well girls, it seems our blog has come to a pause this past week... and we will all be heading back to school these next few days... so, i think it'd be cool if we could continue to use this blog at school, even though we do see each often, i think it'd be a good way to continue coregroup and mnl discussions and just share about what God is teaching you, because sometimes it's hard for everyone to share at coregroup with our time limit... so.. let me know what you all think of that..
also, annoucement, we will be having some sort of coregroup thursday night so keep your schedule open! and, depending if anyone has schedule changes this semester, we could move the time of coregroup slightly so that everyone can still come... and please feel free to invite friends to coregroup! the start of the semester is a perfect time for newcomers to join!!
love you all and see you in a few days!
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Friday, January 4, 2008
prayer request:
hey friends, i need y'all to do me a favor. you all know of my friend jess, or at least you know of her since i've mentioned her more than a few times at coregroup. she's going through some family stuff and i really need all of you to lift her up in your prayers to God right now. the cliftnotes version of the story is that she's been dating a guy and she kept it a secret from her parents b/c she knew they would hate him for their daughter since he's not taiwanese like them. well, they found out about him so they've been lecturing her and she's been crying for the past week. i just got off the phone with her and it hurt me so much to hear her say how exhausted she is and how sick she is of fighting with her parents. she wants to just be done with it all, but at the same time doesn't want to give up on the guy.
friends, i need y'all to pray about many things: 1. that she will stop worrying about this whole situation. i mean, i know that's easier said than done, but she has no control over it; only God does. 2. that she will try and see her parents side of this argument and they'll see her's. they really do love her. 3. i hear in her voice every time we talk how terrified she is that any moment, her boyfriend will call her and break up with her because he doesn't think the relationship is worth fighting all the time with her parents. she is holding on to him so tightly; i just wish she could see that he's not everything, if you know what i mean [wink-wink]. 4. and finally that God will give me the words to confort her. all i want to do is share His love with her, i just feel like i don't know how.
thanks so much, guys, and sorry for this heavy post. enjoy your last week, and logan, be safe in the dominican!
coregroup <3>
friends, i need y'all to pray about many things: 1. that she will stop worrying about this whole situation. i mean, i know that's easier said than done, but she has no control over it; only God does. 2. that she will try and see her parents side of this argument and they'll see her's. they really do love her. 3. i hear in her voice every time we talk how terrified she is that any moment, her boyfriend will call her and break up with her because he doesn't think the relationship is worth fighting all the time with her parents. she is holding on to him so tightly; i just wish she could see that he's not everything, if you know what i mean [wink-wink]. 4. and finally that God will give me the words to confort her. all i want to do is share His love with her, i just feel like i don't know how.
thanks so much, guys, and sorry for this heavy post. enjoy your last week, and logan, be safe in the dominican!
coregroup <3>
Hey friends,
So, I am leaving in about an hour for the Dominican Republic!! I'm very excited and really looking forward to seeing the kids i love, reuniting with some friends from last summer, and really just meeting God there. I'm hoping for some really good times with God and that I would just see Him in every aspect of the trip. So, prayers are definitely appreciated!! I'm coming back on Sat the 12th.
Also, I'm so excited by all of your posts recently. Love hearing about all God has been teaching you guys lately!! It's definitely been encouraging to me to read them!! So hope everyone has a great last week at home and that you all get back to school safely!!
Love you!!
So, I am leaving in about an hour for the Dominican Republic!! I'm very excited and really looking forward to seeing the kids i love, reuniting with some friends from last summer, and really just meeting God there. I'm hoping for some really good times with God and that I would just see Him in every aspect of the trip. So, prayers are definitely appreciated!! I'm coming back on Sat the 12th.
Also, I'm so excited by all of your posts recently. Love hearing about all God has been teaching you guys lately!! It's definitely been encouraging to me to read them!! So hope everyone has a great last week at home and that you all get back to school safely!!
Love you!!
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
HAPPY 2008!!!! :D
Hello all!!
It brings me such great joy to see the presence of God acted upon you all as he has so done for me. This break was at such a great time for me to reflect and spend quality time with my family. For the holidays we had relatives over from California, and they brought such warmth and joy along with them! I was able to have wonderful quiet times to simply pray. I too, like Logan, had the same struggles. I was afraid of the stillness, and the fear of the unknown. Although, I put all my trust in God, the part where I must give up my control is still hard to let go. But throughout this restful break, I was able to slowly let go, and somehow, it's really strange for even me to admit, I felt a steadiness and calm that everything will be okay. The biblical verse in Proverbs thoroughly expresses my feelings and revelations.~
'Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6
Not to mention, Redeeming Love was also completely different from what I expected. I expected a sappy unrealistic romance novel. The love between Michael and Sarah is hard to fathom in our world and society. It was so enriching and inspiring to know that such love could exist! The underlying message between God and Sarah, Michael, and the characters throughout the story reminded me back to Proverbs 3:5-6, to have faith. To lift our body, mind and soul to God! :D
I miss you all so much! Can't wait to see you all soon~
Enjoy the food, rest, and family time!
