Navy Pier – Chicago

 

Milwaukee

Hello everyone! Here I am writing from a DaysInn hotel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. We left home on Friday, and arrived safe and sound 700 miles later in Wisconsin late Friday evening. We spent a very blessed Saturday and part of today (Sunday) with old friends in Manitowoc, where I was born. It was such fun to see everyone again and catch up!

My uncle got married today here in Milwaukee. What a beautiful day it was! The wedding was outdoors in a lovely garden, so we were especially thankful for gorgeous weather!

Tomorrow, we are heading down to Chicago to see some sights and visit with more old friends. We are having a blessed trip, and God is so good!

Love to all (and wish you were here, Aunt Patty, love you!)!!

Home again, home again, jiggety-jig…

We arrived home from camp on Saturday evening, tired, but happy, full of memories and stories, and in awe of God’s protection and grace throughout both weeks.

I loved being a counselor this year, and I can’t wait ’till next year! Last summer, (which was my last year as a camper) a staff member told me that it’s not as fun being on staff as it is being a camper — but I disagree! I loved it!

Yes, it was tiring at times, and discouraging, and frustrating, but in my weakness, I was able to see the Lord work all the more. It was simply amazing to see Him come through for me when I needed Him most.

One particular afternoon during the second week of camp, I was discouraged, feeling like my efforts to reach out to the girls weren’t making a difference. I headed to the chapel, into the cool, quietness, knelt down in the front, and cried out to the Lord. After praying for some time, I opened my Bible to where I had left off the day before, and began to read.

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble… because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing…turn from evil and do good; 

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
      and His ears are attentive to their prayer…

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. 1Peter 3:8-13

It is amazing to me how the Lord brings just what I need to read, just when I need to read it! The Lord reminded me through these verses, that if I am “eager to do good”, then I am doing what He desires, no matter the result. He reminded me to not be fearful and frightened — but to trust Him instead. He reminded me how He called me to minister to those girls, even if they don’t seem to respond, even if it doesn’t seem to make a difference — I am to continue to love them.

I feel so close to the Lord when I am at camp. It seems so much easier to find Him — when I gaze up at a million twinkling stars, or listen to the breeze rustling in the trees and the birds singing to welcome the morning. But I know He’s here, too — with me, right now. It’s amazing!

Happy Birthday, Bryant!

~Hi Bryant~

Happy 18th birthday!  I am so glad I get to have you as my sister. 

With lots of love,

Micah Noel

Heading out

I have everything packed (I hope [grin]) and this morning, I’m heading off to NeKaMo Camp, a girls camp about 3 hours from our house.  I’ll be a  cabin counselor for 8 or 9 girls each week, ages 12-14. I’m excited at this opportunity, but a little nervous, too.  But most of all, I want to be sensitive to the Lord’s leading, a willing, available servant and vessel for Him to use.

Countless hours have been spent preparing Bible studies, skits, songs, devotions, posters….but I know that it is all in vain if I fail in this one thing–

if I am not “in tune” with the Lord, then He can’t use me.

So, most of all, that is what I desire. Yes, I want to be a good counselor and that “my” girls would like me, have fun, etc. But first and foremost, I must be seeking to please HIM–to bring HIM glory and to bring HIM praise and to honor HIM. If I’m focusing on HIM, everything else will fall into place. And if it doesn’t, then it doesn’t really matter.

Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again.  Ecc. 11:1

If you think of it, pray for me as I work at this camp the next two weeks. Thanks bunches and bunches!

 

Picture links

Here are a few links to albums with pictures from my graduation ceremony, reception, and other random ones that just jumped in there! :)

Since I don’t really have time to load them on here right now, this is the best way to do it. Enjoy!

http://picasaweb.google.com/beliefwithoutsight/BryantSGraduation

http://picasaweb.google.com/beliefwithoutsight/BryantSSeniorPictures

Graduation outfit: completed

From this to this, to this!

Life…

…is busy! [grin]

I am now an official high school graduate. It’s a great feeling, let me tell you.  :) My graduation ceremony and reception are over, and summer is on its way with unbelievable speed!

I’m enjoying the lovely weather (I love this time of year!), and preparing to be a counselor for two weeks at NeKaMo Camp, a girls camp in Warsaw, MO, as well as continuing to practice piano and harp. I’ve had a number of cleaning and baby-sitting  jobs recently, which came as amazing answers to my prayers to the Lord. He is so good! He’s been teaching me so much lately, and it seems like the more He works and changes me, the more I realize how much I need Him — and how much I need to be to be changed!

