In the past few weeks I've learned something very valuable: there is a lot I don't know.
At this time last year, I was roughly 2 1/2 months away from graduating. While in Romania, God stirred my heart and began to give me additional dreams of traveling and doing ministry for women in the States and overseas. I was going to send out resumes...I was going to get plugged into one of these so called ministries. I was going to go.
But God had another plan, and boy am I glad He knows me better than I know myself.
God called me home. Lo and behold, a year later, I am heavily involved in Evangel's (my church is also the name of my college...not trying to confuse anyone!) youth ministry which I never even dreamed. God placed in my heart a desire to get involved this summer, and I have found a new love for teenagers that I never EVER thought I would have. I am helping take on some of the preaching responsibilities and getting to help lead the worship team as our youth pastors have been called on to lead a church in New Jersey. I am under some really incredible leadership. We have a great couple (who I also get to work with at the District office) leading this transition time and whether or not these two know it, they are facilitating a great place for me to learn.
I know without a shadow of a doubt that I am called into full-time, 100%, full blown ministry. I know that God has given me a lot of dreams and desires (especially to travel and speak), and I am really excited to see how that all pans out. I also know that there is a lot I don't know. God has placed me where I am for a reason, and I am so thankful for that. I am thankful for teachers and people willing to invest in my spiritual, emotional, and mental growth. I am thankful for learning. I am thankful that God kept me from diving head first into full-time ministry because I was/am not ready yet. I am thankful for experience and opportunity to show me how to become a better pastor and a better person.
There are a few things God has really instilled in me, and I want to share them with you all:
1) Don't ever stop being teachable. As a young, fresh out of college kid, it was very easy for me to think I had a handle on what God wanted out of me and where I was going to go. Boy did I (and I still do) have a lot to learn. In Proverbs it says "a wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel." I never want to get to the point where I think I have nothing left to learn. I will ALWAYS have something to learn, somewhere to improve. God has surrounded me with some amazing mentors and people who have been in ministry much longer than I certainly have. What an amazing opportunity to learn and grow.
2) Don't be so stuck that you miss out on a God opportunity. Many of you know that I swore off youth ministry at a very early age. Teenagers drove me nuts (and sometimes still do, but hey, I can't help but love 'em), and I wanted no part in their development. Well, thankfully God helped me get over myself and showed me what a great opportunity I had before me. I get to invest in a group of young people. I get to pour into their lives, and they in turn pour into mine. God is showing me His faithfulness and grace through these students' lives, and that is something I am so thankful for. They are teaching me every day, and I am thankful.
3) Trust in God's good and perfect will for your life. Where I am at right now was not in my plan, but I am so glad it was in God's. I am so glad that He knows exactly where I need to be, and I pray that I trust in that every day of my life...no matter where He tells me to go or how He tells me to move. I don't want to get caught up in my own agenda...I want to be caught up in His will. I know that God has given me some grand dreams and desires, and I believe He is working out those dreams in the way He sees best. I know His plan far exceeds my own. I know it's not about me...it's about Him.
I am being bombarded with knowledge. You know, college taught me a lot, but there is something about experience.
I don't know it all, and I am so thankful I don't. But I am excited to keep learning. In 10 years from now, I want to be able to look back at my life and say that I never quit being teachable. I never got stuck. I trusted in God's good and perfect will for my life.
I still believe I am in for the ride of my life. God is mapping out His perfect plan for me.
Thanks for letting me ramble! (Not like you really had a choice, but thanks for reading!)
Love you guys.
In Him,
Em
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
An Honored Hero
This weekend I made the trek to Mayville, WI with friends Amy and Dan to honor not only a soldier, but a son, a brother, and a friend. A co-worker suggested I blog about the experience of this weekend, and I think that is a really good idea. Words can't possibly encapsulate everything felt and shared this weekend, but I will certainly give it a try.
I didn't quite know what to expect. I've been to plenty of funerals but not for anyone this age...and not for anyone that I really knew like I knew David. David and I were buddies in college. We were on Crosswalk together (which is Evangel's student ministries board). We both worked in the office, and I saw him on pretty much a daily basis. My friend Amy and I spent the majority of our time hacking into his Facebook, hiding his stuff, and just being flat out silly. But, he loved it, and he loved to do it right back. David almost functioned as our big brother, and boy did he get under our skin. However, at the end of the day, you couldn't help but love him.
The community was absolutely incredible. At almost every turn, there was a yellow ribbon honoring David. His name could be seen across many store fronts and signs. Not only was Mayville proud of their son, but the surrounding towns were as well. This community is a family, and they rallied behind the Johnsons in a way that I've never seen before. They carried the burden with them. They reminded me of what the body of Christ should really look like and how it should function. They were extensions of His hands and feet.
