He can do abundantly more

"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, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen" -Ephesians 3:20

I've been feeling a bit overwhelmed with the chaos that comes with starting a new year of campus ministry. As I sat here this morning, this verse came to mind. I think that it's okay to feel overwhelmed, but once I start to only focus on how much this affects me, I begin to loose sight of the God that's described in the verse written above.

Would you pray through that verse with me as my staff team and I continue to press on through the next week and a half of events and relationship building?

Oh and here's a little update of what's been happening so far:

Saturday: Moved in students and attended the Long Beach State Women's Volleyball match with some new first year friends
Sunday: attended the welcome back bbq and met TONS of new people
Monday: Survey Survey Survey!! We spent the day surveying most of the students who live in the dorms to get a feel for the spiritual interest on campus...followed by invading Yogurtland with 51 students!!
Tuesday: First Nav Nite! We packed out the place... this year is going to be exciting : )

Today is a big day!

It all starts today. We will be conducting spiritual surveys on campus outside of the dining halls between 11:30-1:00 and 4:00-7:30. During this time span, we will most likely meet almost every student who lives on campus at Cal State Long Beach. Each person must pass by us to enter into the dining hall.

I'm excited to make contact with a chunk of the student body on campus. Pray for us as today is a very influential day.

A run down of the next few days:

Monday: Surveys today and Yogurtland tonight
Tuesday: First Nav nite of the school year
Wednesday: following up on our surveys and hopefully playing games in the dorms
Thursday: same as Wednesday
Friday: Beach Bonfire

Monday (Labor Day): Biking to the Beach
Tuesday: time hanging out in the dorms
Wednesday: Week of Welcome (another large opportunity to meet students, hopefully more who don't live on campus)
Thursday: Tour of Second Street
Friday: Smorgesport (a third opportunity to meet vast amounts of students and play games for free in the student union)

This week is crucial in setting up contacts and making some new friendships. Please be praying for us as we head into such an intense time of relating and making contacts.

Back to School

"And let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God." --Colossians 3:15-16

This verse has been a prayer for our Student Ministry Team. Tomorrow, we will have our Student Ministry Team retreat. I'm excited to reconnect and get time with my friends from CSULB.

Would you please be in prayer for:

• Safe travel for all of the students returning to Long Beach
• Our time together -- may it be encouraging, uplifting and honoring to God
• Team unity (always a good thing to pray for)
  
• The staff team -- that we would feel rested, encouraged and ready to start a new year
• The students who are moving into the dorms
• Student move-in -- that we would make new contacts and honor the parents we serving by helping their student move into the dorms.

I'm excited for this year and I'm looking forward to what God is going to do.

Thanks for reading. Thanks for praying.

After all, you're my wonderwall...

This summer, I've really been trying to focus on what I've learned during my time on staff. Here are few revelations:

• I'm blessed to be working for the Navigators. I don't know if I can expound upon every blessing that I have, but I'll try to list out a couple. I've been able to have an impact on the lives of others. This includes the many of you who support me or have even taken the time just to listen and hear about what I do. The ripple effect is much larger than I can imagine. I'm just thankful that I to be play a part in this.
  
• No other job would allow for me to travel across the country for days at a time. If I worked in any other profession, I'm sure I would have had to save up vacation time or put in for more hours in order to go home for 8 days and touch base with my friends, family and supporters.
  
• My life has been drastically impacted. I write about this almost in every newsletter and blog post... but its true. While I was home, I heard numerous times of how I've been changed and how evident this was in every part of my being. None of this would have been possible without you praying for me and walking alongside me.
  

As I stated before, there are many blessings in my life from working with the Navs. If you want to hear more of my thoughts, let me know.

I've been thinking of this because my first week back in California was a bit tough for me. It was as if I was present on the west coast, yet EVERYTHING else about me was in Cincinnati. My heart, my thoughts... I longed desperately to be back where things were comfortable. I shared this with Kate, who always knows how to speak truth so plainly into my life. After I finished stating that I could do this job at UC, she looked at me and simply said, "Its a good thing God doesn't call you to what's comfortable." It was a smack in the face that was desperately needed. Not that God would not have worked so powerfully in and through me had I stayed in my hometown... I've just seen so much more of Him through moving and trusting Him with everything.

