Spark

God is up to something big, you guys.

Maybe when you step back a little and think about that, you'll say,"Duh, Alayne."

But have you ever felt that God wasn't doing much for a period of your life? Or, more so, that you forgot God moves and lives and changes and blesses?

I admit. I forgot about that this summer. I forgot about Him. I was consumed with the small things. Tiny things!! Packing list for college. Financial aid. What color to paint my toenails. I was consumed with thoughtless, brainless things...I could somehow spend a WHOLE day browsing facebook, youtube, and blogs. I could talk to my friends until night became morning. I met with God at church and I preached that a relationship with Him was key to growth and knowing the God we say we believe in. And then, I came home, prayed for more spiritual discipline that week, and returned to my computer.

Being here at Chapman is such a huge blessing. Yeah, the faculty, the student-teacher ratio, the dorm life, the socal weather, the freedom, the new friends-they're all immense blessings. But the difference is that God decided He would spark my hunger for Him. He knew that in this moment, I would desire to be filled with more knowledge of Him so that my will could be aligned with His, rather than diverging towards a lifestyle of worldly desires.

Take my word. I'm not just trying to make up a cool story about how God is going to do something good. I'm truthfully saying that there's a stirring of conversations, a long list of situations and relationships, and a changing/convicting of hearts here on campus that PROVE that God is at work. For those He has put on our hearts to minister to, He has given Christian roommates and close friends. For those with whom we want to share our faith, He has given time and space in very busy days. There's curiosity, openness, and countless opportunities to share with people who really want to hear what we believe to be the Truth. In fact, they want to come and SEE it. To church!! GOD IS PLANTING THE DESIRE TO DISCOVER HIM IN PEOPLE THAT DON'T EVEN KNOW HIM!

And do you know what else I think?

I think this is happening on the Peninsula campus, too.

I think this is happening on your college campus.

I think this is happening around the world.

It has been happening, and this rude, convicting, difficult, shame-filled awakening has helped me to see.

Dad,

What if you were here?

Hello

Hello 2011!

Hello to NEW things.

Hello opportunities, beauty, laughter, excitement, and laughter.

Hello sunshine and hello rain.

Hello sleepless nights.

Hello perseverance, hope, discipline, renewal.

Hello decisions decisions decisions...

Hello JOY and hello accomplishment.

Hello surprise and hello disappointment.

Hello food and hello music.

Hello great music. Mwrehehehe.

Hello trips and travels.

Hello endings.

Hello beginnings.

Hello Father, who provides, protects, challenges, loves, listens, and responds.

Hello Lord, who deserves all the glory in the world. All my efforts and cares.

Hello Savior...Thank You for every day.

Hello Teacher. Be patient with me. I know You are. I want to learn and grow.

Hello Friend. Wherever I turn You are there and You remain the same. Help me to treasure You more.

Dearest Samuel,

Baby Samuel, thank you for fighting. Did you know that through your life, the Body of Christ was joined together? Did you know that your story was heard across the country and across the globe? You are not only loved by the Creator and your parents, Dan and Kelly, but your name has been spoken countless times today. You are an example of God's power, God's goodness, and God's unfailing love. Your parents had and have this unfailing faith and enduring desire to seek the Lord's will first. Do you know how encouraging that is? Challenging? Admirable? Life changing?

You're with the Lord now. I'm so lucky to have heard your story and to have prayed for you. Even after the decision to take you off of life support, during that interval of prayer, I truly believed that God had the power to keep you alive. You don't know me, but I'm often doubtful and quick to assume the practical/probable. I realized even before I heard the news that the Lord has used you to grow my faith. To grow the faith of all believers who have heard your story.

I think that the world now has a greater understanding of what love looks like. What the church was meant to do...love one another and proclaim the Truth about God and Christ for the world to hear. Merry Christmas, Samuel.

Music, "you put the art in my heart".

Success

Who is the more successful?

A doctor or a baker?

A lawyer or an artist?

A stay-at-home-mother or a psychologist?

A pastor or a rock star?

A scuba-diving instructor or an elementary school teacher?

A queen or a trash man?

A burger-flipper or a neuro-surgeon?

A dog-walker or a missionary?

A librarian or a farmer?

How do you define success?

Do you define yourself by your level of success?

Should you?

Does it control how you define others?

Should it?

What do you want in this life?

To be successful?

To be happy?

To take risks?

To stay safe?

To be smart? About everything?

To make someone happy?

What if you took the idea of success and accomplishment away?

What if you took away salaries, expectations, and pride?

What if there were only attempts, goals, dreams and struggles?

Who are you now?

Is this version of you less great than the one that "succeeds"?

Why?

According to the Bible, we believers all have the same ultimate purpose. Perhaps we walk in different directions, earn different amounts of money, and dress in different brands of clothing, but we're walking on the same type of path designed by the same Creator for the same reasons. And unlike the world, we're allowed to fall on our faces because it doesn't change our purpose and it doesn't change how the Creator sees us. In 100 years, there will only be one whose love towards us remains. So why are we so bent up on "succeeding" when no level of "success" can ever take away or add to the amount that the Lord loves us? Why are we so concentrated on giving into what the world has created to be "success" and forgetting about who God has created to be heroes, givers, and faith-based people?

When the salaries, titles, recognition, looks, knowledge, scores, schools, and approving nods are stripped away, you are finally just...you.

Auntie Jackie

She would sit in the center of the campground, coffee thermos in her pale hands, and feet propped up on the stone wall of the fireplace. I always remember her wearing fleece. I always remember her smiling. I loved her slight Irish accent.

Auntie Jackie was my Girl Scout leader for 8 years. That's 8 years of patience, teaching, guidance, advice, encouragement, laughter, adventure, learning, and growing. I think as young girls, we couldn't entirely understand a person's character...especially not that of an adult (we think we know their characters!). Now that I look back after having grown up some, I realize the amount of energy it took to keep up a household, 3 children and their schoolwork, endless extra-curriculars, and community work. But it's not just the time and energy that's striking. It's the desire to give even to strangers. To others in the community simply because she was grateful. Compassionate.

Auntie Jackie was diagnosed with ALS about 4 or 5 years ago, and somehow dealt with losing all independence. Losing the ability to communicate. The ability to bathe herself. To feed herself. To decide. For the past couple of years, my mom and I haven't been involved with her life...but I do remember seeing her unable to move and speak. My friend, Auntie Jackie's daughter, was hurrying around the house fulfilling responsibility after responsibility as if the typical adolescent matters suddenly vanished.

Jackie's with the Lord now...as joyful and beautiful as ever. Here on earth, at school, I see her heart and attitude lived out by her daughter. I see the way she bravely takes on challenges, yet still cares so intimately for her friends. The way she fulfills her responsibilities, yet is able to use art to express herself. She is beautiful and she will always be remembered as a super-mom for all of us.

Troop 678 <3