Okay here is my long overdue blog about Student Life Tour '08. I'll try not to leave anything out.
Alright, so we left on Friday afternoon at about 2 o'clock. We drove for about 2 hours when the unexpected happened. We blew a tire while driving down the highway. When this happened we were next to a really big truck, I think an 18-wheeler. There was a loud POP! and then we served over and then Dave Ruhman, (the best bus driver ever!) managed to get the bus back into our lane and then off onto the shoulder. So, there's a school bus on the side of the road, with 40 kids and Life Group leaders in it. Jeremiah and some of the other adults managed to get a hold of someone to come fix the tire. The high school bus took the high-schoolers to an eating stop and then came back for us. Looking back, it was probably quite a sight. 40 kids and some adults, walking along the side of the highway and then up the hill to the overpass and onto a school bus. It was quite the adventure. The bus took us to where the high-schoolers were and we all ate dinner. We were back on the road at about 6:45-7:00. We were going to be late for the conference.
We reached the conference at about 8:45 or 9:00. That left only 1 hour of that night's session. We managed to slip in for music and that was it. We all headed back to our hotels and then got some sleep. In all it totaled to about 5 hours of sleep. Then we got up ate breakfast and headed to the church for the morning session. Then we ate lunch and went back for the afternoon session. The speaker, David Platt, was PHENOMENAL! While I was ready to head home at that point, I was also sad to see it end.
We headed off once again for another 5 hours of driving. We stopped along the way to eat some dinner. We reached Jackson and decided to stop and get some gas. They filled it up and Dave got back into the bus and tried to turn the bus on. Nothing. He tried again. Nothing. The bus wouldn't start. We had to get someone to help and like...jump start the bus or whatever it is they did. They managed to get the bus going and we headed off again although we knew the bus ride home could and would be tricky. To begin with, it was dark, rainy, foggy, our headlights barely worked, and we were on curvy back roads. On top of that we were running on the bus's low battery. We were about 10 miles away from Fredericktown when I heard Dave tell two of the small group leaders to pray. He said our battery was running really low. One of them got up and lead us all in prayer. Then we were told not to talk so we wouldn't fog up the windows or anything and Dave had to turn off everything he possibly could. He had to turn off his wind shield wipers, defogger, heating, everything. People were getting up and wiping windows for him when the windows began to fog up bad. I sat there in that bus seat and prayed and prayed that we would make it home safely. We came up on Calvary Temple and Dave goes, "Praise God, we made it." And we all began to cheer. I had never been so happy to see Fredericktown in my life. We pulled into the parking lot of the church and I was off the bus in a heartbeat. In fact, I probably won't get on another bus for a long time.
But let me just say this. You can read my story and think, "Oh my goodness! That had the worst luck! Their trip was probably awful!" and come off with a negative perspective. Or, you can find God in this story. It was God that pulled us away from the truck to safety. He was with Dave, our bus driver, and the driver of that truck next to us. The truck next to us was able to swerve at the right time so that we didn't hit him. Had he not moved, it may not have turned out so well. Thanks be to God for getting us through that situation safely. When the bus wouldn't start, when we were on those dangerous, curvy, back roads, when the battery almost died on us, God was there. God was with us and taking care of us, and God got our little old rickety bus home to Fredericktown. I thank God for this past weekend and all that He showed me through our tricky bus situations.
At first I was beginning to have second thoughts about going on the trip at all. I began to fear that I wouldn't make it that far away from home. I stood in the parking lot of the church before the trip with my dad and he told me I had to make a choice. I stood there unable to decide. And then, with the strength only God could have given me, I turned around and walked into the church building. Then getting onto the buses I almost decided to go over to the office where my mother was and just stay with her but I got on that bus with God helping me the whole way. After our tire incident I began to wonder if going on this trip was a mistake but as the weekend went along it was made clear to me that it was no mistake, no accident, and there are no regrets now. I thank God for giving me the strength to go on that trip and for those bus situations. (weird I know but bear with me) Through those tough times, God was able to show me that He was always there with me and that He is strong enough to overcome anything. His strength was made perfect in our weaknesses with the bus. So don't take negative things away from this story, take positive God things away from this. Maybe its time for you to get on the bus and let God show you just how strong He is and how much He cares for you.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Saturday, February 9, 2008
It's the Inside that Counts
I've been reading this book No Body's Perfect and it has some very good stories in it. Sort of like a Chicken Soup for the Soul book. In it are many poems and there was one I really wanted to share with all of you. (actually there's many which I may post later.)
