Fellowship Church
2102 E Everett Ave
Spokane, WA 99207
Phone: 509.483.1130
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Nov
1
Written by:
Gretchen
11/1/2009 12:45 PM
Ok you guys!
I have been here at the Honor Academy for two and a half months and it already feels like two and a half years! It is amazing how God is continuously growing you and preparing you for the future.
God has gotten me through every day so far, literally by helping me put one foot in front of the other. These days have not been easy, but as Nehemiah reminds me, the joy of the Lord is my strength!I am also reminded to "consider it pure joy my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds. Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. And when perseverance finishes it's work, you are perfect and complete, lacking nothing. These verses get me through the extra long days and I say yes, I will choose joy! Funny, when you come into his presence, all of the day's stress or happenings are washed away and you are just immersed in his cleansing and refreshing presence! My coremate told me, "when you behold God's glory, you reflect it!" Inspiring huh!
I would like to first thank all of you friends and family from all over the country who have been praying for me! At least once a day I could be having a down day but something in me decides to choose joy and think about the great things of life. I truly believe those are the moments you guys are lifting me up in prayer.
Also, thank you so much for all of the encouraging letters, emails, phone calls and such! I have been getting them all and they make my day like no other! I am sorry I have not been able to respond as quickly or as frequently as I would like, and I am sure you would too. The days are crazier than ever, full of work, class, sessions, and amazing God time!
Please continue to send them!
It is amazing how much God can speak to you, and I am so excited I have been hearing him!
I think of myself as one of the more independant people in my family and since I have been to five different countries, going to Texas for a year would be no big deal. Well little did I know how desperately I would miss friends and family back home. When thoughts of my brother or mother entered my mind, I had to choose joy and continue on through the day. It has been really hard the last month and a half, realizing how much I really left behind. Untill these last three weeks. God has been telling me I need to shape up my act. About three weeks ago, I was talking to a youth pastor on the phone, I could tell he sounded rather in a hurry so I quickly gave him the information and I then prayed for him. He then started praying for me and prayed that whatever I was feeling sad with and struggling with, that God would show me what he is trying to teach me through this circumstance. I then thought to myself, "happy ole me? what could I be sad about?" And then it hit me. I was homesick, terribly homesick.
Not untill this last week has God revealed to me what he has been trying to teach me through that scenario. First, he wants me to be more involved and aware of what is going on here and now. I need to be content with who I am around now, and what I am doing now. Our last guest speaker, Casey Johnson, in our Risen Women class, told us this, "If you are counting down the days, you are just wasting your time." I was blown out of the water with conviction with this statement. I was counting down the days untill I could see familiar faces back hom over Christmas break. What about the people God has put in my life here and now? What about those girls in the room across the hall? How can I minister to them? Or what about my teachers, what can I learn from them? Yes, I am taking all the classes offered, yes I am involved in the exciting extra curricular prayer clubs, yes I am on the flagfootball team, but how much time am I really spending with God, hearing what he wants to share with me through each and every day?
He really started this passion though, Friday evening. I was in my dorm room, medititating on Psalm 51 because I am trying to memorize it. (personal choice) When I was reading verse four over and over again, I started balling. I have been so selfish with all of my sins and I am hurting my creator more than anyone else. I then gave Saturday evening to God and had the sweetest time of worship under our prayer tree sitting on a swing in the sun, just singing my guts out! That time has started a yearning to spend more time in me than ever before. Never before have I been so strongly affected from missing my quiet time in the morning and wanting to know when I can next spend more time with my God! It is truly a revelation and I love it!
Also, we are highly encouraged by Ron Luce to take a scripture and to chew on it and meditate at least fifty times a day. The scripture I chose was 1 Corinthians 13:3 "And though I bestow all my goods to the poor, and although I offer my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing." I wrote this on a piece of paper to help me memorize it, but wrote after the verse, WHY AM I SACRIFICING? God has just really been convicting me of my sacrificing actions. Why am I sacrificing for my room mates or so on. Is it because it is expected of me and it looks good? Or is it because I have God's love for them and want to sacrifice for them because Jesus sacrificed so much for me? I am now taking up our Global Expedition's theme of One Million Acts of Sacrificial Love and asking God to give me love for these wonderful people around me!
Let me ask you the same question! What part of Gods word, your breath of life are you meditating on? Are you letting God hide in your heart? :)
The staff and interns are amazing here. I have such a high respect for the director of the Honor Academy, David Hasz. He desires us to grow even more in the presence of our God and to have a great personal relationship with him. I have been meeting with some of my teachers this last week, just to ask them some questions, and with some graduate interns who can give me a little bit more personal advice. God has definately given me resources I can use and learn from all around me here at campus.
Work continues to give God many ways to answer prayers. I am now moving from inviting youth pastors to the mission's field in "promo" of Global Expeditions, to helping them finish the rest of the final details such as finding plane tickets and fundraising ideas (Encourament.) I work six hours a day calling and praying for youth pastors! Nobody's job can get better than that! Let me tell you! :)
This has been an amazing last couple of months, and I have only told you a tenth of what God has told me and showed me. I am so excited to see all of you over Christmas Break (Dec. 12-27th! ) I can't make it up for Thanksgiving Break, but my wonderful co-worker and friend, Camie, has invited me to her house in Texas! Praise the Lord for his provision once again! :) I miss you all and am praying for you all back at home! Please continue to pray for me!
Praises!
*I have been assigned the "leader" of my room, and some of my roommates have been opening up and communicating with me more, from a lot of prayer and intercession!
*My sore throat has gone away
*My heart change and desperation to start sacrificing free time to spend more with my God
*My work environment is very uplifting and vision filled
* I have a bible I can carry around with me at all times and open it and read it at any time to any one!
Prayer Requests!
*My roommates, Sarah, Shaina, and Kayla
*We have a fasting Life Transforming Event coming up this weekend. Everyone on campus will be fasting from food and talking starting Thursday night and we break fast Sunday morning. There will be worship and sessions for us, but we are still not allowed to talk! Just to our Lord! I am expecting some pretty heavy questions to be answered! :)
*That the incoming January class will have more interns than ever before!
*That I will discipline my body into making healthier eating and excerising habits to take care of the temple God has given me.
Thank you all for your support and prayer! God's family is such an intense and beautiful creation! How we can love on one another and be there for one another. Holding each other accountable! Please continue to pray for me and keep me accountable!
I want to hear some testimonies from you as well! Fill me in!
:)
Love you all!
From down south
2 comment(s) so far...
Re: Going Deeper!
Hi Gretchen! So glad to be able to catch up with you! You are an amazing woman who God treasures--remember that you can do nothing to make Him love you more than He already does! I miss you and am grateful for God's faithfulness in your life! Do have a great Thanksgiving--Dan and I leave for Ukraine on Nov. 10for 11 days.. Pray for us as God leads you--
Much, much love from Sandy for the Stones
PS Leali just turned 12 (12!!!!). She had a fun overnight b-day.
By Sandy Stone on
11/2/2009 3:24 PM
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Re: Going Deeper!
Hi Gretchen - WOW!! I am so excited for you and encouraged by you and challenged from you every time I read one of your blogs. It is amazing the opportunities you are receiving but the level of sacrifice you are willing to give. May God continue to bless and encourage and enfold you in His presence as you serve there in HA.. (Well that is kind of funny. Never noticed it before that the initials for Honors Academy are HA) Anyway - we are so encouraged by your work and continue to pray for you here at Fellowship Church. Blessings and we would love to connect when you come home for Christmas.
-Pastor Cary
By Rabbi on
11/23/2009 11:27 AM
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