ADVANCE Capital Campain

In many ways, I feel as though I spiritually grew up in Clemson. God's been so faithful in guarding my college years to be a time of great growth with Him. One of the ways He provided was a very loving, encouraging, and challenging church body: Crosspoint Church. Since planting in 2005, God has done some amazing things with Crosspoint. Many of the brothers and sisters and experiences God used to draw me closer to Himself especially over the last couple of years have been through this wonderful church body. With many dedicated, gospel-centered churches and ministry organizations in the area, Clemson is a training and sending ground to advance the Gospel to the nations. Even though I'm no longer a student, I still feel led to pray for this church and God's work on the campus having seen His prescence so clearly at work!
I wanted to share a prayer request for my church family: the lease for the facility they are currently using ends in August. The church has begun the Advance Capital Campain with anticipation of God providing the next location. He has been so faithful in the last three years (this will be the 4th location for the church -each one larger and better fitting to the needs of the church than the last! I know I've repeated the word "faithful" but its really the best fitting description of what I've seen of Him through the church!)) We are anticipating seeing Him do great things as He has never failed to take care of the body more lovingly and fully than we could have imagined. I wanted to share this 1) as an uplifting example of God's consistent faithfulness and provision 2) to ask for prayer for my church family.
The campaign includes 21 days of prayer (Feb 22-March 15). For those of you who have never been to Crosspoint, I understand that you won't feel as connected to the campaign. I'd ask you, though, to please lift up your brothers and sisters in prayer during this time of needing to put full faith in God's perfect timing. If you're a former Crosspoint member, you probably remember one or more of the previous moves and God's work through the church. Please pray for continued growth and for outreach to the campus and community. Crosspoint members, you know all the details so please also know that even those who can't be with you in person are praying for you!
I Cor 9:23

...As Worship

The Restore Conference focused on relationships and family as worship. (The four general sessions were titled: Dating, Marriage, Parenting and Sex as Worship) Each general session and breakout session pointed to everything we do, our whole lives, being worship. Every instance of worship is to be to the Glory of God. I learned so much this weekend of how God wants me to apply this- offering every aspect of my life as an act of worship with the constant purpose of glorifying God in everything I do and say. As I'm learning more about the application of dying to self to best glorify and worship God, I find myself thinking more about the meaning of the lyrics of praise songs. Worship should spur response and change. I reflected more about a couple of the praise songs this weekend. Here's one of them:

We Stand--Lee McDerment

Come all and join the chorus
our hands are lifted high
as one we lift our voices
we raise this battle cry

We stand with the One Victorious
We stand with One Alive
We stand with One glorious
Jesus the crucified

Come weary, worn and broken
His arms are open wide
Our lives will not be shaken
We raise this battle cry

We stand....

Our lives will not be shaken
cause our God is still alive!
We stand with One glorious
Jesus the crucified

The Christian life is not passive. We ARE in spiritual battle. I choose to stand with the ONE Victorious, the ONE ALIVE! The phrase: "I will not be shaken" has been repeated for me in scripture and praise songs recently. Coming to the safety of God's arms, just as I am, even broken, is so comforting. It makes God's abundant Grace so much more real!

Restore Conference

This past weekend was the Restore Conference in Clemson. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to have attended this conference! It really was a blessing to be under such wonderful teaching and immersed in the fellowship of wonderful brothers and sisters. It was such a sweet time of seeking God's heart on dating, marriage, sex and discipleship. Theres so much I could discuss from the weekend! I'm sure God will be using what I've heard through the next several seasons of my life! I would highly encourage anyone to download the 4 general sessions and as many of the 15 breakouts as are fitting to your season of life. They will be available on the Restore Conference website by the end of this week!! I'm looking forward to listening to sessions I did not get to attend as well as listening to those I did again!
One of the most insightful and convicting things I heard during the conference was during a breakout session with Justin Perry: "Just because you're learning new things doesn't mean you're growing in Christlikeness" That resounded so much with me! I have a tendency to be a bit of a "resource junkie". I love listening to sermons, reading blogs and good books; soaking up wisdom and insight. I'm also very much enjoying a new reading plan that will take me through the Bible in a year (my first time doing so!) There's nothing wrong with these. In fact, we're called to grow in knowledge and truth. The sign of a committed believer is a craving for God's word. The problem arises when we neglect the most important stage: application. Knowledge without application is wasted and poor stewardship. This challenge convicted me to more dilligently seek the Lord on how He wants me to apply what I'm learning rather than just absorbing information.
I'm so thankful God used this time to speak to my heart! The fellowship with Him was so sweet especially on the drive home as I began processing what He's been teaching me. I sincerely pray that these things will be a catalyst for growth and greater intimacy with Him.

Waiting as Worship

Reading back over the lyrics of "While I'm Waiting"by John Waller, I thought of a Mark Driscoll sermon I heard recently on the "Doxological View of Culture". Part of the lyrics are "I will serve you while I'm waiting I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord". Mark Driscoll described worship not as an event but as all of life. It doesn't start and stop. It's life with God. Worship is defined as the continual pouring out of all that I am to a chosen god. This could be the God of the Bible or a substitute, an idol (or idols).
All of life is worship.... culture is created as worship acts.... we were created to give ourselves in worship to someone or something.....you will sacrifice for who or what you put in the position of glory... everyone worships The question is, who or what? ....
The question for me out of all this is if all of life is worship, how will I use this time to worship, serve and glorify the Lord? I'm definitely in a season of waiting. I've heard in the past that waiting isn't passive, its active obedience. It can still be quite a helpless feeling sometimes. Though I don't clearly know where God's calling me, I do know I've only begun to explore the gifts, abilities and passions He's given me to be used for His glory.
The latest GirlTalk Blog post suggest that singles "Use This Time". Here's an excerpt from the post:
"Despite the many, legitimate, demands on your life, you have great freedom to choose how you spend your time. [referring to women in the single season]
Please don’t waste a moment of this precious and limited season. Be a student of God’s Word. Study eagerly, study deliberately, study faithfully.
When you dedicate your time to growing in your knowledge of God and you’ll make deposits into your future life that will yield blessing upon blessing".
Sounds like a great place to start in seeking to wait on the Lord as an act of worship. :)

