Coffee, always a good indicator of something

I was having coffee wtih a friend today, when God spoke to me. Now, it wasn't this huge revelation or an audible voice, rather, some words I actually spoke myself. As we were discussing topics such as college, family, Christmas, school, and God, some things I said, God spoke those to my heart. I'm not sure if that makes total sense, but I don't even quite understand it. I was telling her about divorced family dynamics, especially during the holidays, and how that affects us. Since she's gone through her parent's divorce, we both understood the tension that occurs. I said something in the line of "I need to look at my dad not through the lense of my mother, but through the lense of the Bible or God." When I said that, I realized that's what I need to do. It was a moment of epiphany.

Those moments don't happen often (that's not a blonde joke), and when they do, it's a breath of fresh air. Kind of like reading your Bible straight-up. During our coffee date, I related the Bible to food. Reading the Bible through a study guide or devotional is kind of like processed food and the going through the Bible by itself is like fresh fruit. The processed food is easy to eat and tasty, but there's nothing like a fresh piece of fruit. It's refreshing and juicy and delicious. Since August, I have thoroughly enjoyed reading my Bible everyday. It's been extremely hard, but extremely rewarding. Everyday I'm thankful for the CIY challenge I received and I plan to continue it till I read the last chapter of Revelation and Malachi on August 5, 2010.

Confessional #2

I don't want to lie, or exaggerate, or garnish the truth. This challenge is hard. Once again, I have become overwelmingly behind in my reading. I look at how much I need to read, and my heart stops for a moment. Now, I don't want to deter anyone from doing something like this. The rewards are immeasurable if you buckle down and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you. In the last week and a half....I haven't buckled down whatsoever. I have a legitimate excuse though, I am in the fall musical and have had 3+ hours rehearsals everyday for what seems like forever. I know I shouldn't use that as my excuse, but that's what it is.

I hate seeing how much I have to read. I hate not reading my Bible. In the last 2 weeks, I've noticed a change in myself too, since I haven't been putting my nose in the Word. I hate it. I hate not seeing myself draw closer to Christ. I hate not being able to truely worship him. I hate feeling distant from Him. I hate feeling lukewarm. I hate it. I know that once the musical is over, I will have time again, but will I make time to catch myself back up? I don't know. Next week is Thanksgiving, maybe I'll be thankful for electricity as I read untill the wee hours of the morning. If any of you readers get a chance, pray for me this week, it's a long road ahead.

God of this City

This post is unrelated to my CIY challenge, but I cannot go another day without sharing how God is working in my school.

For the last 4 years I have been a part of a group of high school students who meet every Wednesday morning before school in the cafeteria solely for the purpose of praying for our school, administrators, teachers, nation, goverment, and fellow students in school. I have also had the priveledge of leading it the last two years with a good friend of mine, Emily Goggin. If there is an example of God moving and changing, it would be in this prayer group. I have seen the students in this group grow and change and mature and deepen their walks in Christ.

Last week, there were 13 students who met and prayed real prayers, prayers full of passion and a desire for God to move. I was blown away and 3 juniors, who I had never met before and had come the last 2 weeks on their own, pray for God to move in our school. I'm sorry, but how many highschoolers ask God to change them and ask Him to do big things? Not many at all. Now, my heart is passioniate about these things too, but I was speechless. The rest of the day, I was constantly telling God, "Thank you! Wow, God! Wow! Look how You move! Wow God!"

The song, God of this City, comes to mind as I think about these amazing people who have an intense burning desire in their hearts for you to work in their schools and in their hearts:

You're the God of this City You're the King of these people
You're the Lord of this nation You are
You're the Light in this darkness You're the Hope to the hopeless
You're the Peace to the restless You are

There is no one like our God There is no one like our God

For greater things have yet to come And greater things are still to be done in this City
Greater thing have yet to come And greater things are still to be done in this City


If any of you readers need and encouragement of faith or a little fire on your butts with your walk with Christ, come pray with some high school students Wednesday mornings. It is something that brightens my day and is a super-encouragement for my entire week.




