Spending

No, this is not a post about money.

A recurring theme in my life of late has been doing...more specifically doing good.

In the past week I have read:

Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Titus 3:8
This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

I could add more, but I think you get the picture.

Sunday morning I was challenged by a sermon on Revelation 3. I felt like the pastor was talking to me when he said...you can't just sit there, being lukewarm is NOT an option. DO something.

MAYBE the Lord is trying to tell me something...YA THINK??

I had an awesome time in the word yesterday that centered around Isaiah 58:10

If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.

I don't blame you if it doesn't jump off the page and hit you smack dab between the eyes upon first inspection. It took me a while too. ;)

But look at the words...spend yourselves...UM...there it is again...DOING.

Up until yesterday my response to the Lord's command to DO was to come back to the Lord and say...What about ME. How is spending myself going to take care of ME? Aren't I DOING enough?

The Lord answered those questions with this passage.

In Isaiah 58:6-11 the Lord promises if you spend yourselves he will

* Be your light in the darkness
* He will guide you
* He will satisfy your needs
* He will strengthen your frame
* You will be like well watered gardens

There He goes, taking away all my excuses again! ;)

No, really. I have been struggling with a decision for a week and the Lord used these verses and many other circumstances in my life to point me in the right direction. Specifically.

What is the Lord calling you to DO? How are you going to spend your life? I don't know about you, but the thought of being like a well-watered garden sounds good to me.

Ready...Set...

Go!

Let the craziness begin!

This afternoon ACF is advertising our club at the student activities fair and immediately following the fair is the first ACF of the semester. The leadership team has met and there are a lot of exciting opportunities and creative ways to outreach in the works. Please continue to pray with and for us as we seek to serve the AU community.

Here is the flier Greg made to post all around campus. Notice all the small groups. When we began ministry at AU we had trouble keeping one small group going. Now the thirst for accountability, community, and deeper understanding of the Word is overwhelming!

Zeph 3:17

We have been blessed to have a couple weeks to ease back into the swing of life post-holidays since students do not return until this weekend. Even though we spent one of those weeks taking turns being sick, it was a much needed respite.

Life is now beginning to pick up speed again. A few students in our leadership team attended Urbana and are ready to hit the ground running! Our minds are churning with planning, praying and preparing for spring semester. (alliteration not intended ;)

The verse I read in Zephaniah comforted my whirling mind this afternoon.

Who reads Zephaniah, really?

Well I did this afternoon! What a jewel I found.

Zeph 3:17
The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing."

When was the last time you let the Lord quiet you with His love?

Exhausted!

Christmas was only the beginning of our crazy holiday schedule. We enjoyed the time with my (Ashley)side of the family up here in Philly. It is always nice to see all the cousins play together. Here is our family pic:



On the 29th we began our 2 day drive to Dayton, Tn to attend the wedding of some dear friends from college. Greg was one of 3 best men, and Caedmon was a junior groomsmen. My handsome men clean up good!

Poor Cole was sick the ENTIRE time. It turns out he had his first ever ear infection. Caed and Abigail also caught a stomach bug somewhere along the way and spent 8 hours each hunched over a bucket on Sunday/Monday after we got home.

Cole is still on the mend, but Caed and Abby are back to normal today. Praying the bug passes over Greg and me!

Keep on praying for Cole. He has had more energy today, but has not eaten much of anything in a few days. He is drinking plenty though.