In December I sat across the table from a friend by the name of Noah. I was sitting there as a staff member from Resonate, and he was talking to me about Thailand, and having a passion for helping girls who have been in bondage. Girls who are living a life of modern day slavery. Girls who are sex slaves.
I listen to him talk, got excited about the possibility of Resonate sending a team of people to work with these women, to help with after care and other needs they have over there.
I went home, to Texas and prayed fervently for this trip, prayed God would give Noah direction in where to go specifically, that God would open doors for this trip to become a reality.
As I prayed things in my own life and heart were beginning to change and beginning to long for something more.
I have a friend name Molly. Every Thursday I sit on the opposite side of the table from her and we talk. We discuss life, heart breaks, loves, God and how we are to live in this world. Not just get by but LIVE in the Image of God.
For Molly this looks like being aware of how Gods heart breaks for the hurting people in this world.
Me and Molly have been friends for two years now, and for two years I've listen to her love for Jesus grow as her love for the people in the world grows. I have watched as she has helped the campus here learn more about the conditions of the world we live. I am sure at times this has been hard, because as we sit at a table together my heart rarely would break, tears would never fall and at times I did not understand why you would want to know these things.
My life was find, living in the unknowing. Living in the disbelief.
Last year Molly taught me about Fair trade coffee.
This year Molly taught me about Slavery.
This past week was abolition week at WSU and UofI. Resonate took part in a three week sermon series over slavery, and the fact that we are all made in the image of God.
During week two Molly and many others hosted two events, a discussion and a movie about starting a new culture. A culture where abolishing slavery is not just something that happened years ago but needs to happen NOW.
I sat across the table from Molly and for months prior to this week listen to her talk about this idea. I would walk away from our time together and cry. Cry tears of change and tears of hope. I would walk away from our time and ask how God does this apply to me, how does this new knowledge change my life.
All the time i was praying this God kept bring back to mind my friend Noah and the trip he was planning.
During the last two weeks or well two months, my faith has been shaken, my heart has started to understand lines like...
do what you love to undo what you hate
I don't want to wear someone else's despair, or eat someone else's tragedy.
Justice is what love looks like in public
I have gotten to fall in love with a God that says...
we are all made in the image of God and so when people are hurting others, they are hurting me
I have found the word LIVE, to mean something in my life. I have the word CHANGE, to mean something in my life. I have found the word GO, to mean something in my life.
So here I am
LIVING, CHANGING, GOING
Living in a world were I know what is going on, not just getting through the days trying to stay in the dark.
Changing how I see people. Seeing people who are made in the image of God, means loving better, forgiving easier and holding tighter to the fact we all deserve someone to fight for us.
Going to Thailand. For eight weeks this summer I will be living in the changed life God is calling me to in Bangkok Thailand. Being love and hope to girls who maybe have never heard or felt those words.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Ah, who knows whats going on?
Well, to catch up on whats going on in my life would be a challenge. For to be honest I do not think I really know what has happened in my life in the last few weeks.
But i do know what has happen in the last few days, so we will start there!
This past Saturday, I had the opportunity to talk to some women in their 20s about knowing God deeper and ways to live where we can tell a better story with a lives. Tell a story that leads people to the feet of the cross.
While talking a said things like...what are the 4 areas that define your life? How do you glorify God in those 4 areas?
I told the story of the the women at the well, read about her running leaving everything she brought to Jesus at his feet, turning away and being changed because of her time with him. She spoke to the people in her town, she spoke with passion and allowed others to see the change in her life, she told a story that showed them love and grace!
The story she told we all get to tell everyday, we daily get to catch a glance of the love of God and then allow that love to spill into the lives of the people near us, the people who give us coffee, the people who work in the commons, the people that we claim we love.
As I talked I learned, and I learned I tried to set into motion some changes that need to occur in my own heart.
This moment, or well hour, showed me so much about my own life, and about my own, heart, and my own story I am telling!
So what story are you telling with your life?
But i do know what has happen in the last few days, so we will start there!