A quick update on my challenge, I'm an on schedule and just started 1 Samuel and am about half way through Luke. I made it past page 200 in the OT, and if I did my math right, I should be about 1/4 the way done. Thanks God!

New Orleans Recap

I know this entry isn't about my reading challenge, but the New Orleans trip was a pretty important week in my life, so I want to tell you about it. Last week, 6 adults and 3 youths went to New Orleans on a mission trip through White River Christian Church and Crossroads missions. We worked on restoring a house in a rougher part of town. Most of the crew painted or cauked during the week and a handful of lucky guys were glad to get their hands on some sledgehammers to bust up some sidewalk and driveway. It was a phenomenal week. It was hard work, and totally worth it.

There are so many things I want to tell, but I don't want bore you with a super long entry. Oh! Concerning my challenge, I became completely caught up on all my reading on the way down. Yes, I read 23 chapters of Deutoronomy in 1 day. Actually, I really really liked it. It seemed to me like a very long pep talk. You see, the Israelites had been wondering in the desert for 40 years, and now they were about to enter the promise land. Moses, unfortunatley, was not allowed to go into the promise land, so he was giving his finals words to his people. He reminded them to what God has done for them again and again. He told of their rebellion and how God still forgave them. He wanted the Israelites to continue to follow God, even if Moses was not with them. If you haven't read Deuteronomy before, I urge you to read it, it's one that will make you think.

Well, anyway, getting back to New Orleans. Probably one of the things that I learned/had a God experience the most was God finally answering a prayer. For many weeks before the trip, I had been asking God to give me guidance on what he wants me to do (for college and all). I asked him to show me while on the trip. There really wasn't one distinct moment when I 'knew', but by the end of the week, I had this peace about it, like God was confirming my hearts desires. I want to go into ministry, I don't know what kind or anything, but I want my life to be surrendered to God, and my actions to be for his glory. Serving in New Orleans this week confirmed my desire for that.

The entire was so interlaced with God's will. We were able to meet some amazing people from Ft. Wayne, Kentucky, and Wisconsin, and we had the chance to buy some baby formula for a young gal asking for money on the streets. God moved this last week, and I truely feel blessed to have been a part of it.

Confession Time

It's confession time. I'm actually surprised I've made it this long not having to deal with it. Everything was going great until I got sick, but I cannot blame my nearly swine flu-like symptoms.(H1N1 to anyone who would like to be politically correct) But, I cannot ignore the truth of the matter, I have fallen severely behind in my reading. Now, severely might mean something totally different to you people, but I mean it as I might as well be reading for the rest of my life kind of severely. I am 23 chapters behind, and in Deuteronomy language, that's about 6700 hours of reading ahead of me. I am thoroughly dreading it.

It's like a knife in my heart, honestly. I want to read to catch up, but I don't want to read since there's so much and Deuteronomy is no fun. It's not entertaining or uplifting or thought provoking or anything. It's like reading a dry history book. I hate to consider the very Words of God like that, but that's where I am right now. I want to change my attitude on it, but I don't know how. I want to read the words of my Bible in reverence and awe. I want to finish Deuteronomy by October 20th. I want to keep to the word of my challenge. I think God's providing a way...

Tomorrow morning 7 other WRCC folks and I will be leaving for New Orleans on a mission's trip for a week. We have a lovely 14 hour van drive. I am hoping and praying that I will be able to catch up in this time. Keep our team in your prayers this week, I praying for God to do big things this week!

I don't know what day I am in this challenge, maybe seventy something, and I have a big mountain to climb this week.

Oh how he loves...

I was looking through some other people's blogs this morning(considering I'm home from school sick) and came across a video on one of my friend's blogs. I've heard the song "How He Loves Us" played by David Crowder and in the Sr. High, and this version's quickly moved to the top of this list.

I've been struggling with understand/caring what the stories in Leviticus and Numbers are even about. I know that these are the divine Words of God and should be read with as much respect and reverence as the Gospels or the Psalms or Proverbs, but I often find myself skimming and not caring about the offering of one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekls,and one silver sprinkling bowl.....(Numbers 7).

