Love and Dance

Hello all! A lot has been going on this week but I want to take time to write about one specific night instead of a general update.

Every Monday is men’s and women’s night and this week the women were cordially invited to a dinner and dessert banquet titled “Whisk Me Away”. The staff women sent fancy invitations to our room asking us to dress up and then they decorated the church hall with Christmas lights, candles, pink and black tables – it literally looked like a wedding reception and it was so beautiful! The intent of the night was to be served by the staff and “whisked away by Jesus”. One of the women, Julie, who is on staff at MSU gave the message for the night on walking with Christ as a woman, as a daughter of the King, and dealing with the natural desires of a woman’s heart. It was incredibly powerful and this entry is mainly going to be directed toward women because I want to share about the message and I believe that no matter where we are in life, single, dating, married, etc we all need to be reminded of truth and God’s incredible love for us as His daughters.

Women’s night is definitely one of the nights of the week that I cherish the most. I LOVE being with all the girls and sharing and investing in each other. I am really passionate about being strong and secure women in Christ and learning what our role is as women in Christ and sisters to the men around us. I feel really strongly about the heart of women and I’m excited for the freshmen girls that will be coming to MSU in the fall and reaching out to them through Crusade and Lifegroup, our bible study. I also started volunteering at a Christian pregnancy center in Jackson before I came on Project; Birthline is a ministry that educates families on infant care, first aid, parenting, etc and provides them with resources and baby supplies. Most of the women who come in are teenagers, single moms, and broken families. I know that women’s ministry is an area of Social Work I’m interested in, but we’ll see if God leads me down that path. :)

Continuing, the main point of the message was that we as women naturally possess the desire to be part of an adventure, to be cherished, wanted, beautiful, and swept away by someone. We long to be loved but we don’t realize that only Christ can fulfill that insatiable desire. God placed that desire within us because it’s what draws us closer to Him. Julie is really passionate about dance and gave the analogy of our walk with Christ being like a couples dance. We are called as women to submit to Christ who is head of the Church, just as a wife is called to submit to her husband. (Ephesians 5:23-24) What does it mean for Christ to be a part of this? It means moment by moment trust in Him to lead us, much like the man leads a dance. Because dancing is something intimate, it is a great illustration of being vulnerable to Christ and trusting Him to lead our life (lead the dance) and follow Him. The more we follow, the more we enjoy our relationship and enjoy the dips and twirls of life.  But why then is it so hard to surrender our lives and why do we so easily get distracted? It’s because it’s not in our nature to follow; we want to control and we fear that if we give God full control He may lead us to a place we don’t want to go, for example, a life of singleness. Another point she made was how easily marriage becomes an “ultimate goal”.  We tend to think that life will be so much more complete when we finally get married, that all will be well when we finally have a man committed to us for life. But she definitely brought the truth of marriage into reality and no, the longing to be loved and cherished doesn’t end with “I do” – Christ is the only answer.

The result when we dance with Christ is: the deepest longings of our heart will be met.

·      Security: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” – Hebrews 13:5

·      Joy: “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” – John 15:11

·      Beauty: “…so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.” – Phillippians 2:15

·      Purpose: “For we are God’s workmanship…” – Ephesians 2:1                                                                                                               "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11

We can experience all these things when we take God’s hand and dance with Him. He wants us. He’s reaching out to us every moment of the day and is calling us as women to follow Him, to take his hand and trust that He will lead. When the rest of the world and distractions are beckoning for our heart, God is still reaching. He knows the desires of our heart to be loved, and what love can anything else offer that is greater than the love of the one who created every inch and detail of us?

They showed us a video to the song “Beloved” by Tenth Avenue North and I LOVE it. I heard it for the first time during Lifegroup this Spring and it changed my perspective of Christ’s love for me. If you have time I encourage you to click on this link and watch it. It is a perfect song depicting a value to God.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CUGTIWCFyo&feature=related

The other night at Lighthouse I had to give my testimony/condensed version of my life story and I feel a lot of it ties into this message. The biggest parts of my story are the relationships I was in in high school and how God used them to teach me and make me fall in love with him instead. I “knew” God could fulfill me but I didn’t wholeheartedly believe that his love was enough when I could find love in earthly relationships – which could fulfill me, right? Wrong. Those relationships were selfish and not Christ-centered. I used them to try and fill a void only Christ can fill and when they were ripped away I realized I had nothing to lean on BUT Christ. The truth is God does love and cherish us, despite how many times we reject Him and search for love in worldly things.

