Do Not Fear

"What grade are you in, darlin?"

"Second"

"What's your favourite subject?"

"Science!"

"oh cool! what's your favourite thing you've learned about so far this year in science?"

"I don't really know.  Probably space... my rope is stuck."

"Do you want me to pull on it?"

"Yes, please."

"There you go! is that better?"

"yeah... *whimper*"

"you're alright! You're doing great! Just keep looking at me, sweet girl. Do you remember how many planets there are in our solar system?"

"8?"

"yes ma'am! that's correct! what's the first one?"

"Mercury!!"

"What comes next?"

"Venus?"

"Yes ma'am! And after Venus?"

"umm..."

"we are."

"EARTH! then it's Mars!"

"the next one is the biggest!"

"JUPITER!"

"the next one has all the rings..."

"Saturn! then Uranus and Neptune!"

"Look darlin! we're on the other side! Big step up!"

This conversation took place at 40 feet in the air balanced on a thin cable in 30*(F) weather.  She was scared and nervous.  I was walking backwards so I'd be facing her.  She held tight to my hand, gave a little whimper each time the cable would shake or her tether and trolley would stick... but she kept going.  Each time it would get tough I'd reassure her. 

"Don't look down... keep your eyes on me, sweetheart."

"I'm right here."

"You can't fall."

"Take another step."

"It's okay to be scared."

"You're doing great, sweetie."

And as we came off the end of the course she looked back and with the biggest smile said, "I did it!"

"Yes, you did! and you did a really good job!"

"Thank you for coming with me!"

"Thank you for letting me! You ready to ride the zip line back?"

"YES!!!"

Her trust in me was absolutely precious!

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I couldn't help but think about how that's the same kind of trust we get to have in God.  Life has platforms and elements just like a ropes course.  We have those stable moments at the tree and those shaky moments out in the open over the ravine.  The cable is gonna shake, the ravine is going to seem too far down, the bridge is going to seem too far to get across, the trolley is gonna stick and hold us back... But all the while God is right there. 

"It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” -Deuteronomy 31:8

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." -Joshua 1:9

"So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper. I will not fear; what can man do to me?'" -Hebrews 13:6

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4:6-7

"Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." -Hebrews 4:16

"But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me." -Micah 7:7

" fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." -Isaiah 41:10

When we fix our eyes on Christ... when we take hold of His hand... He will get us through even the toughest of obstacles. We only have to trust.

Just trust.

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This is a recording of "Do Not Fear" from a Clayton Chapel singing. 

Clayton Chapel singings are a tradition at Freed-Hardeman University where every so often a large number of us pack into a tiny little chapel on  campus (Clayton Chapel) and just sing praises. It's an incredible experience and one of the things I miss most about being at FHU.

This song was a favourite (and a self imposed theme) for my AIM (Sunset) class. I thought it was an appropriate accompaniment to the topic in this post. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Dear Sissy,

Earlier tonight I wrote about some of the things I learned during my first 5K race.  What I didn't know was that just a couple hours later God would give me an even bigger purpose for my running goals. 

I heard you saw my pictures and asked where my tutu was. I also heard you saw a run in our hometown and asked where I was. What you didn't know was that you asking those questions taught me another lesson in being a role model. You asking those two precious questions has made me decide a couple of things.

Decision #1: I'm going to keep running.

"Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:30-31

Sweet girl, I'm going to keep running for you, for your little brother, for our niece Lilly. I'm going to keep running so that one day you, too, will understand what I am learning. So that you, too, will gain deeper understanding of how important your spiritual race is.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." -Hebrews 12:1-2

Sissy, I will keep running so that one day you might understand that there's a finish line even greater that any I will ever cross on earth. One that's greater than we can imagine! I will push myself through every race so that you can see the reward of hard work and perseverance. I will push myself so that one day you will understand that the eternal reward we will get for persevering through life is more than worth it. 

I will keep running so that you can have a visual reminder of Philippians 4:13. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Because, my dear baby sister, you CAN do all things through Christ because He DOES give you strength. He gives you a strength greater than anything in this world can fathom. And He is bigger and He is stronger than anything this world can throw at you.

Decision #2: I will be wearing a tutu in every race. I don't care how out of place it will look in some runs, I will wear it. I will wear it as a reminder of why I run. I will wear a tutu so you will know why I run. So that you will know I run for you and that one day you will see that you can overcome, too.

I love you sweet girl! Never forget that!

-Ashley

Growth in 3.1 Miles

Last Saturday (Oct 19, 2013), I ran the Color Run.  My first 5K as an adult.  I walked/rode in my mom's lap through several various 5Ks as a child... but this was my first to run.  I set a personal record of 33:58. It's not the most impressive for most people but for anyone that knows me knows that was a big feat.  But enough about that... This post is about more.