I've thought about the last 3 1/2 books of the OT I've read, and wondered what was the big picture? What was the point? Why tell all the tells and regulations and procedures. We as Christian no longer practice them, why are the important? God gave these people these laws to protect them, to protect their lineage. It was from these people that Jesus was born. God wanted these people to live as holy as possible to preserve the precious blood within them that would then become Jesus' blood. Even the OT is about Jesus. Isn't that crazy?

If you have any other opinions or reasons for the OT, let me know. Since I have 35 1/2 books of them to go.

It's Day 59 and I'm loosing interest in the OT. On a lighter note, I read about how the ground opened its mouth and swallowed 250 people. If I had faith of a mustard seed to move a mountain, I wonder what kind of faith of would take to make the earth eat people?







It's crazy how God works. I was planning to talk about a story I read in Numbers 16, and the Kim Walker song, "How He Loves Us" totally fits.

In this story, a handful of men in the Israelite community did not like was Moses was doing, so they gathered 250 men and rose up against him. Some of the story I don't quite understand, like why Moses said in the morning the Lord will show who belongs to him or why these men even were upset with Moses. What I found totally crazy was in verses 21-22. God told Moses and Aaron to leave the rebelious people, so he could destroy them with hurting them. But they didn't, they fell facedown towards God and asked for mercy on these 250. That takes courage.

I guess the connectiong I'm trying to make between this story and the Kim Walker song is this:

Dear Matthew...

I finished the book of Matthew today (a couple days ahead, woot woot), and let me tell you, what a phenomenal book. I'm sure that's not news to you, but in case anyone had doubt of the legitimacy of Matthew, please, remove it. Because I enjoyed reading this book so much, I would like to write to letter of thanks to the author, Matthew.

Dear Matthew,

I don't know where you went to college, but you posses amazing writing skills; mad skills if I may say so myself. I have read the stories of Jesus in the gospels many times, but never a complete book the whole way through. Reading through your book, was like watching a movie about Jesus or living those 3 years with him. I connected with him so differently than in past. I think I realized this most when I read about Jesus' arrest to death. I was reading one morning before school about how Judas betrayed him, turned him in with a kiss, and how the Sanhedrin and Roman's treated Jesus. I just about cried.

This guy I had been learning about and walking with every day for the last month and a half, this man who healed people, forgave them and loved them unconditionally. The Son of God. I saw one of his closest friends, give him up for money. I saw the people who onced praised him shouting "Hosanna", now shout "Crucify Him!" I felt, if only a sliver, the pain and betrayal that Jesus felt. My heart broke, and I almost started yelling at my Bible, like I yell at some movies when the plot turns too tragic, or just not the way I want it.

I had grown closer to this man who was going to be killed, and couldn't stand reading the next word knowing what was going to happen, crucifixion. But, (oh, the blessed 'but' in the story) the story turns triumphant. He not only defeats death, through his death, he defeats sin. And that's the beauty of this whole book. Jesus defeated sin, once and for all. It's that idea that helps me leave Matthew and move onto Mark with excitement of how this author will portray the life of a man I love so much.

So, Matthew, I want to say thank you for writing such an amazing book, one that touched my heart so much.

Love,
Audrey



In other updates on my challenge, I'm on Leviticus 19 and all I can say is...ugh. It's not the most enjoyable reading, but I am learning a lot. I can say I am much more grateful of the new laws Jesus set up, and that they do not include animal sacrifice.

Dear Matthew...

Where's Genesis?

It's been far too long since I've updated on my challenge. I have planned when I finished Genesis to write a sweet little anicdote about how is was an amazing book and I'll miss it. Well, obvious that post never left my head.

Now I beg for Genesis to come back. I'm should be done with Exodus today, and tomorrow start the judgement day of Leviticus. I flipped ahead a couple of pages and almost cried...law after law after law after law. Where did the days of sunday school stories go?

I guess I shouldn't be complaining, I opened the card for the challenge. I promised that I would do this. I knew it would be hard. But...it's really really hard. This is where the rubber meets the road. I plan to keep to my word, but I've realized how much I need to sacrifice to keep my commitment. For example, the only TV I've watched in the last week has been maybe 2-3 of my favorite once-weekly shows. Today's the first time I've been on the computer for more than 10 minutes.

