A hike I took on my little trip to Hot Springs AK with Darby
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,[f] Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. - Hebrews 4:14-16
I have really taken comfort in how Jesus is one who can empathize with our weaknesses recently. We don't serve a distant or cold God who is unconcerned with our lives. Jesus came down to earth and experienced humanness. He draws close to us in our joy and despair. He draws close to me as I navigate all the transitions of leaving FOCUS, becoming a social worker, and three of my closest friends becoming married. It's been a mixture of excitement, uncertainty, stress, and joy. Part of me wants the changes to slow down and part of me wants the changed to have already happened. A song that keeps being laid on my heart as I move towards this new chapter in life is I don't wanna go by Chris Renzema. This has been the song of my heart the past few years. The chorus states: I don't wanna go if you're not going before me. This is my prayer that no matter where I go I want to go where God is going. I never want to step out without him. I want to join him in what he is doing. I am excited to see where that goes in this next chapter as a social worker.
I will forever be grateful for the past seven years with focus. (Four as a student and three on staff!) What a special and beautiful time where I got to participate in what God is doing on the college campus. Not only has my life be transformed I have gotten to witness and be a part of others lives being changed. And Jesus isn't done moving. Thank you for being on my ministry team the past couple of years. You have been a part of Jesus's kingdom work at UTA as well. You made this time possible for me.
To wrap up here are some photos from the past month.
Sophie and Juli! I love these girls. Sophie with be an apprentice at UTA this fall. Juli will be starting the nursing program!
Bachelorette for Stephanie. We met through FOCUS in my undergrad. She is a dear friend of mine and I am so excited for her.
Bridal party for Kaylee's wedding!
Kaylee my sweet friend and roommate of the past three years on her wedding day.
From Emily M's wedding day with the roomies. I love this girl endlessly.
Don't forget to check out the student testimony below!
Cedar Ridge Preserve School is officially back in session and so is campus ministry! It has been sweet getting back into the swing of core and meeting up with students. Many interactions have been virtual lately due to the increase of COVID cases. I am so thankful that there are ways we can meet in person safely and virtually when that is not an option. Ministry would be much more difficult without the technology we have today. On a hike with Juli and Riannon Due to COVID we rotate the people who can come to our weekly ministry-wide meetings (Deep Dive) with the service streamed to the rest of the community. It was my cores turn this past week and it was so special to get to come in person again. We also started our outdoor worship session that we are going to be doing every week before deep dive from now on. Worshipping as a church body is so vital and important. Every time I get a special chance to do it again safely I remember how sweet and filling the experience is. I am psyched w
Valentines Day Party My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water. Jeremiah 2:13 At a student leader meeting recently, Jalen (one of my fellow campus ministers at UTA) led us in a discussion on identity in God. Through Jeremiah, God was calling Israel to turn back to him. They had turned aside to things that weren't God and couldn't give them life. Broken cisterns that couldn't give them life giving water. What are your broken cisterns? Where do you go for things that God can give? I thought I would share the questions Jalen gave us as the process ministered to me. Perhaps it will minister to you. The following questions should help you to determine what your broken cisterns are: When someone asks you to tell them a bit about yourself, what's the first thing you want them to know about you? What aspect of who you are offends you the most if people u
Comments
Post a Comment