God is big, so powerful, more than we can comprehend. And I have put him in a box that is only as big as my understanding, which is pretty small! In James 4:2 he tells us that we do not have because we do not ask. I am beginning to grasp the truth in this finally. I have been asking for divine opportunities for spiritual conversations at work and on the outreaches, but I limit God's power to that. Or maybe I just was too scared to see him actually deliver. But he tells us to ask, be bold and ask for things that are in his will! To be filled with the spirit is in his will, so it makes sense that that is definitely something he would give us! In the Great Commission he tells us to go and make disciples of all nations, so why wouldn't he lead us to people who is preparing to hear the Gospel? It is definitely time to start being bold in prayer and giving God the glory and power is capable of! It only strengthens our testimonies when we continue to ask for big things that God already wants of us and for us and he provides!
Another thing I am really learning is how to be vulnerable. I have been recommended the book Strong Women Soft Hearts, and it transforms how we think of vulnerability. It is risking being hurt by others to gain a Christ-like love with them. Christ wants us to be vulnerable with him, others, and ourselves. He has created us for relationship and fellowship and it glorifies him when we bring ourselves to his knees broken and when we come to others and they can love on us with Christ's love. Don't get me wrong, I am struggling with this TONS. Today I was sitting with my discipler and she is really challenging my thinking on this and challenging me to be vulnerable on project. I have built up so many walls to protect myself and keep myself from being hurt, after all in Proverbs 4:23 God tells us to guard our hearts for from it flows the spring of life. I think I took that one to heart to the point of exclusion of all other verses. Christ was vulnerable with us here on earth and it drew him closer to his followers and God. Why shouldn't we do the same? We should and he wants us to! It pleases him to do this!
This is all going somewhere I promise, I just have a lot I want to get down and think through. I also couldn't wait to share what the lord has been teaching me!
Just to keep in your prayers and FYI my personal goals for this summer have been...
1) Learn to rely on the Lord more and grow in my walk with him...PRAYER!
2) Learn how to share my faith and the Gospel in effective ways
3) Be vulnerable with others and the Lord
4) Be intentional with all of my relationships at work, on outreaches, and with other students
Now here are some specific prayer requests that we have, as the Lord reveals his truth and power to me I am encouraged to prayer with boldness and confidence in the Lord!
1) Bring us into conversations at work where we can share the gospel and be lead by the spirit.
2) Bring us to people on outreaches and be able to share the gospel and see Christ transform lives.
3) Give me the courage to meet with a few coworkers after work to share the gospel with them and be intentional. Work in their hearts and be softening them to meet with me and hear the Word.
4) Help me take the steps of faith to be vulnerable and seek out conversations with certain people where I can share parts of the depths of my soul with them.
I really want to see God work this summer in all of the lives of the students on SP and those we encounter. God is bigger than everything here on earth and has overcome it all, John 16:33, we can believe that and put everything out before him because nothing is too big for our King. By putting God in a box based on our very limited understanding of his power we deny his power and sovereignty. I just couldn't wait to share this and I hope everyone reading can take this and challenge their prayer life and vulnerability even more! The more trust we put in God the bigger he will deliver in our lives!
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Whom shall I love?
Every other Saturday we partner with a local church and help with their Without Walls ministry, which is just taking food, clothes, games and love into low income areas and playing with the kids and doing a Sidewalk Sunday school for a few hours. This was the 2nd Saturday we were there and it was so rewarding. These little girls were soo happy to be chalking with us and just have some attention. They loves the games and wanted to be held, the most precious things I have ever seen. Some of them had heard about Jesus and knew of his love. I got to talk to a few of them ( challenging to condense everything into one sentence they could maybe understand ) and tell them who Jesus is and how much he loves them. Please be in prayer for these people that they would desire to know their King. The ministry they have going in these areas does so much good for the whole community!
Monday at work we got to visit the Charleston Ronald McDonald House. Stop thinking of the fattening food and supposedly angry people serving you food for a second and think about the money that goes toward supporting families with sick children. I saw the families and almost could feel the brokenness but also the peace they could have there within that community. The sick was who Jesus surrounded himself with, just another way he has called us to serve and love our neighbors is by supporting these people in whatever way we can. In July our McDonald's will be going to cook dinner for the house! I can't wait!