I don't mean to complain, just assert my feelings on the matter. This is really hard, and to be honest, I haven't asked God to help me much with it. Considering it's His words that I'm reading, I guess He can help me with the time factor, or even understanding it.

It's Day 37 and I'm struggling to get ib God's Word everyday.

Fishing Poles

I was out at the docks at Morse Beach yesterday. I was in a wierd mood all afternoon and decided to head out there to clear my head and spend some time with God. Walking from my car to the docks I saw an older man fishing along the shore of the lake. We exchanged quick greetings and I went on my way to the far dock.

After shooing off the ducks and sitting down Indian style, the older gentlemen said across the docks, "Looks like you forgot your fishing pole." I responded with a chuckle, "Yeah, I guess I did."

After saying that, I looked down and in my hands was my Bible. The verse came to mind "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men." Matt 4:19. I hadn't forgotten my fishing pole, it was in my hands. Oh! How I wanted to tell than old man that, and I regret not taking the chance. I could've been the only one who could have witnessed to him. And I pray someone else gets the chance to share the Gospel with him, since I didn't.

That experience really made me think about God's Word. Just like I may not always have a fishing pole in hand, I may not always have the Bible in my hands. That is why God wants us to hide his Word in our hearts. When we do not have our fishing poles at hand, the Word tucked into our hearts will come forth. It is so important, God's Word!!

Over the last couple of days, I have forgotten how importand God's Words are. I've been reading through Joseph's story in Genesis: his brothers' betrayel, enslavement and inprisonment. And I have been reading them just as stories. These words are more than just stories; they are example of God's faithfulness. I think of Joseph's trust in God. Things kept getting worse and worse for him, and he continued to trust in God to protect him. And God was faithful! He provided for him ten times over and even for the brothers that hated him. God is so faithful! His Word is so faithful!

"I will sing of the Lord’s unfailing love forever! Young and old will hear of your faithfulness. Your unfailing love will last forever. Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens." Psalm 89: 1-2

"Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness." Psalm 115:1

Threads: How to Study the Bible

On Tuesday our youth group had an event called Threads at the church. We've had a couple of these this last summer and basically they are a chance for us students to dive deeper into the Word and get some adults perspective on some things.

This month was How to Study the Bible led by Keith Comp. First of all, Keith you did an AWESOME job giving us some completely practical, challenging, and still do-able things on how to really dig deep into the Word of God.

He talked about 7 keys to understand the bible:

1. Desire - in order to understand the Bible and have it change us, we have to want to understand it and want for it to change us. It's a two way street, folks.
2. Pray - If we ask God to help us understand what the Bible says, He's pretty good at letting us know (though we might not always like the answer)
3. Read it - I think it explains itself
4. Read it again - I'd forgot about. If you read a passage and you don't get it, or nothing jumps out at ya, read it again and I bet you'll find something
5. Time - The more I read, the easier it is to understand it, but the deeper I go, the more I'm challenged.
6. Tools - Keith and Justin gave some awesome website to check out
   www.biblegateway.com
   www.blueletterbible.com
   www.e-sword.net
   
7. Pen & Paper - Being a journal keeper myself, I really like this point. Sometimes, as I read through a passage, I paraphrase it myself in my journal, often wording it to relate to my situation. And sometimes, I just need to talk to God about something I read.

That's the gist to what Keith thought us, but there is so much more I walked away with. Pertaining to my challenge, I got some easy steps to help me keep in track with my reading plan.

-Spread my reading throughout the day
-Keep my Bible open in an obvious place
-Keep a calender to check off reading dates

It is currently Day 9 and I am on tract, actually a few days ahead in the Old Testament (really loving all the history).

Go Abraham!!!!

I'm on Day 6 I believe, and I'm thoroughly enjoying Genesis, considering I'm still in the storybook part. I read in Genesis 18 today about some real guts that Abraham had. It's verses 16-33. Basically, Abraham negotiates with God on an extreme level (we're talking about the lives of thousands of people here).

