Ministering ministry

It was the Monday before spring break, and I was pretty certain that I would be spending my break at Furman. I was drained of energy, felt so far behind in school and life in general, and just felt I needed a breather break to prevent a massive breakdown. I had found my excuse in EVM obligations. Well, these EVM obligations proved to be nonexistent. This may be “unchristianlike”, but I told God that if he wanted me to go to Pittsburgh, that I would find out without asking that the EVM stuff was truly canceled. Well, as soon as I walked into Rodney’s office that afternoon for something, he told me it was canceled. So in this moment when I should have been excited that I would now get to go on this great mission trip, I was whining inside. I wasn’t sure how I was gonna make it, but I felt that God was putting it in my face to go. So, I packed Wednesday after lunch, drove to the chapel, went to class, then left to Pittsburgh with 8 incredible people. I was pooped. But I wanted to believe that God had everything under control.
Off we trucked to the nowhere of nowheres, a small ministry distribution house in the 15th poorest county in the nation, somewhere in West Virginia. Our group immediately began to bond as we tried to pass the time in the van. There were many laughs and great memories made. The people we worked with and served in West Virginia were amazingly genuine and joyful servants of Christ; it was a priceless experience. They were examples of giving God everything, trusting Him with everything, and relying on Him for everything; and because of their willingness, so many lives are touched weekly. The couple reflected Jesus through and through. They exemplified the wholehearted servant I hope to but wonder if I’ll ever be. I believe I had been suffering from not serving others enough, because as I was able to serve, I was reenergized and began to feel more at peace inside.
Pittsburgh was wow! With all the big city and old city stuff, I felt like I was in a foreign country. God opened my eyes to the desparateness of so many people as we asked college students the question, “If you could ask God one question what would it be?” Answers ranged from “What is your favorite color?” to “I’m agnostic, so I can’t answer that.” The most asked question was simply, “Why?”
Our original plan for Saturday fell through, so we did God’s plan of prayer walking many different campuses in the area. I admit, I was kinda unsure how it would go, because prayer walking for a day honestly was overwhelming to me. Recently, my prayer life hasn’t been nearly like I want it to be, and so a whole day of it? Well, I wasn’t excited. I wasn’t sure what to do. We got to the first campus, got out of the van, Rodney read the campuses specific prayer requests and told us when to meet back. And I was on my own. Ok, so I looked around to see what the others were doing, and they started walking. I stood there for a minute, and then set off in a different direction. Rodney told us to let God tell us what to pray for. I wasn’t sure how that was gonna work, but thought it couldn’t hurt to try. It turned out to be the day I had been thirsting for. I’m sure I wouldn’t have found it back at Furman. As I began to talk and walk with God, He really did help me pray. For example, a bee landed on a flower, and I felt God saying that like the bee gets its source from the flower, I needed to pray that the people on the campus would know that God was the true source for their life, and that they would constantly draw from Him. At the last campus, I cut my toe before prayer walking with my partner Jon. Well, my toe didn’t want to walk, so we sat down in a little garden. We just sat in silence for about 20 minutes praying. With the disguise of me ministering to others by praying for them, God miraculously ministered to me. He reminded my stupid self of his power, love, grace, and faithfulness that I tend to forget or limit. He put my mind at ease about craziness that had been rushing around. And most of all, He reminded me that He is completely in control and that He is right beside me, sometimes even carrying me. No, I’m not back to the totally carefree, no worries girl that I used to be, but I know that God has my hand and He is helping me through this tougher time of my life. I have to rely on Him and trust Him even when I can’t make sense of what is going on in my life. Thankfully, our God is patient, forgiving, and unconditionally loving.

new record!!!

Goodmorning! Just for the record, i went to bed last night at 8:30, and got up this morning at 7:30! I don't remember the last time i was in bed for 11 hours. Kevin's rec team lost, but he made a beautiful long pass to his teammate for a bunch of yards one play. they were so cute. Granddaddy's party was really good. I have a very interesting, unique, and diverse family. But when we get together, despite our extreme differences, we can have a superly amazing time.
ok, have a great Sunday! i see sunshine!
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The Perfect Present