Speaking of McDonald's...here are some helpful reminders for your next visit...
1) the people taking your order have no control over prices, why a machine is down, or any other thing you are probably complaining about. Otherwise they wouldn't be taking your order.
2) If they offer to fix an order for you, just say yes. They would rather make you happy than deal with an angry customer every visit thereafter.
3) Know what you want before you get to the speaker at a drive thru. The people inside are on a time crunch. You not knowing what you want doesn't help. If you are done ordering, please don't wait for 10 seconds to hear a total. We can't read your mind and are waiting for you to finish. Help us out a little please.
There has been this 1 person at work who I just didn't understand and have been living in fear of for the last few weeks. She yells at me, gives me looks that I can't discern, and I overall can't tell when she is serious or not. I hated work on those days. I even broke down and cried on a really bad day. I wasn't trusting in God for strength, just relying on my own clearly failing efforts. I sat down with my discipler and explained it and she gave me great advice. Thank God for these people. For the parts of them I do love. I came to his feet broken and done doing it on my own and He has been so faithful of course. I am just amazed every time he answers prays and I see him work wonders. I was able to connect with her on break this week and have a spiritual conversation! I no longer fear going into work! Please be in prayer that we would be able to build our relationship for the rest of summer and I could share the Gospel with her.
That's all for now!
Monday at work we got to visit the Charleston Ronald McDonald House. Stop thinking of the fattening food and supposedly angry people serving you food for a second and think about the money that goes toward supporting families with sick children. I saw the families and almost could feel the brokenness but also the peace they could have there within that community. The sick was who Jesus surrounded himself with, just another way he has called us to serve and love our neighbors is by supporting these people in whatever way we can. In July our McDonald's will be going to cook dinner for the house! I can't wait!
Speaking of McDonald's...here are some helpful reminders for your next visit...
1) the people taking your order have no control over prices, why a machine is down, or any other thing you are probably complaining about. Otherwise they wouldn't be taking your order.
2) If they offer to fix an order for you, just say yes. They would rather make you happy than deal with an angry customer every visit thereafter.
3) Know what you want before you get to the speaker at a drive thru. The people inside are on a time crunch. You not knowing what you want doesn't help. If you are done ordering, please don't wait for 10 seconds to hear a total. We can't read your mind and are waiting for you to finish. Help us out a little please.
There has been this 1 person at work who I just didn't understand and have been living in fear of for the last few weeks. She yells at me, gives me looks that I can't discern, and I overall can't tell when she is serious or not. I hated work on those days. I even broke down and cried on a really bad day. I wasn't trusting in God for strength, just relying on my own clearly failing efforts. I sat down with my discipler and explained it and she gave me great advice. Thank God for these people. For the parts of them I do love. I came to his feet broken and done doing it on my own and He has been so faithful of course. I am just amazed every time he answers prays and I see him work wonders. I was able to connect with her on break this week and have a spiritual conversation! I no longer fear going into work! Please be in prayer that we would be able to build our relationship for the rest of summer and I could share the Gospel with her.
That's all for now!
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Finding a Zealous Spirit!
It has been a while, but they days at McDonald's are flying by and the weekends are before I know it. Yesterday I was able to have a good spiritual conversation with one of my coworkers, who is already a believer but is incredibley dissatisfied with the church in America. I have been praying for opportunities, the confidence, and words to say and as I was praying really hard and getting frustrated that nothing was happening God provided! I know more talks with her are just around the corner. Very encouraging!
I can't predict how each day will go, Monday was great, but today was one of the worst. After being moved to drinks and second drive through speaker I am wishing more everyday I could have continued juggling cashier and first speaker in the back where no one yelled at me!
I was incredibly touched when I actually felt like one of our coworkers showed she cared about me today. Every time by friend working the front window, right next to where I make drinks, takes a break I take over his job. However I always get yelled at endlessly while on this particular job because no one ever tells me how to do it! I am getting better, so I thought I could do more but I did mess up just a little. It doesn't matter what I seem to do this one woman is so discouraging and mean. I try to brush it off and love her anyways, but today bit to the bone. Getting back to the caring part, when I went to give my old trainer a break at back window she took one look at my face, saw my oddly missing smile and immediately asked what was wrong. I broke down in front of her, more surprised someone there cared! It was encouraging to know some people there do notice and care, despite their hard exteriors. I am also excited to see the relationships we have built grow in the next few weeks. Please be praying for patience and endless love for the woman I struggling to love. It is definitely going to be a great challenge this summer and I would really like to be able to share the Gospel with her!
