I think it's a concept I am just now beginning to understand. I love that I have felt the freedom this summer to feel it. I thank God for that. I think so many of us in the Chrisitian life walk around as if we have it all together of course we don't, for if we did we wouldn't need Jesus. It speaks of this in Galatians 3, I can't find the other reference I am thinking of. I will get back to you on that one.
Things are great here. I long to hear how Holden's wedding was on Tuesday. I am so sad I wasn't there, but know that being here is right where God wants me, I have to trust in His complete sovereignty.
More later.
6.30.2005
6.22.2005
time to update
Things have slowed down a bit. Not that it changes the amount of time I spend in the office, but I do feel like I can catch my breath now. I spoke with my friend Hassie last night for about an hour, the only catch was it was between 2 and 3 in the am. Why did I stay up so late? Today was a great day. I went to the beach and played in the ocean, planned discipleship, met with two of my girls, went on the beach to share our faith, came back in, took a shower, took the project picture, had a ministry team meeting, had dinner at subway, came back to the office to work - and here I am currently, waiting on some memos to be printed.
My relationship with the Lord continues to grow and change, and I feel as if I have made significant progress in understanding the Spirit filled life. It's a tough concept, but really easy at the same time. The great paradox of the Christian life, I guess, is that it's so simple, yet so difficult. All we have to do is accept what Jesus did on the cross for our sins and be grateful and agree with Him that we need Him in our lives, and let Him know - (by faith you have been saved -eph 2:8-9) Yet, it's also really difficult to grasp the fact, that daily we need to submit ourselves to the cross of Christ or else we will live in defeat. That's why there is so much talk about hypocrisy in Christianity. It's not that we're hypocrits, it's that we're open failures, and we're open failures in the world because we are recipients of grace. Therefore, we know that grace abounds when we are forgiven, but we also know that to put it in perspective we are to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do (eph 2:10) not that it sanctifies, but rather it's the definition of Christianity (followers of Christ) and what did Christ do? He loved on the poor and needy, he went where no one else wanted to go, he didn't just preach conversion. I think this realization has been a long time coming as a biproduct of the Methodist church. I needed to realize that social gospel IS necessary because it's the way Jesus lived.
I guess these are all things that are points to ponder and we are all in process and have not arrived. I will probably have these realizations for the rest of my life as I seek to learn more about who God is and what it's like to be sanctified in truth.
Speaking of which, currently I am reading Psalm 119, cause I am determined to make it through. Next, I think I'll start studying the Old Testament, I have only just begun to realize my ignorance in those books.
One other thing I just learned, is the original sin in the Garden was not wanting to be like God, but rather the lie of you will be like God in knowing good from evil, when really man already had free will to choose. At that point, man did not know there was an alternative. Anyway, more on that later and why I believed something else.
So come back for more soon. More theology talk later.
My relationship with the Lord continues to grow and change, and I feel as if I have made significant progress in understanding the Spirit filled life. It's a tough concept, but really easy at the same time. The great paradox of the Christian life, I guess, is that it's so simple, yet so difficult. All we have to do is accept what Jesus did on the cross for our sins and be grateful and agree with Him that we need Him in our lives, and let Him know - (by faith you have been saved -eph 2:8-9) Yet, it's also really difficult to grasp the fact, that daily we need to submit ourselves to the cross of Christ or else we will live in defeat. That's why there is so much talk about hypocrisy in Christianity. It's not that we're hypocrits, it's that we're open failures, and we're open failures in the world because we are recipients of grace. Therefore, we know that grace abounds when we are forgiven, but we also know that to put it in perspective we are to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do (eph 2:10) not that it sanctifies, but rather it's the definition of Christianity (followers of Christ) and what did Christ do? He loved on the poor and needy, he went where no one else wanted to go, he didn't just preach conversion. I think this realization has been a long time coming as a biproduct of the Methodist church. I needed to realize that social gospel IS necessary because it's the way Jesus lived.
I guess these are all things that are points to ponder and we are all in process and have not arrived. I will probably have these realizations for the rest of my life as I seek to learn more about who God is and what it's like to be sanctified in truth.
Speaking of which, currently I am reading Psalm 119, cause I am determined to make it through. Next, I think I'll start studying the Old Testament, I have only just begun to realize my ignorance in those books.
One other thing I just learned, is the original sin in the Garden was not wanting to be like God, but rather the lie of you will be like God in knowing good from evil, when really man already had free will to choose. At that point, man did not know there was an alternative. Anyway, more on that later and why I believed something else.
So come back for more soon. More theology talk later.
6.20.2005
roommate needed
2 swCf seek same, inquire within asap: kellyecain@gmail.com
s= single as in not married
w=white (not that it matters)
C=Christian (securing eternal relationships)
f= female
s= single as in not married
w=white (not that it matters)
C=Christian (securing eternal relationships)
f= female
6.18.2005
florida heat and thunder
Today is probably the 5th day in a row that we have had an electrical storm here in Florida. I was with two of my girls on the beach a couple of days ago, we were walking along praying for someone to share our faith with, when the lifeguards (total baywatch style) turned on the siren and started driving down the beach in a truck announcing, "please move away from the water and seek shelter, electrical storm approaching." Both me, Morgan and Jenn, took it as a good sign that our evangelism time was up for the day.