This past Saturday, I had the opportunity to talk to some women in their 20s about knowing God deeper and ways to live where we can tell a better story with a lives. Tell a story that leads people to the feet of the cross.
While talking a said things like...what are the 4 areas that define your life? How do you glorify God in those 4 areas?
I told the story of the the women at the well, read about her running leaving everything she brought to Jesus at his feet, turning away and being changed because of her time with him. She spoke to the people in her town, she spoke with passion and allowed others to see the change in her life, she told a story that showed them love and grace!
The story she told we all get to tell everyday, we daily get to catch a glance of the love of God and then allow that love to spill into the lives of the people near us, the people who give us coffee, the people who work in the commons, the people that we claim we love.
As I talked I learned, and I learned I tried to set into motion some changes that need to occur in my own heart.
This moment, or well hour, showed me so much about my own life, and about my own, heart, and my own story I am telling!
So what story are you telling with your life?
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
tears that wont fall
sometimes i wish i could cry, then i remember that the tears i long to cry are out of my own strength and not in His name!
Friday, January 22, 2010
Thoughts on a day that is windy!
Oh how I love this city! Some times, some moments I forget and then days happen where I think this is greatness in a town.
Today was one of those days for me. Today was a day when I normally sleep late and do not leave home, but instead I woke up at 730, was on campus by 945 and then had what would be a wonderful next few hours.
I stopped at the post office, and mailed some letters to some dear friends up here in Idaho. Then I pushed the button to the 3rd floor of the CUB (wsu) and prayed the whole way to the top.
You see since coming back, WSU had not contacted me about 'GNO'. The officers for panhellenic changed over the break. I got nervous on Thursday when my email had not been returned to me, I got worry something got lost in the transition. But there was nothing I could do on Thursday to help the situation, so I just prayed and tried to go to sleep.
That did not work for me, sleep never came. Funny, well maybe more God thing is that I had just read in Esther where the King was trying to sleep and it never came so instead he read the chronicles of his time as a King. If you read that chapter (6) you see the irony of what he was reading, reading that he had never honored Mordecai. THat ideas that were brought to him the irony of him deciding in this moment to honor Mordecai and to have Haman be the one to do the honor. Oh how God works by not letting us sleep. In the study I am doing there are women of all ages there and at the hearing of this topic they all joined in on how GOd had used sleepless nights to bring them to their knees and to bring them to a topic of prayer. As I sat and listen to them talk I did not get it, I had never lost sleep over something. I was at a lose for what was being said.
Last night I got it. Through sleepless hours I was able to pray over the idea that maybe this event had been lost in the shuffle of changing of officers. I was able to pray that during this meeting hearts would still be soften to the idea of "GNO"
Well 45 min after I walked into the office, I walked out in utter dismay at how amazing this God is that we serve.
YOu see for years Resonate has tried to be an influence on campus, for years we have been trying to meet the needs of students in a new way in a way that would leave a good impression, in a way that the word church would be a good thing to remember.
We have handed out pancakes, fruit snacks, cheese crackers, fruit by the foot oh and lets not forget the granola bars. We have tried and prayed to be a positive influence.
After this meeting I learned that God is answering our prayers. The sorority girl I meet with knew Resonate from the pancakes. Said that the past officer had mentioned the event but not in to much detail. That she was nervous because it was a 'church' event but then found out it was through Resonate and was so excited about it. She saw the new promo for the event and fell in love with the idea of what we were doing. She said since she did not know what we were doing they were needing to plan an event cover both sex and alcohol and this would do that. So instead of just freshman and sophomores, she would let it count for juniors too! We walked down stairs and booked rooms, we talked about the setting and the environment we were trying to create and she lit up with joy! We set down and finalized it all and as I walked way she said "Liz I am really excited about this event and the idea behind it"
Words that I have long to hear, prayers I saw answered in that moment.
Minutes later she called to see if we could meet up on monday to talk some more about it. After that she asked if thrusday i could come by and bring the promo stuff while she was there!
Prayers being answered.
Ah! I good day in Pullman to say the least. GOd is going great things and in 12 days lives will be changed!