The Color Run is a unique experience. A few facts:

1. Volunteers throw colored cornstarch at you at various points throughout the course.
2. If I had a dime for every time I heard "this is a judgement free zone" I'd have a lot of dimes.
3. Not everyone runs the whole thing, but everyone finishes.
4. It isn't timed. Every finish is celebrated!
5. The diversity of the participants is insane.






But God taught me several lessons through this particular 5K.

1. This is a judgement free zone.  The church should be the same.  Now, don't get me wrong.  I believe that if we see our brothers and sisters in Christ doing something they shouldn't we should call them out in love and show them what the Bible has to say, and help them overcome it.  But we shouldn't judge.  We should celebrate victories over the temptations and not judge each other because of past failures that we've repented of and are working to never fall back in to.

2. Every finish is celebrated.  Some will run this spiritual race faster, some will be slower, but all who finish will be celebrated. We shouldn't look at those who have taken longer to start, those who have been slower getting through, those who have struggled to stay motivated, those who have needed more help than others, those who have had more failures than others differently because of those things. We should encourage them and cheer them on and be willing to help them on.

3. I had 3 friends on the course with me.  After the starting line we weren't at any point altogether again on the course until after the finish line, but they were there. I'd see them on switchbacks and we'd wave at each other and put our hands up in a cheering fashion for each other.  What did this teach me? Races are easier when you have support. Even if you aren't at the same point in your race you have them there.

 4. Our race isn't going to be easy.  There were times I wanted to just stop. My muscles felt like jello after each uphill battle. But I kept going. We are going to have trying times. We are going to feel like jello, emotionally and spiritually at times. But as in number 3... what an incredible knowledge that we aren't the first to complete it, that others have done it before us, that we have friends there running it too! And what a joy to know that pressing on through gets us a finish even better than crossing a physical finish line... that our spiritual finish line is even more than we can fathom!

 All that being said, I'm glad my spiritual race towards heaven isn't one I'm doing alone. I'm glad I've got a Saviour that is redeeming, a God who is forgiving, and a spiritual family running beside me.

Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Philippians 3:12-16
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

Lessons from Lifeguarding (Part 1)

Last October I moved to Charlotte to start a new job. In this process I had to go through recertification on my lifeguard license. I had been off stand for 3 months, I wasn't totally rescue ready, and it was a new place. I knew that the extra training will most definitely not hurt me. Through this process I learned some practical lessons that also can be applied spiritually...

1. Accepting correction from those who are more experienced on knowledgable really makes your life easier later.
--- this past summer my supervisors would consistently correct things they saw us doing wrong. It was annoying sometimes and sometimes seemed like overkill, but as I went through training again... It's made everything so much easier! And I was doing a better job at doing my job. Spiritual mentors are a wonderful blessing, while you should always take what you're taught and check it against the Bible... You should always be willing to listen to them and pray about what's been said.

2. It's more than okay to ask for help when you need it.
---Put the pride down. In some rescues, YOU NEED HELP! Attempting alone can cause danger to you. It can cause danger to your guest. Or if there's a worst case scenario... Getting an unconscious guest out of the water on your own: impossible. Performing effective CPR on your own: impossible. Not calling for help in that worst case can cause a guest to die in your care. (Not asking for needed help can cause spiritual death of those under your spiritual care too.)

3. No matter how much you know, or how good you are, you can always do better and know more.
---Never settle with where you are spiritually! Always strive for growth!

4. Having people to hold you accountable helps you always do better.
---The company that I was licensed through requires our supervisors to be constantly auditing us. This can involve random observations, throwing a mannequin in our zone to test our visual awareness, or even throwing themselves in for a mock drowning for a practical skills audit. But that's not it, the company itself comes and does audits, completely unannounced, acting like a guest they'll observe us for part of the day, and then reveal who they are and then do some practical audits. Sound stressful? It isn't if you're doing your job the way you're trained and the way you know you should be. It actually keeps everyone safer. Just like accountability partners keep you safer from your sin.

Evangelism: A Spiritual Ropes Course

This morning in Bible class I got a lesson through my job.


I work as a guide at a facility with several ropes courses. One in particular is around 60 feet in the air at one point. It can be scary. Taking that first step off the platform on to the element is the hardest part. When you step down onto the cable it can be scary, shaky, and seem too hard... but when you remember you're anchored above you to another cable by way of a trolley on a tether and that because of those pieces of equipment you can't fall. It might still be scary, and shaky, and seem to hard but it is possible and with practice it keeps getting easier and you'll get more stable and better balanced.

I thought of this as we were talking (in some form) about reaching out to others. We talked about always sticking to scripture and always going to older wiser Christians.

Reaching out to others is like doing a spiritual ropes course. If you're standing on the scriptures and you're anchored above you to God, then you can't fall. It might be scary. It might be shaky. It might seem too hard. But you can't fall.

An interesting thing about ropes courses: When you step on a cable, you might think that if you're unstable alone that you definitely don't want to be on the cable at the same time as anyone else. You'll want others to wait until you get off. However, if you have someone on that cable with you who has been there before and has had practice and has gotten to that point where they are balanced as they go through... with them on the cable with you that cable is held more taught and you'll be able to balance a little easier even in your inexperience.

