Monday, October 24, 2011
LONG, Interesting week
So, I just got back to Texas from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I had the amazing opportunity to drive with the SOW band on the way to Canada. I then worked SWAT/Support and came back to campus. So many things happened it was awesome. I left last Tuesday and just got back at about noon today. I got to see a lot of people that I know from Ministry Team, but it was short, and busy. The Lord is doing a lot in my life right now, and this weekend was a very clear example of what He's doing. It's time for class now so has to be short. Hopefully after some sleep I'll be more coherent and will write more.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Catching up
Well, it was quite a weekend. I got to go home and surprise my grandma for her birthday. It was a great trip and a great time to see family (and a few friends) along the way. It was certainly a quick trip though. It seems like I blinked and I was back already. Ministry Team is back for the week, they are learning how to do the church rigging. We are having a conference on campus this weekend, so I will be working a lot of overtime. I'm excited for the opportunities it is presenting though. Its also Week of the Ring. The January interns are excited that they are about to get their rings and I'm excited to be able to go through the sessions again. There is a lot of powerful stuff that is going to happen this week. There are powerful messages, and I pray that there are expectant hearts. I can't wait to see what is going to happen. I'm being so blessed by the opportunities I have to pour into the interns this year. The Lord is using a lot of my experiences from last year to show interns hope. Off to the prayer room for now. More will come later.
Friday, September 23, 2011
More lessons from the PEARL
It's been another crazy week in SOW world. I played for Chapel and Encounter service this week and as soon as I blinked I was preparing for the Fasting Session and Encounter service next week. But, enough excuses about why I haven't written more, let's get to it.
Lesson 2 from the PEARL: First to set up the situation, there is an obstacle course that we have to run, it has tires and over-unders and over-overs, as well as a bunch of walls to climb over. I know that I lack upper body strength, I have for my entire life, I was never the kid that played on the monkey bars or could pass the pull up test in gym. I knew that this Obstacle course was going to be a challenge, and honestly I had myself convinced I wasn't going to be able to do it. I'm very excited to say that I did finish. The lesson in this comes in that I couldn't finish on my own. I had to rely on my team, and their strengths to make up for my weaknesses. It was hard to be open and honest to even admit that I didn't think I could do it. There was a lot of relational learning that happened. I had to trust my team that when they said they would help me with something they really would help me. This brought a sense of unity to the team as well as a sense of self accomplishment.
More to come next week!
Lesson 2 from the PEARL: First to set up the situation, there is an obstacle course that we have to run, it has tires and over-unders and over-overs, as well as a bunch of walls to climb over. I know that I lack upper body strength, I have for my entire life, I was never the kid that played on the monkey bars or could pass the pull up test in gym. I knew that this Obstacle course was going to be a challenge, and honestly I had myself convinced I wasn't going to be able to do it. I'm very excited to say that I did finish. The lesson in this comes in that I couldn't finish on my own. I had to rely on my team, and their strengths to make up for my weaknesses. It was hard to be open and honest to even admit that I didn't think I could do it. There was a lot of relational learning that happened. I had to trust my team that when they said they would help me with something they really would help me. This brought a sense of unity to the team as well as a sense of self accomplishment.
More to come next week!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Post PEARL
Well,
The PEARL ended on Sunday at about 10:30 a.m. Unfortunately for me, my PEARL ended a bit sooner. It's hard knowing I took the challenge to face this LTE for a second time, determined to finish and coming up short. My body physically quit on me. I'm glad the end of my PEARL experience wasn't caught on tape... I think it could have been used as blackmail for years. It's a bit pathetic watching a 21 year old attempt to sing Mary had a little lamb... and have a difficult time doing it. I guess that's what dehydration and a high physical demand will do to you. I liken it to a car running out of gas, such a simple problem to fix, and yet, if it happens at the wrong time the whole trip is over. Not to say that I didn't learn from the PEARL. Believe me, it was packed with tons of lessons. Through the help of me team I also accomplished a lot of things I NEVER thought I would be able to do. Still being in the process of reflecting I am still learning, and I won't know the full extent of what I've learned until I have a chance to put it in practice again. This year was a very humbling experience. I set out with finishing as my goal, and slowly but surely the Lord was telling me that finishing just because I felt I had something to prove to myself was the wrong reason to be doing the PEARL. Silly me I still thought I'd be able to finish, but when we disobey we are disciplined, I feel a lot of my body physically quitting had to do with being disciplined. Part of the PEARL is learning to rely on God's strength and having Him carry you through. I know I am capable of doing that, and that I was trying, but it didn't happen. Does that mean my prayers weren't answered? No, it simply means, I was missing out on something the Lord was trying to tell me and He had to open my eyes in a different way so that I would understand what He was trying to teach me.
It's late, I need to get to sleep. I'll try to update over the next couple of days with a new lesson each day.