Please continue to pray for these two nights!
ps
On monday I will be speaking in front of the greek life women of U of I. Pray that their hearts would get excited about the coming week!
Today was one of those days for me. Today was a day when I normally sleep late and do not leave home, but instead I woke up at 730, was on campus by 945 and then had what would be a wonderful next few hours.
I stopped at the post office, and mailed some letters to some dear friends up here in Idaho. Then I pushed the button to the 3rd floor of the CUB (wsu) and prayed the whole way to the top.
You see since coming back, WSU had not contacted me about 'GNO'. The officers for panhellenic changed over the break. I got nervous on Thursday when my email had not been returned to me, I got worry something got lost in the transition. But there was nothing I could do on Thursday to help the situation, so I just prayed and tried to go to sleep.
That did not work for me, sleep never came. Funny, well maybe more God thing is that I had just read in Esther where the King was trying to sleep and it never came so instead he read the chronicles of his time as a King. If you read that chapter (6) you see the irony of what he was reading, reading that he had never honored Mordecai. THat ideas that were brought to him the irony of him deciding in this moment to honor Mordecai and to have Haman be the one to do the honor. Oh how God works by not letting us sleep. In the study I am doing there are women of all ages there and at the hearing of this topic they all joined in on how GOd had used sleepless nights to bring them to their knees and to bring them to a topic of prayer. As I sat and listen to them talk I did not get it, I had never lost sleep over something. I was at a lose for what was being said.
Last night I got it. Through sleepless hours I was able to pray over the idea that maybe this event had been lost in the shuffle of changing of officers. I was able to pray that during this meeting hearts would still be soften to the idea of "GNO"
Well 45 min after I walked into the office, I walked out in utter dismay at how amazing this God is that we serve.
YOu see for years Resonate has tried to be an influence on campus, for years we have been trying to meet the needs of students in a new way in a way that would leave a good impression, in a way that the word church would be a good thing to remember.
We have handed out pancakes, fruit snacks, cheese crackers, fruit by the foot oh and lets not forget the granola bars. We have tried and prayed to be a positive influence.
After this meeting I learned that God is answering our prayers. The sorority girl I meet with knew Resonate from the pancakes. Said that the past officer had mentioned the event but not in to much detail. That she was nervous because it was a 'church' event but then found out it was through Resonate and was so excited about it. She saw the new promo for the event and fell in love with the idea of what we were doing. She said since she did not know what we were doing they were needing to plan an event cover both sex and alcohol and this would do that. So instead of just freshman and sophomores, she would let it count for juniors too! We walked down stairs and booked rooms, we talked about the setting and the environment we were trying to create and she lit up with joy! We set down and finalized it all and as I walked way she said "Liz I am really excited about this event and the idea behind it"
Words that I have long to hear, prayers I saw answered in that moment.
Minutes later she called to see if we could meet up on monday to talk some more about it. After that she asked if thrusday i could come by and bring the promo stuff while she was there!
Prayers being answered.
Ah! I good day in Pullman to say the least. GOd is going great things and in 12 days lives will be changed!
Please continue to pray for these two nights!
ps
On monday I will be speaking in front of the greek life women of U of I. Pray that their hearts would get excited about the coming week!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Dreams that become a reality
Since my freshman year of college when I fell in love with idea of doing ministry and more specifically wanted to woman's ministry, I never thought this day would come.
When I heard Marian Jordan speak for the first time the August before I moved up to Washington, I never thought I would see her up here.
When I was searching the web for new ideas and ways to do ministry I never thought I would run across this.
When I sat in front of my computer screen pondering how to bring Marian to Washington I never thought she would have a ticket purchased to come and speak here.
When I was putting together binders of a presentation for hosting an event on these campus I never thought the staff would go for it.
When I worked at a camp and lost all contact with the world I never thought a date would be set.
When I came back and set up a meeting I never thought an hour later I would be more connected then ever.
When I meet with Presidents to talk over whether or not this could happen I never thought they would let us openly talk about the Lord.
When I was in the meeting I never thought 10 minutes later I would walk out with a new goal in life.
