Sunday, March 31, 2013

My Redeemer Lives!



Today, we celebrate the greatest, most beautiful victory of all time.

Jesus conquered death.

He is alive, and we get to share in that victory.

Live in that victory.

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Stories From Wilmington: You Don't Choose Where You Were Born

He tells me he skipped the first hour of school to buy pizza and Takis.

Now it's well after school and he's just chilling on the streets talking to a random girl from Canada.

And if this was me in Grade 4 (or now, actually.), my mom would've reported missing persons already. (Not really.)

But really. Where are his parents?

And I don't know the answer and I'm not sure I want to know but I think I know.

I have absolutely no idea for this kid specifically, but if I profiled an average kid from Wilmington, I'm guessing dad's long gone and mom's either pulling a double at a job (whether it's a legal or illegal one, not too sure), wrapped up with a boyfriend or passed out on the couch.

And we can throw judgements and toss out suggestions like get a job or go to college, but maybe it's us who didn't even give them that chance.

And that might not be our fault either because we didn't choose where we were born and neither did they, so we're just a bunch of people born into a lifestyle and maybe if we ditched "us and them" and just did it together, that's what would work out?

Because being born into the suburbs, where hoarding and selfishness and other terrible things reign, I didn't get to choose that and neither did any of the interns or staff at UrbanPromise Wilmington. And being born into the inner city, where gangs and bad education and other terrible things reign, none of the UP kids, nor their parents or families got to choose that.

What we do get to choose is what we do after we're born and what we do about what we were born into. 

Because we all share two things in common:

1. We were all born into a terrible world.

2. We were all born into a world where hope still exists through Jesus.

And so people like the UrbanPromise staff are working to rid of the hoarding, selfishness, gangs, bad education and all those other terrible things all at once - because they believe in hope.

And teams like mine come in, and we see it - we were born into a terrible world.

But hope can live in and through us - all of us. 

Because that same fourth grader - I got to pray with him and do homework with him and play charades with him and you know what happened? Just a little bit of the selfishness and other terrible things from where I was born died in me, and a little bit of the bad education and other terrible things from where he was born died in him.

It works. 

I see the terrible world I was born into - and I try just a little to make it less terrible.

My current favourite fourth grader? He sees the terrible world he was born into - and he tries just a little to make it less terrible.

And I help him and he helps me and isn't that the Body of Christ and isn't that how it was supposed to be?

And the only way hope lives? Is through Jesus.

Let me tell you something - You (yes, you.) were born into a terrible world.

No, it's not your fault. You didn't choose that.

But what you can choose, is what you're gonna do about it.

-

Here's something you can do about it - would you help UrbanPromise Wilmington continue to bring hope to the terrible world we were born into? 

Here's the thing: We had the awesome opportunity to eat at UP's Executive Director's house while in Wilmington, and he said last year was not a good year financially, and they're just trusting God for this year.

It's tough for Canadians because of tax receipt stuff but I know I have some US readers, and this is me asking you to consider supporting UrbanPromise Wilmington. I can tell you from experience that the Kingdom-work they're in is real and amazing. If you feel so led, clicking here will bring you to their donation page.

Thank you! :)

-


Just realizing the lack of photos in my last post, so here are a few photos to end today's post. :) Also, I now know that this series is going to be at least 3 posts long... so stay tuned! ;)

At one UP Wilmington's four elementary school camps/after school programs, Camp Victory. I spent all of this and last year at this camp - love that place! [CV is clearly the best camp, it's just that people from other camps can't admit it. ;)]
Saturday basketball! :)

The team. I have a whole lot of love for these people! ❤

Monday, March 25, 2013

Stories from Wilmington: Comfort & Discomfort

I think I can finally try and do this.

Try and put into words the encounter I had with God in this city called Wilmington, Delaware, USA.

I'll be the first to admit that it's so. hard. to have extended time with God in my everyday, distraction filled life. Going to UrbanPromise Wilmington gave me the opportunity to have a week where everywhere I looked - Jesus. And in that week of God having my undivided attention [still working on that undivided thing for the everyday], He showed me some amazing stuff.

And that's the reason why I've been having such a tough time putting everything into words [super frustrating for the words-girl, by the way. I've been screaming at God patiently waiting for words.] - because usually God reveals stuff to me/reminds me of things little by little, but that week was just a whole lot at once. And it was so beautiful and a bit overwhelming all at once.

There's no way I'll get to everything. So I'll try an capture one of the biggest things right now, and I know the rest will come out eventually - in future blog posts, conversation... The title starts with "Stories from Wilmington:" because I feel like this might be a series of blog posts. At least 2. ;)

So here's the thing. I asked God to discomfort me for the things that discomfort Him.

Be careful what you wish pray for?

Yeah.

Because a week and a bit ago, God taught me a lot about comfort and discomfort.