It's the Inside that Counts
Once upon a time, not too long ago,
There lived an old man by the name of Joe.
Joe made dolls of all shapes and sizes.
Some wore coats and some wore disguises.
They ranged in colors from black to white,
And came in all sizes from heavy to light.
There were some that were simple and some could light up,
Others would talk and never shut up.
Each doll was different, no two were the same,
And every doll had its own name.
Roger resembled a star football player,
And William looked a lot like the mayor.
Bertha was short, a bit round and quite plain,
While Jenny was pretty and destined for fame.
Joe sold the dolls in a small, redbrick store,
Twelve hours a day people came through the door.
Folks bought the dolls for kids, sisters, and brothers.
Needless to say, some sold better than others.
The boys liked the ones
That held knives and ray guns.
A doll with long hair and a long, puffy dress,
Is usually the one that the girls liked the best.
Some people collected one of each kind.
Others had one special figure in mind.
One day a girl, who was unlike the rest,
Came in to pick out the doll she liked best.
She would randomly pick out a doll from the pile,
Keeping her eyes closed, she would hold it a while.
Then ever so careful, she'd put that doll back,
And pick up another doll from the rack.
Joe watched the girl as she held Annie, then Nick,
Secretly wondering which doll she would pick.
Then she picked up a doll no one handled before,
Not noticing the face or the clothes that it wore.
The doll had loose seams and was missing a leg,
And the clothes that it wore were made out of a rag.
The hair on the doll was like the hair of a clown,
And the face of the doll bore an unpleasant frown.
This doll was about as worn out as they came.
It was the only doll that didn't have a name.
But as the girl held it, she knew with no doubt,
That this was the doll she'd been dreaming about.
Joe rang up the doll and when he was done,
The total came to $3.71.
As she gave him the money she said, "It's too bad,
The doll that I want has a face that's so sad."
"What made you pick her? She looks such a dread.
Why didn't you choose one with a smile instead?"
The girl looked up at Joe and said, "I just bet,
I know why this doll is so very upset.
She sat on the shelf being the best she could be,
But an ugly old doll was all people would see.
Since no one would hold her, they never found out,
It's not the outside, but the inside that counts."
Joe was impressed by this little girl,
She's one of those people who sees a rock as a pearl.
She was unlike the rest and what set her apart,
Was instead of her eyes, this girl saw with her heart.
Mollie Thill
It's the Inside that Counts
Once upon a time, not too long ago,
There lived an old man by the name of Joe.
Joe made dolls of all shapes and sizes.
Some wore coats and some wore disguises.
They ranged in colors from black to white,
And came in all sizes from heavy to light.
There were some that were simple and some could light up,
Others would talk and never shut up.
Each doll was different, no two were the same,
And every doll had its own name.
Roger resembled a star football player,
And William looked a lot like the mayor.
Bertha was short, a bit round and quite plain,
While Jenny was pretty and destined for fame.
Joe sold the dolls in a small, redbrick store,
Twelve hours a day people came through the door.
Folks bought the dolls for kids, sisters, and brothers.
Needless to say, some sold better than others.
The boys liked the ones
That held knives and ray guns.
A doll with long hair and a long, puffy dress,
Is usually the one that the girls liked the best.
Some people collected one of each kind.
Others had one special figure in mind.
One day a girl, who was unlike the rest,
Came in to pick out the doll she liked best.
She would randomly pick out a doll from the pile,
Keeping her eyes closed, she would hold it a while.
Then ever so careful, she'd put that doll back,
And pick up another doll from the rack.
Joe watched the girl as she held Annie, then Nick,
Secretly wondering which doll she would pick.
Then she picked up a doll no one handled before,
Not noticing the face or the clothes that it wore.
The doll had loose seams and was missing a leg,
And the clothes that it wore were made out of a rag.
The hair on the doll was like the hair of a clown,
And the face of the doll bore an unpleasant frown.
