Great Expectations

Like cold water to a weary soul
Is good news from a distant land.
Proverbs 25:25

Hello friends! My entries, of late, have been few and far between, and for this I truly am sorry. But not too badly... the many life interruptions that have prohibited recent writing opportunities are very worth the time they take - and I will say that I have been amassing quite a lot of excellent writing material during my time away. You can expect that in about a week or so, when the fury of life slowly calms and I am left only the responsibility to rest. I would, however, like to inform you all on the general happenings of life, in hopes that it may shed a few rays of light on my purposes for staying away so long.

First of all, the end of year has brought with it all the joys (and stresses!) of graduation - from high school and from the community college, with my AA in general studies and a full-ride scholarship for ASU next year as a junior... goodness, it makes me sound old. ;) I'm both elated and rather frightened at this new door that awaits my entrance... but He knows the plans He has for me, and in that I take great courage. One can scarcely imagine the manifold doings and activities and parties and responsibilities that graduation brings... until it strikes and you wonder where your life has gone to. (!) I praise the Lord, though, for His faithfulness in getting me through this year (especially this final semester!) - and I can't wait to see what's up ahead.

Secondly, EVBC Summer Camp '06 has just finished - we rode 13 buses out to the coast on June the 9th, and rode 12 back on the 13th. (Technical difficulty, you see.) What an incredible time of growth - and rather painful stretching at the same time. You can expect a full account of this upon my return from this next... Caborca.

Yes, friends, it has come again, and I feel hardly prepared. I'm really just drained at the moment - physically and spiritually - and I wonder what else I could possibly have to give. I guess this is the point where my reliance on His strength and His alone becomes absolutely crucial. You don't realize your dependence until weakness like this sets in. But His grace is sufficient - His strength is made perfect in our weakness. What a glorious truth!!!! (His truth always is.) Now all that is left for me is to trust - to live like I know it. To step forward and live out the Gospel, as the Lord girds me with strength and good news. Wow... we are bringing good news from a distant land to people who have never heard it before. Just think about that for a moment. They have never heard of salvation; of Jesus Christ, Savior and God; of justification by faith; of the greatest news man can ever expect to hear. And we are messengers. That's all. We have no merit in and of ourselves - in fact, quite the opposite is true. But He will make His name known - and He has chosen to use us as ambassadors and tools for His name.

What better purpose can one have in life?
I challenge you to come up with one. ;)

However, this Caborca could be considerably more difficult than past trips. There are considerably less students going down with us, and I have therefore been given a great deal of responsibility and leadership in this new endeavour. I would greatly appreciate prayer there. (!) Secondly... oh, how can I put this... well, here's the deal. Certain relationships have come to my attention among those venturing south with us that may make focus a much harder goal to attain, and that dreadful distraction factor much greater. I pray that I may be of great service while there, and that my mind would be on Him and on His glory. I would ask that you would lift these needs up to Him who knows and fully understands my struggles, and who has promised to answer the prayers of those who ask in His name. Thank you.

Until next week then... may the Lord bless and keep you all, cause His face to shine upon you, and give you great hope. As for us, may He dwell in the midst of us, uniting us for one cause, and prepare the hearts of those He should, in His great sovereign will, choose to save. Let us remember that He has promised to complete the work He began in us - to fulfill us and to sanctify us into His beautiful image.

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul.

After reading this short update, you should read Hebrews 6 sometime. You really should. And Isaiah 61 - herein lies my new life verse (and, being a rather goal-oriented individual, my purpose for life, as well), and will figure rather prominently in the account of my last venture to sunny California with East Valley student ministries.

1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

I expect great things of a great God.


Amen. That's all for now, folks.