Now, I'm not sure if you know who God is, but just a few verses later He destroys an entire city by raining down burning sulphur. Oh, and he also flooded the entire earth a few generations back. So, Abraham has to know that God is a pretty big guy.

A quick synopsis of how the story goes, God is with Abraham as he says farewell to some visitors he had (read the 1st part of ch. 18 for that story). So, the two are standing, looking over the city of Sodom when God tells Abraham his plan to destroy the city because of their wicked deeds. Well, Abraham was quick on his toes to ask God if he was going to kill the righteous and the wicked together. This is where the crazy part happens.

Abraham asks God if he would destroy the city if there were 50 righteous people there. God said no. Abraham then asks if God would destroy the city if there were 45 righteous people there. God said no. You see the pattern here? Abraham negotiates with God down to 10 people. How cool is that? I'm sorry, but I don't think I could to that with God, but Abraham did. And because he did that, he was able to save Lot and his family (minus the wife 'cause she looked back at Sodom)

Anyway, getting to the point of his blog, I want to say, Go Abraham!! I give him props for standing up to the Almighty. That story and Abraham's actions and words just remind me of the verse,

" So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. " Hebrews 4:16

Challenge Day 1, Actually Challenging

Alright, no wonder they actually call reading the Bible in a year a challenge. For Day 1 I read Genesis 1-3 and Matthew 1. Between eating breakfast, my brother's distractions, and still waking up in the morning, it took me about 40 minutes to read these 4 chapters. Let's hope it doesn't always take this long. But, like any adventure or journey, I'm still excited and motivated to read, no matter how long it takes.

It was interesting what I actually read today. There were 3 basic beginnings in the 4 chapters:

1. Beginning of the World (Creation)


2. Beginning of Sin (Fall of Man)


3. Beginning of the Redemption of Sin (Birth of Jesus)

It's crazy how in my first day of reading the Bible, I read about some of the most important stuff: When God created man, how man screwed up, and how God sent himself in a man to save us. All that,, in 4 short chapters. Crazy, isn't it?

Well, that's my 2 cents for today. I'll have more later, keep posted!

Here it goes

I honestly have no idea how to start my first post, so here it goes. I'm really excited to start blogging, I've never done it before and I'm not a very good writer, so it may stink, but I want to share what God is doing through my life and this challenge I received.

So, i got back from CIY (a big youth conference at a college campus) a couple days ago. I've been to CIY's before, but coming home from this one was different. Different because I came home with a homework assignment for next year. Usually, the last night of camp or conferences end in a huge worship holler fest, but this one was different. Now, we did sing and end in a bang (balloon & toilet paper worship, check out my youth pastor's blog for a visual), but there was much more than that.

All, 1200 students were given an envelope with a challenge inside. There were 50 challenges, none easy and some requiring a lot. They ranged from selling something that's worth $500 and giving it to the poor to fasting one school meal a week and praying for the student and teachers in the school. As our group of 51 students and leaders circled up to talk about the evening and open envelopes. I myself wasn't sure how many student would open envelopes, let alone follow through with the challenges. What God did was amazing. It was amazing to see student after student open these envelopes with amazing challenges.

The thing that blew my mind the most: there were 50 different cards to choose from, there were 51 of us to open cards. So, everyone would've gotten a different card except one. we had 7 students open cards that told them to organize a debate between an Atheist and a Christian at our schools. 7 students! Now, I don't know stats, but what are the chances of that? Outside of God, impossible! I, personally, am excited to see what God will do with that.

Now, to get to the reason of this blog, my challenge. My challenge was to read the Bible cover to cover by next summer. I've never attempted to read through the whole Bible before, and I have the feeling that it's really hard. I do have someone to do this with me though. Anthony Campos came up to me after we opened cards that night and told me he wanted to read it with me. I am so excited to start this!!!

As Anthony and I read through God' Word, I'll be sharing what God's doing through us and other student who took a challenge from this last week. Be praying for us, we cannot do it without God. I cannot wait to see God move through his people this next year!