So anyways, back to my point. I have been working as the marketing intern for Blume 2011, a national missions conference for teenage and college-aged girls. It's everything I love wrapped into one: Jesus, girls' ministry, missions, and Disney World. Yes, it IS in Disney World, July 13th-16th to be exact. (This is me doing my job and putting a plug in for the event.) It's going to be absolutely amazing. And I'm not just saying that because I'm biased. I'm getting to see all the time, dedication, blood, sweat, and tears going into it, so I am being completely honest when I say this is going to be legit.
So last week, the Board of Trustees had their annual spring meeting at the WMU. The other two Blume interns and myself were invited to come share about our time there during a dinner. I showed up at 6 o'clock completely unprepared, as I had just written and turned in two papers all in the same day. I ran upstairs to my cubicle, jotted down some notes about the marketing team's progress, and frantically tried to calm myself down. Before dinner, we were introduced to several of the WMU leaders, who were all extremely nice and genuinely interested in our lives outside of our internships.
As everyone was finishing dinner, it was almost my time to be introduced and walk up the podium. I prayed a prayer asking for strength and a calm, peaceful spirit, and that is JUST what the Lord gave me. I walked up, introduced myself, and completely ignored the note cards I held in my hands. I began speaking about my testimony--about how God placed this little, tiny desire in my heart as a high school junior to reach out to girls, more specifically the girls at my church. I already had close relationships with each of them, so it only seemed natural. I continued by talking about how that desire turned into a passion, and a year later, God placed two extraordinary young women in my life,who *surprise, surprise* had the same passion. My little, ol' tiny conviction from 11th grade turned into something I never thought possible. And then, out of no where, came this incredible internship that I knew was a perfect match for Hilliary Hallman. So as I explained all of this, I basically summed it by saying that God has used me in ways I never thought possible. Never once did I think or even dream of working on girls' ministry for a national non-profit. And there I was. Three years later. Standing at a podium, giving a speech in front of a room full of Christian leaders. Working for a national non-profit. Doing girls' ministry. And that, my friends, is what you call a blessing. God using me in ways that I (and possibly others) thought were impossible and then allowing me to stand and give a speech about it...that's power. That is way more than a blessing.
But besides getting to see myself do such "impossible" things, I was able to witness the other interns, true women of God, speak. They not only brought tears to my eyes, but they also left me in complete awestruck of our mighty King as I heard stories very similar to mine. Stories proving that God has plans for each and every one of us. Plans much greater than we could ever plan for ourselves.
2. I was blessed by the mysterious "convo credit angel"..or something..I don't actually know. But I was somehow able to to register for classes that Monday morning, when I was told by University Ministries that I would have to wait until the end of the month due to my lack of convos (aka- lack of ONE convo). But it worked. And I got all the classes I needed. And no 8 AM's for the 5th consecutive time. No big deal.
3. I was blessed by the WMU for a second time last week. So naturally, as I am finishing up my amazing internship, I have felt very sad emotions about leaving. I've become pretty attached, and so attached, that I decided I'd rather do this all day, every day instead of going to class. Well, last week I received an e-mail from one of the guys on the marketing team. He offered me a job for the summer. A job that will fit in perfectly with my camp schedule. So, therefore, I am p-u-m-p-e-d.
4. I was blessed by Kathleen Hyland. Kathleen has been the one friend, who has always been there for me. Always meaning since the 8th grade. Then, we talked about going off to college and losing touch, being the stupid, emotional 8th graders we were. But God had intentions for us to stay together by sending us to the same college. A very small college. So she had no way of escaping me even if she wanted to. But for her to put up with all my crap I've ever given her over the years and all the nights of me talking her ears off, I am grateful. She is truly a good listener. Probably the best listener I know. And that's why I love her.
5. I was blessed by Kelley Robert's birthday. Any amount of time, whether it's five minutes or an entire day, spent with Kelley Roberts and Alyson Dix is a blessing in itself. We hardly ever have time to sit and visit with all three of us present, due to our conflicting schedules. And going to three different schools doesn't help either. But I am so happy and thankful for being able to celebrate Kelley's birth yesterday. Not only because she is a rockstar best friend, but it brought the three of us together again for the first time in months.
6. This man. Need I say more? This Easter week I experienced a sense of gratitude like never before. This man sacrificed himself for the entire world. For people who would never fully appreciate his sacrifice. For people who would never come close to living a life as perfect as His. For people who would continually sin, day after day, completely neglecting the fact that He was SLAUGHTERED for those sins. For people who could never possibly imagine the absolute pain of having nails driven into their hands and feet. For people who will never fully comprehend why or how someone could possess such an unconditional kind of love. I am so thankful that He chose me. I'm so thankful that He chose me regardless of all the times I fall short, making me completely unworthy. And I'm thankful that He created me with a purpose. A purpose to do things that were simply impossible without the love, guidance, patience, and master plans of the King of the universe. WOW.
"And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."
-Hebrews 10:10
No comments:
Post a Comment