Over the last several weeks the hours in the day seemed to be passing too quickly. Time spent with others seemed to be rushed in order to make it to the next appointment or meeting. I don't like that feeling. I hate to feel like I have to watch the clock when I'm with other people. I knew it was time to slow down.
When a friend heard I had cleared my schedule for two days to take a break, they decided to give me the perfect gift...their time. I'm an extrovert and sitting on my couch staring at the wall is by no means relaxing to me. So this friend planned an entire afternoon to hang out and do things I love to do. Nothing fancy or elaborate just time together.
To me time is one of the most valuable things I have. When I give someone even a few minutes of my time, it means something significant to me. To me it is a way to show that I care about and value you. So for someone to give me an entire afternoon, that speaks volumes to me.
It is obvious to me I needed to be reminded to be cautious of how I spend my time. I know I tend to squeeze as much life as possible out of every minute. But this week I was reminded of just how valuable time is and that sometimes the best thing you can do with it is just be.
I discovered I posted about this same topic just over a year ago. Interesting.
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
Friday, April 01, 2011
Spring Retreat Reflections
A couple weeks ago 13 Impact students and Lowell piled in a van and I piled into my car full of luggage and we drove to Kings Mountain, KY for our annual Spring Retreat. We had an incredible time enjoying the beauty of God's creation and learning about what it looks like to remove our masks and live our lives completely surrendered to God.
I've waited so long to post about the retreat because I've been trying to process the experience myself. To sum up the entire experience I think it is best to say we all found ourselves being very honest about how God created us and how we view ourselves. I really enjoyed watching students start to embrace different personality traits that they may have originally thought were negative qualities. I'm even more excited to see students discover how God uses the unique ways he has created them to reach out to others.
There are so many other wonderful stories about what happened at that weekend. Watching students worship in a different church setting then they are use to and completely loving it. Exploring creeks, waterfalls and woods, climbing rocks and seeing students conquer fears in the process. Taking steps towards Christ with students. And one of my personal favorites sitting with a student as he decides to accept Christ and surrender his entire life our God.
It was a great trip and a beautiful encounter with our Creator!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Bethel Updates
It has been several weeks since I shared about Bethel's chapel service that lasted several hours and I thought I would share with you what is happening on campus now.
In my opinion one of the greatest things that has happened because of this experience is the number of discipleship groups that have formed. My understanding is most of these groups are being lead by faculty and staff members. I've had conversations with several students who are involved in these groups and loving the growth that is coming from it. Last week I spoke with a student that is participating in a group that starts at 7 AM. Ask any college student and they will tell you that is really early. While this student constantly tells me she hates the early hour she also explains how much she has appreciated the authenticity of the group experience.
Another common conversation I've had with students reality of the spiritual warfare that happens around them that they were unaware of previously. A student shared with me this week that they had no clue how much opposition they would face when they decided to start pursuing Christ in every area of their lives. This has lead to some incredible conversations among students and it has been fun to watch them pull together to support each other.
Continue to pray for Bethel. The semester is winding down, which means crazy schedules and a temptation to push aside the commitments and steps that were set up several weeks ago.
In my opinion one of the greatest things that has happened because of this experience is the number of discipleship groups that have formed. My understanding is most of these groups are being lead by faculty and staff members. I've had conversations with several students who are involved in these groups and loving the growth that is coming from it. Last week I spoke with a student that is participating in a group that starts at 7 AM. Ask any college student and they will tell you that is really early. While this student constantly tells me she hates the early hour she also explains how much she has appreciated the authenticity of the group experience.
Another common conversation I've had with students reality of the spiritual warfare that happens around them that they were unaware of previously. A student shared with me this week that they had no clue how much opposition they would face when they decided to start pursuing Christ in every area of their lives. This has lead to some incredible conversations among students and it has been fun to watch them pull together to support each other.
Continue to pray for Bethel. The semester is winding down, which means crazy schedules and a temptation to push aside the commitments and steps that were set up several weeks ago.
Tuesday, March 01, 2011
Owning our Faith - TJ's Story
I wanted to share one last story with you from one of the Impact students from Indiana University, South Bend (IUSB). As students from Bethel have shared their stories, our students from other campuses have expressed their desire for God to transform their campuses as well. Tj Dalenberg is a freshman at IUSB and these are some thoughts he wanted to share with you.
This thing (revival?) that's been happening on Bethel's campus is awesome. My girlfriend attends Bethel and it's amazing to hear the accounts. It is inspiring. It makes me feel like it is going to spread easily to IUSB, where I attend.
It's empowering to think that God has been preparing all of us for this moment and we finally realized it. He knows what He's doing. :) I am encouraged, inspired, and ready to take this thing on and bring it to IUSB's campus! It can start with one person, that's the great thing about it. If just one person stands up and grabs this bull by its horns, we can change the area, country, and world! It's just awesome how God works.
This change that has been happening on Bethel's campus has impacted me in a few ways. I've been learning to let God have what is already His, for instance the people in my life. I hold them so closely and dearly, but forget to remember that they aren't mine. As (the professor that spoke Wednesday February 23rd) said, 'the people on this earth are ours to enjoy only for a time. Then hopefully we will be reunited in heaven!'
Also, there is one more thing I have been realizing. See, I grew up in a Christian home, I went to church every Sunday since I can remember, and went to a Christian High school for 10 years. So, at times I felt like concepts and ideas were being forced upon me. I had never really made my faith MY own. Ive been realizing that I need to do that more.
Also, the concept of God's unconditional love has recently HIT me. It's something that has been so common to me that I have never sat down and thought about it. I was listening to the JJ Heller song, "What love really means" and it struck me. God loves me for ME. not for what i have done in the past, or what I will do in the future. He loves me for what I am, imperfect.
Anyways, this change on Bethel has just been a whirlwind of change in my life. I am excited, inspired, and encouraged.
This thing (revival?) that's been happening on Bethel's campus is awesome. My girlfriend attends Bethel and it's amazing to hear the accounts. It is inspiring. It makes me feel like it is going to spread easily to IUSB, where I attend.
It's empowering to think that God has been preparing all of us for this moment and we finally realized it. He knows what He's doing. :) I am encouraged, inspired, and ready to take this thing on and bring it to IUSB's campus! It can start with one person, that's the great thing about it. If just one person stands up and grabs this bull by its horns, we can change the area, country, and world! It's just awesome how God works.
This change that has been happening on Bethel's campus has impacted me in a few ways. I've been learning to let God have what is already His, for instance the people in my life. I hold them so closely and dearly, but forget to remember that they aren't mine. As (the professor that spoke Wednesday February 23rd) said, 'the people on this earth are ours to enjoy only for a time. Then hopefully we will be reunited in heaven!'
Also, there is one more thing I have been realizing. See, I grew up in a Christian home, I went to church every Sunday since I can remember, and went to a Christian High school for 10 years. So, at times I felt like concepts and ideas were being forced upon me. I had never really made my faith MY own. Ive been realizing that I need to do that more.
Also, the concept of God's unconditional love has recently HIT me. It's something that has been so common to me that I have never sat down and thought about it. I was listening to the JJ Heller song, "What love really means" and it struck me. God loves me for ME. not for what i have done in the past, or what I will do in the future. He loves me for what I am, imperfect.
Anyways, this change on Bethel has just been a whirlwind of change in my life. I am excited, inspired, and encouraged.
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