I've just returned to Birmingham to prepare for the next semester after celebrating Jesus' birth with my family and New Years with my intern family, and the only resolution I am going to make for this New Year is to be more faithful at updating my supporters and friends through this blog and emails.
We'll see (I've never been much of a New Year's resolver).
I've spent this break going back and forth from Birmingham, Atlanta, Panama City, and Nashville and I'm overwhelmed with how great it has been to spend time with people who know me and to take sometime to reflect on how things are going in RUF at UAB as a whole. One of the highlights of my break has been getting to visit Anne Charlotte Dentici at the hospital the day after she was born! I am so excited for Joe and Melissa and it is SO GOOD to see them start this new phase of their lives.
I've been preparing to lead a small group study for this semester on the Jesus Storybook Bible. It is a really awesome compilation of stories from the Bible written for children by Sally Lloyd-Jones. It consistently brings each story into the larger story of God's redeeming love for his people (or "Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love") that is written across all of Scriptures. I really encourage everyone to get it and read it, whether you are 5 or 55.
One of this stories about the nativity has hit home especially today, after celebrating Christmas and meeting Anne Charlotte for the first time:
"That same night, in amongst the other stars, suddenly a bright new star appeared. Of all the stars in the dark vaulted heavens, this one shone clearer. It blazed in the night and made the other stars look pale beside it. God put it there when his baby Son was born-- to be like a spotlight. Shining on him. Lighting up the darkness. Showing people the way to him. You see, God was like a new daddy-- he couldn't keep the good news to himself. He'd been waiting all these long years for this moment, and now he wanted to tell everyone."
The idea that God joyfully points us to the birth of his son is much more profound in light of the example that's been given to me through Joe and Melissa and their girl. I easily forget that God looked upon the incarnation of Jesus with great joy because he loves us and eagerly looked forward to his plan of redemption coming to completion. His joy was so much greater than any human parent can depict, but it's precious to see that the way that Joe and Melissa want others to share in their joy is like the way that God delighted in sending his Son to us, even though it would lead to his death on the Cross.
Please pray for me as I share this book with girls at UAB, that they would be drawn to Christ through the story of God's love for his people.
I am thankful for you all!
Monday, January 2, 2012
Friday, November 11, 2011
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Routine
Well I think it's probably been too long since I've made a blog post... longer than the once a week I promised people.
It's safe to say that in the past four weeks, I've settled into a routine. Mind you, not enough to make me feel like I know what I'm doing, but enough to feel like I live here and belong here.
Here's a day in the life of an intern:
Up around 7:30, morning routine, which now includes my new french press, I'm obsessed (it's red). Get to campus at 9:30 to have breakfast with a student, hang around Starbucks for an hour or two working on study program or reading Emma... (I was able to finish it long before my study program book, so I was probably reading Emma that morning, haha.) At noon, walk to the commons for "fun lunch" with RUF students-- basically we get the same table every week at 12, and everyone knows we'll be there to hang out. After lunch, spread out blanket on the green and text every freshmen in my phone telling them to study outside, not in the library! Manage to get a few students to work/socialize on my picnic blanket. At 3, head to the education building for upperclassmen small group, talk about the book of Mark for an hour. 4:30, brave Birmingham traffic on 65 south and head home!
Not everyday looks the same because we have large group and freshman small group in the evenings, some days I have zero or three one-on-ones, and some days include preparing for bible studies and fun gatherings at my apartment or the Dentici's. I'm learning to get used to not having a regular schedule, and learning to be patient as I develop relationships and figure out what is needed on this campus!
Since I last posted, we've had three more large group meetings with lots of students, and three freshmen small group meetings! I'm so excited about all the freshmen that are becoming the "regular crowd". This monday night gathering each week has been so special to me because we've really gotten to know the group and have had some great discussions. It's also caused me to reflect on the freshmen bible study I was a part of my freshmen year at Furman. We're going over a lot of the same material used by my old campus minister--things that are the basics of the Christian faith, like justification, forgiveness, the importance of Scripture. It's stuff that God used a lot in life my freshmen year, and stuff that I really benefit from learning again with these freshmen! It's also fun to be with and observe this bunch because my freshmen small group introduced me to the people who became some of my very best friends at Furman and I can see that happening here.