This doll was about as worn out as they came.
It was the only doll that didn't have a name.
But as the girl held it, she knew with no doubt,
That this was the doll she'd been dreaming about.
Joe rang up the doll and when he was done,
The total came to $3.71.
As she gave him the money she said, "It's too bad,
The doll that I want has a face that's so sad."
"What made you pick her? She looks such a dread.
Why didn't you choose one with a smile instead?"
The girl looked up at Joe and said, "I just bet,
I know why this doll is so very upset.
She sat on the shelf being the best she could be,
But an ugly old doll was all people would see.
Since no one would hold her, they never found out,
It's not the outside, but the inside that counts."
Joe was impressed by this little girl,
She's one of those people who sees a rock as a pearl.
She was unlike the rest and what set her apart,
Was instead of her eyes, this girl saw with her heart.
Mollie Thill
Monday, February 4, 2008
Don't Worry Now
Today I was reading my Bible and looked up the word worry in the back index of topics. It referred me to anxiety which then lead me to this passage:
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more vauable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomnorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kinbgdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. ~Matthew 6:25-34
That passage speaks so much to me. If you're like me you worry about a lot. I worry about stuff all the time, including all the things mentioned above. I worry about what I'm going to eat that day, what I'm going to wear, and a wide variety of other things. Another big thing I worry about is storms. As you know, we've been having some pretty crazy winter weather this season. Many heat waves and severe storms have been popping up. Now, thunderstorms freak me out. Well, its mainly the high winds and possibility of tornadoes that really freaks me out. I can take the rain and some occasional thunder and lightning but I really don't like the severe stuff.
But I shouldn't be worrying about all of this stuff. God knows whats going to happen tomorrow, and no amount of worrying on my part is going to change the outcome of what's going to happen or add another minute to my life. So instead of sitting at my desk at school biting my nails down to little nubs I just need to relax. God is in control and the thought of that to me is just overwhelming. No matter what, God is in control. He knows me and knows where I am at all times. He is constantly watching over me and taking care of me. It just blows my mind that a God as awesome as He is, would take the time to watch over ME. I don't deserve it. I don't deserve a second glance but God loves me. I am SO thankful for that. SO SO SO thankful for that.
So no longer do we need to worry about food, drink, and clothes. We just need to put God and His kingdom first and God will take care of the rest. I definitely need to just give it all to Him.
Dear Father,
Thank you so much for loving me. Thank you so much for caring about me. Thank you for taking care of all my needs and being stronger than all of my fears. Please help me not to worry about so many things. Especially the little things. Help me keep my focus on You. I love you.
In your name I pray,
AMEN
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more vauable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomnorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kinbgdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. ~Matthew 6:25-34
That passage speaks so much to me. If you're like me you worry about a lot. I worry about stuff all the time, including all the things mentioned above. I worry about what I'm going to eat that day, what I'm going to wear, and a wide variety of other things. Another big thing I worry about is storms. As you know, we've been having some pretty crazy winter weather this season. Many heat waves and severe storms have been popping up. Now, thunderstorms freak me out. Well, its mainly the high winds and possibility of tornadoes that really freaks me out. I can take the rain and some occasional thunder and lightning but I really don't like the severe stuff.
But I shouldn't be worrying about all of this stuff. God knows whats going to happen tomorrow, and no amount of worrying on my part is going to change the outcome of what's going to happen or add another minute to my life. So instead of sitting at my desk at school biting my nails down to little nubs I just need to relax. God is in control and the thought of that to me is just overwhelming. No matter what, God is in control. He knows me and knows where I am at all times. He is constantly watching over me and taking care of me. It just blows my mind that a God as awesome as He is, would take the time to watch over ME. I don't deserve it. I don't deserve a second glance but God loves me. I am SO thankful for that. SO SO SO thankful for that.
So no longer do we need to worry about food, drink, and clothes. We just need to put God and His kingdom first and God will take care of the rest. I definitely need to just give it all to Him.
Dear Father,
Thank you so much for loving me. Thank you so much for caring about me. Thank you for taking care of all my needs and being stronger than all of my fears. Please help me not to worry about so many things. Especially the little things. Help me keep my focus on You. I love you.
In your name I pray,
AMEN
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