9/24/07

Fall is here. I am really enjoying getting back into the normal swing of things. Attendance at group has still be low, but the teens that are coming are consistent and really hungry for the Word. I am praying that God brings those teens that have wandered away back ,but also that the time I have with the faithful is quality.

We are studying the patriarchs right now, and the kids teens seem to really be getting into it. We hit the story of Joseph next week. He’s my favorite old testament character. I think the teens will enjoy it too.

5/4/07

Spring is finally here!!! YAY!!! That means that the summer crazyness is coming quickly. I am excited, but at the same time very aware that time is running short to do a lot of planning.

Lord, we need two male chaperones who feel called to work with youth this summer. I need help conceptualizing the leadership retreat. Lord, we need your assurance in this whole house situation. We need your peace.

4/6/07

Grace. God gave me grace today in the form of a snow storm. The snow storm canceled school for two days which gave me badly needed rest and more time to work on my paper. The snow storm convinced Dr. Suksi to give us the weekend and turn in our papers on Monday, which since my paper is already done, gives me time to perfect it and do my absolute best. The snow storm is forcing us to slow down, although in the coming days may cause us to be overloaded.

Who knew that April (snow) showers could be make so much impact. I need things to slow down, but that is not going to happen anytime soon. God, please, draw me close to you in this time when I feel like I could lose all control. Lord, I need to cling to you.

4/3/07

I am determined to maintain this page, but my hand is injured right now. I will have to try more later.

3/22/07

Trusting God is an interesting concept to me right now, probably because He is testing me so much in that area right now. Take a deep breath, and depend on the one who created you. He loves you, right? Sure he does. Kaleb and I were talking to a good friend of ours who is moving his family down to Kansas City to go to school. Pretty normal thing to do, except he has no idea where they are going to live, or what they are going to do for income. God hasn’t told him the details that far ahead yet, but they are still moving. That is a big step of trust, and we will be praying for them. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths. We can’t lean on our own understanding, because frankly we don’t understand much. He will direct your paths, or He will make your paths straight, another translation says. He knows where you are going, so let Him drive. We are in a financial situation right now that we are feeling called into, and the only way it makes sense is if God is the one calling us to it. To the world, it’s complete nonsense. That’s what I love about God; He is so much bigger than nonsense.

2/27/07

Hey, I’m getting better at this whole consistency thing. The semester goes on, but thankfully spring break is right around the corner. I am so excited about Ryan and Dori’s wedding this weekend, but in typical girl fashion I have no idea what I am going to wear. I am hoping that Kaleb will dance with me.

30 hour famine went very well. I find it interesting, that after all the preparation and planning that went into the weekend event, the most powerful part was the Immersed worship service that had nothing to do with me. That’s all God. That’s how it should be though. Hopefully I used the weekend to point the youth in the right direction, and it all came together during worship, but I really think I had very little to do with it. Humbling, but relieving all the same. It takes the pressure off of me when I know that no matter how much or how little I plan, God is going to reach their hearts whenever He wants to, and my job is to simply be obedient.

The weekends events were not completely with impact. The kids said that they learned a lot about Uganda and have a greater compassion for how children live (and die) every day in those parts of the world. Everyone of them amazed me with their upbeat and encouraging attitudes, not to mention their incredibly dedicated work ethic. They cleaned Pastor Chris’ church top to bottom without a single complaint. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a group of teenagers serve to ruthlessly. Hey, they are even starting to internalize the New Testament song I have been trying to teach them, as was evident walking down third street in the freezing weather.

Thank you, Lord, that you are in control, and that you set up these meetings in an uncomplicated way. Thank you that we don’t have to wait for an event to come before you in worship and get our hearts right with you. I love you, Lord. Keep my stamina up for just a little while longer.

Hannah

2/13/07

The semester drags on. I am so looking forward to the 30 hour famine lock in. It will be a nice break in our routines, and I hope the youth get as much out of it as possible. The down side, it means a precious weekend gone with very little rest. Kaleb reminded me last night that I could take that Sunday off and stay home, but at the same time, if I want the church congregation to be more informed and enthusiastic about the youth I will need to give a report on how the weekend went. i am sooo tired.

Lord, be my energy. Be my thoughts when I seemingly can’t think any more.

1/19/07

Ever get that feeling like you can’t stretch any further or you will just snap like a rubber band? I have been feeling like that lately.

Christmas break is over. It’s cheesy to listen to Christmas songs now, although I desperately need that hope most of the year. We are all back in school, or back to the every day grind of work, and it’s so easy just to go into robot mode.

I need God’s joy. The joy of your salvation, Lord. Psalm 51:12 says this: “Restore to me the JOY of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.”

A willing spirit. That will sustain me? Your word says it will. A willing spirit to....do what? A willing spirit to follow you. To lean on you. To trust you. To let you be the breath in my lungs. Lord, make me willing.

12/19/06

First of all, I want to say how incredibly proud I am of all the youth involved at Abba’s House. Last week we went to a local long term nursing home and played a game with the residents there. Even though some of the residents were not as responsive as the kids may have liked, the youth still showed an amazing amount of compassion for these lonely people. Some of the youth came away with a new appreciation for the older generation, some were frustrated with the bad attitudes of the residents they were paired with, but all came away with the benefits of the experience. We prayed for the residents’ requests and made a statement of faith for the nurses to see. I am so proud of you guys!!!!

This week we went and saw the movie The Nativity Story. Besides the compressed timeline, I was impressed with the overall cultural accuracy and moving emotional performances. I don’t know what the kids came away with, but I did get a few comments like “I thought it was going to be boring, but I really enjoyed it.” So that’s a good thing.

In the new year, only 12 days away, I really want the most that God has to offer for these kids. I want them to grow in their faith and their personal relationships. I want them to realize that God is someone who wants to be intimately connected to every single part of their lives. I want them to be healed, including their families.

For me, I want to know Him more. I want to wake up with His songs in my head, and fall asleep knowing that I did His will that day. Lord I want more of you.

Adam, have a great time at One Thing. Come back changed. I know you will.

11/20/06

So this is the new site. What do you think? Why a new site? Because the old one seemed tired and sloppy. It needed a revamp, so I revamped it. Hopefully it will be useful and used.

So this week is Thanks Giving. I am so excited for this break in the crazyness of the semester. I am also thankful for the time I will get to spend with family. Kaleb’s mom is a great cook, and we always enjoy going to her house. Carl always has some new exciting stories, and it just feels good to be invested in.

I have to admit though, I am falling into the trap of Christmas. It’s a good trap I suppose. I am not a materialistic Christmas person, I just love the celebration of the season. I’ve been playing Christmas music in my house since the first frost. I was reminded by Focus on the Family today to not pass Thanks Giving over. It has very important qualities we need to focus on, mainly thanking our Father and Creator for everything He has blessed us with. The good and the bad, because God works everything for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.(Romans 8:28)

One thing I am so thankful for are all of the young people that I am blessed to have a relationship with through Christ. I love you guys so much.

Lord, I just pray for all of “my” kids that you have put into my life. Thanks Giving can be a stressful time for families, and I just pray that you help all of their families to come together in love. I pray that you protect them in their travels, and bring them all back to learn more about your word, Lord. Lord, help them to share your love this week, with their families and with their friends, and with those people that they really have a hard time loving. Help them to reach out with your visible Gospel, Lord.

And Lord, Help me to stay in your word so that I am an effective tool for you, Lord. So that I am filled up with you and spilling over. I love you, Lord.

Amen