Cheers,
Deborah :)
It brings me such great joy to see the presence of God acted upon you all as he has so done for me. This break was at such a great time for me to reflect and spend quality time with my family. For the holidays we had relatives over from California, and they brought such warmth and joy along with them! I was able to have wonderful quiet times to simply pray. I too, like Logan, had the same struggles. I was afraid of the stillness, and the fear of the unknown. Although, I put all my trust in God, the part where I must give up my control is still hard to let go. But throughout this restful break, I was able to slowly let go, and somehow, it's really strange for even me to admit, I felt a steadiness and calm that everything will be okay. The biblical verse in Proverbs thoroughly expresses my feelings and revelations.~
'Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6
Not to mention, Redeeming Love was also completely different from what I expected. I expected a sappy unrealistic romance novel. The love between Michael and Sarah is hard to fathom in our world and society. It was so enriching and inspiring to know that such love could exist! The underlying message between God and Sarah, Michael, and the characters throughout the story reminded me back to Proverbs 3:5-6, to have faith. To lift our body, mind and soul to God! :D
I miss you all so much! Can't wait to see you all soon~
Enjoy the food, rest, and family time!
Cheers,
Deborah :)
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
FINALLY!
Sorry, I haven't been here yet...it seems like I've been missing out!! I just got back from visiting my aunt, grandpa, and cousins in Phoenix yesterday after an all night flight--ick! Today was my first day of work and I quickly remembered why I wanted to find a new job this summer! I work a boarding kennel for dogs and while I don't mind the dirty, somewhat disgusting jobs, and all the physical labor, it is a very quiet job. I went through 6 hours with not saying more than 4 sentences. I just don't really connect with the people there, even though I love the animals. Anyways, enough about my complaints...I LOVED Redeeming Love!
I read it over the course of two days and finished it about 3 days ago, but like I said I was in Arizona and my aunt just moved into a new house and doesn't have internet yet. I was expecting a preachy lesson poorly covered in a plot, but it was the exact opposite. It made me really think about my relationship with God and actually turned on some lights and opened my eyes. Anyways, I just wanted to put my two cents of praise in for Redeeming Love and say hi to everyone!
Well, I am going to go continue to mourn UVA's pathetic and utterly undeserved loss in Jacksonville as well as dig into the mountain of chocolate I need not eat any more of ;-)
Miss y'all--I can't believe we don't go back to Charlottesville for another 2 weeks!!
Love ya,
Erin
I read it over the course of two days and finished it about 3 days ago, but like I said I was in Arizona and my aunt just moved into a new house and doesn't have internet yet. I was expecting a preachy lesson poorly covered in a plot, but it was the exact opposite. It made me really think about my relationship with God and actually turned on some lights and opened my eyes. Anyways, I just wanted to put my two cents of praise in for Redeeming Love and say hi to everyone!
Well, I am going to go continue to mourn UVA's pathetic and utterly undeserved loss in Jacksonville as well as dig into the mountain of chocolate I need not eat any more of ;-)
Miss y'all--I can't believe we don't go back to Charlottesville for another 2 weeks!!
Love ya,
Erin
Monday, December 31, 2007
Hey Friends!!!
Sorry it has taken me so long to get on this blog... Break has been busy and crazy, but is finally starting to be really what I thought it was going to be. Well most people know about everything with my family and with my brother and that was really wearing me down at first. My heart really ached for them in many ways and I had no idea what to do or how to make it stop because it really got to the point where I was really sad and broken and was really finding it hard to love like I usually do. I didn't understand why the thing that had come so easy to me was so hard that it almost seemed impossible for me. My quiet times were there, but they really lacked the quiet. My house is always pretty loud and I was beginning to think that at any given time of the night and day you could find someone in the house up and making lots of noise. I would take time and read the devotion for the day and read chapters of God's word, but I was easily distracted from the noise and people coming in and out that my quiet times were not a time that was fully devoted to God... if that makes any sense. I felt like my life was really lacking peace... and if there was anything that was needed in my house that was it. So that night Julia and I decided to have a real quiet time of an hour where more listening was done and I really actually spent time with God than just doing the required readings I set myself up with because of all the distractions. I really just prayed for everything that was going on in my family and for peace in my heart that everything was alright. That night I prayed until I fell asleep which was probably for about an hour or hour and fifteen. But I really feel like God answered everything in that prayer. I got what I desperately needed at that time rest and most of all rest given by him. After that day, probably the 21st or earlier, my quiet times have been amazing and full of answers! And I couldn't be more thankful for them! I really am seeing God and all that he created from the very beginning of time, since I am going through the Old Testament. And I really see God loving down on them and really delivering promises of the faithful. Not to mention some leaders that God really guided their life.. it is encouraging and beautiful! I just see God contstantly at work and reveaing himself to people. I see the knowledge that God have given them because they sought him. And I am just exploring how God developed a nation that was for Him.