When money was no where to be found and chance letter opened the door to thousands of dollars I never thought God would not provide.
When contact was made with Marian and Jourdan I never thought they would be to busy to come.
When flights were going to over $800 I never thought God would not provide cheaper ones.
When a team needed to be put together I never thought God wouldn't give me clear vision as to who to be on it.
When paintings need to be painted I never thought we had so many artistic people in our team.
When promo stuff needed to be made and order I never thought they could not do it.
Now Marian is coming, Now Jourdan is coming, now plane tickets are bought, now the sororities are excited, now the promo stuff is done, now the team has been together for months, now money has come in.
God's hands has been everywhere in the mist of the last year of my life. God's hands have been on girls hearts since before this was even a thought. God's hands have been preparing for this event since before Resonate thought of it.
I can not convey how excited I am, how nervous I am, how in awe I am. God is so faithful. The last year of my life has been a roller coaster of great moments and in 14 days I know there is going to be a another great thing.
In 14 days this event becomes a reality, in 14 days girls lives will be changed forever, in 14 days prayers will be answered, in 14 days hearts will hear the name of God for the first time, in 14 days we have the opportunity for a revival on the campuses of WSU and UofI.
Seating in a coffee shop thinking of all that's left to do and all that will get gone, I pray for the people, I pray for the lives, I pray for the hearts, for the ears, for the thoughts, for the conviction, for the women, for the sister. Because they, the people, make it all worth it. They are the reason.
God grant us grace in the midst of the next few weeks. God grant us peace in the coming weeks. God be the women in the coming weeks. God open their hearts for this night. God allow change to occur.
When I heard Marian Jordan speak for the first time the August before I moved up to Washington, I never thought I would see her up here.
When I was searching the web for new ideas and ways to do ministry I never thought I would run across this.
When I sat in front of my computer screen pondering how to bring Marian to Washington I never thought she would have a ticket purchased to come and speak here.
When I was putting together binders of a presentation for hosting an event on these campus I never thought the staff would go for it.
When I worked at a camp and lost all contact with the world I never thought a date would be set.
When I came back and set up a meeting I never thought an hour later I would be more connected then ever.
When I meet with Presidents to talk over whether or not this could happen I never thought they would let us openly talk about the Lord.
When I was in the meeting I never thought 10 minutes later I would walk out with a new goal in life.
When money was no where to be found and chance letter opened the door to thousands of dollars I never thought God would not provide.
When contact was made with Marian and Jourdan I never thought they would be to busy to come.
When flights were going to over $800 I never thought God would not provide cheaper ones.
When a team needed to be put together I never thought God wouldn't give me clear vision as to who to be on it.
When paintings need to be painted I never thought we had so many artistic people in our team.
When promo stuff needed to be made and order I never thought they could not do it.
Now Marian is coming, Now Jourdan is coming, now plane tickets are bought, now the sororities are excited, now the promo stuff is done, now the team has been together for months, now money has come in.
God's hands has been everywhere in the mist of the last year of my life. God's hands have been on girls hearts since before this was even a thought. God's hands have been preparing for this event since before Resonate thought of it.
I can not convey how excited I am, how nervous I am, how in awe I am. God is so faithful. The last year of my life has been a roller coaster of great moments and in 14 days I know there is going to be a another great thing.
In 14 days this event becomes a reality, in 14 days girls lives will be changed forever, in 14 days prayers will be answered, in 14 days hearts will hear the name of God for the first time, in 14 days we have the opportunity for a revival on the campuses of WSU and UofI.
Seating in a coffee shop thinking of all that's left to do and all that will get gone, I pray for the people, I pray for the lives, I pray for the hearts, for the ears, for the thoughts, for the conviction, for the women, for the sister. Because they, the people, make it all worth it. They are the reason.
God grant us grace in the midst of the next few weeks. God grant us peace in the coming weeks. God be the women in the coming weeks. God open their hearts for this night. God allow change to occur.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
New Year on Its way
So it is hard to think that 12 months ago life was being lived in a different year. Sometimes i don't think about this night being the start the something new, or this night being a time, a place, a moment...to look back on and see change.