My heart goes out to women because I feel there’s so much insecurity and longing to be loved that goes on in a woman’s heart. It is fragile and I know I need to be reminded every day that Christ alone is the love of my life and I am secure in Him, I am His daughter, and He desires my heart entirely; no possession, attribute, man, or relationship can fulfill me like the love of Christ. Our confidence and identity comes from Him alone. This message from women’s night was such an encouragement to me in my walk with God and I hope it encourages you too.

Today I’m working, meeting with my staff discipler, and then my room of girls is making dinner for one of the boys’ rooms. Fun fun! :) Tonight we have our Lighthouse service as usual and we also have an incredible outreach planned for this weekend! I’ll tell more about it later, but as always thanks for your prayers and I hope you’re having a great day and know how much Jesus loves you! 

Ice Cream, Concerts, and Flooding!

Wow! I realize I haven’t updated since last Thursday and this has been a very busy week! So, this may be long but I’ll update you on our outreach.

Every Saturday we do an outreach on the beach/boardwalk where we actually go out and share our faith with people we talk to whether it be locals, vacationers, etc…  Last Saturday we came across a couple people preaching on a podium on the boardwalk, yelling in a megaphone that you were destined to go to hell if you did not turn and repent at that very second. They were also handing out gospel tracks printed on fake money. It’s so disheartening to see this style of evangelism because it shuts people right off; for us walking around, it was hard to get interested people simply because religion was being crammed down their throat a quarter mile down the sidewalk!  But it was a great night of sharing nonetheless and we were able to talk to a family who was visiting their son in the naval base down here – turns out they live in Caledonia, MI and the son knew a mutual friend of one of the guys, Matt, who was sharing with me – small world! They were already Christian and were a good encouragement to our ministry on the beach. After that we were able to share with two brothers who were from Virginia and weren’t believers. It was awesome to see them connect with Matt as he shared with them and I know that God is working in their hearts. Every conversation is another seed planted and it’s so assuring to know that God is in control.

Sunday I attended a different church, possibly the one I will attend all summer, called Cross Current. It’s actually held in the cafeteria of small elementary school and consists of a lot of young couples or newly married families with kids. This one little girl was so adorable! She was wearing a little pink dress and sat in front of us, but the whole time during worship she kept spinning around in her dress and she was so cute. I loved the atmosphere and the pastor’s honesty and straightforward approach to the gospel.

Every Tuesday we will be putting on a night at the Dairy Queen down the road called “English Club” and the intent is to invite international students to have free ice cream and learn better English. We have conversation with them and hopefully get to share a little about our faith. There are tons of international residents in the area, most from Russia, who live and work in the US for the summer. This week was our first English Club outreach and I wasn’t sure many would come but to my surprise there were quite a few and they were so eager to practice their English! I talked with quite a few students from the Ukraine and one from Russia.  It was so much fun and I really enjoyed explaining different words or phrases and learning more about their cultures. I learned that in Russia, to “go for a walk” means the same as to “go on a romantic date” in America…so when asked to go for a walk, I politely declined haha.

There is another Summer Project called Keynote where a band of musicians is put together and sent to tour around the country. One of my good friends at MSU is actually in a keynote group touring in Australia.  Anyway, one of the groups in the US came and did a concert on the boardwalk and we were able to use that as another outreach. Lots of people came by and set up blankets on the lawn and there was really a decent size crowd. It provided a great opportunity to talk to people and get feedback on the band. My friend Sarah and I were able to share with two high school friends who were raised catholic and we had great conversation with them. It was easy to see that they were searching for something more in their lives and it was great to be able to explain what a relationship with God can look like. Then another friend, Grant, and I shared with two other high school girls who were also catholic. It was awesome to be able to interact with so many different people just through the music being played.

