Storm 2012

   I am currently recovering from my very first Disciple Now (Storm) as a small group leader! I had 9 girls in the 8th grade, and what a sweet blessing they were! The weekend was crazy, and I have never been so tired, but I would not trade the past three days for anything!

   I was immediately blessed because I was in 8th grade when I really let Christ take control of my life. I connected with most of the girls by sharing my experiences with dating, God, quiet time, and insecurities that remain the common thread linking girls together. These girls impressed me big time. Their desire to know more and be more for Christ blew me away. From broken homes to family deaths, they have held to one another as well as to the Lord.

   Together, we overcame our fears of rejection as we approached over fifty strangers to ask them if they had any need they would like us to pray for. Even the quietest girl in the group was able to do it. One girl literally bounced over to be exclaiming, "I DID IT! I OVERCAME MY FEAR!" What a blessing!

   There are tons of stories I could share about all the little things God did in our lives this weekend at Storm, but i am content to know He isn't finished with me or those 9 young women from Cana Baptist. He will continue to move and work in our lives through the pain and the sorrow and the tears as well as through the joys and the blessings and the calm.

    Cana girls, I love you so much! Thank you for your open hearts and for letting me into your lives for a few days. I am looking forward to many D-Nows with other wonderful girls like all of you!

Insufficient

"Lord,
I am insufficient in everything I will do today.
I have insufficient wisdom to make the decisions I will be required to make.
I have insufficient strength to resist the temptations I will face.
I have insufficient skills to manage the conflict that may arise.
I have insufficient resources to minister to the people I will encounter.

I am entirely dependent on You."

-Chris Tiegreen, One Year At His Feet

And We're Off!

   My second semester in college has gotten off to an interesting start!

This World Is Not My Home

   For starters, my lovely grandmother passed away January 10. It hasn't completely sunk in yet; nevertheless, I have found it hard to be really sad about it. Don't get me wrong, I was very close to my Mama Jo, but I am so happy for her! She has been longing for a new body and "mansion just over the hilltop" for quite some time, and I cannot be more excited for her, knowing that she is continually in the presence of her Lord and many loved ones who had the joy of getting there first, including my little brother. I am so thankful for the many hours I spent with my grandmother singing hymns, keeping up with the soaps, and watching her read her Bible each and every day.

"I Hate Political Science"

   Wednesday, I walked in to my Government class for the first time. I had heard on ratemyprofessors.com that the professor was absolutely hilarious, so I was secretly pumped for this class. I had no idea what it was exactly I was walking into. This man is so completely awesome. He actually said, "Can I tell you a secret? I hate Political Science." We have something in common. He started by sharing how awesome he is and how it would be our favorite class. Then he shared his testimony of how the Lord brought him out of a really dark lifestyle and led him to his wife who had a similar background. After finding himself making quite a bit of money in a business he and a friend started, the Lord laid it on his heart to stop living extravagantly and start suffering for the sake of the Gospel. After following the Lord's leading, he learned that his son had severe autism and would quite possibly never walk and talk again. He shared the anger he had felt toward God, asking why He would give him a broken child destined to suffer. God's answer was powerful. He said, "This child is not broken. He is fearfully and wonderfully made, and I chose you to be his parent over everyone else in this world." This, among other things, revealed the heart of God to me. In Government class. I have never been so profoundly impacted in any 50 minute period of my life. To say the least, I feel like I will be learning a lot more that the three branches of government this semester!

Powerful Prayers

   This year, I am reading Chris Tiegreen's One Year Wonder of the Cross. Today's reading focused on prayer and its power. I am blessed to have roommate who is honest about her relationship with the Lord and allows me to do the same. She asked if it would be okay if we began praying together each night before we go to bed. I struggle a lot in my prayer walk, so this idea is literally a God-send. As I endeavor to increase the power of my prayers, my devotional reading had some wise and impactful words: Our prayers can bear eternal fruit and influence. It's the single most important activity we can do in the kingdom of God. We need to see ourselves as links between heaven and earth...Pray as though the Kingdom will be shaped by your prayers; Jesus promises that it will.

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Two previous blog posts were written in Tumblr at gracehowgreat.tumblr.com.