I have been continuing my application of Romans 12 9:21. Last week as verse 10 and now I am continuing onto 11. Verses 9-11 read: "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit."
Showing honor to others has been challenging. It goes further than showing kindness, but really
showing another they are valued and special. They are worth my time and energy, especially when I don't want to show it. I can definitely work on this towards some people on project, living this close ca test limits and patience! My zeal today was slothful for sure, as I was upset for most of the day and only obeying because I had to. Praying for a zealous spirit!
Now onto a fun filled evening, and spending time with old friends and new this week!
PS shout out to Ryan and Ashley Miller who I saw on the beach Saturday!
I can't predict how each day will go, Monday was great, but today was one of the worst. After being moved to drinks and second drive through speaker I am wishing more everyday I could have continued juggling cashier and first speaker in the back where no one yelled at me!
I was incredibly touched when I actually felt like one of our coworkers showed she cared about me today. Every time by friend working the front window, right next to where I make drinks, takes a break I take over his job. However I always get yelled at endlessly while on this particular job because no one ever tells me how to do it! I am getting better, so I thought I could do more but I did mess up just a little. It doesn't matter what I seem to do this one woman is so discouraging and mean. I try to brush it off and love her anyways, but today bit to the bone. Getting back to the caring part, when I went to give my old trainer a break at back window she took one look at my face, saw my oddly missing smile and immediately asked what was wrong. I broke down in front of her, more surprised someone there cared! It was encouraging to know some people there do notice and care, despite their hard exteriors. I am also excited to see the relationships we have built grow in the next few weeks. Please be praying for patience and endless love for the woman I struggling to love. It is definitely going to be a great challenge this summer and I would really like to be able to share the Gospel with her!
I have been continuing my application of Romans 12 9:21. Last week as verse 10 and now I am continuing onto 11. Verses 9-11 read: "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit."
Showing honor to others has been challenging. It goes further than showing kindness, but really
showing another they are valued and special. They are worth my time and energy, especially when I don't want to show it. I can definitely work on this towards some people on project, living this close ca test limits and patience! My zeal today was slothful for sure, as I was upset for most of the day and only obeying because I had to. Praying for a zealous spirit!
Now onto a fun filled evening, and spending time with old friends and new this week!
PS shout out to Ryan and Ashley Miller who I saw on the beach Saturday!
Sunday, June 10, 2012
End of week 2!!!
Run down of the weekend...
Saturday morning was spent playing with kids in local areas of need, bringing groceries to these people, and just showing them love. It was fun, but also opened my eyes to the needs we all have in our cities. These children went nuts over candy and clothes we brought them. Many of them were running around with their pants falling down because they were way too big. There are so many ways we can all be impacting the lives of those that live near us and bringing the love of Christ to them. We are commanded by God to take care of our poor, our widows, and our children yet so many of our ministries are focused on having fun and fellow-shipping with each other. While that is great, we are forgetting that the simplest acts of going into these communities of need such as the projects can impact the kids in that area in a huge way.
That afternoon my discipleship group went into Marion Square downtown to practice sharing our faith. In pairs we split up and using Solarium we approached pairs of young women and asked them to take the survey. We got to talk to 2 pairs of girls. The first pair was difficult, even though one was Christian she seemed uninterested in talking to us and the other wasn't either. It was difficult getting to know them and we didn't even get the chance to share the gospel or our own faith. The next pair was an exciting conversation that could have gone on for a long time had they not had to get back to work. We were talking to 2 girls who worked at a wholistic spa and one claimed to be a wiccan. They had such interesting responses and we hope to visit them and continue to talk and share the gospel. We are really praying that the Lord will be working in their hearts and preparing them for the gospel as we find the time to talk to them.
Saturday night is our designated project social evening and we went roller skating, so much harder than roller blading! I took out a kid and crashed multiple times trying to avoid people and walls! So did lots of other people though so it was pretty fun!