On top of  all this I started my job this week and well, let’s just say I am very blessed to be employed but this job will most definitely be a test of my patience. Ocean’s 20 is connected with 2 other stores called Summer Wind and that’s where I worked this week. Business is slow right now and one day we only sold about $200 during my entire shift! Basically, my job is a lot of folding shirts and making sure no one shoplifts – haha, could you imagine me running after someone and tackling them on the sidewalk for stealing?! My boss claims he ran 16 blocks after a kid and through staplers at him to get him to stop…haha…I’m not sure I believe him. And I can’t decide if folding shirts all day will make me more aware of how I fold my own clothes or make me care even less how wrinkled they are… ;) Also, I joined a very nice gym who cut Crusade an amazing deal on membership. With so much mental, emotional, and physical demand of Project you need some kind of outlet and working out is definitely one of them!

However, I do have to say that the highlight of this week was Thursday. During our Lighthouse meeting it began storming and apparently there were two tornado warnings that we weren’t aware of as well as flooding. When we left the meeting there was about five inches of water on the road and cars were barely making it around intersections. (I also videotaped this so you can look for it on facebook).  By the time we got to the hotel and about a half hour later there was a foot of water and little waves in the parking lot!  It was the craziest thing so we all went out and played in the rain and played tug-o-war in the parking lot! (or I mean small lake by that time :P It was definitely the  most fun we’ve had on Project so far!

Well, this has gotten pretty lengthy but one of the points made by staff that was the most crucial to me this week is that we are all where we are for a reason. No matter what you have gone through or experienced, God has you where you are. Also, at Lighthouse, the pastor explored what it meant to be an authentic Christian and how authenticity plays into our lives. This is something I feel I am continually striving for in my relationship with God - to be genuinely authentic and real with people. Fellowship with believers is key and we need people to keep us accountable. We need community with the body of Christ. God continues to work in and through my heart and is never ceasing to amaze me; his strength is assuring and his control is comforting. Thanks for all your prayer and I hope all is well with you. Enjoy your weekend!

 

 

Lighthouse

I want to start off by explaining why I created this blog. I made this because I want to be real with you. I want for you to be able to experience a piece of this ministry you’re supporting, and to know what God is doing in Virginia Beach and my own life. I want these blogs to be honest, sincere, and most of all Godly encouragement to you; I love to write, but I don’t desire to write for my own sake or your approval; I desire for God to speak through me and use me to reach out to people back at home while I’m here. I love to share what I learn and I believe we can all learn from each other. Therefore, I am challenging myself to be vulnerable through this blog and I would love to read any responses from you. Please please please don’t hesitate to write back or contact me – I would love to talk to you or learn what God is doing in your life as well!

With that said, I’ll continue.

On Thursday nights we partner with a local church called Trinity to put on a service called “Lighthouse”. This service is open to the public and is intended to reach people 20-30 years old. The purpose is to invite the individuals we’ve shared our faith with during the week and build community among the city. Last night was our first meeting and it was very powerful. The pastor of Trinity, Randy Singer, spoke and shared the story of his good friend, Kamal. Kamal lives in the Middle East and was raised Islamic. At the age of 7 he committed to be a terrorist for his country and when he was hospitalized after an accident later in life, he was taken into the home of a Christian doctor because he didn’t have family or the means to pay hospital bills. Needless to say, Kamal accepted Christ and became a Christian through experiencing the family’s Christ-like love and compassion. We’re talking a man who had killed many people, who had served as a terrorist the majority of his life. At the end of the story, Randy got Kamal on the phone and he was able to tell us himself how he found God and how his life is changed. It was one of the most touching testimonies I have heard, not to mention all the more surreal to hear him over the phone. No doubt that God is mighty to save!

It’s amazing to know that the same God that is working in peoples’ hearts in Virginia Beach is the same God working in the Middle East, in Jackson and East Lansing, in my own heart and yours. The God of the universe, the God that created mountains and microscopic bacteria and every living thing loves and desires each and every heart. He loves and desires everything He created with a passion no one can fathom. As one of the staff workers said during a training session this week, “How could anyone stand before this ocean, and still deny that God is real?” I can’t deny that God is real. I’ve never felt Him more real in my life than in the past year. Reflecting on everything God has brought me through this past year from transitioning to college, establishing my own independence and community at MSU, feeling called to change my major from Nursing to Social Work, experiencing the suicidal death of a close friend, doing ministry in Panama City during spring break, raising financial support to come to Va Beach…I can’t deny that God is real. Wednesday nights are “Date Night with Jesus” and this week I went on a run with worship music. During my run, I heard a song by Starfield called “Cry in my Heart” and one of the lyrics is “for what do I have if I don’t have you Jesus, what in this life could mean anymore? You are my rock, you are my glory, you are the lifter of my head.” This is who God is in my life: my rock, glory, and lifter of my head. For what do I have if I don’t have Jesus? Nothing.

