We Called God Answered

I was sitting at UT down by the river earlier this week and God impressed it upon my heart the need to express to the students that we needed to repent for trying to do things in our own strength. I sent out an e-mail and asked everyone to spend some concerted time in prayer and personal Bible study and then share with each other what God had said to us. Here are some of the responses, they are a powerful example of the Father’s love for us. . .

“Through this quiet time I have also felt like God is telling me "Take time out for me, and I will answer all your questions clearly!" Just taking this quiet time out to reflect on God and not just sitting around worrying about what I should say or how I can "bring up God?!" with my friends has prepared me for the week. And also for the semester. God is reminding us to bring all things to him and they will work out how they are supposed to, whether it is leadership roles or the direction of our own IVCF at UT. I believe that wherever God takes us, it will be in a direction of growth and blessing (even if it may be in ways we don't even notice).” ~Diana

“ I had this image in my mind of a parent staying up at night leaning over the crib just to watch their child sleep. In that same way I knew God was just like that, every night. Staying up just to look at me, think about me while I slept. And it just was more clear, God's unending love for us, that He would stay up all night just thinking about me.
So I felt loved but on the other hand God wanted me to reciprocate it, not staying up all night, in particular. but just wanting to be with Him and accept that love. to delight in Him. I’m going to continue to meditate (or ponder on) God's love for me in a hope that it will deepen my love for Him.” ~ Melissa

The Whistling Man

As I sat on my porch today working the most fascinating man rode past me on his bicycle. I live in a neighborhood full of fascinating people many of whom ride bikes, but this man stood out. Why? Because he was whistling. Not the type of whistling that you and I do, but loud, passionate, incredibly good whistling. If there were a contest I believe he would win it. Never before had I heard whistling quite like that. He was all decked out too. Wearing red, white and blue, with streamers flowing from his handle bars. It's probably safe to assume that he wasn't all there, oh but that whisling. I wish you could have heard it. It made me stop and listen. It caused me to smile. No one can deny that a happy whistler makes you smile or maybe even grin a little. So here's to the whistling man.

Swimming with out Floaties

It's amazing how caught up you can get in a moment. The weeks leading up to Chapter Camp were like a whirlwind that left me wondering where I was and if I really had all my stuff together or not. But with God's help I did.
Amazing seems like such a simplistic word when it comes to how I've seen God move. At times I feel as John did when writing Revelation, none of my words seem to fit the situation quite right.
I spent the last two weeks of teaching students how to lead Small Group Bible studies, learning to have a worshipful lifestyle, loving those who are hard to love, and having God expose my junk all at the same time.
An idol of approval. That's just one thing God exposed. Laying it down is hard, holding on to it is deadly. Oh Jesus, come and take it daily.
Being with the UT students the second week of camp was refreshing, challening, delightful, heart wrenching, and deepening all at the same time. We laughed, cried, prayed, ate, played, and studied God's words to us together. The depths of our relationships with God and each other deepened in ways that can only be described like a child learning to trust as the floaties are taken off and they are lead to deeper waters. We built community and we developed leaders.