Posts Tagged ‘Urbana’

Happy New Year!

Friday, January 1st, 2010

Last night was beyond incredible when Urbana ’09 climaxed with approximately 17,000 men and women sharing communion. It was a taste of heaven – men and women representing nations from around the globe celebrating Jesus together. What a way to end 2009 and to ring in the New Year! How did you spend New Year’s eve?

What does God have in store for 2010? Only He knows the details of what the days ahead will bring for the world, for our nation, for our families, and for us as individuals. But this one thing we know for sure: He is with us.

Over and over during the Christmas season, I was reminded of the phrase “Immanuel, God is with us.” This morning, as I read from Matthew 1:23, it came to me again: “…He will be called Immanuel (meaning, God is with us).” No matter what the future holds, we are not alone. Our heavenly Father goes before and behind us. This knowledge brings peace in the face of uncertainty, and it brings confident anticipation for whatever lies ahead.

And so, as the New Year begins, let’s journey together sharing our hopes and dreams, our hurts and disappointments.  Let’s encourage each other along the path, laughing and crying and moving forward knowing we’re not walking that path alone. I look forward to sharing my life and lessons with you, and I look forward to hearing what’s happening in your life.

As for me, 2010 begins with a travel day. I’ll be flying from St. Louis to San Fransisco to Seattle…barring snow…and driving home from there. Ought to fall into bed around 1 a.m. tomorrow morning. I’m glad it’ll be Saturday – a sleep-in day.

Know you are loved,

Grace

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Devotionals | 2 Comments »

Amazing Encounters and Encouragement

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

I came to Urbana ’09 to represent International Messengers and to answer questions/encourage students who are exploring options for their future. During Monday morning’s worship service, however, I heard the leader say, “God has brought you here for a reason. What does He want to tell you or show you?” Hey – that’s right, I thought. I’m here to do my job as a mission co-director, but that’s not the only reason. God has something for me, too. What message does He want to give me?

Later that day, a woman named Beth stopped by our booth to speak with me. Her daughter had read Moving From Fear to Freedom, found it very helpful, and started following this blog. When she’d read about my trip to Urbana, she asked Beth to meet me here and to tell me that the book had helped her work through fear issues in her life. Wow – what an encouragement to me as an author and blogger. As we spoke, Beth called her daughter on her cell phone and then handed the phone to me. Another wow – what a treat to speak with this young woman whose life has been impacted by the words I’ve written in solitude.

While I love writing, I don’t find it an easy task. Penning a worthwhile article or book or even a blog takes much time and energy. It requires a willingness to be transparent and to risk rejection by readers who may not agree with what flows from my heart. It requires saying no to other activities that would be a whole lot easier. But I know that my mission is to write the message God puts within my heart, to communicate hope to those who are discouraged, truth to those who are choosing the wrong path, and light to those who have lost their way. I don’t know who my readers are, and I don’t know their deepest needs, but God does. It’s my job to obey – to write – and it’s His job to put my words into the hands of those who need to read them.

What message has God given me at Urbana ’09 (so far)? To continue writing, even though I cannot track the results. He’s using my skill to bring glory to Himself and I’m forever grateful.

What skill(s) has He given you? How can you use them for His glory?

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Devotionals | 3 Comments »

Urbana ‘09 — Here We Come

Saturday, December 26th, 2009

It’s Saturday, Dec. 26th – a.k.a. Boxing Day to Canucks like myself. If I were home, I’d probably go shopping for ridiculously low bargains on next year’s Christmas cards and wrap. But shopping’s out this year ‘cause I’m doing something that’s far more fun.

What? More fun than fighting the crowds at the local mall on Boxing Day? I know, I know – that’s hard to imagine. This morning finds me sitting at Sea-Tac airport, sipping a Starbucks coffee and waiting for our now-delayed flight to Chicago. I’ve bid my suitcase goodbye with a prayer that it will make the now-tight connection to St. Louis, Missouri later today.

Delayed flight!