Same holds true as when you're reaching out to others... If you've got someone with you who has had more practice and has gotten better and has the wisdom to be steady throughout the study process. OR even in faith in general if you take your questions to those who have "been there, done that" so to speak and have gained the wisdom through study to be steady in life... In either scenario, you're going to be more stable and it won't seem as scary or as hard because you'll have that extra hand that knows how to trust God and can help keep you spiritually anchored above and standing on the word of God.

Thankful to be Spoiled

Today is Mother's Day.

And I've been thinking about how thankful I am for both my mothers. My birth mother who put my needs above her own desires and my mom who is just an incredible woman.

And that got me thinking even further. I am spoiled.

It's Mother's Day.  So let's start with my Mom.

She's the reason disabilities don't phase me.

She's in a wheelchair. She was born with a birth defect and can't walk.

But that hasn't once stopped her.

She volunteered with my preschool and was a stay at home mom until I started Kindergarten...

At which point she started working on her teaching degree. I grew up watching her fight for her education. There would be classes she needed that were scheduled in rooms on upper floors of old buildings with no elevators. Because of the determination of  my mom (and a few others) I got to see elevators put in not just one, but several buildings on that university campus.

I remember when she was in school and I'd be dropped off on campus after school and I'd get to go have a snack and follow "cougar tracks" around the campus with her between classes. I remember her geology teacher letting me color with rocks on scrap paper while they had class. 

And that's not the half. 

I am spoiled.

My dad: A leader in the church

I remember getting to be there when he became a citizen. I was four. He's the reason I don't have to be taught to appreciate other cultures and languages.

I watched him go on a mission trip every year. I loved looking at the pictures he brought back. The crazy stories he told absolutely delighted me to listen to. He's the reason I have a passion for mission work.

Because of how he treats his family, my mother and I, and our church families... He's the reason I have super high standards for the man who will one day be my husband. He's set an amazing example of how a dad and husband should be.

I am spoiled.

 

My Metzmama (Grandmother)

The person who continually teaches me that love knows no communication barriers. One of the very few things we each know in each others native language is "I love you" and she says it to me every chance she gets. It's incredible.

I am spoiled.

 

My Gran-gran (Grandmother)

The example of beating the circumstances and fighting for what's best for your children... I wasn't there. But I know she had to go through a lot to get my mom where she is now. And the cool thing is I get to see that from the perspective of my own mother following that example and doing the same for me when it was needed.

I am spoiled.

Beyond my family I am still spoiled. 

 

I have had leaders in youth groups, campus ministries, and churches that have been amazing examples of grace, mercy, forgiveness, patience, and true Godly love.

I am spoiled.

 I have had the privilege of watching so many young girls that I love so much... continue to grow into wonderful Christian young women. It's really encouraging.

I am spoiled.

I have friends that will stand with me and pray with me through spiritual battles of all kinds. Friends that will push me and love me. Friends that want to see me continually grow spiritually just as much as I want the same for them.

I am spoiled. 

But most importantly, I have a God who gave me not only all of this... But He also gave His only son to die for me. So that I could live freely forever.  I have a God who is willing to forgive me all my sins. I have a God who not only wants my heart but who protects my heart. A God who listens and hears my prayers. A God who wants what is best for me always, even as painful and uncomfortable as it might be to go through sometimes to get there. A God who conquers all.

And I am so SO very thankful for all of that

Comedic Relief

So in the midst of all the seriousness at Winterfest... there were also some funny moments.

On the way down and several other times throughout the weekend we played the face game with our cameras! (general instructions-- in a well lit area put camera on burst mode, then rapidly move your face in all directions while holding down the shutter button, then enjoy the results.) These are some of my favorites:

Before each session you have to line up and wait for ages, and in years past when I was in high school, my group would plan to be the first ones there so we got good seats. But this group was great fun to be with. We'd get there a little early... but instead of trying to be first we set up a game of angry birds! (complete with bison and fish to go with the birds.) We passed out candy to others waiting, and just had a good time while we waited to go in.

This is a video of two of the boys from the group I was with:

 

Later that night two of the teen girls led the girls in a devotional, and one of them came up with this great illustration:

1. Go to the concordance in the back of your Bible.

2. Find the first letter of your name.

3. Pick a word that sticks out to you as important and applicable to your life.

And then we were going to share them with the group...

ANY letter... pick ANY letter except the one that starts mine and you'll find and abundance of great positive uplifting words to use! Mine? I got...

Abhor, Abominable, Abomination, Abyss, Accursed, Adulterous, Adversary, Agony, Alien, Alone, Ambush, Ancient, Angry, Anguish, Antichrist, Anxiety, and Armageddon... After we had a good laugh, I gave up and went with my middle name-sake word of Victory. haha.