Daily Update: T-3

Sitting here with my guitar at my side,  I'm hoping to get in a worship session before I go to bed. A funny thought because I pray that it is a sweet sound to God's ear even though I know it isn't the most pleasing sound to any other ear. (I'm still learning how to play.) But I have a music instrument and the desire to praise Him, so with all that I am and the little ability I have, that's exactly what I want to do... worship Him. And, that's exactly what I want to do with all my life. 

I am amazed at who God is and what He is doing. I spent the last few hours talking with three Chi Alpha alumni about how we have changed in the last few years. There have been so many victories in people's lives- over depression, eating disorders, self image issues, phobias, healing in family issues, the list goes on... There are so many reasons to thank God.  

The discussion morphed into a prayer session, for a half hour we prayed for a friend of ours who is struggling. Not to be cliche, but it was truly a beautiful sight. One of the girls afterwards said, "These are the moments that should be advertised. This is Christianity. This is community." And may I add, this is what Chi Alpha is all about. An authentic movement of people who love Jesus and want others to see how much Jesus loves them too! 

So there is my advertisement, and also my heart. It is for that amazing God, for this community, and for all the people who have yet to meet Him that I want to be on campus this year. 

Three days away from my official start date and I am still $800/month away from beginning my internship. Two monthly supports and another special gift today... which means I have 30 individuals financial supporting me and at least a dozen more praying with me. I am so grateful that I stand with many, that I stand in community. Thank you all for being in this with me! God is going to come through for us! =]

Faith like that.

"I caught a glimpse of what You want from me.

And what I have is not enough.

I read the story one more time.

Of those who gave to You their lives

with no fear or compromise

I want a faith like that...."

This is song is my prayer for this next year, and life in general. The song recalls the incredible and simplistic faith of the early Church, and how they saw God move... not because they were great men, but because they had great faith in a great God.

What I have is definitely not enough, but God is continually reminding me that He is more than enough. Last night another alumni joined my support team, another reminder of how awesome it is to be a part of the a community that loves and follows Christ.  =]

I also have a specific prayer request. To truncate a very long story. I got permission from a scholarship agency to use the remainder of my funds for expenses during my internship year, but due to some red tape, the funds are tied up. In other words, I could either be getting a check for $6000, no check at all, or a check somewhere in between those two amounts. If you think of it, could you pray that God will overcome the red tape and release to me the exact amount of money from this resource that He desires to release. Obviously, the full amount of $6000 would be incredibly helpful, but my prayer is for at least $3000 because that is the amount I have factored into my monthly budget (I intended to use the remaining amount to pay off the balance of my credit card which currently has all of my summer/support raising expenses on it). Thanks for your prayers!

A Concise Confession

In an email, one of my high school teachers once wrote: "conciseness is a virtue, one that Kera Package do not possess".  It was a true statement then, and it is a true statement now. To be concise is to be "free from all elaboration and superfluous detail". If I had a dollar for every time I started a sentence, "please allow to elaborate"... let's just say my support would be raised.

Today, one of my friends from college asked me when I would be back in DC. My response: "August 4th, assuming that I raise my Chi Alpha budget and can start my internship". The correct response would have been "August 4th", but I felt the need to elaborate. All too often, I elaborate and provide unnecessary explanation when I am not feeling secure enough to make a concise declaration of what I believe to be true. 

As my support raising contact list dwindles, my deadline nears, and my prayer life increases... I must confess that I find myself elaborating with conditional statements like "August 4th, assuming..."

Assuming what? That God provides? He will. His provision and timing are perfect. My resources may appear to be limited, but He has more than enough partners and financial resources to meet my deadline. My elaboration habit reveals that I am still doubting that God will come through. This is my confession. As the father of a sick boy prayed as he awaited a miracle, my prayer while I await my tiny support raising miracles is: "Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!" 

"Jesus said, "If? There are no 'ifs' among believers. Anything can happen." No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the father cried, "Then I believe. Help me with my doubts!"- Mark 9:23-24, The Message

Lord, I believe you will provide every partner, every resource, every dollar, and every ounce of wisdom that I need to begin this internship. I believe that You will be glorified in this support raising process and throughout my year at AU. I know that You will come through in greater ways than I can even imagine. Lord, I believe, but please help my unbelief.

If you are reading this, would you please believe with me? I can't wait to see what these next two weeks hold... and I am really glad that God has given me some awesome companions for the wild ride ahead. Thanks again friends! =]

numero uno.

Today, my first official supporter joined my team. A dear friend of mine was the first to commit to financially supporting me throughout this next year. As we talked about the upcoming year, I was reminded of the first time we met and how much has happened since then. She was my small group Bible study leader my freshman year of college, and has supported me through the best and worst of the last three years. Her faith is admirable, her character remarkable, and  her friendship highly valued in my life.

As she signed the paperwork, I had a revelation of sorts, a simple one. Support raising is all about allowing your friends to continue to support you, allowing those with your shared vision to invest in what God is doing, and joining together with those you care about for a common purpose.  The thought of raising $2,500 a month by August 1st is intimidating and challenging, and I quite frankly don't know how it is going to be accomplished. Yet, I do know this: God is faithful and it will get done... and part of that is because I have the support of amazing people. As the Beatles sing, "I get by with a little help from my friends". 

Thanks for being there for me! =]

Oh, the road ahead...

“The Road goes ever on and on down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, and I must follow, if I can, pursuing it with eager feet, until it joins some larger way where many paths and errands meet. And whither then? I cannot say.”- Lord of the Rings, J.R. Tolkien.

As commencement has passed, the door of my undergraduate college career has closed. Having walked through it, I now find my feet set upon a new path in the same neighborhood and I could not be more excited for the journey.  In other words, as college closes and I know that the path of vocational ministry lies ahead, I am extremely excited for next year. I have the opportunity to stay at my university and work with my campus ministry, and there is no place I would rather be.

This blog exists to provide my friends, family, and supporters with information about my year as a campus ministry intern and updates along the way. My feet are set upon the road ahead, and I am eager to see where it leads. Will you come with me? Will you accompany along the journey? I hope and pray that you will because it is going to be an awesome adventure, and I would be honored to share it with you.