, you tell everyone about it, right? How much more should we spread the news about the Savior of our souls? It is our duty, our burden, but most importantly, our joy, to proclaim Jesus as Lord. If this is so, let's get to work!
My two questions from the weekend: (1) would I be willing to raise support to work at any other company? NO. (2) If Crusade cut me a check and offered me a salary to work for them, would I do it? YES!
So, folks, as long as I am accepted, I will be interning for Campus Crusade for Christ this year. This is the desire of my heart, and I feel that God is really pulling me to do this. Please pray for me as I start this process, that my application would be accepted, that I would find people to join my support team,and that I would just continue to grow in the Lord. God Bless.
Abraham's story was a real big influence on me this weekend, how he trusted God in everything, and it was credited to him as righteousness. He knew God as "God Almighty" or "El-Shadai" which basically translates as the all-powerful provider. It was amazing to see Abraham's faith and really study it, how he trusted God for the unseen, even that He would resurrect Isaac from the dead after he would be sacrificed, all because many years before God had promised to make Abraham a great nation through Isaac. He trusted in God that much. Abraham's hope was what God had promised him, that his descendants would be many, and that he would be a great nation. His faith was his certainty about his hope.
We also spoke about love, the love of God, how we experience it, and how we can love others. If we truly love God and are experiencing His love in our lives, it will overflow to others, and if it is overflowing to others then we will be sharing the gospel with others out of love for them and for God. If we are living for God, then our love for Him will just spill from our lips. Imagine when you find a new favorite restaurant, you tell everyone about it, right? How much more should we spread the news about the Savior of our souls? It is our duty, our burden, but most importantly, our joy, to proclaim Jesus as Lord. If this is so, let's get to work!
My two questions from the weekend: (1) would I be willing to raise support to work at any other company? NO. (2) If Crusade cut me a check and offered me a salary to work for them, would I do it? YES!
So, folks, as long as I am accepted, I will be interning for Campus Crusade for Christ this year. This is the desire of my heart, and I feel that God is really pulling me to do this. Please pray for me as I start this process, that my application would be accepted, that I would find people to join my support team,and that I would just continue to grow in the Lord. God Bless.
22 October 2007
First Post!!!
Hey Everyone!
This blog is to track my activities as a potential (hopefully) intern for Campus Crusade for Christ. I'm in my final year at RIT and while thinking about what I want to do with my life, I realized that it isn't about what I want to do, it's about what God wants me to do. I have discovered in the past weeks that there would be no job more fulfilling than to spend my life devoted to serving God and telling others about what He has done for me.
So this is me, stepping up, and saying that as long as God leads me in this direction, I fully intend to be an intern for Campus Crusade for Christ next year at RIT. YAY!
Please pray for me, my decision to do this, and for my support raising (CCC staff have to raise all of their own funds, so also pray about possibly supporting me!)
This blog is to track my activities as a potential (hopefully) intern for Campus Crusade for Christ. I'm in my final year at RIT and while thinking about what I want to do with my life, I realized that it isn't about what I want to do, it's about what God wants me to do. I have discovered in the past weeks that there would be no job more fulfilling than to spend my life devoted to serving God and telling others about what He has done for me.
So this is me, stepping up, and saying that as long as God leads me in this direction, I fully intend to be an intern for Campus Crusade for Christ next year at RIT. YAY!
Please pray for me, my decision to do this, and for my support raising (CCC staff have to raise all of their own funds, so also pray about possibly supporting me!)
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