A Summation of Ellerslie... maybe.

I have vacillated back and forth about doing a blog post about a summary of my time at Ellerslie... I've been hesitant, mostly because I've been having a hard time trying to describe it. The whole thing was amazing... painful... healing... stretching... stirring... and yet... unless you've been there and gone through it, it might not make sense to you... I've been asked to try and sum up the whole thing in one sentence, or to name the one thing that stands out the most...
   Most of my life I've been thought of as "the good girl," the one who serves and lives at home and does whatever is asked of her, "the strong Christian," etc., etc... but while at Ellerslie, I realized how little I actually knew; I had such a small view of my God, and I kept Him inside the parameters of my views. I read my Bible because that's what "good Christians do," not so I could learn more, not so I could see my Savior living and breathing on every page.  I was content to stay where I was, instead of reaching higher for the standards that are mapped out in the Bible. Oh, I looked good on the outside, but I struggled so hard with various things, especially in the past few years.  And I don't wonder if things would have been different if I had known my Savior better.
   So, in summation, all I can say is this, my eyes have been opened to how much more there is.  My tent stakes have been pulled up.  I'm marching into the unknown, following in the footsteps of those who have gone before.  The "great cloud of witnesses" have beckoned me "further up and further in" and I'm "running with endurance the race that is set before" me. (Heb. 12:1)
   Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies. Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out violence. I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord! ~ Ps. 27:11-14
Chazaq Amats!

   In His Love,
      Christy

Bucket List Revisions... (Ellerslie Post 9)

Hey everyone... This blog post is something that I have been contemplating for a bit, and I really feel like God is leading me to write this.

  On my birthday earlier this year, I put up a blog post with a list of 27 things that I wanted to do this year - things I wanted to experience, if you will.  However, while being here at Ellerslie, the Lord has really been pricking on my heart about a couple of things - one thing in particular actually.
    #9 ~ Going on a date.

  My whole life I have championed not dating - living a life of complete devotion to whomever I would marry in the future.  Proverbs 31:12 says, "She does him good and not evil ALL the days of her life." Not just after I've met him, or after I've been married.  And yet, on my list of things to do this year is to go on a date.
 
  I realize that I've been struggling with trusting God in all things - I'd gotten tired of waiting, so to speak, and thought that I'd "help" God along. "Just because I go on a date doesn't mean that I'm giving my heart away," was how I justified it to myself.  Even though I wrote that it didn't have to be a guy, I really wanted it to be a guy... It just sounded better if I didn't admit it. And I didn't want to admit it even to myself that I was struggling with being discontent and not trusting God. I'm the "good girl" so to speak - I'm not really supposed to struggle with things like that. I felt like I was supposed to have it all together, but I didn't. I still don't, in a way.  But I'm learning how to fully be surrendered to God and yield my life as a living offering to Jesus Christ on a daily basis.  My life is not my own - I have been bought with a price, and everything I do should bring God glory.

   So today, God went after #9 on my list.  And I really feel like He is calling me to apologize to all of you readers.  I was wrong in not trusting Him and for lowering my standard.  I ask for your forgiveness and patience as I continue to seek out how God wants me to live. I pray that my list didn't cause any of you to stumble, and if it did I am very sorry.

Please pray for me as I continue to seek out His will for my life...

   In His Love,
       Christy

Music Mix-up Post 30 (Ellerslie Post 8)

    One of the things that has been really fun that we've done here is a reading aloud of "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe."  They have never done it before, and it was a HUGE hit!  I didn't want it to end, but C.S. Lewis didn't read my mind. :)
    Anyway, I loved this song from the second movie: "Prince Caspian," so I thought I'd share that this week.  So, may I present, "The Call," by Regina Spektor.





I hope you all enjoy this song, and next time, hopefully, I'll play some Christmas music! :)  I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

   In His Love,
       Christy

The Cross (Ellerslie Post 7)

This is a poem that I wrote a couple of weeks ago, after Martyr's Night at the church here at Ellerslie...
I hesitated to share it at first, because I didn't feel like it was finished, but I'm not sure what else to change to fix it, so I'm just going to leave it the way that it is.
    

The Cross

A bloody cross stands on a hill and gently calls my name.