Today we finally got to do laundry!!! Yay for clean clothes! Everyone is paired up with another student on project and given a host family from the church to hang out with on Sundays and do laundry. It is such a blessing to be in a home and have people willing to take us in. Mine is a newlyish married couple who lives almost downtown, a 5 minute drive from our hotel and church. It is just about our only free afternoon, and I love spending it getting to know new people!
Tonight I will be videotaping my testimony and it will later be posted on youtube and FB, so I'll let you know when it is up! Monday night at project dinner I will be sharing it with the whole project!
Thanks for tuning in!
Saturday morning was spent playing with kids in local areas of need, bringing groceries to these people, and just showing them love. It was fun, but also opened my eyes to the needs we all have in our cities. These children went nuts over candy and clothes we brought them. Many of them were running around with their pants falling down because they were way too big. There are so many ways we can all be impacting the lives of those that live near us and bringing the love of Christ to them. We are commanded by God to take care of our poor, our widows, and our children yet so many of our ministries are focused on having fun and fellow-shipping with each other. While that is great, we are forgetting that the simplest acts of going into these communities of need such as the projects can impact the kids in that area in a huge way.
That afternoon my discipleship group went into Marion Square downtown to practice sharing our faith. In pairs we split up and using Solarium we approached pairs of young women and asked them to take the survey. We got to talk to 2 pairs of girls. The first pair was difficult, even though one was Christian she seemed uninterested in talking to us and the other wasn't either. It was difficult getting to know them and we didn't even get the chance to share the gospel or our own faith. The next pair was an exciting conversation that could have gone on for a long time had they not had to get back to work. We were talking to 2 girls who worked at a wholistic spa and one claimed to be a wiccan. They had such interesting responses and we hope to visit them and continue to talk and share the gospel. We are really praying that the Lord will be working in their hearts and preparing them for the gospel as we find the time to talk to them.
Saturday night is our designated project social evening and we went roller skating, so much harder than roller blading! I took out a kid and crashed multiple times trying to avoid people and walls! So did lots of other people though so it was pretty fun!
Today we finally got to do laundry!!! Yay for clean clothes! Everyone is paired up with another student on project and given a host family from the church to hang out with on Sundays and do laundry. It is such a blessing to be in a home and have people willing to take us in. Mine is a newlyish married couple who lives almost downtown, a 5 minute drive from our hotel and church. It is just about our only free afternoon, and I love spending it getting to know new people!
Tonight I will be videotaping my testimony and it will later be posted on youtube and FB, so I'll let you know when it is up! Monday night at project dinner I will be sharing it with the whole project!
Thanks for tuning in!
Friday, June 8, 2012
We Survived First Week at McDonald's!
5 days we officially began our new jobs at McDonald's, and let me say first that the people who are working in the food industry have to be smart, patient, and fast. They deserve respect because they are actually human beings-shocker I know! So the next time you get angry at BK because you can't have it your way, remember they have been dealing with hundreds of customers just like you all day!!!!!
Since our jobs are our primary ministry we are tasked with developing intentional relationships with our coworkers which will enable us to better share our testimonies and the gospel with them later. I have worked with and gotten to know pretty well about 4 other females at work, all having their own wonderful story. I can't wait to continue getting to know them and hopefully ministering to them.
One downfall at work is that since this is the 3rd year CRU has sent students to work there in the summers they know what we are there for and don't ask too many questions about it. They also sometimes try to shield us from their sin, which is very considerate but I don't feel like I am truly building relationships all the time.
Ok, soo at work I have been shoved into what they call "the hole". This is the first window in the drive-thru where one worker does many things at once-chaos essentially. I take orders on a speaker that people practically avoid speaking into on the other side while punching them into a screen with about a million choices all while cashing people out at the window, being friendly with a smile, and trying to correct any wrong orders. It is by far the most challenging thing I have ever done, and I have not exactly shut myself in my house for the last 22 years.
I have gotten tons of orders wrong and upset a good many people but my trainers have had nothing but patience and kindness for me, they are amazing young women.
Top 5 drive-thru moments are:
1) me saying to a customer: "thank you for choosing WALMART-I mean McDonald's!" (all who heard laughed hysterically for a good 30 seconds)
2) seeing a hoarder's passenger car seat COMPLETELY filled with fast food remnants
3) repeatedly trying to fend off inapropro looks from old men at the window
4) watching people place orders at the second speaker to no one at all (there are cameras back there for anyone curious if fast food people ever watched you)
5) the regular seniors who come through every morning for their cheaper senior coffee and get upset each time I get it wrong
tune in later this week for updates!
ps. for all who wonder what fast food is really made of I really have no idea yet, I stare at the same 2 screens for 8 hours a day.