You know - sleeping on the floor in a room with 12 other girls? And weeding gardens and running on less sleep than usual? And hanging out in a neighbourhood where you - the visible minority - feel a little unsafe? It's uncomfortable, but when it's in the Body of Christ and in and for the Kingdom - it becomes this Jesus-comfort that's so much more comfortable than any comforts in the First World.

And me? I coin this term in my journal - comfortable discomfort and uncomfortable comfort.

And huh? Because wouldn't a mattress and sleeping in and shooting hoops in the suburbs sound like a way better March Break?

But Jesus is upside down.

And let me tell you - the discomfort of serving doesn't even feel that uncomfortable because Jesus makes it feel like home. And the comfort of the First life - it's suddenly uncomfortable because you don't want to feel safe until the kids you fell in love with are.

Suddenly - compassion. "To suffer with." 

And compassion is not at all comfortable.

And here's me - wondering what to do with this lesson about comfort. Because I want to be uncomfortable for the things that discomfort Him. I prayed for that! He said yes!

I don't want to be comfortable. I want to run from comfort. I want to shun comfort.

But then there's the me that all too often wins - the one that can fall so easily back into the First life and the one who doesn't want to be uncomfortable.

So this selfish me - she prays that she'll meet a school deadline and doesn't pray for the 4th Grader who captured her heart in Wilmington. And she complains about tired just because that's a conversation starter but she forgets the rest she could run to in Him.

And my flesh - just doesn't like the discomfort that comes with compassion so the flesh makes the spirit hard against love and anything else God revealed in Wilmington. And the flesh doesn't like the discomfort that comes with compassion so it finds comfort and latches on and my flesh is addicted to comfort because it's easier.

And even though I saw the comfort Jesus brings when I discomfort myself for Him - I still let myself fall back into comfort and I can't let that happen.

So I'm figuring out how to live uncomfortable right where I am. And I'll fail. And I'll choose comfort over Him.

But he answered my first prayer and I have faith he'll answer my next one: Help me live Your version of comfort every. single. day.

-

PS Sorry if this post made very little sense. Really - I feel so ramble-y and incoherent and this is just me trying to sort out God. It gets messy and I'm thankful for a place to write it out! :)

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Wilmington, Take 2

Yup, I'm going back! :)

Tomorrow, I'll be travelling with about 20 other amazing people to work with UrbanPromise in Wilmington, Delaware.

I'm sooooo super excited to be going back. [If you missed the blog on it last year, here it is. :)]

And so, this girl is humbly asking for a little prayer?

Because we know that through Him is the only way for anything.

So would you pray for us? :)

That all those logistics go well - the border, the passports, the vans, the times.

And for safety and health because we really don't wanna be using our travel insurance.

And that our team would overflow with love and unity and all those things from above and we'd be a team that truly exemplifies the Body of Christ.

For the people we'll meet - that we could serve them and learn from them and really love each other in Christ.

And most of all - that He would do more than we could ask or imagine, and that above all, His will would be done [and that we'd be open to listening to what that is! :)].

Thanks in advance for prayers.

And, I'll see you all in just over a week! :)

Friday, March 8, 2013

What I Wish You Would Really Know

Girl - would you pause a minute and do something for me?

Kill all those lies.

Actually, this is more for you, but it’d help me a lot because it kills me to see you believe those lies.

Can I just say I notice the way you shrink a bit when he walks by? 

And why do you let him have power over you?

Because you slump your shoulders and hang your head but girl - a Man who hung on a cross loves you too much for you to be doing that.

And I wish you would just know - believe - how deep the Father's love for you is. 

Sister, you are a princess - daughter of the King.

I wish you would know that, so you can live that. 

And too often we believe lies - not good enough, not pretty enough, not skinny enough, not smart enough - can we lay those things to rest? 

I wish you'd seek and hold out for God's best for you. In everything. 

Because you're cheaping yourself out if you settle for anything less.

I wish you'd give yourself the respect you deserve: media might tell you that you're an object, but you're not. 

You are a creation. God's creation. 

Believe that. Live that.

I guess what I'm trying to say here is this: Girl, sometimes we sell ourselves short. 

But a God who loves, champions and fights for you?

He made you for so. much. more.

~

Happy International Women's Day!

Monday, March 4, 2013

What's In My Headphones Lately...

Just a fun, light little post because I love these songs and you should definitely listen to them. :)

Middle of Your Heart - for KING & COUNTRY
Basically their whole album has been on repeat, but this is most definitely up there for my favourite song on the album.



Starlight - Taylor Swift
My dad says Taylor Swift has too many boyfriends. I most definitely agree. But, her music is so fun. [And again, basically her whole album is playing during art class - but this is up there for fave song on Red.] :)



Busted Heart (Hold On To Me) - for KING & COUNTRY
Because a band this good definitely deserves two spots on this list.



Holy (Wedding Day) - The City Harmonic
If you only listen to one song on this list, please make it this one. Just. So. Beautiful. ❤ [PS I have decided that this song is being played at my wedding... No other plans yet. ;)]



How He Loves - David Crowder*Band
Always.




What have you been listening to lately? :)


PS Happy March! :D
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