Now that I've been back for a couple of weeks, I'm beginning to be reminded that I'm here for a reason and that blessings are sure to come. Jesus did not ask the disciples to leave their comfort zones and all that they had known just to make and keep them uncomfortable. Look at the impact they've had because they were obedient to leaving what was comfortable and following Christ.

Anyway, these are just a few thoughts I wanted to jot down. I'm here and its because I followed Christ. I'm looking forward to what the Lord has planned for this coming school year. I will continue to cling to Deuteronomy 1:29, 30 "Then I said to you, 'Do not be in dread or afraid of them. The LORD your God who goes before you will Himself fight for you..." I'm looking forward to watching how the LORD with fight for me and to see how He exemplifies His strength in this coming year.

Please keep praying for me and my student friends of CSULB:

• Our Student Ministry Team will join our staff team August 26 & 27 in order to fellowship, prepare for the new school year and to catch up with one another.

• Currently, we still have a few students serving around the country and overseas through summer training programs and missions trips. Please pray for the rest of their time, that the Lord would continue to keep them safe and continue to teach them new aspects of His character.
  

• Funding has been a CHALLENGE this year. I've been in a rough/slow spot for a while. I've had a few set backs lately and I'm struggling to remain encouraged. Would you pray that God would be moving and would continue to provide the funding I need in order to share His good news to CSU Long Beach?

Thanks for reading. Thanks for praying.

Home is where your heart is

I'm heading home!!




Each time I head back to Cincinnati, I feel a multitude of emotions. I'm excited to see my friends and family, eat the amazing food Cincy can offer me, and see all of my favorite and familiar sights. I do feel a bit of nervousness as I am traveling back to a place that can bring up past issues and things I am working through. All and all, I know that I love and serve a God who is my rock, my foundation and my fortress; I shall not be shaken. (Psalm 62:6)

Please pray for me as I travel home to reconnect with my ministry partners and hopefully find new ministry partners. The mid-west is getting BLASTED by storms this week, so please lift up my flights home in prayer.

If you're in Cincinnati and you're reading this AND we haven't had a chance to set up a time to get together, please call me! I would love to see you.

After my trip home, I travel to Colorado Springs for a couple days of meetings, back to Long Beach for a day to repack and then off to Blythe! I'm celebrating the 4th of July with Heidi and Alissa :)

Love you all and I'll see you real soon Cincinnati!

Thanks for reading. Thanks for praying.

A year in review!

I finally figured out how to put this on my blog! I hope you enjoy! This is a little taste of my first year at Long Beach. As always, without you, this year would NOT have happened! Thanks for playing a part in this :)

I think the picture is a little off center... if you have ideas on how to fix that, please let me know!!

He fights for me.

I looked at my blackberry this morning (per usual) and saw that I had an email from a donor. They were writing me to let me know they were going to discontinue their giving. This isn't too much of a shock because they informed me last year they would only be able to give for one more year. I had peace when I read this email, yet I still needed to fight all of my typical anxious feelings regarding the topic of fund-raising.

I've been reading in Deuteronomy for a few weeks now. Seriously, one of my FAVORITE books of the Bible. I came across this passage and my mind went immediately to fund-raising.

"And I commanded Joshua at that time, 'Your eyes have seen all that the LORD your God has done to these two kings. So will the LORD do to all the kingdoms into which you are crossing. You shall not fear them, for it is the LORD your God who fights for you.'" - Deuteronomy 3:21-22

Just as Joshua has seen the miraculous ways God has fought for him, I must remember that I've seen God provide in ways I never imagined. Last year, when making the decision to continue on into Staff-in-Training, I was told by my regional director that my reasoning for NOT doing staff could not be fund-raising. He reminded me that I have seen God do way too much to doubt in His provision.

Would you join me in prayer for this summer? Not simply that I would become fully funded, but that I would remember God, how He has fought for me and that I would not fear the task that has been set before me?


Thanks for reading. Thanks for praying.

Also, I'd love to hear any encouraging verses if you have anything!