DTR?

DTR. Define the relationship. Jesus wants to have that conversation with us about what the cost looks like as far as following him. This is a piece of what Jeremy shared this morning at Epic.

Also, funny story. About a month ago I was visiting Purdue and went into a bookstore where I founda book that caught my interest enough so that I "noted" it in my phone. A few days ago I was talking with my grandma and she mentioned that she found a book at Goodwill that she thought I might be interested in. I asked what it was and when she told me I was like WHAT?! The exact same one. Stop Dating the Church, Fall In Love with the Family of God.

"We are a generation of consumers, independent and critical. We attend church, but we don't want to settle down and truly invest ourselves. We're not into commitment -- we only want to date the church.

Is this what God wants for us?

Stop Dating the Church reminds us that faith was never meant to be a solo pursuit. The church is the place God grows us, encourages us, and uses us best. Loving Jesus Christ involves a passionate commitment to His church -- around the world and down the street.

We can't be apathetic. It's time to fall in love with the family of God."

Interesting, huh? All that to say, I hope it's a good read :)

Sleepless Night

God, what is this, heart of justice?
These things, I feel so strongly about?
Is this You, Abba?
Your pains, just a glimpse?

I want to hold Your heart forever,
As I know it's You holding mine.

Teach me Your ways, O LORD,
Grant me the emotions of Your heart.

The Father's Love Letter

My Child...

You may not know me, but I know everything about you
~Psalm 139:1
I know when you sit down and when you rise
~Psalm 139:2
I am familiar with all your ways
~Psalm 139:3
Even the very hairs on your head are numbered
~Matthew 10:29-31
For you were made in my image
~Genesis 1:27
In me you live and move and have your being
~Acts 17:28
For you are my offspring
~Acts 17:28
I knew you even before you were conceived
~Jeremiah 1:4-5
I chose you when I planned creation
~Ephesians 1:11-12
You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book
~Psalm 139: 15-16
I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live
~Acts 17:26
You are fearfully and wonderfully made
~Psalm 139:14
I knit you together in your mother's womb
~Psalm 139:13
And brought you forth on the day you were born
~Psalm 71:6
I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me
~John 8:41-44
I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love
~1 John 4:16
And it is my desire to lavish my love on you
1 John 3:1
Simply because you are my child and I am your father
~1 John 3:1
I offer you more than your earthly father ever could
~Matthew 7:11
For I am the perfect father
~Matthew 5:48
Every god gift that you receive comes from my hand
~James 1:17
For I am your provider and I meet all your needs
~Matthew 6:31-33
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope
~Jeremiah 29:11
Because I love you with an everlasting love
~Jeremiah 31:3
My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore
~Psalm 139:17-18
And I rejoice over you with singing
~Zephaniah 3:17
I will never stop doing good to you
~Jeremiah 32:40
For you are my treasured possession
~Exodus 19:5
I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul
~Jeremiah 32:41
And I want to show you great and marvelous things
~Jeremiah 33:3
If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me
~Deuteronomy 4:29
Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart
~Psalm 37:4
For it is I who gave you those desires
~Philippians 2:13
I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine
~Ephesians 3:20
For I am your greatest encourager
~2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles
~2 Corinthians 1:3-4
When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you
~Psalm 34:18
As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart
~Isaiah 40:10
One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes
~Revelation 21:3-4
I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus
~John 17:23
For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed
~John 17:26
He is the exact representation of my being
~Hebrews 1:3
He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you
~Romans 8:31
And to tell you that I am not counting your sins
~2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled
~2 Corinthians 5:18-19
His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you
~1 John 4:10
I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love
~Romans 8:31-32
If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, your receive me
~1 John 2:23
And nothing will ever separate you from my love again
~Romans 8:38-39
Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen
~Luke 15:7
I have always been Father, and will always be Father
~Ephesians 3:14-15
My question is ~ Will you be my child?
~John 1:12-13
I am waiting for you
~Luke 15:11-32

Love,


Your Father, Almighty God

On My Mind

"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ -- to the glory and praise of God."

~Philippians 1:9-11

I Sincerely Apologize

Okay, so I clean the guest house for Bethel chapel speakers and special guests. Last week there was a man scheduled to stay overnight, as he was going to be on campus addressing financial topics. Check-in time is technically no earlier than 4pm, so naturally I thought I had ample time when I went on over around 1pm in the afternoon.

Side note: There is also a general rule of thumb, that if anything is left in the fridge that looks normal, we can just take it, at our own risk of course! I first headed to the kitchen and found a Snapple in there -- "Score!" I thought. Oh boy.

Next, was to grab the sheets off the beds and throw them in the washer. As I walked into the main bedroom, I nearly had a heart attack. A suitcase. It was just staring right at me. I frantically yelled to my roomie, who was just chilling on the couch doing some homework, and then made a phone call to get some clarity over the situation. Wonderful Banitha, from Student Development, shared that indeed our speaker and guest did check in that morning. That was terrible news.

With no other alternatives I scurried around doing all that I could for the time being, and decided to leave a note. I "sincerely apologized" and gave him the heads-up that he would be sleeping in a clean bed for the night.

Here comes the awesome part. Just a couple days ago, one of my friends Kirsten, and lovely fill-in cleaned the house, as I was unable. This morning she returned the key to me, along with a response to the note I had left earlier. Underneath what I had written, he added "No problem at all. Thanks for all that you do!" And included a five dollar bill -- a gold mine for most any college student. How crazy awesome, and completely unexpected. I found it particularly humorous, as this "tip" came from the financial guy who shared a lot about giving and being generous. Hmm, clear evidence that his walk is more than just talk. Nice.