haha sorry to make this so long but I am catching up since I haven't posted... I have also finished reading Redeeming Love and seriously when Chelsea told me that I would never put it down... I believed her, haha knowing that she knows a good book when she reads one, but I literally did not put it down! I read it straight through one page after another and I was really astonished not by the love story between Michael and Sarah, but by the love that was there with Sarah and God and how he formed her and loved her in her life...It made me cry and just realize how truely beautiful and life changing a life with the Savior is... which I think sometimes I forget to really aknowledge that. I think back on the book on all the intimate moments she had with God... and I see them in the book and aknowledge them as inimate moments with God, but in my life I think I look past many of them. Which makes me miss something that God is given me due to the desires of my heart. I just think back to particular scenes that I can't mention cause everyone hasn't read, and I really see how God loved her and sent Micheal to show the love he had for her by him. Wow it was really just amazing. The best book I have really ever read.
And now I am reading Captivating which is also really really good so far! So if anyone is looking for another good read I'd recommend that one! But I am really looking forward to next semester and seeing how God is growing in all of us! I can't wait to see you all again! I miss you guys so much and I really miss spending time with everyone! I hope everyone's breaks are continually good and revealing things that our hearts are asking and lifting up!
Love
Kelly Kemick
Sorry it has taken me so long to get on this blog... Break has been busy and crazy, but is finally starting to be really what I thought it was going to be. Well most people know about everything with my family and with my brother and that was really wearing me down at first. My heart really ached for them in many ways and I had no idea what to do or how to make it stop because it really got to the point where I was really sad and broken and was really finding it hard to love like I usually do. I didn't understand why the thing that had come so easy to me was so hard that it almost seemed impossible for me. My quiet times were there, but they really lacked the quiet. My house is always pretty loud and I was beginning to think that at any given time of the night and day you could find someone in the house up and making lots of noise. I would take time and read the devotion for the day and read chapters of God's word, but I was easily distracted from the noise and people coming in and out that my quiet times were not a time that was fully devoted to God... if that makes any sense. I felt like my life was really lacking peace... and if there was anything that was needed in my house that was it. So that night Julia and I decided to have a real quiet time of an hour where more listening was done and I really actually spent time with God than just doing the required readings I set myself up with because of all the distractions. I really just prayed for everything that was going on in my family and for peace in my heart that everything was alright. That night I prayed until I fell asleep which was probably for about an hour or hour and fifteen. But I really feel like God answered everything in that prayer. I got what I desperately needed at that time rest and most of all rest given by him. After that day, probably the 21st or earlier, my quiet times have been amazing and full of answers! And I couldn't be more thankful for them! I really am seeing God and all that he created from the very beginning of time, since I am going through the Old Testament. And I really see God loving down on them and really delivering promises of the faithful. Not to mention some leaders that God really guided their life.. it is encouraging and beautiful! I just see God contstantly at work and reveaing himself to people. I see the knowledge that God have given them because they sought him. And I am just exploring how God developed a nation that was for Him.
haha sorry to make this so long but I am catching up since I haven't posted... I have also finished reading Redeeming Love and seriously when Chelsea told me that I would never put it down... I believed her, haha knowing that she knows a good book when she reads one, but I literally did not put it down! I read it straight through one page after another and I was really astonished not by the love story between Michael and Sarah, but by the love that was there with Sarah and God and how he formed her and loved her in her life...It made me cry and just realize how truely beautiful and life changing a life with the Savior is... which I think sometimes I forget to really aknowledge that. I think back on the book on all the intimate moments she had with God... and I see them in the book and aknowledge them as inimate moments with God, but in my life I think I look past many of them. Which makes me miss something that God is given me due to the desires of my heart. I just think back to particular scenes that I can't mention cause everyone hasn't read, and I really see how God loved her and sent Micheal to show the love he had for her by him. Wow it was really just amazing. The best book I have really ever read.
