God is Awesome, Still

As I sit here and reflect over the last week, all I can say is that GOD IS AWESOME!

This past week I was given the privilege to return to the northwest and serve the OBA during kid’s camp. When I had agreed to return, I thought that I was set. I would have a job by the end of the school year, then come to kid’s camp, and then return home to prepare for the school year to come. And that is when things seemed to start falling apart. The job that I thought would be offered to me was reluctantly given to someone else. Then it seemed like no one else would hire me. I almost called Pastor Dan to tell him that I wouldn’t be able to come.

Then it occurred to me. God had opened too many doors and opportunities for this trip to become possible: He provided airfare, the money for my lifeguard certification, and many other small things that I knew that I was supposed to be at Kid’s Camp this year. So I came.

It wasn’t until I arrived at Kamp Kursa that I actually felt at peace with that decision. Our staff devotions each morning were focused on 1 John 4:16-5:2 with vs. 18 being the main focus “There is no fear in love; but perfect perfect love drives out fear.” When Pastor Jim had us read those words, I began to list all the fears I had: no job, regret, is he the one, rejection, and many more. Why do I fear about all of these things, could it be that I still have yet to grasp the perfect love of God. That is when I met John.

John is eight years old. He has had a rough life. He is being raised in a one parent home where his dad is not present. I know what that feels like. My mom left my brothers and I eleven years ago and our dad is around, but at his convenience. John got in trouble a few times on the first day, so I thought that I would hang out with him for a while. We did crafts together. He hung out by me at the pool while I was fulfilling my ‘lifeguard duties’. We ate dinner together and sat together at Chapel. The next morning we started again; missions, craft, lunch, chapel, pool, dinner, campfire. We had a great time together. John and I had some amazing conversations. He is a smart kid. I learned a little about him, while he learned a little about me. He kept saying over and over again how all he wanted was the other kids to like him, that he wanted a friend. I wanted him to know that I loved him just like he was. But most of all, I wanted him to know that God loved him even more than I did. God created John and has a purpose for his life.

Right now I think I can honestly say that I have begun to understand the “perfect love that casts out fear” because God revealed it to me through His little child. For the three days that I got to know and love on John, God was showing me the love that he gives freely to me. I am not worried anymore. If I get a job when I get home that’s great. And yet if I do not get a job, that is fine too. I cannot look at the time that I spent at Kid’s Camp this year and think that God didn’t have a purpose for me this summer.

There are many Johns in this world. I hope that everyone get the opportunity to learn from one of them as I have.

A Little Wisdom From "When in Rome"

Last night, Peggy and I watched When in Rome. In the movie Beth's sister gets married in Rome and wants her sister to be the maid of honor. She flies over and while at the wedding meets the grooms best man, Nick and they hit it off very well. Then she witnesses a kiss between Nick and a random girl and thinks her chance for love is gone. So she sits on the Fountain of Love and yells at the statue then pulls out five coins. Each coin that she 'rescues' belongs to a man who falls in love with her.

At the end of the movie she realizes she is in love with Nick, but doesn't want the love if he doesn't really love her. Then she says a line that hit home fore me:

"If I have taken away his will, it is not really love."

A big discussion that I have had a lot lately is why God gives us a choice when he knows that a lot of us will not choose to love him. It is like what Beth says in the movie. If our will is not there, it is not real love. How would I feel when I have been married for 25 years and on my anniversary my Husband knocks on the door with a dozen roses and box of candy and says that he got them for me because he had to. Or if I open the door and he says,"I love you so much that I wanted to show you by getting you these". The latter would receive a hug and kiss while the former would probably receive a slammed door in the face.

I think that this is how God feels. He doesn't want us coming to him and worshiping him because we have to, but because we want to. By giving us a choice, our love becomes more meaningful and valuable.

Thank you God for giving us a choice. It makes me realize not only how much my love for You, but how great Your love is for us that you sent Jesus to die for us knowing that most of the world would not choose You. I love you.

AMEN

Job Opportunity???

While hanging out at th Moysiuk home, I decided that I would go and take a nap around 12:30. About 3 I received a phone call from the principal of Jame Bowie Middle School in Simms, TX informing me that she had noticed my application and that I was the only applicant that had math experience and asked if I would be interested in an eighth grade math position for next fall. I told her that I was and she asked if I could come in for an interview.

Here en-lies the problem. I am in Olympia, WA until July 13. When I said yes to returning to work up here, I thought that I had a job lined up and that I wouldn't need to worry about being in the Northwest for a few weeks. Well as school came to a close, a job was not offered. Being a human, I became worried when day after day there was no offer and no returns on phone calls or emails. My fear was to arrive in Olympia and then get a call about a job that required me to be in Texarkana. So I put everything in God's hands. I knew that coming to Olympia was a huge risk, but God had opened the door very wide and if I was supposed to have a job next fall, HE would provide on for me.

Back to the call...after she asked me to come in for an interview, I informed her that I was in Olympia, WA and that I would not be returning until July 13. She then let me know that the school was hoping to fill the position by next week. But if they hadn't filled it by the 13th she would call me when I got back. If that is where God wants me to be, the job will still be open after July 13. Until then, there is nothing else that I can do.

God, I come to you now with this job opportunity. If this is where I am supposed to go next fall, then I am willing. But if not, then fill the position before I return home. I am not going to worry about anything. I am giving this to you and seeking your wisdom and guidance. I know that I have slid away from you lately, but I am turning to you. You know what is best for me and your will is what I want. If this job is not for me, I pray that you provide another. But for right now, it is all for You. I am taking it out of my hands and putting it into Yours.

