Sunday, May 30, 2010
Today was a true Sabbath. All I did today was worship the Lord, spend time with Him, and rest. I want all Sundays to be like this. I slept for 10 hours last night (told you I was tired) and woke this morning rested and ready for the day. The UNA students attended church at Safe Harbor Presbyterian Church in Destin. It is a tiny little church; the sanctuary probably holds only 50 people but that is what’s so great about it. The pastor and his wife are incredible. They are so filled with the Spirit that they overflow into anyone and everyone around them. We had time to greet people around us and I met people that I will be seeing weekly at the church. The 4 people sitting in front of us were vacationers down here for Memorial Day weekend. I was so encouraged to see people at church when they are on vacation; that doesn’t happen a lot. I know that as a kid, we didn’t go to church when were on vacation. To me now, church is a vacation. It is an escape to spend time with the Lord out away from the rest of the world. I also talked to a man after church that lives in Big Cove and works in Huntsville. Then we talked to a guy that went to UNA and was involved in ATO and CO. He was on vacation with his wife. It was neat sharing with the vacationers about SBP; I think they were encouraged by it. They were so wonderful and offered to pray for us. A few older ladies encouraged me to share the good news so here it is: THERE IS NO OIL IN DESTIN! They want to see more people down here during the tourist season as much as I do.
The sermon was an introduction to the book of Ruth. As he was reading the first chapter, I was relating myself to Ruth. I’ve studied the book a few times and always admired Ruth for going with her mother-in-law Naomi into a new land with new people, a new culture, and a new God. I thought of myself as Ruth this morning, thinking about how coming down to Beach Project is scary but I am willing to follow Jesus everywhere. There are new people here, a different culture, and I’m going to learn so much more about God than I ever imagined. But then, Jim started talking about how the book of Ruth is really about Naomi. I kind of cocked my head at him when he said that, wondering how he thought so. However, as he continued, I began to understand what he meant. Naomi was a victim of famine, her husband died, her two sons married outside of the Jewish faith and then died. She had nothing. So many of us have lives like Naomi filled with bitterness, brokenness, and doubt. Jim talked about that God does not waste the suffering of His children; He works through these situations. God is at work in our ordinary, daily lives. This is called providence which is a fancy word that means that all that happens to us is divinely planned; each event is an opportunity to trust, obey, rejoice, and know everything is for God’s glory. He also pointed out that the book of Ruth points out that we need a Redeemer. I really enjoyed church; I was so engaged and can’t wait to share the experience with the disciples next week.
After church, I went with Michael Cody (UNA CO staff) and his fiancé Megan, Phillip, and Kathryn to McAllister’s for lunch. There was only one girl taking orders and the line was out of the door they whole hour we were there. It took a long time for our food. So, needless to say, I asked for applications on our way out. I’m praying that the Lord can provide jobs for at least a few of my girls there this summer. They look like they really need help. Also, it is mostly young people there so it would be a great ministering opportunity. Lunch was great. We just shared more of our thoughts on Beach Project and how the Lord was already working here.
After lunch, we hit the beach! It was a beautiful day today (after the storms passed through). The water was really seaweed-y so I didn’t go in very far. Standing on the beach though and looking at the murky water made me think about sin. Sin can engulf your life like that if you don’t repent before the Lord. It can consume your life so much that no one can be around you, just like I didn’t want to swim in the ocean. Also, it may start as only a little bit of seaweed and you think it won't bother you. Then the storms bring in much more, just like sin splatters. Even one of the staff guy’s kids said “I’m swimming in pea soup!” It was interesting to see that he was jumping around and enjoying it like we all enjoy sin. But eventually he would get tired and get out of the water to find rest. We can find rest in the Lord from our sin.
Tonight we had another meeting. We talked about thinking for our disciples and dealing with conflict. I will write more about that later.
Please continue praying for unity and loving hearts among everyone at Beach Project.
Stay tuned and find rest in God.
In Christ,
Christine ><>
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Today was the first full day on Project. I got here yesterday afternoon after a long but enjoyable drive from Huntsville. I made sure that I led the caravan down here so that no one would speed. Don’t need to start the summer off with a speeding ticket! As soon as we got here, it felt like we were home. It was so good to see the other Room Leaders that I had met at retreat a few months ago. We spent some time reacquainting ourselves and enjoying each others’ company. We went out to dinner with our teams (made up of one Team Leader and 3 Room Leaders) and went bowling. We had a blast. The Team Leaders had already been here a day and were working hard on cleaning out the Sandman where we are staying. Let me tell you about the Sandman: the Sandman is a run-down motel that was recently repossessed by the bank. Thank the Lord (it was through Him) we got the Sandman for the summer. Since they aren’t renting to anyone else, we don’t have to squish 8 people into each room; only 4-5! Each room has a small living/dining area, kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. The bedrooms fit 2 full size beds but we will be moving them out to fit in bunk beds.
