Hey Everyone! I know it’s Valentines Week and sometimes it can be sort of a drag for the people who are single out there. I definitely thought I would struggle with it this year, but this week God has been overwhelming me with the power of prayer and how it is so important to share when we are praying for one another, or even just thinking of each other. He returns blessings and answers prayers tenfold if we are willing to say “yes,” even when we don’t always understand.
So without further adieu, here is a glimpse into my mind the past few days and know that this is only Part 1. Part 2 will be shared on Valentines Day!
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Sunday:
Feel bad about not wanting to go to Sunday Night Worship because it’s just not the same anymore. Go anyway. Listen to the praises lifted up in song and write prayers down. Pray about restoration and healing. God says “sometimes its worth it to wait” and to “give it more time.” Learn that there is yet another snow day on Monday and end up speaking with a friend for an hour and a half about purity and how the struggle is real here for that particular temptation. Open up in a new way that helps this friend understand where you’re coming from on a daily basis and get encouraged to do something you want to put off. Walk out of Angell Chapel and decide to talk it over with God. Ignore it and put what needs to be said off. Still feel full because out of the blue, present, spiritual, one-on-one, quality time conversations are awesome and something that you never feel robs you of your time.
Monday:
Welcome to snow day number 48907235 (at least it feels like that) in the Massachusetts area. Sleep all morning. Think about and pray for the snow to stop, tell God you know that you asked for more time a couple weeks ago, but now it’s just getting out of hand. Pray for the list of people you have going. Deeply spend time praying for each person on your list and pray about whatever needs come to your mind because God usually knows. Pray for the squad and The World Race. Pray for the people and hearts you know over in Australia. Pray for ENC, pray for friends, pray for humbleness, pray for Fusion. Pray for lights to never go out and pray for friendship and tell God that’s all you desire. Pray for healing and restoration again. Think about how God must be getting so annoyed with you pleading for healing and restoration but be reminded and comforted that all he wants is your feelings. If you fully surrender friendship, healing, and the restoration that you want to Him, He will bless you tenfold in an entirely new way. Before getting distracted, message and text people God has laid on our heart to contact, letting them know that you have been praying for them and what about specifically.
Tuesday:
Collage about ambition, euphoria, and a quote that a squad mate gave to you the day before. Think about it and about the boxes you put God in. Walk outside in the blinding light that is white snow. Sit in Hebrews Cafe and learn that euphoria is a feeling or state of intense excitement and happiness. Think about how you want to feel that whenever you are with God. Remember how you saw a red robin flying in the snow and wonder what it means. Look it up and learn that seeing a robin means a promise and renewal are on the way. Hope and pray to God that the renewal is coming soon and that He will fulfill the promises He has promised to you.
Tell God that He is bigger than 16,000 dollars, that He is bigger than the small box you constantly put Him inside. Tell Him that even in the euphoric moments, you still struggle to reach an authentic state of euphoria with Him and tell Him how much you want it. Tell him how the simplest things go the longest way and wish and pray that people would be more mindful of the ways in which the warmth in a person’s heart can grow through those small things. Ask Him to break your heart for the people on campus and then think about how your heart will be broken and shattered into 11 very fragile pieces in the year ahead.
Go to Angell Chapel around 10:00pn and pray with God for a half hour and never want to leave. Pray for all the things you’ve written about again. Pray for the people on your squad who are struggling physically. Pray for restoration in many different ways and don’t think twice about it. Think about how prayer and spending time with God is a lot like running for you. It’s hard to get there, it’s hard to start, but once you do start, it’s the most rewarding and you never want to stop. Wonder if it’s like that for anyone else.
Get back to your room and write to God about how John Steinbeck thought about “how many people he’s looked at and never really seen.” Tell Him that’s probably why you like to people watch so much. Write “I am highly convinced that if I stare at a person long enough, they become beautiful through and through.” Write and wonder abut how God must stare at us everyday. Think that maybe that’s why he can never think of His people as ugly, because He’s constantly choosing to see us, to see through the countless fears we harbor of being judged, rejected, or alone. Pray that God helps us to be a people of “seeing” rather than just “looking.”
Rejoice in the middle of a sleepless night and keep praying for restoration, healing, and friendship.
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There it is, this is what I have been lifting up relentlessly the past few days. The small blessings have come, definitely letting me know that God is in control. An encouragement to all of you reading: He loves you, too! Write your prayers down, write the blessings down, keep searching for the small and even the big things. They are what make a difference in prayer, especially if you let people know that you are praying for them specifically and boldly.
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Valentines Day Fundraiser!!
Easy as pie! Just click the “Support Me” button on the left and donate $14 on the 14th for Valentines Day! It would be a fantastic gift to spread love and God’s kingdom across the nations. You even the have option of Anonymously Donating if you want to keep it a Secret (Secret Admirers)!!
If I can get 10 people to each donate $14 on the 14th, I will have raised another $140!!
If you leave your name, I will write you an encouragement card in a month (when I am willing myself to look at my account again). If you decide to keep anonymous, know how grateful I am for your contribution in advance. Love each and every one of you so much!
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All my Love,
Ashley
