"The Russians are coming!"

"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." [1 Corinthians 12: 4-7]

"Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness." [Romans 12: 6-8]

It's true, it's true: "the Russians are coming, the Russians are coming". In about a half hour two 20-something-year-old females from Russia will be making a home here. My family is hosting them I think for 2 weeks and I'm excited. Unfortunately, I only get to see them during their second week stay with us. Many times during my childhood I've been able to think that infamous movie quote and it's been true. I like to think that I've been exposed to many different cultures due to the fact that my parents have been hosting foreign exchange students and businessmen and women for many years. It's super cool to do this as we've been educated about different parts of the world we may not have come to know about otherwise. I especially enjoy holidays around my home because we receive random phone calls every so often from friends across the sea.

In my reflections on the day...I am so blessed to know so many friends. Those around my age, those younger and older than me. People from all different walks of life. People that care and are passionate about their own special thing. Those that have so many gifts and talents and interesting hobbies that I couldn't even begin to master myself. I'm blessed to know people that do so much and share their gifts and talents with me.
 
It's so cool that God has designed us each to be unique and each to find our own way of using the gifts He's blessed us with to serve Him and those He places around us. May we all be able to look at the gifts we have and use them all to His glory. Afterall, without Him, we couldn't do it.

Places to call home.

"'Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.' Thomas said to him, 'Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?' Jesus said to him, 'I am  the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.'" [John 14:1-7]

I was reading in the book of John last night and came across the passage you see above. Whenever I read through scripture God blesses me to think of songs or hymns that I've grown up singing at church, VBS, or once learned at Camp Okoboji. [I am a musician, yes?] Last night was no different...the lyrics of "Big House" began running through my mind. Maybe because we'd sung it at VBS the night before or possibly because I've been thinking lately about the homes God has blessed me with in my life thus far.

My childhood home in Urbandale, IA has been a great haven to grow, learn, and be formed under my loving parents care. It's been nice to spend another summer here...reconnecting with those I've not been able to see as much & getting to meeting new people through my church internship.

Camp Okoboji has always been a second home to me. Why? Well...living and serving there for 5 summers just makes sense to me for calling it one of my "second homes". Also, spending each of summer of my life there has created many precious moments with my family. While as we grow older it's been harder to get everyone there at the same time, I will cherish those memories for years to come. [Treasure Village golfing, playing cards, visiting, swimming at the beach - to the raft, BLTs, Clearly Canadian, puzzles, Dad's kite flying escapades, Stomp Rocket, sleeping in, etc]

Seward, Nebraska....is and always will be considered to me (& I'm sure many others) a treasure of a place hidden amidst the corn fields. I am beyond thankful to have been a student there at Concordia University and so blessed for the ways God taught me more about loving others with the love of Christ. Even as the years continue to pass by, I will ponder the moments, memories, people, and all the learning that happened there.

Now I look forward to my next home in this life: Ft. Wayne, Indiana. And I know it will be another place to call home. In my 3 short visits there, I already feel I can call it home. It will be exciting to let time unfold there and see what God's planned for me to experience during my studies and formation there.

I am abundantly blessed with homes.

While all of these places seem to be amazing to me...you probably have your own set of homes/places that are near and dear to your heart. How blessed we are to experience moments & create memories in different areas of this beautiful land called the US of A.

I can't help but wonder what our heavenly home will be like.
& Something I can't even begin to describe.

the energizer bunny.

"Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil,  struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me." [Colossians 1:28-29]

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." [Ephesians 2:8-10]

Lately, I've been thinking about energy. I think it's because of all this humidity that's struck the midwest & other areas of the country. I'm surrounded by people that have said to me, I just can't do it because of this heat. Their energy has been zapped out of them and I completely understand. It takes a lot out of you to go from one extreme temperature to the next. It's especially hard to see how the heat affects a loved one with enough health struggles of her own.
 
I find some irony when thinking back to my childhood, with understanding the person I am today & how I received the gift of a life-size energizer bunny stuffed animal.

I guess the story goes that I was the youngest kid at a church event & so there the Morrison family took home a huge new toy. I'm sure my parents thought, What are we going to do with this? But I'm pretty sure I loved the bunny awhile - so much I remember the drum getting ripped off it.

Ironic...well, because I tend to do a lot and keep busy and keep going and going and going. Yes, like the bunny.

But I know I can't keep going and going and going. And you can't either. You'll wear yourself out, and I will too! I think a lot of times people don't realize they're doing too much until it's almost too late
to fix that issue from getting worse in their current situation.

Remember to take time each day to breathe, relax, and find some quiet time with the Lord to renew your energy and ask Him for His strength, power, and energy to get you through whatever is next on your to-do list.

Trust me, He's already there with you even when you doubt Him.
Remember, nothing is impossible with God!

a transitional time.

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace." [Ecclesiastes 3:1-8]

This summer has been all about transitions for me. For that, I am so thankful. Because when transitions in life occur, most likely growth & learning come along with the changes & newness of the current situation. The Lord continues blessing me just as He has in all other times of my life, whether joy or struggle. I am grateful to recognize the blessings He gives me during this transitional season of life.

One major transitional time began with graduating from CUNE in early May of this year and moving back home and not back to Camp Okoboji (where I've spent the last 5 summers of my life serving in various capacities on staff). While some may not find much happiness with the thought of moving home after graduating college, it's been a huge blessing to live at home this summer: I've had time to go through college stuff (get rid of things I don't foresee needing); see people I've not been able to see in a long while; enjoy more time with my parents; start projects (&hopefully finish all of them!); take walks with a neighbor lady & her dog and so much more.

This living at home &being blessed with a church internship to keep me busy is one way I've come to realize how God is preparing me for my next journey in (academic) life.

I'll be honest...I was a bit apprehensive with the idea of not going back to Camp, but knew the timing was right. God allowed me to be at peace with the decision of living at home this summer. Even though I knew I'd miss the atmosphere, the people who've become my Camp family, and other special things about serving at a beautiful place in this world. What's pulled me through is how God has allowed Camp friends to connect with me and let me know they've missed me. Those words are priceless to hear, all glory to God for allowing me to meet some remarkable people. I know He will continue to guard and protect all those He blessed me to meet over the years and I can't wait for the next time I'll run into some one from my Okoboji days.

While July is not officially over (and there's tons left to accomplish & complete before it truly ends) I feel it's retirement drawing near. With the onset of August coming...beginning school all over again comes to mind. I know fall is coming close because e-mails have heightened from the Ft. Wayne community. This excites me greatly as I am so so so eager to begin my diakonal studies there. It will be good to be immersed into studies again & wonderful to meet new brothers & sisters in Christ. I can only imagine what God has in store for me there.

I end this by sharing a welcome to "seeing" the beginning of a new chapter in my life. With other transitions occurring, I wanted to transition to a new blog. So here it is, enjoy!

ps. thanks Teagan for tips & showing me the ropes. You're wonderful!