I found out that I will be discipling 4 girls this summer. As long as the groupings don’t change, I will have one girl from Montevallo and 3 from Samford. I am so excited about meeting them and getting to know them. My fear is however that we will not mesh, that we will have personalities that clash. I’ve been praying though for God to work through me and to prepare all of our hearts. The Campus Outreach staff guy at Montevallo made a point at our Room Leader retreat that out of the 6 billion in the world, God placed the 5 of us girls together. It will be hard though and I know I will face conflict. But the Lord is going to use those situations to glorify Him.
We met this morning to start our training. A lot of the training is just a refresher from what we talked about at retreat. We talked about keeping our leadership SIMPLE: Stay dependent on God; Initiate to them and think for them; Model for them; Pray for them; Love them and serve them; and Empower them. I’m very much looking forward to serving my girls. Jesus said in Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (ESV). I am praying for the Lord to give me a servant’s heart. I want to do things like cook breakfast for them on Sundays and Mondays when I don’t have to work, drive them everywhere so they don’t have to pay for gas, and take them out for ice cream or coffee. It will be hard at times; I know I won’t always “feel” like doing it, but it’s in those times that I need to serve them the most. I already bought stuff for our room to make living at the Sandman easier for the girls.
We talked again about engaging the lost (evangelism) and this afternoon got to go to high-profile places in Ft. Walton to be intentional with people. My team (made up of 4 guys, 4 girls, and 1 staff guy) went to the Ft. Walton mall. We paired up and just looked for people to share the Gospel with. It sounds like everyone was successful (and of course, with the Lord, we will always be successful, even when we think we failed). I went with Abby and Rob. We went into a coffee shop and got coffee and then talked to a guy who was waiting for his buddy to get off from work. We just talked about what he does for a living and what he likes to do for fun. We got around to talking about church: he grew up in a Catholic family and unfortunately has had a bad experience. We talked to him a good bit about our testimonies and discipleship. He appeared to be engaged in the whole 30-minute conversation seemed to really like the idea of discipleship. We got his number so he can come hang out on the beach with us. Hopefully, after we get to know him better, we can invite him to our meetings and maybe church. Please be praying with me for our new friend Josh.
The rest of the night we spent in fellowship, the Word, prayer, and worship. It is so good to constantly be around the Body. We spent awhile in “Dream Time” where we all share what we would like to see God do this summer and in the coming years. For example, I want to see more people come to Beach Project from the residence halls on UNA’s campus and for the parents to be impacted by their visit here. I have been tired all day so I was ready to go back to the room. God reminded me that I can find strength and rest in Him:
“The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:28-31, ESV).
I know I will be clinging to that verse a lot this summer!! Chris Tomlin sings a song “Everlasting God” that is based off of those verses. Check it out if you can.
We went to Wal-Mart tonight to grab some groceries to last us through the rest of the weekend. I am so looking forward to spending all day tomorrow with the Lord and observing the Sabbath. I’ve had so much fun already and I can’t wait to see what the Lord has in store for the summer!
I have a prayer request for you: that the Holy Spirit would make us CO staff, Team Leaders, and Room Leaders “others-centered” and that we would learn to love each other and our disciples.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing”
(1 Thessalonians 5:11).
Thank you so much for all of your prayers and support!
Stay tuned and remain steady in your walk with God.
In Christ,
Christine ><>
Today was the first full day on Project. I got here yesterday afternoon after a long but enjoyable drive from Huntsville. I made sure that I led the caravan down here so that no one would speed. Don’t need to start the summer off with a speeding ticket! As soon as we got here, it felt like we were home. It was so good to see the other Room Leaders that I had met at retreat a few months ago. We spent some time reacquainting ourselves and enjoying each others’ company. We went out to dinner with our teams (made up of one Team Leader and 3 Room Leaders) and went bowling. We had a blast. The Team Leaders had already been here a day and were working hard on cleaning out the Sandman where we are staying. Let me tell you about the Sandman: the Sandman is a run-down motel that was recently repossessed by the bank. Thank the Lord (it was through Him) we got the Sandman for the summer. Since they aren’t renting to anyone else, we don’t have to squish 8 people into each room; only 4-5! Each room has a small living/dining area, kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. The bedrooms fit 2 full size beds but we will be moving them out to fit in bunk beds.