It beckons me to come, to leave behind my worldliness and fame.

"I cannot!" I cry, though my heart softens deep within.

A bloody cross stands on a hill and gently calls my name.

It beckons me to come, and leave behind my life of sin and shame.

"I've tried!" I cry, as my heart starts breaking from within.

A bloody cross stands on a hill and softly calls my name.

I see my Savior bleeding there, covered in my guilt and shame.

"Oh, Savior, what a price You paid!" I cry,falling down before my King.

A bloody cross stands on a hill and softly calls my name.

He gave His all to save me, and what can I do but offer Him the same?

I will follow Him most gladly, no matter what the future may bring.

   In His Love,

       Christy

Under Construction!

I'm sorry everyone... somehow, while I was looking at something last night, I accidentally changed something, so I'm in the process of trying to fix it & update it. Unfortunately, I don't have a whole lot of time to spend online, so this is going to be a work in progress!

  I miss you all so much, and I hope you are all having a wonderful start to your week!

      In His Love,
         Christy

Operation: Colorado Big Build! (Ellerslie Post 6)

             Saturday, November 12^th, dawned bright and clear.  A hum of expectation and excitement hung about the campus.  The day for our Two Hands Big Build had arrived, a day I had been looking forward to for weeks.  Two Hands is an organization designed to assist families in adopting children through sponsorship of a church or school in their work on widows’ homes. This concept is based off of James 1:27: “This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” (NASV)  This was the first time that Two Hands had ever worked with a school before. Ellerslie students had a huge envelope stuffing party several weeks before as we asked our friends and families to support us in this venture.  All of the money raised goes straight to helping orphans.

                We were all there - almost one hundred of us - at seven in the morning, packed into the Everett Center, munching on donuts and fruit for breakfast - yummy! - while listening to Ben announce the different groups we would be in and their various locations. Several students went to work at different widows’ homes, and most of us, including me, went to the local retirement/nursing home center where we frequently have community outreaches.  As we piled into cars, we were eager to be warriors for the Lord by serving in our community and supporting adoption.

                Upon arriving at the retirement home, we were directed by Mr. Dan, the overseer for this project, to our various tasks. These included raking leaves, re-painting the fence and gazebo, cleaning out, washing, and painting gutters, and visiting with the residents. Some of the guys climbed up into trees and chopped down dead limbs.  One branch that was particularly stubborn took four guys and many spectators to tackle the job, but they prevailed!  Spirits were high as we laughed, worked, and sang the day away.  Lunch was a festive affair, complete with pizza and Oreos- more good food.  After raking a huge pile of leaves, a bunch of us took turns jumping into the pile before we bagged it up.  For some of the students, it was their first time jumping in a pile of leaves! The race began to see who could fill their bag up the most. We definitely enjoyed our work!

                After the work was done, a bunch of the men played an intense game of football in the side yard.  Teams were decided upon, plans were hatched, and the game began- hilarious to watch.  When it was time to return to Ellerslie, we were tired, but joyful in knowing that God had given us this opportunity to serve both our community and orphans.

                That night, we all gathered in the chapel to celebrate the day and honor various students for their endeavors - the messiest painter, the best encourager, and the hardest worker, among others.  It was a time of fellowship and laughter as we recounted the different ways God had worked throughout the day.  It was a joy and privilege to fulfill one of Christ’s commands, and we are eager and expectant to see Him glorified through the seeds that were planted!   “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matt. 25:40)

Here is the video that shows a snapshot of everything!

Big Build Project from Ellerslie Student Life on Vimeo.

Epic Ellerslie Games!! (Ellerslie Post 5)

Just under two weeks ago, we had the Epic Ellerslie Games.  Now, if you really know me, you know that I'm not really into sports or anything, but I decided that I was just going to suck it up and play.  Not that I really had a choice. :)  Ben assigned everyone to teams.  But it ended up being one of the funnest things I've done yet.  And I'm excited to show you the "Ellerslie Epic Games - Fall 2011" video!!



Ellerslie Epic Games - Fall 2011 from Ellerslie Student Life on Vimeo.

My team was the purple team, and we WON!!!! I was so EXCITED!!!!

In His Love,
    Christy