Upon returning from this last trip to this place from my youth... Actually, I'm only 23 still... I can still claim youthfulness right? I will anyway. This past weekend was spent with the Chi Alpha group from the University of Montana campus, for their annual Go Deep Fall Retreat. It is my fist time attending any Chi Alpha event outside of what they do on campus, however, Over the past 2 months I have been creating some pretty awesome bonds with these peeps!
Most of my experiences at Glacier Bible Camp have been a full on battle, this weekend however was different. I know that being a part of Chi Alpha is a gift, and I am blessed by this fact. Perhaps it was the fact that I went as a student, rather than a leader, or that I was going with a group of people at a different level of maturity than I have before, and perhaps it was the fact that I have been wearing myself thin with everything that I have going on in my life and I just desperately needed a break! Whatever the case, this past weekend has been amazing! I feel like I was able to abide, without any responsibilities waiting on my shoulders, and just resting in beautiful fellowship with my brothers and sisters in Christ, and in the sweet presence of the Holy Spirit!
This weekend I had the opportunity to connect with many of the girls that are in the weekly Bible Study I have been hosting in my dorm room. I love these girls so much, I love the transparency and vulnerability I have seen in this girls every week. In fact, I am struck by the willingness of this generation as a whole- to be transparent and even vulnerable at times. I fully believe that it is this kind of heart that God will use to reveal His Glory and bring Revival to the world! Week after week I am blessed by these amazing young women of God, and I am little by little having the amazing opportunities to get to see them in their true selves. In those moments when they are struggling, those moments of doubt or questioning, those moments when they are tired, goofy, sarcastic, excited... you name it. I am blessed being here on campus because that means that I get to do life together, with these girls! I get to do the very thing that I have been taught the last four years and the very thing I love- which is to love and disciple these girls.
Last night after our Bible Study, we stayed up until midnight doing homework together, and afterward, thanks to our discussion before we hit our school books- God opened the door for us to be intensely vulnerable with each other. I walked back to my dorm with a greater sense of purpose and the calling on this campus, not just for myself but for each and every one of these girls. I went to bed with a very full, yet somewhat heavy heart. Our conversation proved to me what my spiritual father has reminded me of frequently... Jason's words hit me thinking about the weight of their truth. "We are not called to share everything in our lives with every person, but God definitely puts people in our lives that we are meant to share specific things with, all for His glory and a greater cause." I know that this rings true with these relationships God has placed in my life this semester, I was blown away by the connection that I made with these girls last night.
While away at the retreat one of our exchange students decided to implement a 24 hour prayer room. One of my most encouraging and most powerful God moments while I was there took place in this room. Praying with another one of these girls and feeling the power and her passion that accompanied her prayers was one of the greatest encouragements and reminders that I am not alone in my dreams and my desire to see my city and my campus changed. I saw some awesome things happen on our retreat, even outside of those beautiful, intimate prayer room moments and the amazing fellowship as well. I saw God's spirit and His glory fall upon during our times of worship, and rest upon us- over and over again, I had the awesome privilege of seeing 4 people give their hearts to the Lord for the first time in one night, and the follow day, to see 3 of my dear friends walking in obedience to get baptized. I saw God move in powerful ways, and it made it all the more worthwhile seeing the wonder written on the faces of several of these dear sisters.
This weekend I had the opportunity to connect with many of the girls that are in the weekly Bible Study I have been hosting in my dorm room. I love these girls so much, I love the transparency and vulnerability I have seen in this girls every week. In fact, I am struck by the willingness of this generation as a whole- to be transparent and even vulnerable at times. I fully believe that it is this kind of heart that God will use to reveal His Glory and bring Revival to the world! Week after week I am blessed by these amazing young women of God, and I am little by little having the amazing opportunities to get to see them in their true selves. In those moments when they are struggling, those moments of doubt or questioning, those moments when they are tired, goofy, sarcastic, excited... you name it. I am blessed being here on campus because that means that I get to do life together, with these girls! I get to do the very thing that I have been taught the last four years and the very thing I love- which is to love and disciple these girls.
Last night after our Bible Study, we stayed up until midnight doing homework together, and afterward, thanks to our discussion before we hit our school books- God opened the door for us to be intensely vulnerable with each other. I walked back to my dorm with a greater sense of purpose and the calling on this campus, not just for myself but for each and every one of these girls. I went to bed with a very full, yet somewhat heavy heart. Our conversation proved to me what my spiritual father has reminded me of frequently... Jason's words hit me thinking about the weight of their truth. "We are not called to share everything in our lives with every person, but God definitely puts people in our lives that we are meant to share specific things with, all for His glory and a greater cause." I know that this rings true with these relationships God has placed in my life this semester, I was blown away by the connection that I made with these girls last night.
Early this morning, there were several of these friends that met together for prayer at the Chi Alpha house near campus, and as we prayer for our families and our friends, as we prayed for them to know the Love of Christ in real ways in their lives and as we prayed for our campus and for God's power to be effective in our ministry and our witness in this place it struck me... powerful things are happening in my life and in my world, and I can trace that back to being purposeful in prayer and in those relationships! My city is on the brink of an outpouring of Revival, and the more we pursue His heart in the prayer, the more of Heaven we will see coming to Earth. I am both humbled and excited to see what God continues to do from here. Lord, I pray you help us to represent you well! <3 p="p">
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