The PEARL ended on Sunday at about 10:30 a.m. Unfortunately for me, my PEARL ended a bit sooner. It's hard knowing I took the challenge to face this LTE for a second time, determined to finish and coming up short. My body physically quit on me. I'm glad the end of my PEARL experience wasn't caught on tape... I think it could have been used as blackmail for years. It's a bit pathetic watching a 21 year old attempt to sing Mary had a little lamb... and have a difficult time doing it. I guess that's what dehydration and a high physical demand will do to you. I liken it to a car running out of gas, such a simple problem to fix, and yet, if it happens at the wrong time the whole trip is over. Not to say that I didn't learn from the PEARL. Believe me, it was packed with tons of lessons. Through the help of me team I also accomplished a lot of things I NEVER thought I would be able to do. Still being in the process of reflecting I am still learning, and I won't know the full extent of what I've learned until I have a chance to put it in practice again. This year was a very humbling experience. I set out with finishing as my goal, and slowly but surely the Lord was telling me that finishing just because I felt I had something to prove to myself was the wrong reason to be doing the PEARL. Silly me I still thought I'd be able to finish, but when we disobey we are disciplined, I feel a lot of my body physically quitting had to do with being disciplined. Part of the PEARL is learning to rely on God's strength and having Him carry you through. I know I am capable of doing that, and that I was trying, but it didn't happen. Does that mean my prayers weren't answered? No, it simply means, I was missing out on something the Lord was trying to tell me and He had to open my eyes in a different way so that I would understand what He was trying to teach me.
It's late, I need to get to sleep. I'll try to update over the next couple of days with a new lesson each day.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Updates
We are in full swing with our schedule now. My body is starting to feel it too. A lot less sleep happens with classes and such finally kicking off. Monday and Thursdays I have 3 hours of band practice each day as well as classes on Song Writing, Music Theory, and worship leadership.
We had family core roll outs over the weekend. It was so much fun, and it made me miss my family from last year. It was bitter sweet but I am so excited for this year's family. I see a lot of potential in them. Not to mention... the family likes to eat, and of course that makes me happy.
The PEARL should start on Wednesday. We're not entirely sure because of the fires in the area. All of the EMTs we had scheduled to be here are off helping cover shifts at hospitals and such. Be in prayer about the fires, they are pretty bad in some areas. Texas really needs rain.
Well this was supposed to go up before PEARL... not sure what happened.. but here were my thoughts. HAHA
We had family core roll outs over the weekend. It was so much fun, and it made me miss my family from last year. It was bitter sweet but I am so excited for this year's family. I see a lot of potential in them. Not to mention... the family likes to eat, and of course that makes me happy.
The PEARL should start on Wednesday. We're not entirely sure because of the fires in the area. All of the EMTs we had scheduled to be here are off helping cover shifts at hospitals and such. Be in prayer about the fires, they are pretty bad in some areas. Texas really needs rain.
Well this was supposed to go up before PEARL... not sure what happened.. but here were my thoughts. HAHA
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Dr Shibley Sessions
As I mentioned in my last post there was more to come from sessions we had last Thursday and Friday. Dr. Shibley came in to speak to us. He talked about starting well and the importance of the foundations, serving well and the disciplines that requires, and the seven voices that will change your life. Below are just a few things that stood out to me.
- A career you can steer; a calling will drive you
- When all that we are and do is God's, we live at our utmost for His highest
- Integrity involves a whole person, when the person you are in private (1/2) and the public perception (1/2) are the same
- Our number one priority should be to connect with God daily. This is not legalism; it's loyalty.
- Don't look at if you're ahead or behind, look toward the finish line and run with all the speed you have
I started my Music theory class this week. That is going to be a challenge as all of the Januaries and 3rd years are in Music Theory 2 and all the new GIs are in Pre-music theory. I'm at a music theory 1 or 1.5 level... meaning I was put in music theory 2 and will have some catching up to do. This year will frequently bring challenges... this is just another example and I'm learning how to handle them as they come, with Joy and an attitude that the Lord knows what He is doing. The PEARL starts a week from today. Be excited for my post-PEARL blog as it should hold a lot of lessons learned. Be in prayer, I know what I am facing with the PEARL and I know it will be challenging.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Food Allotment
Well, today is my last day to eat in the Caf before I have to start paying for it. I received my food allotment. :-) This also means I have done my first shopping for food, it was exciting and challenging. This will be a great experience to help me budget.
The weather is finally starting to cool off a little. Highs are only supposed to be in the 90's this week (we'll see if that holds true). Now, we just need some rain. Ok, not some rain.... we need a lot of rain. But I'm hesitant to ask for it now that the PEARL is only 9 days away. Rain during the PEARL could make things rather miserable. Trusting that the Lord has it under His control though, and whatever needs to happen is what is going to happen.
I don't think I've filled anyone in on my living situation for this year, so here goes. I'm living in an small house that has been converted for a more dorm style living. I have one roommate and there are a total of 9 people living in my house. The adjustment from 5 roommates to 1 has been rather interesting. It's interesting the place where I am in life. It seems like every little thing that I am having to adjust to has a new life lesson in it for me. Some are rather hard to see while others are quite evident. When I had to learn the GI Treaties I knew it was there for a reason, I just didn't know how true it would be. More to come soon from some sessions we had on Thursday and Friday.
The weather is finally starting to cool off a little. Highs are only supposed to be in the 90's this week (we'll see if that holds true). Now, we just need some rain. Ok, not some rain.... we need a lot of rain. But I'm hesitant to ask for it now that the PEARL is only 9 days away. Rain during the PEARL could make things rather miserable. Trusting that the Lord has it under His control though, and whatever needs to happen is what is going to happen.
I don't think I've filled anyone in on my living situation for this year, so here goes. I'm living in an small house that has been converted for a more dorm style living. I have one roommate and there are a total of 9 people living in my house. The adjustment from 5 roommates to 1 has been rather interesting. It's interesting the place where I am in life. It seems like every little thing that I am having to adjust to has a new life lesson in it for me. Some are rather hard to see while others are quite evident. When I had to learn the GI Treaties I knew it was there for a reason, I just didn't know how true it would be. More to come soon from some sessions we had on Thursday and Friday.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)