Things are going great, I am certainly enjoying hearing from the Lord this summer. I do, however, feel as if it has been awhile since I have "felt" a good connection with Him, which is so weird. For some reason, I feel the need to feel connected especially now while I am doing ministry. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that I came off of a time that was pretty self scheduled, and usually solitare to here which is all corporate and very scheduled, which I love - it's just a big adjustment. So why would I expect my relationship with the Lord to be any different.
Today is my day off, we get one a week. It was good, I woke up around 9, headed to Walmart for groceries, made some spinach dip and fruit salad, had lunch, went down to the pool - it immediately started storming, so I headed back up - wrote some cards, took a quick nap, went to the thrift store with my roommates, ate dinner at a mexican restuarant (no where near as good as El Rodeo) went back to Walmart for clothes for the staff hunt, came home, and now I'm here. I know you wanted to know every detail of the day - so you got it.
Things otherwise are good, ministry is fun. I am enjoying discipling my six girls - Jenn, Jessica, Morgan, Rachel, Dawn, and Ashley. They are really sweet and mostly teachable. I am enjoying learning how to dig deep into their lives and hear from their hearts about where they are in their walk with the Lord. It is such a mutual process to realize that no one in the Christian life has "arrived" and we all have to help each other along.
Tomorrow I will meet with several more girls, and then we have a staff hunt, we are dressing up as different characters - I think I'm a middle aged woman with a pareo and sunhat and large sunglasses, one of my roommates is a pregnant muslim, the other a harley biker chick, then the 3rd is very Audrey Hepburn (she will be thrilled if she knew I labeled her as such). So the goal of the staff hunt is for the students to find us throughout Daytona. We will be at this place called Ocean Walk hanging out and 'trying' to look nonchalant.
On Sunday we are going to the Juvenille Detention Center, my group will be going to a mod where we will share two testimonies and do a skit. I think it will be a really interesting time. My girls are really excited to see what the Lord does during this time. I even had one of my students volunteer to give her testimony which was an absolute shock, so I think God is really working to change their lives this summer. If you think about it, send up some prayers for us.
It's hard being away, especially from Matt, but I know and trust that God knows exactly what He's doing.
Oh, big news! My dad got a job! Yay!
Other big news, Matt applied to seminary!
More big news, I have somewhere to live in Wilmington! It is super cute. Can't wait to have visitors!
Well, I'll post some pictures of Daytona, but I'm headed to bed. Ministry can be exhausting sometimes.
Please pray for me and my relationship with the Lord - pray that I can feel a real connection with Him and that my walk with Christ is authentic.
Thank you oh so much.
Things are going great, I am certainly enjoying hearing from the Lord this summer. I do, however, feel as if it has been awhile since I have "felt" a good connection with Him, which is so weird. For some reason, I feel the need to feel connected especially now while I am doing ministry. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that I came off of a time that was pretty self scheduled, and usually solitare to here which is all corporate and very scheduled, which I love - it's just a big adjustment. So why would I expect my relationship with the Lord to be any different.
Today is my day off, we get one a week. It was good, I woke up around 9, headed to Walmart for groceries, made some spinach dip and fruit salad, had lunch, went down to the pool - it immediately started storming, so I headed back up - wrote some cards, took a quick nap, went to the thrift store with my roommates, ate dinner at a mexican restuarant (no where near as good as El Rodeo) went back to Walmart for clothes for the staff hunt, came home, and now I'm here. I know you wanted to know every detail of the day - so you got it.
Things otherwise are good, ministry is fun. I am enjoying discipling my six girls - Jenn, Jessica, Morgan, Rachel, Dawn, and Ashley. They are really sweet and mostly teachable. I am enjoying learning how to dig deep into their lives and hear from their hearts about where they are in their walk with the Lord. It is such a mutual process to realize that no one in the Christian life has "arrived" and we all have to help each other along.
Tomorrow I will meet with several more girls, and then we have a staff hunt, we are dressing up as different characters - I think I'm a middle aged woman with a pareo and sunhat and large sunglasses, one of my roommates is a pregnant muslim, the other a harley biker chick, then the 3rd is very Audrey Hepburn (she will be thrilled if she knew I labeled her as such). So the goal of the staff hunt is for the students to find us throughout Daytona. We will be at this place called Ocean Walk hanging out and 'trying' to look nonchalant.
On Sunday we are going to the Juvenille Detention Center, my group will be going to a mod where we will share two testimonies and do a skit. I think it will be a really interesting time. My girls are really excited to see what the Lord does during this time. I even had one of my students volunteer to give her testimony which was an absolute shock, so I think God is really working to change their lives this summer. If you think about it, send up some prayers for us.
It's hard being away, especially from Matt, but I know and trust that God knows exactly what He's doing.
Oh, big news! My dad got a job! Yay!
Other big news, Matt applied to seminary!
More big news, I have somewhere to live in Wilmington! It is super cute. Can't wait to have visitors!
Well, I'll post some pictures of Daytona, but I'm headed to bed. Ministry can be exhausting sometimes.
Please pray for me and my relationship with the Lord - pray that I can feel a real connection with Him and that my walk with Christ is authentic.
Thank you oh so much.
6.17.2005
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