I found out that I will be discipling 4 girls this summer. As long as the groupings don’t change, I will have one girl from Montevallo and 3 from Samford. I am so excited about meeting them and getting to know them. My fear is however that we will not mesh, that we will have personalities that clash. I’ve been praying though for God to work through me and to prepare all of our hearts. The Campus Outreach staff guy at Montevallo made a point at our Room Leader retreat that out of the 6 billion in the world, God placed the 5 of us girls together. It will be hard though and I know I will face conflict. But the Lord is going to use those situations to glorify Him.
We met this morning to start our training. A lot of the training is just a refresher from what we talked about at retreat. We talked about keeping our leadership SIMPLE: Stay dependent on God; Initiate to them and think for them; Model for them; Pray for them; Love them and serve them; and Empower them. I’m very much looking forward to serving my girls. Jesus said in Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (ESV). I am praying for the Lord to give me a servant’s heart. I want to do things like cook breakfast for them on Sundays and Mondays when I don’t have to work, drive them everywhere so they don’t have to pay for gas, and take them out for ice cream or coffee. It will be hard at times; I know I won’t always “feel” like doing it, but it’s in those times that I need to serve them the most. I already bought stuff for our room to make living at the Sandman easier for the girls.
We talked again about engaging the lost (evangelism) and this afternoon got to go to high-profile places in Ft. Walton to be intentional with people. My team (made up of 4 guys, 4 girls, and 1 staff guy) went to the Ft. Walton mall. We paired up and just looked for people to share the Gospel with. It sounds like everyone was successful (and of course, with the Lord, we will always be successful, even when we think we failed). I went with Abby and Rob. We went into a coffee shop and got coffee and then talked to a guy who was waiting for his buddy to get off from work. We just talked about what he does for a living and what he likes to do for fun. We got around to talking about church: he grew up in a Catholic family and unfortunately has had a bad experience. We talked to him a good bit about our testimonies and discipleship. He appeared to be engaged in the whole 30-minute conversation seemed to really like the idea of discipleship. We got his number so he can come hang out on the beach with us. Hopefully, after we get to know him better, we can invite him to our meetings and maybe church. Please be praying with me for our new friend Josh.
The rest of the night we spent in fellowship, the Word, prayer, and worship. It is so good to constantly be around the Body. We spent awhile in “Dream Time” where we all share what we would like to see God do this summer and in the coming years. For example, I want to see more people come to Beach Project from the residence halls on UNA’s campus and for the parents to be impacted by their visit here. I have been tired all day so I was ready to go back to the room. God reminded me that I can find strength and rest in Him:
“The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:28-31, ESV).
I know I will be clinging to that verse a lot this summer!! Chris Tomlin sings a song “Everlasting God” that is based off of those verses. Check it out if you can.
We went to Wal-Mart tonight to grab some groceries to last us through the rest of the weekend. I am so looking forward to spending all day tomorrow with the Lord and observing the Sabbath. I’ve had so much fun already and I can’t wait to see what the Lord has in store for the summer!
I have a prayer request for you: that the Holy Spirit would make us CO staff, Team Leaders, and Room Leaders “others-centered” and that we would learn to love each other and our disciples.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing”
(1 Thessalonians 5:11).
Thank you so much for all of your prayers and support!
Stay tuned and remain steady in your walk with God.
In Christ,
Christine ><>
Thursday, May 27, 2010
The Night Before
So tonight's my last night in Alabama. I leave tomorrow morning for Summer Beach Project! I cannot believe it's already here! Campus Outreach staff asked me to be a Room Leader in about September of 2009 and I decided to go in October. I've been praying about this moment since then and now it's here! I'm so looking forward to what God has in store! It's so neat to think that I have no idea who will be in my D group or who I will meet or where I will work, but God knows, and He's known, even before I was born. It's so neat to think about how intricately the Lord plans the lives of His children.
I'm pretty much all packed. I will leave around 8am and meet up with some girls in Birmingham to caravan. We'll be traveling with Memorial Day traffic so it might take longer and will be more dangerous. But I know the Lord will be watch over us. I'm not going to pray for our safety as much as I will pray for the chance to get closer to God during my trip. I'm so excited to see all of the Team Leaders and Room Leaders again and begin to prepare for the start of SBP 2010 on June 1st!
Stay tuned...
In Christ,
Christine ><>
I'm pretty much all packed. I will leave around 8am and meet up with some girls in Birmingham to caravan. We'll be traveling with Memorial Day traffic so it might take longer and will be more dangerous. But I know the Lord will be watch over us. I'm not going to pray for our safety as much as I will pray for the chance to get closer to God during my trip. I'm so excited to see all of the Team Leaders and Room Leaders again and begin to prepare for the start of SBP 2010 on June 1st!
Stay tuned...
In Christ,
Christine ><>
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