The Lord has been reminding me recently of my true purpose in life — no matter what exactly I do, this is what He saved me and called me to do:

“He Himself bore our sins…that we might die to sins, and live for righteousness.” 1 Peter 2:24

“that you may live in a right way, in undivided devotion to the Lord.” 1 Cor. 7:35

“Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”  1 Cor. 5:58

Here are a few random pictures from my senior photo shoot. Enjoy!

Omaha Bright Lights conferences

My sister and I were very blessed to be able to help with the Bright Lights conferences (www.radiantpurity.com) in Omaha, NE during the week of  April 13-19.

The verse the Lord gave me for the week was 2 Corinthians 5:15:

And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

I saw the Lord’s hand at work in so many amazing ways! Many of the young ladies that we thought weren’t listening gave testimonies of how the Lord had worked in their lives through the conference. It was simply amazing to watch the Lord answer our prayers for them!

 

 

There are a few more pictures here: www.picasaweb.google.com/beliefwithoutsight/brightlights

A few pictures from NCHEA

This is a picture of our team, Bent’s Old Fort at NCHEA. (see previous post)

Staff picture 2009

(can you find me???)

NCHEA

I was very blessed to be able to help with the Nebraska Christian Home Educators Association children’s conference last weekend.

I wasn’t able to get a single picture of my own (I was just too busy [smile] ), but I am very glad that others did! 

Perhaps I’ll be able to “borrow” some pictures when a certain person gets them downloaded (ahem, Elizabeth!)! :)

But for now, here are a few links to pictures from the weekend:

link to the slideshow from the conference:

http://wissmanns.blogspot.com/2009/04/nchea.html 

link to pictures from the conference drama:

http://bloggingbeth.blogspot.com/2009/04/nchea-2009-drama.html

Enjoy!

 

Progress

I’ve been at work on my graduation ceremony outfit.

Beginning with this:

So far, I have this:

And this:

It don’t matter

This is one of my all-time favorite songs. This haunting, wistful melody really encourages me when I’m feeling homesick for my eternal home.

It truly “don’t matter where you bury me, I’ll be home, and I’ll be free.”

Note: this post was published automatically. I’m still out of town, in case you are wondering! :)

Willingness

I sat down on my bed with a sigh, feeling very tired. After spending nearly all day working outside in the yard, and making many trips back and forth with a wheelbarrow that was overflowing with dirt, and having an exceedingly difficult time deciding what to wear to church in the morning, I was very worn out. In case you’ve never experienced it before, moving a wheelbarrow that is filled with dirt is a very physically and mentally taxing activity.  Trying to keep it from tipping, whilst thinking, “If I let this dump, I’ll have to put it all back in again! Oh dear, oh dear!” :)

I glanced over at the stand I have by my bed, and saw my Bible sitting there.  I didn’t want to read it. I was too tired. “I’ll read extra tomorrow,” I said to myself.

It seems that whenever I don’t really feel like reading my Bible, and I know I ought to, and I choose to do it, even though I don’t really want to,  the Lord brings to my attention some passage or verse that is just what I needed to read at that moment.

Tonight was no exception. I opened to 2 Corinthians 8, and began to read.

 v. 2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own…they gave themselves first to the Lord…”

I know these verses were probably intended to mean giving financially, but the Lord reminded me through them that I must first give myself: my dreams, desires, talents, gifts, everything – fully over to be used by Him before He can use me in anyone else’s life. He has called me to complete abandonment, and then, and only then, can He use me.

v. 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

I mulled these words over and over in my mind as I lay down and pulled the covers up to my chin…“For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have…” 

It truly doesn’t matter whether I am as good as someone else at something, or if there is someone else who could do a better job at something than me. (There will always be someone who could do better.) For if I am willing to put myself at the Master’s use, “the gift is acceptable,” and He can use me, and He will use me. Perhaps I’ll never know how He chose to do it, but that’s okay. I don’t have to know.

My “gift,” the gift of my life and heart, is acceptable to Him, if only I am willing to surrender to Him, and let Him have control.

“Let your conversations always be full of grace…”

Let your conversations always be full of grace.” 

Colossians 3:1

While reading through Colossians a few days ago, I read this verse, and have been puzzled about what exactly it means. I’ve been thinking about this verse a lot in the past days.

Perhaps, it means to always speak “gracefully,” meaning courteously or kindly, giving grace to the other person, even if they might not seem to deserve a soft and gentle answer (Proverbs 15:1).

Or perhaps, it means to always, consistently speak about the Lord’s grace to me, to declare His salvation and mercy in my life, to give Him the glory for what I do.

If anyone has any thoughts about this verse, do share them with me!