Prayer

I would like to ask you to please join me in prayer. One thing that I have learned over the past year is that as a family we need to be open and honest with each other with our joys as well as our burdens. I have learned that we are not called to carry the burdens of life on our own, but take them to each other as a community and allow each of us to learn and grow in all things. So today I am coming to you open and vulnerable asking you as the people in my life to pray.



The past week has been very hard for me. I have been drained emotionally, physically and spiritually. I know that God is leading us at Arlington Youth Dynamics in a new direction as the school year has begun, which is awesome and wonderful, but has also been hard. As Ventus (our Saturday night service) has begun there has been an air of anticipation and excitement around the office and among the students. It has been awesome watching them experience God in ways that they have not before, for them to see and experience the glory and beauty of the Lord, this process has also challenged me to learn to “be” with the Lord more. If I am expecting the students to be reverent before the Lord and understand the majesty of His holiness, I must also do the same. In this process I have learned that I don’t know how to be still, I have a hard time being quiet and most of all I don’t allow the time for this even if I wanted to. Most of this is do to a fear that I have of finances. I am terrified of money, debt and everything else that comes with it and with that have taken on a second job trying to make ends meet until my support raising is finished. As of now I have $750 per month to raise to be at 100% supported. This amount of money terrifies me, keeps me awake at night and honestly has contributed to me not resting.



This is just me trying to be open, honesty and vulnerable with you, my family. Please be praying. Please be praying that I will learn the line of responsibility of finances and the line of trusting in God. Please be praying that this last $750 per month comes in soon, that people will see how God really is working here in Arlington and would really want to be a part of what is happening here. Please be in prayer that the time and effort that I put into these students will be intentional, real and honest. Please be in prayer that I will learn to “be” in life.



Thank you all for everything. Thank you for believing that the Lord can move and can be heard in those small quiet places, thank you for your prayers and support. Most of all thank you for being a part of my life, I truly love you all. Thank You.

Interesting Quote

My friend LIzzy posted this quote. I found it interesting and would like to know what you think of it. What do you think about our "Christian Culture"? What about this quote? Does it make you think? It sure made me think.

"The proper distance from a culture does not take Christians out of that culture. Christians are not the insiders who have taken flight to a new "Christian culture" and become outsiders to their own culture; rather when they have responded to the call of the Gospel they have stepped, as it were, with one foot outside their own culture while the other remaining firmly planted in it. They are distant, and yet they belong....distance born out of allegiance to God and God's future...
Both distance and belonging are essential. Belonging without distance destroys...but distance without belonging isolates."

-Miroslav Volf
Exclusion and Embrace

Sorry

So, I have to tell you all that I am sorry. I am so sorry about the lack of posting. Because it has been so long since I have posted anything I will give you a run down of what has happened:

- the golf marathon happened. It went well and the golfers had fun. I golfed 50 holes before noon and have to say that I still can't figure out why in the world people find this a fun activity.

- I started school again. I am back to going full time. So I am taking four classes, foundations of Ministry, Pastoral Counseling, Preaching and History of Christianity. It is going to be an interesting semester. I am the only female in preaching class. It is amusing, I must say.

- We began a new Saturday night service that we are calling Ventus. It is a time of conversation, community and conversation. It has been going for 2 weeks now and has really been an awesome experience. Students are experiencing God in new ways. It has been great.

- I learned to love the rock. My first real rock climbing experience was not a good one. I decided from that point that I would never love to rock climb, that it was dumb and that I was better off in the water. My friend Sarah was determined to change my mindset. She was determined to make me love the rock and on Sunday this was accomplished. We went to Mt. Erie in Anacortes and it was awesome. I must say that the rock rocks!!! I still love the water though.

- Eli was diagnosed with an Autoimmune disease. For those of you who don't know I have a dog named Eli...he is my baby boy. He got really sick a couple of days ago and this morning he was really bad. His ears, nose and eyes were all grose and finally he began to walk and move around like an old man. I freaked out and after alot of crying and worrying took him to the doctor. He has an autoimmune disease. At least that is what they are thinking right now. I hope that he is going to be alright.

So that is what is going on in my life right now. Tomorrow morning I leave for the ranch for two days to be food staff and an IK guide. I hope that it goes well.