Our group also went on a retreat two weekends ago! We went to one of the older girl's family lakehouse on Lake Guntersville. We had a really sweet and rowdy (yes, both) time getting to know one another, and also spent some time talking about community in Christ.
(Snuggling with some freshies!)
Some weekend soon we're going to Huntsville, for a service/vision trip to Lincoln Village. We're going to hang out with RUF @ UAH, too!
It's safe to say that in the past four weeks, I've settled into a routine. Mind you, not enough to make me feel like I know what I'm doing, but enough to feel like I live here and belong here.
Here's a day in the life of an intern:
Up around 7:30, morning routine, which now includes my new french press, I'm obsessed (it's red). Get to campus at 9:30 to have breakfast with a student, hang around Starbucks for an hour or two working on study program or reading Emma... (I was able to finish it long before my study program book, so I was probably reading Emma that morning, haha.) At noon, walk to the commons for "fun lunch" with RUF students-- basically we get the same table every week at 12, and everyone knows we'll be there to hang out. After lunch, spread out blanket on the green and text every freshmen in my phone telling them to study outside, not in the library! Manage to get a few students to work/socialize on my picnic blanket. At 3, head to the education building for upperclassmen small group, talk about the book of Mark for an hour. 4:30, brave Birmingham traffic on 65 south and head home!
Not everyday looks the same because we have large group and freshman small group in the evenings, some days I have zero or three one-on-ones, and some days include preparing for bible studies and fun gatherings at my apartment or the Dentici's. I'm learning to get used to not having a regular schedule, and learning to be patient as I develop relationships and figure out what is needed on this campus!
Since I last posted, we've had three more large group meetings with lots of students, and three freshmen small group meetings! I'm so excited about all the freshmen that are becoming the "regular crowd". This monday night gathering each week has been so special to me because we've really gotten to know the group and have had some great discussions. It's also caused me to reflect on the freshmen bible study I was a part of my freshmen year at Furman. We're going over a lot of the same material used by my old campus minister--things that are the basics of the Christian faith, like justification, forgiveness, the importance of Scripture. It's stuff that God used a lot in life my freshmen year, and stuff that I really benefit from learning again with these freshmen! It's also fun to be with and observe this bunch because my freshmen small group introduced me to the people who became some of my very best friends at Furman and I can see that happening here.
Our group also went on a retreat two weekends ago! We went to one of the older girl's family lakehouse on Lake Guntersville. We had a really sweet and rowdy (yes, both) time getting to know one another, and also spent some time talking about community in Christ.
Some weekend soon we're going to Huntsville, for a service/vision trip to Lincoln Village. We're going to hang out with RUF @ UAH, too!
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
First Large Group!
We had our first RUF large group of the year last night and I think it was a huge success! I think we counted 60 students!
This week was a lot of firsts for RUF at UAB:
First week in a new, bigger room in Heritage Hall,
first time with a leadership/ministry team,
first time to have more than 30ish students attend (and we doubled!),
first time to have a totally student-led worship team,
first time with an intern (yay),
and the students got to finally find out that Joe and Melissa are having a girl!
After we met, we hung around and had ice cream and played kickball. I think everyone had a fun time and it was good for me to finally see the group all together.
I'm so excited for the week ahead with small groups starting up and lots of hang out times with freshmen girls already planned!
In other news, I finally went grocery shopping....
P.S. I'm supposed to write a short bio for the website-- anybody have any good ideas?
This week was a lot of firsts for RUF at UAB:
First week in a new, bigger room in Heritage Hall,
first time with a leadership/ministry team,
first time to have more than 30ish students attend (and we doubled!),
first time to have a totally student-led worship team,
first time with an intern (yay),
and the students got to finally find out that Joe and Melissa are having a girl!
After we met, we hung around and had ice cream and played kickball. I think everyone had a fun time and it was good for me to finally see the group all together.
I'm so excited for the week ahead with small groups starting up and lots of hang out times with freshmen girls already planned!