The media hype about yesterday’s foiled terrorist attack on a Detroit-bound flight caused us to expect heightened security this morning so we gave ourselves plenty of time to get to the airport and check in. The changed schedule means we’ll sit for at least an hour longer than we’d expected. Oh well. That gives me time to work on material for upcoming speaking engagements. Flexibility is the key, right? That’s what I tell our short-term missions volunteers!

Today Gene and I are enroute to Urbana ’09 – a triennial missions conference sponsored by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. More than 15,000 students have registered; nearly 3,000 of these are Canadians. The purpose for our trip is to represent International Messengers Canada at the IM booth and to be available for whatever divine appointments come our way. Many of these students are seeking God’s direction for their lives and considering missions as part of the picture. Perhaps one or two or a few will come our way. Time will tell.

I first attended Urbana 30 years ago. I remember boarding a chartered tour bus at midnight on December 25, 1979, and riding, along with 30 or 40 other university-aged men and women, for 2 days and nights to reach our destination. What a blast! We talked, sang, played games, and snacked across Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and into the States before finally arriving at the University of Illinois nearly 40 hours later. A life-changing experience awaited us.  

Plenary sessions featured speakers including Luis Palau, and if I remember correctly, Elisabeth Elliot. Afternoon workshops shed light on every thinkable aspect of missions, and the exhibit hall contained myriads of mission booths. My most memorable moment was celebrating Communion on New Year’s Eve. Sharing the bread and wine with more than 20,000 other young adults, and hearing those voices blended in worship songs to our Savior tasted like heaven to me.

Thirty years later, I get to experience it again! Better yet, this time I get to encourage other young adults who are now exploring God’s will for their lives as I did then. How fun is that? ‘Way more fun than shopping for bargains on Boxing Day.

Shucks – our flight was just delayed another half hour due to bad weather in Chicago. This could be a long day.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Travels | 3 Comments »

A Baby Changes Everything

Friday, December 25th, 2009

A local Christian radio station has played Christmas carols, old and new, for the past month. One song in particular has caught my attention. I can’t remember all the words, but one line says, “A baby changes everything.”

I remember becoming a mother for the first time and discovering the truth of those words firsthand. Suddenly my days and nights were no longer my own. Sleep seemed a thing of the past. Spontaneous activities were a bygone, too. My life now rotated around the baby’s needs and schedule. Two more children joined our family, and the dynamics in our home changed with each one’s arrival. The gigantic impact little people have is amazing.

Mary, too, discovered that a baby changes everything. In her case, her marriage was nearly called off. Her reputation as a good girl was smeared. Her relationship with her parents and neighbors was no doubt altered. Yes, a baby changed everything for this precious teenage girl.

It’s so true – a baby changes everything. You don’t have to be a mother to experience this for yourself, especially when that baby is Jesus. Today celebrates His birth. And why did He leave His home in heaven to come to earth more than 2,000 years ago? To change everything for us.

No matter who we are or where we’ve come from, Jesus gives hope in exchange for fear. He gives us joy in exchange for disappointment and grief. He gives strength in exchange for weariness. He gives forgiveness in exchange for the burden of sin we carry. He gives us purpose and meaning, life abundant now and for eternity.  Where would we be today if He had not been born?

Today is a day to celebrate the baby Jesus! I wish you a meaningful Christmas, my friend. Enjoy yourself and create warm and fuzzy memories. 

Whisper a prayer for me on the 26th, if you would, please. My husband and I will be flying from Seattle to Chicago and on to St. Louis, Missouri to represent International Messengers at Urbana ’09 – a huge missions conference sponsored by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Pray for safe travels, unhindered by winter weather. And pray for lots of divine appointments during this conference. Thank you! My next blog will be from there — I’ll share my experience with you, okay?

I attended my first Urbana in 1979. I was 21 years old, wide open to the idea of missions, and exploring options for my life. Thirty years later, I have the privilege of doing it again. This time I sit in a different seat. Now I’m a missions rep, available and excited to speak with college age kids open to the idea of missions and exploring options for their lives. What an amazing journey.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Devotionals | No Comments »