He moves mountains

The kid is sleeping, the french press is brewing, and it's time for me to blog about the weekend in the mountains.

This last weekend was the Young Life fall retreat for staff, leaders, and college students from the Front Range (From Pueblo all the way to Laramie!). We took 27 girls and 9 guys from CU up to Crooked Creek. It was an intentional time of precious community, valuable conversations (we were encouraged to go deep rather than dabble), and laughter. It was good for the students to get away from Boulder and to experience God... many in new, refreshing ways.

The theme of the weekend was Luke 10:27... " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind' ; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' " We talked about loving God with all that we are and that God Is. The first night, we had to write our own interpretation to the verse. I wrote:

Put God first, in His most rightful place. In my core, my breath, my waking and sleeping. In my emotions, relationships, joys and tears. In my knowing and unknowing. In my passions, my gifts, my chores, my desires, my words and my actions.

Love God. Love people.

I've been a Christian for a while and felt convicted with the fact that I'm not often amazed by God.

"Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told." Habakkuk 1:5

The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!" Matthew 8:27

"The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law." Mark 1:22

"He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, 'We have never seen anything like this!'" Mark 2:12

I know that God does amazing things every day... it's me who doesn't see them.

The whole CU crew went for a hike on Saturday afternoon. We didn't really get to a specific destination, but at one point Paul (our leader) stopped us and talked about how Jesus would go to the mountains to spend time with His Father.

He went to the mountains to gain perspective. And so did I.

While we were spending some time with the Lord on the hike, God reminded me of something really neat: the last time I was at a Young Life camp (in November of 2000), I met Christ for the first time in a real, personal way. It was there that I trusted Christ. I felt God telling me "look at all I've done in your life since then." Great perspective! I was able to dwell on the fact that God has moved in mighty ways in my life. I sat in silence with my God and was truly amazed.

::A few pictures from the weekend::

carpool buddies... liz and anna

mealtimes are noisy and fun at camp!

"...and he will make my paths straight..."

paul, brittney, skyler, and me... fun friends!
brittney and i had no clue we were matching til it was time to leave...

we are beyond!

I also appreciated just how simple the worship was during the weekend. Two guitars. One drum. And 500 voices all singing to their King...

I'm so thankful for a weekend full of perspective and friends!

9.7.09

Labor Day 2009... I sure enjoyed having the day off!

Yesterday three other Beyond leaders and I took six of our girls hiking. What a great time! The weather was beautiful, the scenery... ahhh... and the company was sweet. I'm really enjoying being part of such a great community!

Just another Wednesday night

Pick up dinner at Chipotle. Drive up into the mountains. Enjoy good conversation. Listen to Mom freak out about mountain lions and sing "Hi Ho" to distract them. Check out beautiful things that God created.

Remember how thankful I am for those parents... even when they sing Disney songs on the trail.

Jehovah-jireh

I want to be like my friends who blog. It's a neat way to keep track of what's going on in each others lives.... So here I go, I'm beginning this journey with my new blog.

I'm amazed at the Lord's provision. In fact, I'm quite blown away. Ever since I graduated back in May, He's shown me that He will indeed take care of me... not always in the ways that I want or expect, but in His perfect way.

I just started an awesome job as a nanny for a 10-month-old named Bjorn. He's a sweet baby who likes to show off his skills: clapping and saying "moo" when I say "Bjorn, a cow says....". I spend 9 hours a day with him, Monday through Thursday. We get to hang out, go for walks, go to the park, work on eating finger foods (Moms -- any ideas? He's getting a little bored with Cheerios). But what blessed me this morning was realizing that while he's napping in the morning, I get to spend time with the Lord. So, the Lord has provided for me a job where I'll get to know Him more intimately. Bjorn's parents are great, too... I'm glad they trust me with their baby!

Baby Bjorn

I'm not one to worry too much about money, but up until last week, I had been jobless since November. November 19, to be exact. I didn't know where I was going to come up with finances to last me til the middle of January (with Christmas and a vacation in Phoenix thrown in the mix). It's been such a treat to watch the Lord provide for me in tangible ways through a ton of odd jobs... House sitting, babysitting, heading to Downtown Denver to watch some kids, and even gracious parents who lovingly support me while still encouraging me to become completely independent.

I was discouraged about the lack of friends in my life. The Lord gave me a great roommate last fall (roommate by force) named Elise, and we've gotten to hang out and become closer since she lives just over in Boulder. She's living with her parents, too... Really, all the cool kids are doing it. We've gotten involved at our church, Flatirons, and have met some fun and neat friends there. We're going rock climbing with the guys tonight... The guys are great rock climbers, we are not. Wish us luck.

The weather today is awesome... I love love LOVE Colorado! I think it's going to get up to 65 degrees (and yes, it is January 19), so in a little bit, Bjorn and I are going to walk to the park.