AMEN

Tumwater Falls

it never ceases to amaze me how beautiful God's creation really is. And I got to experience that first had yesterday while I was out with Rebecca and Ms. Peggy. Since the planned car-wash got canceled, we drove a round a little bit. After going to the store and then the farmers market down town, they took me to Tumwater Falls.

This little stretch of about a quarter of a mile is beautiful. The vegetation is great and the water is powerful. I could have stayed there the rest of the day, but we had to leave. I had a great time and I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.

Back in the Northwest

It took four year for McKenzie Rd Baptist Church to wrangle me back to Olympia, WA, but it has finally happened: I am back in the Northwest.

When I arrived on Thursday, memories and an overwhelming feeling of satisfaction came over me. I was back and I was ready to work. First it was off to the church to say hi to Pastor Dan and to sort of catch up and talk about kids camp. Then it was on to the Panter house where I had to wait for the host family I am staying with to return from a doctor's appointment. I didn't mind waiting because it gave me some time to catch up with Alyssa and Mrs. Laurie. Sam even came by for an impromptu gab session. After all this, it was finally time for me to head over to the Moisuk home.

John, Peggy and Rebecca have opened their home to me for the time that I am here. John has worked with the youth in the past and Rebecca is one of the students that was in the childrens ministry my first two summers up here and then was a part of the youth when they came to Florence, AL. She is great. They all are. I am looking forward to get to know Mrs. Peggy a little more as in the past I haven't spent much time with her, but now I have a few weeks

To Do:

youth carwash

Prep for kids camp

youth movie night

kids camp

prep for world changers

world changers

Its a full trip, but it will be great. Can't wait to get started

It feels good to be back.

The Fork

I was looking through some old pictures last week and came across this one. This picture was taken in Porto Astro, Greece in 2007 by one of my team members (thanks Jarred). One day while we were there, I was given the task of separating the forks into sets to see which design had the most and so on and so forth. As I was separating them, many of the designs had 100 or 75 or 50. But this one fork had no match. No other fork in the hundreds that we sifted through matched this one. So I declared it my fork and hid it away in my luggage.

I used this fork in an object lesson recently. Like the fork, there is only one me. God made me special with my like, dislikes, hobbies, personality. Even those times when I don't like exactly who I am, the fork helps me remember that God loves who I am and made me the way I am.

I will never give up my fork. It reminds me each and every day that God loves me and there is nothing better than that.

Its 100+ Degrees...In My Room

It is not that unusual for it to reach 110 degrees where I am from. You walk out side and walk to your car that is less than 100ft away and then feel like you have just jumped out of the pool. So when I got home from church is was not that weird for it to be a little warm in my bedroom. Especially since my room faces west and when the sun starts its descent, it begins to really heat up and the air conditioner starts getting turned down.

So this afternoon was no different. As it started to warm up, I started to turn down the air conditioner and waited. It kept getting hotter. So I turned it down a little more. And it just kept getting hotter. The next time I looked the thermostat said that it was 98 degrees and it was just getting hotter. So I went down stairs and told my grandparents, went back up and grabbed some things that don't need to stay in that kind of heat, and went back down to where it was a least 84 degrees so it doesn't feel as bad.

Come to find out, the compressor has gone out and now it is just a waiting game. Waiting for the guy that is going to come look at it. Waiting for his diagnosis. We might have a hot night on our hands.

Esther

I have started a five week bible study called "Espresso with Esther".

I have always been fascinated with this story. A young Jewish foreigner gets talked into joining the king's harem by her uncle Mordecai. She gets beauty treatments for a year and wins the favor of the head guard who send her away for her night with the king dressed in the most amazing jewels and perfumes. She then impressed the king so much that he made her his queen.

After a while Jews become victim to a genocide of sorts. Mordecai asks Esther to go to the king and ask him to stop. Knowing that she could die, she voiced her concerns. Mordecai then suggested that maybe she has risen to this royal position for just a time as this.

She fasts and prays and goes before the king, who extends his scepter. Haman is hung, Mordecai is raised up and the Jews are saved.

This story has always fascinated me. For the next five weeks I am going to delve into this story and pick it apart.Get ready for many lessons from Esther.

A Return to Blogging

So I feel like I haven't been here in a long time. I have actually missed being in the blog-sphere (even thought I think I started it because it was a fad and it lost its appeal after a while). None the less, I am back even if only for a little while.

The reason for this clandestine return is I am now 16 days away from returning to the Northwest. I got a call in March from Carmen. We talked for a little while and the conversation turned to summer activities. She mentioned that there was kids camp and then World Changers in California. That was when her parents walked in. Mrs. Laurie casually mentioned that they still needed a lifeguard for kids camps and asked if I was interested. I said that I wasn't certified anymore, but that I would look into it. They said that they would help with costs if I would consider it. So I spent a few days considering it.

After asking around town, I found a class and called Carmen back. I told her the cost and that if they could help even a little, I would gladly come back. She said that she would get back to me.

After about a day she called back and said that my flights were covered. That if I got certified, that my flights and a place to stay would be provided for the entire time I was there and even said I could go to WC with them.

So for a little more than three weeks, I am making a wonderful trip to Olympia, WA.

WASHINGTON GET READY, FUN IS ON THE WAY!!!