The majority of the New Testament is written by the apostle Paul, who endured persecution, being stoned, jail, and STILL he had an unstoppable passion for the lost. I incredibly admire Paul’s strength and unfaltering faith; he wept and struggled and suffered for people who didn’t know Jesus, people that Paul didn’t even know. One area that I know I want to grow in this summer is my compassion. I want God to completely break my heart for the lost, the generations of people that don’t know Jesus.

The truth is, God IS the good news and if He is Lord of my life and my everything, if He has changed my heart and is everything good and perfect, why would I ever hesitate to share my faith with the people I love? Why would I ever be ANYTHING BUT passionate for their heart or for them to know Jesus, to have eternal life, and to have it with Christ? I want to have Paul’s compassion and God’s broken heart for the lost. I apologize for not being bold in moments when I could’ve shared Christ with some of you, because He is everything and I want to genuinely do that through this blog. I want to share my faith and I pray that I am only encouragement to you. My prayer is that wherever you are in life, Christ-follower or not, that you come to know and experience Christ’s love and plan for you.

Tomorrow we're putting on an outreach in the form of a picture scavenger hunt around the city and Monday I start my job at Ocean's 20. Also, praise God that almost all of the Project students have found jobs. I'm excited for the week and all that's planned! Hope all is well! :)

Welcome to Virginia Beach!

Whoo!  We have safely arrived in Virginia Beach and this is officially my first blog post. :)

First of all, I can’t believe I am here or that I will be living here for the next 2 ½ months; it feels more like a short vacation and not a residency so far, then again it’s still the first week. :)

The road-trip was quite interesting with events ranging from almost running out of gas on the Ohio turnpike, an old truck-driver motioning for us to flash him (eww and no we didn’t), not being allowed to check into our reserved hotel room until Jess’s mom faxed her info to the desk, to which we  threatened that if we couldn’t stay, we would sleep in the lounge and go to breakfast in the morning, haha, just kidding. But, to make up for it we inserted a dollar in their pop machine and got 6 drinks all at once. We also got overcharged a penny for the room and had to sign for it. I’ve always wanted to go on a road trip with just my girls so it was lots of fun! :)

Upon arriving to Va Beach, it is not at all what I expected.  I didn’t know how inner city and touristy it was. The city is very dense and compacted and the main strip is a mini-version of Vegas lined with college students, clubs, restaurants, bars, tourist shops, hotels, resorts, tattoo and piercing studios…the energy and excitement is everywhere and the ministry available is definitely evident. The Cerca del Mar is an interesting motel so far and there are 5 of us girls sharing a room, tight and cozy ;) I also expected Virginia to be more tropical but it’s very much just like Michigan with an ocean.

I can already see the need for Christ in this city and I pray that God will continue to show me the need for Him here. Living at MSU exposes you to different people and situations but I have never lived in an inner-city environment and I will trust in God’s protection.

The staff and other students on project are incredible! There is nothing like being thrown into fellowship and community from the second you park your car. Right away we’re meeting, living, and investing in each other. What’s awesome is to know that each student has a passion for God and a story or reason for being in Va Beach. However, I will honestly admit, that just like everyone has told me, it IS overwhelming and I know that this summer will be an intense challenge for me. This week is all orientation and training, aka: information overload. But, my excitement and passion for being here is overpowering the stress of information right now.

I am on a ministry team called World Vision and our job is to inform Project students of what ministry is happening in other countries; we are to learn about the need for Christ outside of the US through testimonies, mission organizations, etc and pray for countries as well. I also successfully landed a job along the boardwalk at a store called Ocean’s 20.; it’s a chain of 3 shops with touristy clothes, retail, gifts, etc…Job-hunting was a little frustrating at first but God always provides and I feel very blessed to have been offered a job so quickly into the week! I will be working Monday-Friday 9am-4pm, definitely an answer to prayer!

Today we start our first evangelism outreach along the boardwalk of the beach and I’m excited to be sharing again. God is a crazy God and already this first week has been tremendously eye-opening! Thanks so much for your prayers and support as always and I hope to be updating at least once a week when I can get to internet cafes. Love you all and hope all is well! :)