And now I am reading Captivating which is also really really good so far! So if anyone is looking for another good read I'd recommend that one! But I am really looking forward to next semester and seeing how God is growing in all of us! I can't wait to see you all again! I miss you guys so much and I really miss spending time with everyone! I hope everyone's breaks are continually good and revealing things that our hearts are asking and lifting up!
Love
Kelly Kemick
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Hi lovelies!
I'm so glad to hear about how everyone is doing...that everyone is safe and that Christmas break seems to have been treating you all well. God certainly heard our prayers! It has been fairly uneventful for me, which is nice, since I really just wanted a relaxing time. I have been sleeping in every day (except Christmas), reading a lot, eating too much, playing with my siblings and loving on my baby brother (who is now walking!), and spending lots of good time with Devon. I have also gotten to catch up a lot with friends from the youth group. One of my best friends, Amylynn, moved to Portugal shortly after I went to college, but her family came back for Christmas here and it was sooo good to spend some time with her.
One thing I have enjoyed so much is being at my home church on Sunday mornings and seeing all the familiar faces and talking to the people I love so so much. Quiet times have been consistent as well, and although nothing has been lifechanging, God has been using different things to show me exactly what it means to surrender my life to Him. When I reach the end of the day and am talking to Him, often I feel (as Logan mentioned in her blog) like a failure. I think of all the ways that I should have loved my parents better, how I shouldn't have been snappy with my siblings, I should have this, I should have that, etc etc. He has shown me through His grace (!!) that of course I will mess up. I cannot possibly become perfect in a day. Or ever. But He loves me in spite of my mistakes, He forgives me, and He continually changes me to become more like Him. I just have to trust that I AM being changed...I pray for that so often - just that He would mold me and break me and do whatever it takes to rid me of myself. So basically what I am learning is quiet obedience and faithfulness. I come to Him, talk to Him, read His Word, and He is there with me. I don't have to have my world rocked in every conversation or quiet time. I just need to be faithful and obedient, and He will have His way in me. I take such comfort in that.
I am looking forward to second semester - I constantly have to remind myself that I'm not at home forever! I keep forgetting I eventually have to pack all my stuff up again (which I'm dreading) and go back. First semester was definitely blessed for me, and I'm so thankful for that. I could not have asked for a smoother transition! I can't wait to see all of you and have core group again; I have really missed it!!!!!! Please stay safe and keep writing on here because I LOVE hearing about what's going on!!!
Love love love,
Chelsea
I'm so glad to hear about how everyone is doing...that everyone is safe and that Christmas break seems to have been treating you all well. God certainly heard our prayers! It has been fairly uneventful for me, which is nice, since I really just wanted a relaxing time. I have been sleeping in every day (except Christmas), reading a lot, eating too much, playing with my siblings and loving on my baby brother (who is now walking!), and spending lots of good time with Devon. I have also gotten to catch up a lot with friends from the youth group. One of my best friends, Amylynn, moved to Portugal shortly after I went to college, but her family came back for Christmas here and it was sooo good to spend some time with her.
One thing I have enjoyed so much is being at my home church on Sunday mornings and seeing all the familiar faces and talking to the people I love so so much. Quiet times have been consistent as well, and although nothing has been lifechanging, God has been using different things to show me exactly what it means to surrender my life to Him. When I reach the end of the day and am talking to Him, often I feel (as Logan mentioned in her blog) like a failure. I think of all the ways that I should have loved my parents better, how I shouldn't have been snappy with my siblings, I should have this, I should have that, etc etc. He has shown me through His grace (!!) that of course I will mess up. I cannot possibly become perfect in a day. Or ever. But He loves me in spite of my mistakes, He forgives me, and He continually changes me to become more like Him. I just have to trust that I AM being changed...I pray for that so often - just that He would mold me and break me and do whatever it takes to rid me of myself. So basically what I am learning is quiet obedience and faithfulness. I come to Him, talk to Him, read His Word, and He is there with me. I don't have to have my world rocked in every conversation or quiet time. I just need to be faithful and obedient, and He will have His way in me. I take such comfort in that.
I am looking forward to second semester - I constantly have to remind myself that I'm not at home forever! I keep forgetting I eventually have to pack all my stuff up again (which I'm dreading) and go back. First semester was definitely blessed for me, and I'm so thankful for that. I could not have asked for a smoother transition! I can't wait to see all of you and have core group again; I have really missed it!!!!!! Please stay safe and keep writing on here because I LOVE hearing about what's going on!!!
Love love love,
Chelsea
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