Beautiful the Blood

I never knew death could be so sweet
I never knew surrender could feel so free
I never seen such meekness in majesty
That the blood of Jesus was bled for me

And now I sing freedom for all my days
It's only by the power of the cross I'm raised
The King of Glory rescued me

How beautiful the blood flow
How merciful the love show
The King of glory poured out
Victorious are we now

Never knew through these nails would love unfold
And never knew these wounds would heal my soul
I've never seen such beauty and sorrow meet
The blood of Jesus was bled for me

And now I sing freedom for all my days
It's only by the power of the cross I'm raised
The King of Glory rescued me

[Repeat Chorus]

Now I'll sing freedom for all my days
It's only by the power of the cross I'm raised
The King of Glory rescued me

[Repeat Chorus]

How beautiful you are
How merciful you are
How glorious you are
Christ the Savior

How beautiful you are
How merciful you are
How glorious you are
Christ the Savior

Steve Fee
"Beautiful The Blood"

GirlTalk: Single Season

As this past Saturday was Valentines, relationships seem to have been a more common topic recently. Once again, the Mahaney women, authors of the GirlTalk blog, have been sharing some very sound wisdom and encouragement. Over the last few weeks, they've been discussing Changing Seasons from childhood through adulthood. The current season is singleness. Posts beginning Feb 10 through current have been such encouragements! The posts include some perspective for those of us in the single season over Valentines. The overall message of the posts has been using the single season wisely for the glory of the Lord in service to His kingdom. God can do so much with a fully surrendered heart and life. I've been reminded to be thankful for this season. It has been and will continue to be a sweet time of getting to know my Heavenly Father more intimately and learning to depend on Him to fulfill me in every way. In other seasons of life, I may not have such freedom and ability to go anywhere or do anything the Lord appoints for me. I also believe theres a great benefit in a time of exploring God's gifts and callings for my life alone. It will be a great joy to see how the ultimate matchmaker designs my gifts and passions to fit perfectly with the man He's chosen for me to serve Him with.
I watched the Fireproof dvd recently and heard a song a sweet friend of mine, April, pointed out. Admittedly, I'm copying her by posting the lyrics but they fit so well things I hope to keep consistently on my heart and mind. Isn't imitation the best form of flattery? ;)

"While I'm waiting" by John Waller

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

Change of Season

I've been thinking a lot lately about how God's using this time in my life...and my reactions to it. Those who know me know that I'm typically very goal-oriented. I like to-do lists and results. With my goal-orientedness comes impatience and aversion to change especially if its out of my control... Despite how uncomfortable this time of uncertainty has been and continues to be, I'm beginning to see that its been God's plan all along. I would very much love to know where He'll send me next. I'm really looking forward to being settled in the next season of my life. I'm learning though, that this time of waiting on Him, of having to fully trust the Lord with everything from finances to friendships to knowing I'm serving meaningfully with my life is a season in itself. Some of these things will be continuing lessons throughout my life. For now though, they're the focus of a season. I'm here to draw closer to His heart. I've been so desperate to know His plan when He wants me to have a desperation to seek and know His heart.
Looking back at past posts on the GirlTalk blog, I found a couple on changing seasons. I'm thankful for resources such as this. Having been recently convicted to honestly examine how I use my time in this season, I pray for the discipline to use them wisely.

Changing Seasons
God of Our Seasons

I believe God knows each of His children individually and intimately. He knows music tends to be thought-provoking and heart-touching for me. He's been using it to minister to me as He peels through some layers of hurt and fear.

Avalon- Come and Fill My Heart

Free, I long to be free
I long for the day I'll believe
That all You say You see in me
Is true, that's hard for me to do
It's hard for me to die to myself
Entrust my life to someone else
So come and empty me out
I'm no good without
You inside of me

Come and fill my heart with hope
Come and fill my life with love
Come and fill my soul with strength to carry on
Because from here the climb is steep, the road is long
Come and fill my days with dreams
Empty me of all the empty things
That I hold onto
Come and fill my heart with You

I need You in my life
Need You like the air that I breathe
You've become the very heart of me
And I, I can't believe my eyes
Can't believe the dream that I've found
Lord, Your love has turned my world around
So come fill up my heart
'Til I'm like You are
So deep inside of me

Search me, Lord
Try my heart
Come and take me now and make me new
So that all of the world will see You
Overflow in my life


As difficult as it has been, I'm beginning to look forward to this season of singleness as God reveals more of Himself to me. Ps 34:18 "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted" (whatever the cause) As almost silly as it may sound, its times like these that I'm incredibly thankful to be a girl. I love that my female heart longs for love, comfort, protection and that the Lord fills those needs perfectly. I love that I can picture my Heavenly Father as comfort-Daddy, protector, confidant; as a pursuer of my heart and lover of my soul. I can find all the companionship, acceptance, fulfillment and love I'll ever need in Him. I'll likely never fully understand the depths of His heart and love for me until Heaven-its unfathomable. But I'm going to enjoy going as deep and getting as close as I can until then.