So, it is finally Finals week for me here at EKU. It has been an awesome semester so far and I am so excited for the summer! It is still going to be a busy week, as I have to pack everything up in my college dorm room and store it away for the summer as I head back to Ohio for less than two weeks before I take flight to California for 12 weeks! It is amazing how time has gone by and the amount of support that I have raised so far. I am officially at 65% of my full support needed for Santa Cruz! I am allowed to continue to raise funds as long as I need to, since project does not start officially until May 28th.
In thinking of the work that I will be doing in light of the Gospel, I am nervous for the conversations that I will have and the things that I will be challenged to do. Tonight, at Bible Fellowship Group (BFG), we were talking about Acts 1:1-11, the new sermon series that our church is going through on Sunday mornings. We started talking about sharing the Gospel in situations that we feel even the most uncomfortable situations. I started to share my example of how going to Santa Cruz, it is easy for me to think about the people that I will meet on my team yet I forget the other relationships that I will have with my co-workers and others that I come across for the sake of the Gospel. The conversation turned into talking about the Holy Spirit and how sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ does not come from the way that we share a tract with people, or how successful that we are in sharing the Romans Road that will lead others to Christ. Rather, we are sharing the Gospel when we are simply explaining how God is working in our lives and conversation comes from sharing life with them. In this way, sharing the Gospel becomes easier in knowing that we do not fail if we do not go through the whole Gospel every time we talk to someone. There is a time and place for that, and the opportunity will naturally arise from that. AND we have the amazing Holy Spirit that guides us, and prepares hearts for us. We are not the one that saves, but it is our God who saves!! :)
I want to leave with this verse of encouragement:
2 Timothy 4:1b-2
"1 ...I solemnly charge you: 2 proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching."
I am so excited to see the Lord work through me and challenge me to places that I have never gone before. But, there is no reason to fear because He has given me the Holy Spirit that works in me and through me to proclaim the Gospel message wherever I may be!
How has God been working in your life?
-Mel
Monday, April 30, 2012
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Drawing Near
Hey Gang!!
So, I know that it has been a few weeks since I have posted an update-and for that, I apologize! The last few weeks of the semester here at Eastern are finally here-and that has kept me busy! It is the last week of classes, and Finals are next week. This semester has flown by, and I am proud to say that I will be halfway done with my college career! It has been a great two years, and I am so excited for what will come in the following two years here.
In thinking about Santa Cruz this summer, I can most definitely say that I am PUMPED! My Santa Cruz team has a Facebook page, where we post various things about this summer, questions, and just fun things about ourselves. It has been a joy seeing the interactions of my team, an it has made me even more excited to meet them all. Just a few more weeks to go, and I will be surrounded by my whole team! There are 60 of us students that will be serving and that does not include Staff. We have a large number with us, but that makes the work of the Gospel even more enjoyable with all the people to share with.
I am also glad to say that I have reached approx. 60% of my support for this summer!! The whole project fee is $3500. I am still waiting and praying for full support to come in the next week or so. God has really worked on my heart during the support raising process, as there were dry periods of no mail and I fought with the thought that I have no idea if raising $3500 was even possible. But, I am glad to say that God has bigger plans for me, and has shown in the last week that He is truly in control and brought me from 45% to 60% in one day. Praise the Lord :) I am excited to see what He will do through me this summer.
To close out, I have some prayers that my prayer partners can be praying or over the next few weeks before I head out to California.
1. Pray for support to come in on God's time and for my faith in His work. As always, He is in control.
2. Pray for team unity leading up to Santa Cruz. Having a large team may lead to issues, but be in prayer that God is bigger and that He can create unity and bonds between us all.
3. Most importantly, pray for my heart's preparation to Serve the Lord in a big way. I am excited, nervous, scared, and ready for this challenge. Pray that I can prepare my heart daily for this.
Thanks for Serving Christ with me!!
In Christ, Melinda
So, I know that it has been a few weeks since I have posted an update-and for that, I apologize! The last few weeks of the semester here at Eastern are finally here-and that has kept me busy! It is the last week of classes, and Finals are next week. This semester has flown by, and I am proud to say that I will be halfway done with my college career! It has been a great two years, and I am so excited for what will come in the following two years here.
In thinking about Santa Cruz this summer, I can most definitely say that I am PUMPED! My Santa Cruz team has a Facebook page, where we post various things about this summer, questions, and just fun things about ourselves. It has been a joy seeing the interactions of my team, an it has made me even more excited to meet them all. Just a few more weeks to go, and I will be surrounded by my whole team! There are 60 of us students that will be serving and that does not include Staff. We have a large number with us, but that makes the work of the Gospel even more enjoyable with all the people to share with.
I am also glad to say that I have reached approx. 60% of my support for this summer!! The whole project fee is $3500. I am still waiting and praying for full support to come in the next week or so. God has really worked on my heart during the support raising process, as there were dry periods of no mail and I fought with the thought that I have no idea if raising $3500 was even possible. But, I am glad to say that God has bigger plans for me, and has shown in the last week that He is truly in control and brought me from 45% to 60% in one day. Praise the Lord :) I am excited to see what He will do through me this summer.
To close out, I have some prayers that my prayer partners can be praying or over the next few weeks before I head out to California.
1. Pray for support to come in on God's time and for my faith in His work. As always, He is in control.
2. Pray for team unity leading up to Santa Cruz. Having a large team may lead to issues, but be in prayer that God is bigger and that He can create unity and bonds between us all.
3. Most importantly, pray for my heart's preparation to Serve the Lord in a big way. I am excited, nervous, scared, and ready for this challenge. Pray that I can prepare my heart daily for this.
Thanks for Serving Christ with me!!
In Christ, Melinda
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Team Prayer
Hey Everyone!
I just thank God every day for all the new supporters that I have for Santa Cruz this summer! If you are just reading this for the first time, this is a place that I will update weekly or so all throughout the summer so that you can see what I have been doing with my ministry in Santa Cruz :)
I am continuing to trust God daily with bringing in the resources that I need to go on my trip this summer, and I wanted to share this scripture with you. This is a prayer for our team, that we are brought together and able to reach others, as well as strengthening ourselves! I hope this can be a tool for you as you pray for this summer, and the preparation leading up to May 28th :)
Ephesians 3:14-20
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
Praying daily, Trusting God. How can I be praying for you?
<3 Mel
I just thank God every day for all the new supporters that I have for Santa Cruz this summer! If you are just reading this for the first time, this is a place that I will update weekly or so all throughout the summer so that you can see what I have been doing with my ministry in Santa Cruz :)
I am continuing to trust God daily with bringing in the resources that I need to go on my trip this summer, and I wanted to share this scripture with you. This is a prayer for our team, that we are brought together and able to reach others, as well as strengthening ourselves! I hope this can be a tool for you as you pray for this summer, and the preparation leading up to May 28th :)
Ephesians 3:14-20
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
Praying daily, Trusting God. How can I be praying for you?
<3 Mel
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