So I just finished with some quiet time where I was reading 1 Corinthians 12 about the spiritual gifts. Then I read chapter 13 about love. For some reason, that chapter really impacted me. I realized that in my life (specifically with the insecurities I struggle with here on project), I wasn't fully realizing the totality of God's love towards me. I know about His love and know what it meant on a salvation level, but living according to that same love was lacking. So I meditated on chapter 13 and everything it mentioned as a characteristic of true love. Then I was led to Romans 12, which talks about being transformed as a servant of God to live out His love. As a result, I am feeling challenged to make it a point to concentrate on God's love towards me and everything that entails. Secondly, as I fully consider that I also need to make it a point to live my life in accordance to that love by loving others the way God loves me, which includes things like being patient, being selfless, and being humble in EVERY area of my life. I must say that this was a very refreshing experience.
In other news, I can't believe I have two weeks left. On campus, we are trying to wrap up all our big ministry efforts to reach out, and we are continuing our everyday efforts up until the last day. I pray that they all go well, and that when we are done for the summer the Chicago Metro CRU team has a new base to start from. I also pray that over these last two weeks we students continue to make efforts to get to know each other closely and to learn from each other. I also pray that everything we have learned and experienced is applied in our daily lives when we move back home and go back to school.
-Ray
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
So the staff have officially been gone a week and things are still running smoothly! I didn't expect anything to fall apart, but I just think it's awesome that God is using us all in the capacity that He is. In the past week, our weekly meetings have undergone some slight changes, but they have been for the better. We are feeling more recharged on Monday night meetings and the Wednesday night meetings are flowing a bit more smoothly. One thing to note, however, since everyone has more responsibilities, we are actually busier than we were before. With that in mind, I am constantly praying that we just continue to actively seek time to spend in the Word and in prayer.
This week has also been pretty interesting because I have been volunteering at a VBS at Park Community Church. It's been a great time filler considering I haven't had much work. I am really happy that I've gotten this opportunity. I have been working with a class of preschool kids and that has been very fun, yet very taxing on my energy. Just imagine "Mr. Ray! Mr. Ray! Airplane again!" and "Tackle Mr. Ray!" each day during activity times. However draining it is, I would still say it has been worth it. I can just see God working through me in the lives of these kids.
Well, that's all for now... Continue to keep the usual gamut of prayer requests on your list.
Thanks...
Ray
This week has also been pretty interesting because I have been volunteering at a VBS at Park Community Church. It's been a great time filler considering I haven't had much work. I am really happy that I've gotten this opportunity. I have been working with a class of preschool kids and that has been very fun, yet very taxing on my energy. Just imagine "Mr. Ray! Mr. Ray! Airplane again!" and "Tackle Mr. Ray!" each day during activity times. However draining it is, I would still say it has been worth it. I can just see God working through me in the lives of these kids.
Well, that's all for now... Continue to keep the usual gamut of prayer requests on your list.
Thanks...
Ray
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
It's been a while... I know
I want to start by apologizing for not keeping up with this as frequently as I should. It has been 2 weeks since I last posted an update. I honestly haven't been spending all that much time on my computer. Nevertheless, I am alive and things are going well.
First off, the ministries are still chugging along, with maybe one hiccup here or there. The English Club at IIT is doing well and has been the scene for some really good conversations with international students studying here in Chicago. That has become a weekly meeting now. We are also trying to follow up over the phone with students who filled out surveys over the last couple weeks. In addition to sharing the Gospel with non-Christians, we are looking for some Christians to mentor so that the ministry at IIT can continue to grow strong after we leave. At Malcolm X College, things have been a little rougher. We have been able to survey a few students, and we are initiating some good conversations there, but some red tape is working against us in setting up a formal survey at the moment. However, we are still looking to initiate some good conversations there in the meantime, and our ultimate goal is to get 7-8 interested students together to form a recognized group at that school to at least start a small Bible study, and eventually a fully functioning Impact movement.
On the home front, God has been working so much in my spirit. Over the past 2 weeks, I have been coming to terms with a lot of ugliness that has been hiding in my life and learning what it means to continually find and turn over those issues to God. As part of that process, I have been studying what it means practically to live life by the Spirit. Through these lessons and through insights from some of the students and staff here, my interactions with other people as well as my self-esteem and my mindset have begun growth in the Lord, and while it is very tough to face my own faults, I am enjoying the benefits. I am starting to see some visible changes in how I approach situations. I am also growing closer to my friends and family in Christ.
If you would like to pray for me, please remember to pray for the people I am following up with, including Doug. Also pray for my continued growth in walking with the Spirit, as I believe that we always have room for more growth in the Spirit. Also pray that the ministries at all of the colleges that we are involved with experience continued growth and that many are reached. Finally, but certainly not the least on this list, please pray that as our staff leave and turn over the rest of this mission to the students, we will all continue to seek after God and allow Him to lead each step we take.
We now have the second half of this project ahead of us. I've heard that the most fun and the best of times on these summer projects happen after the staff leave. I pray that this is true for us, and that not only do we continue to minister to the students on the campuses, but that we minister to the needs of each other. I pray that we all take our responsibilities seriously, while allowing for God to work through us. I pray that we all can experience some serious growth in the Spirit and be able to shine so brightly for God that everyone around us will be drawn to God. And finally, I pray that the rest of this project just ROCKS!!! (I'm sure that it will!!!!)
-Ray
First off, the ministries are still chugging along, with maybe one hiccup here or there. The English Club at IIT is doing well and has been the scene for some really good conversations with international students studying here in Chicago. That has become a weekly meeting now. We are also trying to follow up over the phone with students who filled out surveys over the last couple weeks. In addition to sharing the Gospel with non-Christians, we are looking for some Christians to mentor so that the ministry at IIT can continue to grow strong after we leave. At Malcolm X College, things have been a little rougher. We have been able to survey a few students, and we are initiating some good conversations there, but some red tape is working against us in setting up a formal survey at the moment. However, we are still looking to initiate some good conversations there in the meantime, and our ultimate goal is to get 7-8 interested students together to form a recognized group at that school to at least start a small Bible study, and eventually a fully functioning Impact movement.
On the home front, God has been working so much in my spirit. Over the past 2 weeks, I have been coming to terms with a lot of ugliness that has been hiding in my life and learning what it means to continually find and turn over those issues to God. As part of that process, I have been studying what it means practically to live life by the Spirit. Through these lessons and through insights from some of the students and staff here, my interactions with other people as well as my self-esteem and my mindset have begun growth in the Lord, and while it is very tough to face my own faults, I am enjoying the benefits. I am starting to see some visible changes in how I approach situations. I am also growing closer to my friends and family in Christ.
If you would like to pray for me, please remember to pray for the people I am following up with, including Doug. Also pray for my continued growth in walking with the Spirit, as I believe that we always have room for more growth in the Spirit. Also pray that the ministries at all of the colleges that we are involved with experience continued growth and that many are reached. Finally, but certainly not the least on this list, please pray that as our staff leave and turn over the rest of this mission to the students, we will all continue to seek after God and allow Him to lead each step we take.
We now have the second half of this project ahead of us. I've heard that the most fun and the best of times on these summer projects happen after the staff leave. I pray that this is true for us, and that not only do we continue to minister to the students on the campuses, but that we minister to the needs of each other. I pray that we all take our responsibilities seriously, while allowing for God to work through us. I pray that we all can experience some serious growth in the Spirit and be able to shine so brightly for God that everyone around us will be drawn to God. And finally, I pray that the rest of this project just ROCKS!!! (I'm sure that it will!!!!)
-Ray
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