Week 31

Week 31
This week has been a full one!

My parents came to town during their spring break and then I immediately went down to Lynchburg, VA to recruit staff from Liberty University. It was fun for my parents to get to see what my life has been like the past 7 months or so. And it was fun to meet a bunch of new people at Liberty.
I love traveling, seeing new things, and meeting new people. But it does get tiring.
It is just a reminder to me that after a full week of hanging out, talking, and getting to know people, it is good to be alone with God. Sometimes you just need to get away from it all. It doesn't matter how much of a people person you are.
God's attention is better. More fulfilling.
That's really all I have to say for now.
Until next time.

Sunsets never get old.

Holy Spirit

Week 30

Man it really seems that time is flying here at the Ranch. To me, it usually seems like nothing is changing until I think back 6 months, or a year, or 2 years. And then I see so clearly what has changed... me. Philippians 1:6 says, "and I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." I find hope in that.

You know why?Because it reminds me that the Holy Spirit is real and present in my life. And I know it is the Holy Spirit. Because I know that these changes in my life and in my heart are for the betterment of God's kingdom, not to further my selfish desires. When I get frustrated with myself and struggle to be and act as Christ-like as I desire, I think about the power of the Holy Spirit inside me. Not only is God with me, but by that I know I belong to Christ. And this is where true faith comes in.

Romans 8:9 says:"You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ." If Christ really is in me, the very same spirit that raised Him from the dead gives life to my spirit! I was dead, but now am filled with His Spirit. There is no mistaking it!

And I know I belong to Him.And I know that His Spirit refines me every day.
And I know that I am alive with His power.
And I don't deserve it, but I know it is True.
I hope you do too.

This is what I call puppy fever :)

Know my thoughts

Week 29
My favorite thing about living at the Ranch is living in community.
It is also the most challenging part of living at the Ranch.
Nothing is more beneficial for growing personally and spiritually than being surrounded by Jesus loving individuals who care and love. We all know that growing is hard though. At least the long lasting refining kind of growth that God leads us through.
It is one thing to learn of your own error, or learn of your own sin, but what do we do with that? How do we change?
A sermon that I heard on this really stuck with me. This change starts with your mind. What we think effects how we act. We need to sift through our thoughts and throw away what isn't Truth. God does the changing if we surrender our thoughts and attitudes to him.
Philippians 4:8 says, "whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." These are the things we are to focus on. And doesn't it sound appealing?
Why would we ever want to focus on things that aren't true, that aren't pure... when you think about it like that it seems ridiculous to fill our minds with things other than Godly things. But we do. Every day. All the time.
We live in these ruts of doing the same old thing that we have always done. Hanging out with the same people. Watching the same trashy tv shows. As the pastor put it: just like a railroad track, ruts take you to the same place every time. If you change your ruts, you won't go back.
Change it. Input the good stuff. Truth. Scripture.
Meditate on it. Let it rule your mind, heart, and life.
God will use it to refine you.

Search me, O God, and know my heart!

Try me and know my thoughts!

Psalm 139:23

Christ Centered Relationships

Week 28
It seems that spring has sprung here at the Ranch.
Flowers are everywhere, the sun is shining, and outdoor education groups are back!
I was listening to a Francis Chan sermon about Christ centered relationships. Most of the message was directed towards married couples, but I think that so much of what he said could and should apply in our communities, with our friends, and in our families.
Sometimes when we live closely with people we get hurt, and we hurt each other.
This is going to happen.
But a Christ centered person is not made or broken by their relationships here on earth. We often put too much hope in each other when Christ should be our hope.
Our focus should never be solely on each other.
Our focus should never be on ourselves. "I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord" (1 Corinthians 7:35).
Jesus' love for us is not selfish. He did not focus on what He thought He deserved or what his "rights" were. And because of that, we may know the greatest love of all time.
There is no room for being high maintenance in our relationships.
God gave us friends and relationships to learn, grow, encourage, and share together. To live life and give life. Not to step on each other, demand from each other, and set expectations for each other. We should not be taking life from one another, but instead growing life in these relationships and in turn, giving life and spreading love to others.
Our real mission in this life is to show the love of Christ.
Our relationships can do that beautifully.
If our hearts are centered on Christ above all else.
Above all.

There are no levels

Week 27
This week has been a lot of fun.
Boss man was out of town and put the six of us interns in charge of testing the giant swing... without getting hurt of course. It was quite a process but we figured it out. It is great to be outside and working together. Laughter is never short when we are all together. thankful for that.
I just finished reading a book called This Beautiful Mess by Rick McKinley. He says, “I like thinking in terms of levels of achievement because it gives me a sense of power and control." I feel as though I often fall to this thinking. Even if it seems to be striving for something admirable. I find myself striving to get to the next level of life… to be the next level better daughter, friend, Christian, or whatever it is at the time.
McKinley challenges us to let go of that idea and realize that with Jesus in our lives, levels are not needed because “Jesus has rescued us out of the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son. We’ve been taken from one dimension and moved to another. No levels, just transferred by the King.” 
This idea makes sense to me. No levels.
God just wants to be with us.
It is important to be in relationship with God, love, and serve.
This is super relevant for me to remember especially at this stage of life when transitions are often and we are expected to achieve and grow in the world. God calls us to grow in Him.
That is the real achievement of this life.


"Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me" John 15:4

Glad to be outside again.