However, these past twelve months a lot has happen.
I started and then put together a women's event.
I moved home and worked at a camp for the summer.
I read a few books.
I became a staff member of a Church.
I went skiing for the first time.
I almost ran into a tree. (while skiing)
I took dance lessons.
I watch a whole season of American Idol.
I watch three close friends get baptized.
I healed some past wounds.
I turned 23.
I watched my friend get engaged!
I saw a friend realize some major goals in her life and act on them.(2 friends really)
I meet and became really good friends with my new roommate. Jessica
I moved in with 2 girls. This is the 2ND time I've done this in my life.
I decided to stay In Pullman for year 2.
I watched heart break.
I learned a little more about loving people.
I encounter Christ alot.
I learned a little pit more about patience's.
As i take a few moments to just glance back on the last twelve months a lot has happen.
goals i thought i would not reach till later in life God opens doors to see them now.
I think that has been the greatest and yet most difficult thing I done this year.
Many of you know my heart and my passion. I love what I am doing with Resonate and in the lives of the women I get to meet with and talk to! yet I did not think the road would take me here so soon. I always thought i would graduate college,do some missions, teach, go to seminary, work for a Church, do women's stuff...live the rest of my life.
Instead, I graduated college, moved half way around the US, work for a Church and do women's stuff...2010 brings on the thoughts of whats next. I am sitting in a place I have dreamed about, prayed about, and long for. yet I did not realized it until just a few days ago.
I ask that you pray for me in the coming weeks. That now that I see the greatest that God has placed before me. pray that i take hold of it and live to the best possible outcome. Pray that I gain clarity into the future. That I see what God has for me and that I am able to act on it. I think life was easy up till now because it lined up with my journey, the journey I had in mind. Now I am faced with the all exciting question of 'where does this journey lead?"
Sometimes the answer to this is easy and sometimes it is hard. Pray that I see it and that I am able to live freely in it!
I hope you all have a great night and wonderful 2010...I keep ya posted!
Liz
However, these past twelve months a lot has happen.
I started and then put together a women's event.
I moved home and worked at a camp for the summer.
I read a few books.
I became a staff member of a Church.
I went skiing for the first time.
I almost ran into a tree. (while skiing)
I took dance lessons.
I watch a whole season of American Idol.
I watch three close friends get baptized.
I healed some past wounds.
I turned 23.
I watched my friend get engaged!
I saw a friend realize some major goals in her life and act on them.(2 friends really)
I meet and became really good friends with my new roommate. Jessica
I moved in with 2 girls. This is the 2ND time I've done this in my life.
I decided to stay In Pullman for year 2.
I watched heart break.
I learned a little more about loving people.
I encounter Christ alot.
I learned a little pit more about patience's.
As i take a few moments to just glance back on the last twelve months a lot has happen.
goals i thought i would not reach till later in life God opens doors to see them now.
I think that has been the greatest and yet most difficult thing I done this year.
Many of you know my heart and my passion. I love what I am doing with Resonate and in the lives of the women I get to meet with and talk to! yet I did not think the road would take me here so soon. I always thought i would graduate college,do some missions, teach, go to seminary, work for a Church, do women's stuff...live the rest of my life.
Instead, I graduated college, moved half way around the US, work for a Church and do women's stuff...2010 brings on the thoughts of whats next. I am sitting in a place I have dreamed about, prayed about, and long for. yet I did not realized it until just a few days ago.
I ask that you pray for me in the coming weeks. That now that I see the greatest that God has placed before me. pray that i take hold of it and live to the best possible outcome. Pray that I gain clarity into the future. That I see what God has for me and that I am able to act on it. I think life was easy up till now because it lined up with my journey, the journey I had in mind. Now I am faced with the all exciting question of 'where does this journey lead?"
Sometimes the answer to this is easy and sometimes it is hard. Pray that I see it and that I am able to live freely in it!
I hope you all have a great night and wonderful 2010...I keep ya posted!
Liz
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