My assistant basketball coach told our team a story in high school that i'll never forget. It was titled the perfect present and related the present (as opposed to the past or future) to a present (like a gift). I really like thiking of each day as a present from God. Like, right now it is 8:40am. All i've done is eaten an apple, used the bathroom, drank some diet pepsi, looked at the sports section of the newspaper, and said goodmorning to my family. There is so much more to unwrap, and i can be excited with the anticipation of a child on Christmas morning about what this day will hold. What conversations i'll have, what I'll see, what I'll learn, and where i'll receive and share love. i realize this may seem a bit wierd- i've had friends give me a funny look when ive said "each day i like a present, waiting to be unwrapped". Some gifts are treasured forever, others are misunderstood, and still others are just not too cool. But, with each gift, you know that someone cared about you enough to give it to you. I'm not gonna say every day i have is glorious and that i never have days i just wanna crawl in a hole, but God did bless me with a day. The blessings and challenges that fill up the day are added bonuses. ok, so enough philosiphizing.
Yesterday was incredible! Last week was by far my favorite week at school. Quality time with friends is priceless. Yesterday, after i got to check off my physics test, it was FAF time (for you non furman BCM people, that means Friday Afternoon Football which = much fun). I'm not great, and was reminded of this when my team mate asked me if i'm always follwing in my sister's shadow, but hay, Kristen is extreme athletic, and i have fun. also, i reached one of my life goals by applying what i learned in physics. yeah, that sounds nerdy, but really, we talked about how to best land a back tuck according to physics, and so i tried, and did the round off back tuck i've been trying to land since i was in middle school. anyway, then, kristen and i left southcarolina and went to my brother's football game, homecoming, against hart county (our big rival). Incredible game. I was so proud of my sister would represented the 9th grade on the homecoming court. She definitely sported that dress better than i did back in the day. Kyle (QB) led his team to the first Franklin County victory over Hart county in 15 years! When we first arrived and i got out of the car, i saw my best friend from high school and he ran and gave me a hug- ok, what are the chances of that? thanks God! and i saw so many of the people who have become a part of me and my life. I had the priceless privelege of sitting beside my Granddaddy on his 80th birthday. We are having a surprise party for him today with tons of family (he is one of 14 and had 5 kids). I'll probably fight back tears like i did last nite at times, but i'm excited. He can read greeneggs and ham and play cross the line like no one else. And he is one of the few people i know who share such a great love for ice skating with me. actually, i think he instilled that love in me. He used to always call us and tell us the chanel to tune to to see iceskating. I love my Granddaddy. He is fighting cancer right now and finished his last bit of treatment last monday (not an attempt to destroy the cancer, but to slow it down). Grandmama asked me to sit real close to him last nite to help keep him warm. It's kinda scary being at school so much, because you never know which shared moment might be the last. I will treasure our moments of last nite forever. Some of my earliest memories of him are at football games. He used to walk the field as the team doctor, in a long brown coat and a white franklin county cap. and then when it got colder, he would switch to his brown hat with the circle brim. If you think i tell corny jokes, you should meet my Granddaddy, the King of corniness. Sometimes we laugh because of how corny he ventured to go. After the game, when my family could breath and relax, we went to meet Kyle on the field. after the newspaper man interviewed him, we took turns taking pictures with him. I love my brother. Not because he is a franklin county football hero, and not because he is in many ways my hero, but he is my brother. and his love for me has been steady and sure for our whole lives, even when i've been a loser family member, he didn't turn his back on me. he loved me more and stepped out of his comfort zone to help me. He is amazing, but he is way to humble to consider admitting it. i like having sister bragging rights. ok, well, i got tons of work to do, my little brother is playing Hart County this afternoon. He is also a QB among other positions. and then its the surprise party. This day can turn out so many different ways. I'm excited to get to live it and experience it.
ps, thanks to EA and other friends for helping me realize that Top Gun isn't a cheerleading movie, but a helicopter movie, Top Gun is also the name of a group of competition cheerleaders my HS competed against. im sorry, i was confused. as Dr. Brewer would say- thanks for "dispelling a modicum of ignorance"
I'm so thankful i know who gives me this day:
God sent His Son, they called Him Jesus; He came to love, heal, and forgive; He lived and died to buy my pardon, An empty grave is there to prove my Savior Lives.
How sweet to hold a newborn baby, And feel the pride, and joy He gives; But greater still the calm assurance, This child cna face uncertain days because He lives.
And then one day I'll cross the river; I'll fight life's final war with pain; And then as death gives way to vict'ry, I'll se the lights of glory and I'll know He lives.
Because He lives I can face tomorrow; Because He lives all fear is gone; Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living just because He lives.
Have a blessed present! Love ya!
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