Below is a picture of my staff team. (They are hilarious, and a joy to work with) :)
I also love the students here. I'm constantly amazed and challenged by them because not only do they want to share Christ with others, but they aren't satisfied with contentment. They are always taking steps of faith to encourage one another and point each other towards Christ. It's how I was able to grow so much as a student. So many women poured into my life, showing me the truth and love of Jesus and how the Gospel applied to my life, and I don't know where I would be today had it not been for those women.
This summer some of the students thought it would be a great idea to come up with some sort of bible reading plan. Since going home for some students can be a tough time, because they aren't surrounded by a community of Christians (like they are at MSU) having a plan is sometimes helpful for some people so they know how to read/where to go to in the word. So, some students got together at the end of the semester and came up with a plan. They named it NT90X (similar to P90X... the exercise plan) because it is a plan that goes through the entire New Testament throughout the summer.
Well, I'm trying to follow along with the plan along with the students. This afternoon I was reading a passage in Matthew 4. And, what I love about the Word is that it's unlike anything else, and each time I open it up, the Lord seems to reveal something new to me every time.
I was reading from Matthew 4 - and I think it would have been absolutely incredible to be there when Jesus called His disciples to Himself... simple, ordinary fishermen, who probably went out to do what they normally would do each day, to make end's meet, to provide for their families, and bring home food for the day. This was their way of life as they knew it; but that particular day Jesus had something completely different planned for them.
He just showed up on the sea of Galilee, saw these guys working, and told them to [Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.] (vs. 19-22)
And the most incredible thing is, they just dropped everything to follow Him! [Immediately they left their nets and followed him] (vs. 19)
I'm amazed by this - like, what was running through Peter's, Andrew's, James', and John's heads? I mean maybe they questioned it, but they had to have faith, because they ended up giving everything up, leaving everything behind (even their father in the boat! - vs. 22) and followed Him!! It was the beginning of Jesus' incredible ministry here on earth, and the incredible transformation in these men's hearts and in their lives, as they were about to witness things they probably had never even imagined.
I look at what Jesus has done throughout history, what He has conquered, what He continues to do... and throughout it all, He is a PERSONAL God, calling people into a personal relationship with Himself, calling people to "follow me and I will make you fishers of men." (4:19)
Everything you've done and continue to do is a demonstration of an incredible love story that will never end. I just pray that you will give me the faith, like those disciples that you are worth it, and so trustworthy to follow. You are so worth it. Thank you for loving me.