This weekend as we reminisced, we definitely felt nothing but love for our friend. We remembered all the times he frustrated us, but more importantly we remembered all the times he made us laugh. Thousands of people walked through that kid's visitation. Thousands. Way to go, David. Way to make an impact.
At his visitation, all the pictures of him just showed his zest and love for life. He looked like such a goober in the majority of his pictures, but that is the David we will remember and love. Also on display were all of the medals he was awarded. He was awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, and a few other medals. I'm so proud of him. What a huge honor. He was only over there a month, but the impact and leadership he left will go with his family for a lifetime.
There were lots of tears shed for a friend who left too soon. David's mom said that she may not understand, but she trusts in Him. While her son's "vessel was broken and smashed, he is now whole with God." It's words like these that remind me of the hope there is in Christ...the hope we have for eternity spent with Him. His family stood strong in the face of adversity and recounted the life of someone they all hold so dear. His sister Emily touched my heart the most as her broken heart was laid out before us. He definitely left a hole.
The services ended with us going to the Mayville Veteran's Memorial Park where David was presented with the 21 gun salute and a Black Hawk fly over. The American flag was also awarded to his mom. Amy and I joked that David always told us (and everyone he knew) that he was a big deal and the coolest person we knew. Lo and behold, he really was a big deal. He was a big deal because of how he lived his life for Christ. God used him to lead so many others back and to the Lord for the first time. David's mom shared testimonies of the light people had seen in his life. David was a big deal because he decided to let God be a big deal in and through him. I couldn't be more proud of my friend.
It's been almost a year since the last time I saw him, but I will carry the many memories into the future. He showed me what it means to live.
I love you, David Johnson. Thanks for showing us what it means to be like Christ. You'll always be a big deal to me.
Love you guys.
In Him,
Em
I didn't quite know what to expect. I've been to plenty of funerals but not for anyone this age...and not for anyone that I really knew like I knew David. David and I were buddies in college. We were on Crosswalk together (which is Evangel's student ministries board). We both worked in the office, and I saw him on pretty much a daily basis. My friend Amy and I spent the majority of our time hacking into his Facebook, hiding his stuff, and just being flat out silly. But, he loved it, and he loved to do it right back. David almost functioned as our big brother, and boy did he get under our skin. However, at the end of the day, you couldn't help but love him.
The community was absolutely incredible. At almost every turn, there was a yellow ribbon honoring David. His name could be seen across many store fronts and signs. Not only was Mayville proud of their son, but the surrounding towns were as well. This community is a family, and they rallied behind the Johnsons in a way that I've never seen before. They carried the burden with them. They reminded me of what the body of Christ should really look like and how it should function. They were extensions of His hands and feet.
This weekend as we reminisced, we definitely felt nothing but love for our friend. We remembered all the times he frustrated us, but more importantly we remembered all the times he made us laugh. Thousands of people walked through that kid's visitation. Thousands. Way to go, David. Way to make an impact.
At his visitation, all the pictures of him just showed his zest and love for life. He looked like such a goober in the majority of his pictures, but that is the David we will remember and love. Also on display were all of the medals he was awarded. He was awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, and a few other medals. I'm so proud of him. What a huge honor. He was only over there a month, but the impact and leadership he left will go with his family for a lifetime.
There were lots of tears shed for a friend who left too soon. David's mom said that she may not understand, but she trusts in Him. While her son's "vessel was broken and smashed, he is now whole with God." It's words like these that remind me of the hope there is in Christ...the hope we have for eternity spent with Him. His family stood strong in the face of adversity and recounted the life of someone they all hold so dear. His sister Emily touched my heart the most as her broken heart was laid out before us. He definitely left a hole.
The services ended with us going to the Mayville Veteran's Memorial Park where David was presented with the 21 gun salute and a Black Hawk fly over. The American flag was also awarded to his mom. Amy and I joked that David always told us (and everyone he knew) that he was a big deal and the coolest person we knew. Lo and behold, he really was a big deal. He was a big deal because of how he lived his life for Christ. God used him to lead so many others back and to the Lord for the first time. David's mom shared testimonies of the light people had seen in his life. David was a big deal because he decided to let God be a big deal in and through him. I couldn't be more proud of my friend.
It's been almost a year since the last time I saw him, but I will carry the many memories into the future. He showed me what it means to live.
I love you, David Johnson. Thanks for showing us what it means to be like Christ. You'll always be a big deal to me.
Love you guys.
In Him,
Em
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