In other news, I finally went grocery shopping....
P.S. I'm supposed to write a short bio for the website-- anybody have any good ideas?
Thursday, August 18, 2011
I'm moving to Birmingham!
Today I got the green light to move to campus! I can't even begin to tell how mind-blowing and unreal it is to know that this is actually happening.
I am so thankful to the many people who have told me that they're praying for me and for my support to be raised. It's been the most unforeseen source of encouragement this past week and summer, and such a reminder of God's goodness and faithfulness to me.
How do I tell you how thankful and blown away I am by the sheer number of people who are supporting me? And so generously! I'm undone by how my church family and friends have come around me and encouraged me in this, and by my peers (college students and recent college grads!) who have given SO much you wouldn't believe it. I've struggled a lot this summer with coming to terms with asking people to give to something that I'm doing while also seeing so much of my sin and faults through this process. I keep thinking, I'm not qualified, I don't deserve this and .... I don't! What a freeing realization. I don't deserve what's been given to me. I've asked people not to be a part of Laura's deal, but Christ's work on UAB's campus. And thank goodness that He is the Qualified and the Worthy one!
I am so thankful to the many people who have told me that they're praying for me and for my support to be raised. It's been the most unforeseen source of encouragement this past week and summer, and such a reminder of God's goodness and faithfulness to me.
How do I tell you how thankful and blown away I am by the sheer number of people who are supporting me? And so generously! I'm undone by how my church family and friends have come around me and encouraged me in this, and by my peers (college students and recent college grads!) who have given SO much you wouldn't believe it. I've struggled a lot this summer with coming to terms with asking people to give to something that I'm doing while also seeing so much of my sin and faults through this process. I keep thinking, I'm not qualified, I don't deserve this and .... I don't! What a freeing realization. I don't deserve what's been given to me. I've asked people not to be a part of Laura's deal, but Christ's work on UAB's campus. And thank goodness that He is the Qualified and the Worthy one!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Study Program
Part of the internship involves doing a study program-- usually two books a month and book reports on each. So for July, I'm finishing up Putting Amazing Back into Grace, by Michael Horton, and The Enduring Community, by Brian Habig and Les Newsom.
My favorite of the two was Enduring Community because its on the subject of the Church. The authors go into what the Bible says about Church and why we need it so much. I found it really helpful because questions of how to do church, and whether or not it's important is kind of a hot topic with college kids. There are lots of ideas out there about "reinventing church" and this book really answered a lot of those controversies, and more importantly, put Christ at the center of the discussion. It also helped that one of the authors is my pastor from Greenville and I think he's awesome and his church was one of the best parts of my last two years at Furman.
Support update: As of today, I've raised, $18,003 and need to raise $9,515 to move to Birmingham. Please consider being a part of this ministry by giving!
In the words of Tracy Tina of youtube fame,
"Peace and blessins, peace and blessins"
Laura
Monday, August 8, 2011
Nashville Wedding Weekend
All that aside, the real reason that the wedding was awesome was that we wrote a song and dance toast for K&M at the reception and we pretty much stole the show. Video to come.
An added bonus to the weekend came when we visited Kelsey's church on Sunday morning, Christ Community, where they were having an RUF sunday! Kevin Twit led worship, along with Emily Deloach, who has a beee-yoo-tiful voice. If you haven't heard of Indelible Grace Music, you should look into it!
We sang this song:
This hymn has been very close to me this summer, as support raising has turned out to be a huge lesson in trust and patience. God seems to be teaching my that when we ask to grow, he's not going to do it the easy way, or at all the way we want it.
Also, when fellow RUF intern and bridesmaid for the weekend, Catherine, and I went to look for the RUF support table outside, we found three fellow interns from our intern class! We thought we wouldn't get to see you guys til October!
The weekend reminded me that I have so much to be thankful for! It felt like we were receiving one blessing after another! I got to spend one last weekend with my Furman besties and roommates before we all went our separate ways, was hosted by an incredible family that took us in as if we were their own kids (shout out to Kaka Ray!), and was given a beautiful reminder of how Christ loves us.
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