How Being on EDGE is a Lot Like Being in a Relationship

So in case you didn't know, I am currently in FLORIDA headed into my last day of what has been a week-long conference for my job with The Navigators. How blessed I feel to be spending time in a warm and beautiful place with hundreds of others who are doing the same work on campuses all over the nation! It has been an encouraging and challenging week as I've heard speakers, attended workshops, and caught up with friends from Texas, Alabama, Missouri, Illinois, and all over the US!

As we were given some time to reflect on the things we had learned from our year and a half on EDGE Corps so far, I had one burning thought- being on EDGE is a lot like being in a relationship. Let me break it down for you.

My time spent on staff with The Navigators has been incredibly refining.

Whew! If there's one thing I've learned on EDGE it's that I am a sinner and I NEED Jesus. Every. Stinkin'. Day. Doing full-time ministry has exposed my selfishness, my desire for control, and just how much I need God's grace. I have seen both my pride and my insecurities clearer this past year and a half than ever before. I have been more aware of my weaknesses and shortcomings. But I have also seen clearer how much God loves me and wants to take me further than I am right now. 

I have learned that it's not about me.

Like I said- full-time ministry has exposed my selfishness. It has exposed my desire to serve self. To be comfortable and have it easy. But it's not about me. Life isn't about me. It's not about people loving me and serving me and being as comfortable as I can. It's all about loving Jesus, and loving people. If I'm not doing either, then any of the work I do is just a noisy gong. As a follower of Jesus I am called to lay down my life for others, as Jesus did for me. And I think I have realized that calling even more now that I am vocationally doing ministry.

I have been forced to trust and depend on the Lord more than ever in the past.

Again. Jesus. I need Him. Being on EDGE has presented circumstances that have grown my trust in God immensely. [Two words- support. raising.] I have had to depend on Him in a very real way for my livelihood. I have had to rely on His power to make any of the work I do be productive for His Kingdom. I have had to trust that He would work in students' hearts even when things seemed to be at a standstill. I have seen God come through for me in huge ways and my dependence on Him has deepened.

These lessons I've learned while on EDGE seem eerily similar to lessons learned in relationships. Maybe that's just life. Maybe God chooses to refine us and teach us and humble us through the circumstances we find ourselves in. Maybe He uses whatever means He wants to reveal Himself to us. And those means are happy and hard and joy-filled and uncertain and wonderful and messy all at the same time.

Colorado in Photos

So as most of you know, I was in Colorado last week at The Navigators' Headquarters in Colorado Springs. I thought I would share with you some fun memories from the week through photos!

 EDGErs think alike! Without planning Monday turned out to be red/salmon/coral/pink day! 

A morning hike at the Glen proved to be not only beautiful, but also healing as well. God just seems to meet His people up in the mountains. ;)

We took a couple hour road trip in a charter bus through the mountains for our fun day, where we ended up at a beautiful frozen lake!

Many of us spent time with God during our stop at the lake. It was sunny with a slight breeze and just perfect with a jacket!

The way home lent us a beautiful sunset!

My quiet time spot one day was so peaceful and serene. I heard a loud buzzing and thought it must be a giant bumblebee but it turned out to be a cute little hummingbird!

On our last night there the staff had set up a 26-game "Minute-to-win-it" Carnival where we had to do all kinds of crazy tasks! The one that drew the most attention was this game where you put a pair of pantyhose over your face and tried to knock down the water bottles with the baseball that was in the bottom of the pantyhose. So hilarious!

Overall my third Summit was relaxing, rejuvenating, encouraging, and a great time to connect more with the Lord and friends from all over the country! Our next conference is in Florida, so I will definitely miss Colorado, but some sun and warmth will be much welcomed come mid-November!

Firsts

I'M IN COLORADO! Oh this beautiful state, how I love thee! I am once again headed to the Glen Eyrie in Colorado Springs for our semi-annual Summit Training. And although this will be my third time there, today has been a day of firsts

My very first time flying alone! It definitely helped that I was flying out of Lincoln, NE... home of the Lincoln airport with approximately four gates and one tiny, non-threatening security area. I enjoyed the tiny little puddle-jumper sitting squished next to a middle-aged man flying to Canada. When I got to the Denver airport I was surprised by its size- not quite the same as the four-gated Lincoln airport! :) BUT, I am proud to say that I figured everything out and maneuvered my way through many long hallways, down a few escalators, on a train, more hallways and escalators, and to the door where I waited for my aunt to pick me up.

I went back to my aunt's house, where I currently am waiting for a friend to pick me up to take me the rest of the way to Colorado Springs. This morning has been productive and LONG (I woke up at 5am and CO is an hour behind NE). We decided to whip up some yummy dessert and I got to enjoy my first time making baklava! It was crispy and gooey and oh so delicious! It was also super fun (if not a bit time-consuming) to make! We forgot to cut ours before baking it, so it ended up falling apart when we did end up cutting it, but I don't care! I still think it looks beautiful and it tasted delicious! Try out the recipe here.

