Hello everyone; friends, family, future friends,
Welcome to another late night edition of insomnia blogging done by yours truly! I am coming off of a wonderful weekend spent in Ocean City New Jersey with adults from my church family. It is one of the two weekends a year we spend there and call it the Adult Fellowship Retreat. It is a time for lots of laughter, even more food, worship, and just spending quality time with each other away from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. I started going to these retreats 3 1/2 years ago, after I graduated college I was able to attend my first one in March of 2013 and have never looked back! I am the youngest one by far; however, they are two of my favorite weekends of the entire year. I love the fact that these wonderful people I call my family have watched me grow up, literally since I was 6 years old and have helped shape who I am today. I have been told on many occasions that I am an old soul, which I guess is another reason why I don’t feel awkward being the youngest there. I am able to be me and my family have seen who I am, who I have grown and matured into. They are no longer just the adults at my church, they are people, they make mistakes, we make inappropriate jokes, we tease each other, we drink together, we laugh and cry together.
It is truly a beautiful picture of what the church was meant to be; a bunch of people from all backgrounds and experiences, coming together just for the sole purpose to love on each other. My church family is pretty amazing. We can talk about anything and still feel loved and safe for whatever we share. For example, we discussed some tough issues we face today: racism, police issues, black lives matter/all lives matter, politics, gay marriages/relationships. What I really appreciated about the conversation is we kept coming back to loving people for who they are. Some admitted that some of these issues made them uncomfortable, but they followed it up with how they were upset that they were bothered by them. Not ONCE was judgement placed on anyone else. THIS is what Jesus meant when He called us to LOVE and THIS is what God wants the church to look like! I have never been more proud to be apart of a community than I was today sitting around a table with my church family!
2016 has been a year full of ups and downs, highs and lows; much like the waves of the ocean. I know it is like the most cliche thing ever, but I always find myself singing, “Oceans,” by Hillsong United whenever I go to the beach or to these retreats. It is such a beautiful song, a beautiful testimony that I figured it would be a great title for this blog.
“Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior”
These lyrics are also coming to me in a very crucial, busy, life-changing time for me. I am SINGLE DIGITS IN DAYS AWAY FROM TRAINING CAMP! This is crazy and amazing and unbelievable really how soon it is. I have WAY too much to do in these 8 days before I leave for Georgia. I’ll admit, that is what is keeping me up right now and not sleeping even though I need it! God I have been on SUCH a high lately that I pray it continues and that I listen to where the Spirit is leading me. I am ready for Your still, small voice to lead me Lord. Your daughter is ready to go wherever You call me. By trusting and listening I pray my faith grows stronger to better serve You with. I pray to carry a message of love, hope, and light. I pray my experiences, my brokeness, be used to help reach someone else. Side note: this “brokeness” mindset is from the book Kingdom Journeys Rediscovering the Lost Spiritual Discipline by Seth Barnes, a book all World Racers are encouraged to read. I have read most of it and it is amazing! I recommend it for anyone! Anyhow, I just want to be used by our Father in any way possible, big or small. Time on earth is precious and unknown so I don’t want to waste a second of it!
This blog was kind of all over the place, regardless I thank you so much for reading it! Please keep me, my fellow “S/green” squad, the other 3 squads, and everyone involved in Training Camp as we prepare over the next 8 days for it! Prayers for all of the countries that my squad and all of the other squads will be traveling to. Prayers that everyone be FULLY FUNDED as fast as possible. Prayers for Haiti and everywhere that a natural disaster has left destruction and devastation. Prayers for safety and for fears/nerves to be cast away!
Thank you for the constant support and affirmation that this is what I am meant to do in 2017! I am overjoyed to be meeting my S Squad family so soon; however, I still have some supplies and shots to get, so pray I get all of that taken care of ASAP!
God Bless you all! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Much love, ~Meg
“You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand
And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine
Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You’ve never failed and You won’t start now
So I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior”