Lastly, as I was tidying up for yet another guest earlier today, the Snapple drink that I mentioned earlier was still just chilling (literally!) in the fridge. Needless to say, it tastes good :)

In This Love Journey

My dear friend Glory shared this with me earlier today, as she was in my room praying and singing lots of love to our Savior. She actually wrote it out for me in Word (how neat), and it starts with a verse that God gave her for me. Side note: I'm not sure it could have been more perfect or fitting for me right now.

Matt 11:28-29

Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

As I was praying for you, I saw you as a little girl jumping up and down with beautiful intricate flowers in your hands. He told me that the jumping meant surrender but also joy and power at the same time. I believe the Lord is giving u new and deeper measures of joy, joy that you’ve never experienced before. U were jumping in God’s heart which is love. The flowers mean the Holy Spirit and I also heard beautiful mercy, which is a song by Laura Hackett.

He also said he’s preparing your heart to meet your sister and dad. I believe he’s gonna start pouring down a spirit of prayer for them which comes from the heart of Jesus. He said he will unite your family in His love and love towards each other. This is in his plan and is not and will not be shaken. He says his joy and delight is forever upon you.

Case, he loves u so deeply and is so exhilarated for things that are happening in this love journey. He is in love with you and wants you to be excited for these things that will happen. Let him embrace you and you can embrace him forever. <3 

I truly do have the best friends ever, and I am forever grateful for their constant encouragement and push in keeping my eyes to the Lord. 

Thank You Abba, for Glo. Bless her.

Silly Bands at Hero's Camp

Last weekend my friend Rebecca and I moseyed on over to a place named Hero’s Camp just a short drive from campus. It was for one of our classes. Our assignment (still ongoing) is to observe three different ministries focused on youth that we have no connections to. Hero’s camp has an intentional mission of reaching out to “at-risk” youth, specifically those without positive father figures in their lives. As Becca and I were leaving after a couple solid hours, we both prayed in the car before we drove off. My first words were, “God, I think you just broke my heart.” Observing, even serving and being a part of something similar to Hero’s Camp was nothing new to me, which is why I was so surprised and moved by its impact on me. Let me try and walk you through my experience that morning. 

Rebecca and I walked through the doors, we were greeted by a man named PJ. He was helpful with sharing the vision behind why Hero’s Camp exists, parts of its history, as well as some recent stories of impact. As we learned about the mission of Hero’s Camp, we also found out that Pat, the leader of it, uses one of his passions being basketball to reach the kids and teens. As we walked through the gymnasium, he turned to us and shared “Won’t listen unless they’re warm.” That was so interesting and so practical, especially in the cooler seasons when many of them walk there or take the bus. To be honest, it threw me back, and definitely was not anything that I expected to hear. Both PJ and Pat also shared with Rebecca and I the reality that really does break their hearts, and the stories that cause tears to fall from their eyes each day. Specifically they shared a commonality about the community there, that families really do heat their homes with an over, and they go to sleep and wake up knowing that “someone has been murdered in their bedroom, because they can’t afford anything different.”

After we had been given a tour, and asked a few questions, we no longer heard the dribble of basketballs, and went over and joined a bible study, led by Pat. He spoke about the importance of Scripture, prayer and fasting. Each of them had a copy of The Message. Often we don’t even hear or learn about these things growing up in the church, so that was refreshing. And talk about on portable risers in a basketball gymnasium. Amen. He covered a lot, read through Isaiah 40, spoke very practically and even taboo, and it was obvious that he knew their names. He was not afraid to call them out, meet them on their turf, speak their language, and get down and dirty. I really appreciated that. One thing that really stuck out to me was when he called a particular guy out on the spot. After a few moments, he said, “Do you know why I push you? It’s because I see something in you, and I’m not willing to let that go.” To me, that was so important, and I can respect that so much, because it showed that he cares, and it offers a level of support and consistency/expectation that might not be there at home for most of the kids and teens. 

The bible study time was primarily led by Pat, although highly interactive, and the basketball time was 100% inclusive. Also, there was a craft time for the younger ones in the foyer where they could “Pimp Your Turkey”. I thought that was hilarious!

A few interesting things that I took away from my visit to Hero’s Camp was first of all, something that Pat prayed during the bible study time. “Lord fascinate us in the wait.” I thought about it, and took it as, “Lord, fascinate us, Your children, with Yourself, as we wait for Your son.” Wow, that is so incredible! Pat also shared with us that he tries to not talk about what is right and wrong, because he believes that both are wrong, but rather to focus on what is righteous. That is an interesting thought. Third, as Pat prayed for Rebecca and I before we left, he prayed that as we go back to Bethel’s campus, that we would be rooted in prayer first, before anything else. And to not pray for revival, because revival is an ebb and flow, it comes and goes, but for justice. “As we seek out the emotions of Your heart, reveal to us Your compassion, Your justice” he prayed.

Lastly, while I was at Hero’s Camp I met a girl named Presha. She was an eight year old girl with mad basketball skills. When I first met her she did not give me much while I was sitting by her, but as I was leaving I gave her a “cool handshake”, and she noticed the silly bands that I was wearing. We both had an orange and purple one. I asked her if she wanted to trade, so we swapped, and I told her that every time I looked at my new bracelet I would pray for her. 

Lord, let me not forget this.