Soon I will be headed off to the Glen where I will enjoy a week of spiritual encouragement, leadership training, and more! So I am happy to say that the day is only half over and I've gotten to experience some new things- some scary and stretching, others fun and experimental. What "firsts" have you experienced today?

You're Beautiful

I see Your face in every sunrise

The colors of the morning are inside Your eyes

The world awakens in the light of the day

I look up to the sky and say 

You’re beautiful.

Summit II

... and we will once again be in LOVELY Colorado. Here. We. Come.

Edge Summit: Drinking from a Fire Hydrant

Edge Corp Summit number one is complete but the fun has only just begun!

Because I had to ask several times today what day it is, it’s hard to believe all that has happened in the last two weeks.  I graduated college, took a road trip to Colorado and had a life-changing week at my first Edge Corps Summit Training. 

Oh boy has God rocked my little world in the last couple of weeks. I had major doubts that I was meant to be at Summit with over 70 new Edge Corps staff.  
(P.S. I am going to mention now that this is the largest staff The Navigators has had yet! …yeah so cool).

(A couple of key themes that ran thought my head): 

-I haven’t walked with the Lord that long, why do they want me here?

-I have not thought, talked or prayed like many of them.

-I have a hard time communicating, period. 

-I am not ready like they are.  

-Maybe this is too far outside my comfort zone.

Talk about a major panic attack and the biggest urge to run, run far far away.

Oh but God is good and more than patient.  He wasn’t about to let me go running 
(except up the sides of a couple mountain trails during free time), 
but He did walk me through many of my fears. 

I was meant to be there.  And He blessed me.  From the Bible studies, seminars on trusting God and prayer, to the amazing friends and coaches who encouraged and listened to me all week, God has prepped me for the next step He wants me to take.

Believe me, I am still more than scared (accompanied by a pair of sweaty palms), but this isn’t about me.  I may be the only Bible someone may ever know.  How can I deny someone the opportunity just to hear about what Jesus has done for me and what He has and can do for them?

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. 

Do no be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord 

your God will be with you wherever you go” 

Joshua 1:9

…but all your fighting men, fully armed, 

must cross over ahead of your brothers. 

You are to help your brothers until the Lord gives them rest, 

as he has done for you,and until they too have 

taken possession of the land that the 

Lord your God is giving them. –Joshua 1: 14b-15a

EDGE Summit: See ya next December!

Yesterday was the last day of our EDGE Summit and we are now sitting around the kitchen counter of HB's aunt and uncle's house in Denver, CO. The last week was exhausting and wonderful, with many great memories, LOTS of information [drinking out of a fire hydrant, anyone?], and the development of many amazing friendships! Here are some highlights of the last two days....

HB finally realized her life dream of seeing the famous big horn sheep at the Glen!

And KC got to cross spelunking off her bucket list! [Just kidding... it was just a crevasse at the Garden of the Gods]

Mary, our sassy [and AMAZING] support-raising coach.

Petah [aka Peter]... please notice the Texan belt buckle [it had an eagle on it] and the cowboy boots that are barely visible. "Yes, ma'am."

HB and new friends from all over! [Rolllll tide!]

Flo featuring KC. Deuces.

GO BLUGOLDS!!!

EDGE MEN '12.

EDGE LADIES '12.

The whole gang.

Saying goodbye to all these wonderful new friends was hard, but really, we were just saying, "See ya next December!" Can't wait til Summit 2! 

EDGE Summit: Day Four

Here are some highlights from today's hike that we took during free time... great time in the great weather with great friends! 

The path we trudged 

Roomie and HB.

HB and some new friends.

HB & KC in the sun!

KC and her crazy awesome hair skills... oh, and the beautiful Colorado landscape.

The boyz.

Roomie and KC.

Crazy caterpillar action.

P.S. We start our funding training on Sunday... prayers for that would be great! 

EDGE Summit: The First Few Days

This has literally been a few of the coolest days of my life. Meeting people from all over the country. Hiking up to beautiful, clear waterfalls and pools. Eating every meal in a castle. Laughing until my side hurts. Listening to speakers who are mature in their faith and intimate in their walk with Jesus. Adventuring through Colorado Springs late at night to find some Vick's Vapor Rub. Continually joking about accents. Learning more about my Savior. Seriously, this is my job.

A group of girls from ALL over... Texas, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and more! The two girls in the middle are rooming with KC and I.

At the waterfall.

At the Punch Bowls! Quite a hike, but SO worth it!

KC and a new friend jumping in.... 

It was COLD! [Or so I was told!] :)

Some of the guys helping each other up the slide between the "bowls."

 Overall, I am feeling SO BLESSED to be here right now! Not only is Colorado beautiful, the people amazing, and the food delicious, but Jesus is so present! I love how all of the sessions have been so gospel-centered and always coming back to Jesus. We have had tons of time to dig into scripture, and lots of time for relationship building as well. I just keep thinking "How can this be real?! Am I really here, experiencing all this cool stuff?" Everyone has been so welcoming, vulnerable, and loving... we really are feeling like a family after only 2 1/2 days here, and I am so excited to get to walk along these men and women for the next year or two!