Since our jobs are our primary ministry we are tasked with developing intentional relationships with our coworkers which will enable us to better share our testimonies and the gospel with them later. I have worked with and gotten to know pretty well about 4 other females at work, all having their own wonderful story. I can't wait to continue getting to know them and hopefully ministering to them.
One downfall at work is that since this is the 3rd year CRU has sent students to work there in the summers they know what we are there for and don't ask too many questions about it. They also sometimes try to shield us from their sin, which is very considerate but I don't feel like I am truly building relationships all the time.
Ok, soo at work I have been shoved into what they call "the hole". This is the first window in the drive-thru where one worker does many things at once-chaos essentially. I take orders on a speaker that people practically avoid speaking into on the other side while punching them into a screen with about a million choices all while cashing people out at the window, being friendly with a smile, and trying to correct any wrong orders. It is by far the most challenging thing I have ever done, and I have not exactly shut myself in my house for the last 22 years.
I have gotten tons of orders wrong and upset a good many people but my trainers have had nothing but patience and kindness for me, they are amazing young women.
Top 5 drive-thru moments are:
1) me saying to a customer: "thank you for choosing WALMART-I mean McDonald's!" (all who heard laughed hysterically for a good 30 seconds)
2) seeing a hoarder's passenger car seat COMPLETELY filled with fast food remnants
3) repeatedly trying to fend off inapropro looks from old men at the window
4) watching people place orders at the second speaker to no one at all (there are cameras back there for anyone curious if fast food people ever watched you)
5) the regular seniors who come through every morning for their cheaper senior coffee and get upset each time I get it wrong
tune in later this week for updates!
ps. for all who wonder what fast food is really made of I really have no idea yet, I stare at the same 2 screens for 8 hours a day.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
End of Week 1
I know we haven't really been here a full week yet, buuuut it feels like it. Orientation is officially over and jobs begin at 7 am. The first day of McDonald's will be one to remember.
Although many times we study the word and pray, really hoping we are living out Christ centered lives, I often don't reflect on how I actually show love to others. As I was reading through Romans I came across a passage in 12:9-21 that describes the true marks of a christian. I evaluated how I thought I was doing with them and didn't want to read any further because I knew I was doing a poor job on even the first verse! That is not to say I was genuinely NICE to people (most of the time), but I sure didn't go out of my way to love on others. For the past few days I have been focusing and praying on verse 9 "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil. Hold fast to what is good." Just that requires so much prayer that I figured I needed to take this slow and really let the Lord transform me this summer, after all I will need a lot of love for those people at McDs! Already i find myself calling on the Lord for help in loving people on project, even if we don't have similar personalities and really treating them as an individual that I WANT to get to know.
Each week or so I will be praying about a specific verse in this passage to strengthen my own Christian walk and I encourage you to do the same. That is this weeks verse, so take time to pray and be intentional in your relationships and ask God to direct you in ways you can show more genuine love to others. Good luck :)
Although many times we study the word and pray, really hoping we are living out Christ centered lives, I often don't reflect on how I actually show love to others. As I was reading through Romans I came across a passage in 12:9-21 that describes the true marks of a christian. I evaluated how I thought I was doing with them and didn't want to read any further because I knew I was doing a poor job on even the first verse! That is not to say I was genuinely NICE to people (most of the time), but I sure didn't go out of my way to love on others. For the past few days I have been focusing and praying on verse 9 "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil. Hold fast to what is good." Just that requires so much prayer that I figured I needed to take this slow and really let the Lord transform me this summer, after all I will need a lot of love for those people at McDs! Already i find myself calling on the Lord for help in loving people on project, even if we don't have similar personalities and really treating them as an individual that I WANT to get to know.
Each week or so I will be praying about a specific verse in this passage to strengthen my own Christian walk and I encourage you to do the same. That is this weeks verse, so take time to pray and be intentional in your relationships and ask God to direct you in ways you can show more genuine love to others. Good luck :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)