i piled together with about 32 people into a house at table rock lake in branson.
tomorrow, i leave for that same retreat.
this time it's at lake of the ozarks.
this time we're adding ten more people.
i could not be more excited.
this semester has been one unlike any before.
not shocking.
not bad.
not great.
the funny thing that college is continuing to teach me is to not get too comfortable where i am at.
it's amazing how many detours
roadblocks
u-turns
come up each week.
this semester
God is stretching me.
He is growing me.
He is breaking me.
much like semesters before, my eyes are being open to new ideas, thoughts, and truths that lie within Christ.
i am learning to not become complacent.
i am learning to listen with a burning heart.
i am learning to take time to listen.
i have met my fair share of challenges this semester.
i have made my fair share of mistakes.
i have cried hard.
laughed hard.
yelled hard.
i have been confused.
been hurt.
been loved.
i have seen people be so patient with me when they had no reason
to be.
i have seen people be so loving towards me when they had no reason to be.
i have seen people be so understanding of me when they had no reason to be.
i have seen God's grace overflow.
i have heard God's voice speak truth.
i have felt God's love all around.
so tomorrow
as i load up my car
and i head with friends to the lake
i pray that the things that i and the others have experienced and gone through this semester would lead to honest conversations and the pouring out of where we are all at in our walks.
i pray for transparency.
that we would not hide true feelings/thoughts/emotions.
i pray for grace.
that we would meet others where they're at.
i pray for gentleness.
that we would treat one another with sweet compassion.
i pray for boldness.
that we would not hold back.
would you pray with me?
pray for the hearts of those who will be in attendance.
pray for the voices that need to be heard.
pray for dave as he prepares to share God's truth and word.
pray for laurel, kelly, and andy who have given up a weekend away from their children to pour into the lives of college students.
pray that Christ would be so obviously present.
pray that the Spirit would cover us as soon as the weekend begins.
pray that God would pound truth into our minds and hearts.
pray that what happens this weekend would change the course of each and every person who attends.
pray that what happens this weekend would carry on into the days/weeks/months/years to come.
pray that what happens this weekend would leave the enemy shaking in his boots.
we have a purpose.
we have a calling.
let's do this.
