Saturday, August 27, 2011

Depending on my Rock

School started on Wednesday and I can already see that I am going to be overwhelmed. I'm taking 18 credits and wanting to get all A's, have responsibilities with Global Outreach, responsibilities in my hall, want to be involved at my church and in the community, want to have a lot of fun with my friends, have fitness goals, want to be a better guitar player, and most importantly want to grow in my faith. All these things are staring me in the face and it's very discouraging. I want to do it all but my body and brain say, "NO! It's too much!" 
But when I look at these things, they are all good things and all ways in which I can glorify God. I don't want to give up on these things. I want to look back after this year is over having accomplished all these things and say, "God did that! Praise Him!" My body is going to fight all these things and I know Satan is going to be on the prowl trying to steal my attention away from giving God the glory in my life, but "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped." Psalm 28:7. I want more than anything for God to receive the glory and praise He deserves and in this final year of college, I see that how I can do that is to let Him be my strength and my rock and pull me through all these things I have on my plate. He is good and He is faithful and I trust in Him. 

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Hiking With Dad

Your dad says he wants to take you on a hike to the top of a mountain. You've never really hiked before and don't know what to expect. Your dad has been doing this for years, and you trust him to take care of you so you agree to go with him. 
You start this hike and discover quickly that it wasn't as easy as you thought it'd be. There are lots of rocks that are hard to walk on. Rushing rivers are in your path that you must cross. You fall down. You get beat up. You're tired and just want to turn around and go back home to your simple, easy life. No more of this hiking nonsense. You don't know what you're doing so why try? 
Then you look at your dad. He's climbing the rocks with ease, the rushing water did not move him, he is not tired or weary. You were trying to climb the mountain out of your own strength, but your dad wanted to do this journey with you and be your strength. He knows there is no way you could do it on your own, that's why he came along. You realize this and cry out, "Dad, help me," and he stretches out his hand and takes hold of yours. 
You continue to climb to the top. The path turns rocky, but your dad clears the path and makes it smooth for you. You come to another rushing river and he picks you up and carries you across. Day turns into night, but he knows just where to go. He says gently, "Don't be afraid. I'm not going to leave you, just stay close to me." You slip but he catches you. You are beginning to get frustrated because you've been climbing for so long and it's not getting easier. You're seeing just how weak you are and how dependent you're having to be on your dad. You want to do it on your own. You are exhausted, but your dad tells you to rest your head on his shoulder. He reminds you of how much he loves you, tells you how proud he is of you and is so glad that you came with him on this journey. He knows it's tough. He's done it all before and can sympathize with your pain and welcomes you to tell him how you're feeling. You say, "Why is it so hard? I'm beat up, my feet hurt, and I can't keep going. It hurts too much. I thought you were going to make it easier. You're not tired at all and here I am crying because I can't seem to muster the strength to keep going." 
Your dad looks at you with his loving eyes and tells you to look down the mountain. "Look how far you've come, child," he says. "Remember what the journey was like before you cried out to me and what it was like after that." You look at your bruised body, feel the sweat pouring down your face, see your torn up shoes, and then you look at your father. He's as strong as ever, still inviting you to come to the top. He brought you up this far and there is no way you can go back now. He's been there the whole time and promised he wasn't going anywhere. He said he'll carry you when you're weak, will delight in you always, and is just so excited that you're spending this time with him. It brings him such great joy. He didn't promise that the rest of the climb is going to be easy, but he'll make a way. He's hoping that this climb becomes one of joy for you, knowing in the end you will have the most beautiful view and story of how your father brought you into glory. A story of a strong, loving father and his dearly loved child climbing this mountain together hand in hand. 

Monday, August 1, 2011

The Final Days

Hello readers...


My time in Vienna is coming to a close. I'm very sad to leave this place, yet excited at the same time because I miss my family a lot. Over the last two weeks, it has really started to feel like home. If you would have asked me two weeks ago if I was ready to go home, I would have said yes, but since then, God has really started to shape my heart to see what He sees when He looks at this city. He has given me eyes to see a need that goes so much deeper than seeing drug adicts standing outside Karlsplatz. 
Also, in the last few weeks I have begun to see just how important this community is to me. I love the interns that I work with, Lindsay, and the Hunters so much! It has been such a gift from God to work with all of them this summer. It's going to be hard going from such a close knit community, where we have been so open and honest with each other, to a community at college where I've known those people longer, but they don't know my heart. I, as well as my whole team, have taken great risks to make the most of this summer--exposing our sins, loving deeply, and living in such close quarters--and because we loved deeply, the loss will be deep. 
Please pray that during this last week, that the God of all peace will be in our midst and we will feel Him as we say goodbye to this city and to each other. Pray that we would be able to adjust well to life back home as we go through reverse culture shock. Pray that the work that God has been doing would continue in the lives of the Austrians we have met as well as in our own lives. 


Here's my schedule for this week:
Monday: shopping for gifts, retreat time (lunch and quiet time at Schönbrunn palace), baby date with Allie, and roomie night.
Tuesday: prayer walk at International Christian School of Vienna, tourist time, date with Alli and Allie, family night. 
Wednesday: Clean the church, discipleship with Lindsay, tourist time, time with roomies.
Thursday: Clean the apartment, dessert night at our apartment for church ladies and friends.
Friday-Saturday: Debriefing 
Sunday: church activities
Monday: goodbyes, packing, and family night. 
Tuesday: leave bright and early