November 8, 9, 10, 11 -- Compelling

I haven't posted in the last few days because I was without a computer and completely immersed in the planning and executing of Compelling 2012, InterVarsity's Fall Conference for Michigan. This blog post will not even begin to give words to the work that went on, but hopefully I can share just a bit of my thankfulness. May this post give glory to God for His work among college students.

1. Physical safety...easy travels, no sickness/injuries

2. 31 Albion College students in attendance, last year, there were 14.

3. 4-8 Albion students made a first time decision to follow Jesus. Total, about 36 students made a first time decision to follow Jesus.

4. I slept so well. I slept deeply, and had more sleep than I do at home. It is amazing when you don't have to wake up several times a night to deal with a crying baby.

5. One student in interested in leading the Albion chapter in starting a ministry with fraternity and sorority students on campus.

6.  7 international students attended from Albion (Indonesia, Mongolia and China). It is so sweet to see Jesus reign among the nations.

7.  Significant conversations with students.

8. My call to ministry was re-affirmed. The Lord knows I am needy and need to hear it about every 53 seconds.

9. I saw an old friend who was visiting the conference. She left staff with InterVarsity and I haven't seen her in a while. We chatted real quick in passing. She asked if she could pray for me and for our foster care situation. Tina my friend, the Lord is using your prayers. I was so encouraged and challenged to pray the things that Tina prayed for, in my own life, especially with G. I am so grateful that God allowed me to run into Tina in the hallway for a quick second.

10. Staff friends. Ya'll are my favorite people in the world. The only people that I can really be myself with. I love that my closest friends and staff. I love that we can be real and do the work of the Lord together. I love that I can come alongside you and work with your students and you come alongside of me to partner with my students. To God be the glory.

11. Excellent expositional teaching on the life of Joseph. I was fed well by the Word this weekend.

12.  My husband. I am literally bursting at the seams with love for him. Our marriage is so incredibly awesome right now. Trying times bring people together, right? That has totally been us. I enjoyed knowing that he was at home taking care of things all weekend. I loved the texts he sent me. I love that he cleaned (and tried to clean) the house for me. I love that he bought me flowers and told our foster son that I love pink.

13. Kyndall and Paiton-- two awesome girlies who came over on Saturday to watch the little boys while Jon did yard work.

14.  Lunch on Saturday with Albion students. I had such a fun time connecting with them.

15. Serving in a track/seminar teaching students how to lead on campus via intercession and prayer. I love prayer. It was incredible to have students walk in on Friday night, some with no prayer experience, a lot with "I pray for exams" and very few that actually intercede or pray regularly and to walk out Sunday afternoon with a deepened Biblical basis for prayer, tools, ideas on planning great prayer gatherings and actually enjoying prayer.

16. Obedience. This is probably a longer story, maybe for another post, or a conversation. If you want to know it's really cool:)) Anyways. I am thankful that God gave me the desire to be obedient this weekend. He allowed me to hear his voice and to clearly speak to me. It was a joy to be used by God, to be obedient and to see how my obedience changed the course of my Sunday morning (and all of those involved in my track/seminar).

17. Lofthouse cookies. They are my favorite. Jon had some for me when I got home today. He knows the way to my heart.

Compelling 2012 was amazing!

November 13

My third favorite day of the year.

Today it was extra special. It was fun to celebrate with 700 of my closest friends. It was meaningful to see Albion students step out in God's call in mission. It was fun to hear my brother in law wish me "Happy Birthday" no less than 15 times. I am grateful for a dinner for 2 at Outback after Compelling with my husband--even if I did leave him there (we drove  separate) because I fell asleep on the table. I am grateful that God grants rest for the ones He loves.

I am grateful for the song that the Spirit won't let leave my heart, mind and soul today. "There is power in the name of Jesus, to break every chain." I am so grateful that through my tears, I have the hope in His power.

Preach.

November 12

How can I possibly explain what God is doing in the lives of 700 college students across the state of Michigan today? I am not going to try. I will never do it justice. God, may you get all the glory!!

Today, I am grateful for God's call on my life. I am grateful that He is teaching me how to teach, that He has placed great coaches and trainers in my life to help me get to the next step.  I am grateful for the men and women who have gone before me in this process.

November 11

11-11-11


A day that I have been spending months preparing for and praying for.

Thankful that it is here! Thankful for the way God has sustained me. Thankful for how God has worked in me, and hoping that He will work through me.

Thankful for the start of Compelling2011!

November 8

From the time I woke up today until the late hours into the night, the Lord has reminded me of how much He has given me and how much I have to be thankful for.

Yesterday I was feeling really sick to my stomach. Today...much better. I am thankful that I can eat again!

I have loads and loads of laundry that need to be put away. I am thankful that I have loads and loads of laundry. I am grateful for my drawers that are full and a full closest. I am thankful for a washing machine and dryer.

I am grateful for the pile of dishes in my sink right now. It means that my family had enough food to eat today. I am also grateful that I am going to go put them all in the dishwasher and I don't need to wash them by hand.

I am thankful for the joy that an afternoon cup of coffee brought me.

I am thankful that God blessed us enough that we could give some significant money away this afternoon to World Vision, and 4 missionaries. It's all His money anyways, we are just to be stewards of it.

I am thankful that I heard Caleb's first words when he woke up from his nap today.... singing the ABC's.

I am thankful that I have a little boy that climbs on me and tells me, "Mumma nuggle peez." (Mumma, Snuggle please:)







 I am thankful that I have two computers. When my laptop was dying today, I didn't have to get upset, just had to save my work, email it to myself and work on the desktop.

I am thankful that Jon took Lila crazy dog on a run today. She is sleeping soundly.

I am thankful at the sheer level of productivity that I have had today. I have no idea where it came from, but I want more of it:)

I am thankful for my brother in law. Just found out some things about his life, and this man is a man after God's heart. A man of integrity. I am grateful that I am related to him.

I am grateful for FSB. Don't know him? If you work with InterVarsity, then you know what I mean:) This man has the craziest schedule I have ever seen. He is always doing something, always has another project, is always traveling. In the last few months he has come alongside of me, coaching me on how to write a track for a conference from scratch. He has prayed for me, he has encouraged me, he has challenged me and he has sent me back to the drawing board causing many revisions. I am grateful for the way he has poured into me and the way he has sought my own staff development this year. I am so excited for Compelling. It is so soon. I am excited to try this new track out, and see what students think, to help them engage with God through the scriptures and to equip them for manuscript study. FSB has had a very  large role in making the 1 Samuel track happen.

I am thankful that I have a huge mess of a house to go clean up. It means that Caleb had a great time playing with his toys. It means that we have enough "stuff" to have a mess.

Tonight, I am simply going to bed thankful. Thankful for so much.

Compelling Update

For those of you who care, pray and give to the ministry that I work with, I give you some great Compelling 2010 snapshots of what happened!

-Almost 600 students, staff and volunteers attending the conference! This is the largest we have had in the past 4 years that the conference has been in existence.
-We had to close registration a week and a half early because of the huge number of registrants
-We used all of our reserved rooms and had to move to another hotel
-We had to had an extra track (class) for students, so that they could come
-40 students made significant decisions for Christ

What happened at Compelling with Albion students?
-One girl in a sorority committed to starting a Bible Study in her sorority in January
-5 students committed to having regular quiet times with God each day
-One girl said, "Compelling was very compelling. I think I will become a christian soon." She is still working through what this would look like and what she believes about God and Jesus.
-Students caught a vision for campus ministry and want to be a part of it! Wahoo!!!!