Weekend at Shasta (part 1)
This last weekend, I was blessed with the wonderful opportunity to go to Lake Shasta in California. This weekend is also the same weekend where the greek system also goes, so every time I said I was going to be going to Shasta, people were taken aback at the thought of Mary drinking and partying it up on a house boat on a lake. Well, I didn't go with the greeks, I went with my church, and I honestly can say, it was probably the best vacation I have ever had.
Most people left on Thursday morning. I had classes and homework that was due that day, so I stayed until Friday morning. I was picking up Kim (a girl in my small group) and Storm, who I did not know and had merely talked with on the phone to figure out where to pick her up at. We had a nice drive down there. It was beautiful and we made really good time. God was gracious and I didn't get pulled over despite my need for speed and trying to get there in a timely manner. We left Corvallis at about 8:45am (this was really late, we were the last people to leave town) and arrived at 2:30pm. We stopped twice, once to pick up milk and water for our house boat (as the drinking water tasted quite chlorinated and there were complaints, and we were also out of milk..), and another for food, for we were quite hungry as well as for gas. Gas in CA is a bit expensive I think. I won't lie, I cringed when I got my receipts both times. I'm going to pay back my parents for this trip, because asking them to shell out 90$ for gas on a trip where I didn't even come and visit them on Mother's day weekend is a bit ridiculous and inconsiderate of me. (I'm paying them back for this one).
When we got there, we departed on the boat to be taken out to join the rest of the house boats on a shore of lake. While on the boat we were briefed on what had been taught earlier that day, and naturally, I whipped out my pen and started taking notes. We were all crammed up on the top of the house boat and all of the spaces along the edge for leaning were taken. Naturally, I sit down criss-cross applesauce by the table and just begin to listen. Another girl, Jodessa, joined me on the ground and whispered "good idea, I'll join you." So we sat there, I was taking notes, she didn't have a pen so I gave her my extra one. After learning about the Trinity and talking about the Holy Spirit, they read off which house boats we were going to be on. Turns out, Jodessa was on my house boat. :)
We arrive, I sign up for my two meals of preparation that I need to help with, and proceed to hugging all of the girls from my small group that I am with on my boat. I am also with Kaaren, who is the wife of the Men's director of Courtyard. Courtyard was the Christian Co-op I stayed at over the summer, and I got to bond so much with Kaaren, Randell (her husband), and Jessica (the Women's director). They became like my second family and it was such a wonderful time, I was ecstatic to be on a boat with her.
(I'm realizing this is going to be a long one.. for I elaborate a lot. You may want to quit reading now if you don't have the time.)
Anyways, we attend the session for Friday evening where we discuss the work of the Spirit and our interactions with Him. One thing that has always baffled me was the "Blaspheming of the Spirit". For this is the one sin that is not forgiven. (Matt. 12:31). I didn't really quite understand it until they explained what it meant. The meaning is that it is a consistent resistance against the Spirit and its convictions. Knowing the truth and continuously refusing it, thus hardening your heart to the Spirit, choosing to live in malice or the selfish preference of wrong over right. We also spoke of what happens when the Spirit is in us, the products of such are a love for God, a love for people, and the fruit of the Spirit. (Gal 5:22). We spoke of the difference between Justification ( the act of Salvation) and Sanctification ( the on-going act of repentance which is the work of a life time, continuous growth and refinement). It was a beautiful and sweet time.
After this was cabin time where we all went back to our house boats and spoke with one another and opened up what the Lord was putting on our hearts. Now, I really dislike opening up and talking in front of people, and I honestly don't have any problems or pressing issues to share that I needed prayer for. Yet, when others open up and speak, sometimes you feel like there is something you ought to share with them. For me, it is generally a word of encouragement or a passage in scripture that I want to turn them to. This time in our sharing, we would have someone speak what was on their heart for their struggles and pray over them collectively. (There are 20 or so of us in a cabin, so it is pretty intense). Whenever I feel like I'm supposed to say something, my heart beats rapidly and I get all nervous and it takes a lot of courage to speak up and say something. Even if it is only 20 people. While people were speaking, I just wrote down these things, and since I couldn't muster the courage to utter a prayer over them, later I would share it with them. Though there was one instance where I felt God wanted me to wait to share it with them. And then I realized that this was not only applicable to that individual, but several others in my house boat. Then He said, well, not just those people, but others as well. That's when it hit me. He wanted me to share in front of everyone.
Public Speaking. 100+ people= probably the most nerve wrecking moment ever. The sharing was to take place Saturday morning, since they had no session planned. It was to share what God placed on people's hearts. And so.. That's what I waited for. Saturday morning.
Saturday morning I was in charge of breakfast. Mostly I did the dishes from the night before to clean it all up and get it ready for making the pancakes and fruit and such. Then Jodessa and I went out Kayaking across the lake while others ate the food, and we came back and had the left overs. It was so beautiful. I saw fish jumping out of the water and stuff. Absolutely marvelous. The lake looked like glass.
We went to the session. Sang out praises for the Lord, and then the time came for sharing. People got up as they felt lead. Brianna was supposed to have braided my hair during the session, but she only managed to get half of it done before people started going up and we had worship. When people were going up, what they were sharing about was the testimonies that had been shared during cabin time, the confession of shame and the freedom that came from sharing and just lifting one another up in prayer. What I had been given to share didn't fit as to where the Spirit had seemed to be moving with everyone else, and I was hesitant, questioning if I had heard God correctly and that He wanted me to share. I was off to the side talking to Pastor Rob, explaining that I thought it was what He wanted me to share, but it didn't seem to fit the pattern. So I let someone go ahead of me, and I began to cry. The nervousness set in, so I sat criss-cross applesauce on the hillside and prayed about it. Three beautiful ladies came over and asked what I was hoping to share.
For when I had spoken with Jodessa earlier on Friday, we had both discussed being RAs and the difficulty that came along with that and also being ourselves and serving the Lord. How we are in such a key role of serving people and encouraging them, yet sometimes we just want to pray for people. It's hard to leave that position where you feel God has called you and you are actively serving to go somewhere else where you are comfortable and being encouraged instead of out serving. You want to see the work completed, that what you have invested in is not fruitless. This is what I have written down for it:
- You may not get to see the fruit of your actions, but even still, the Lord is more glorified when we don't know of the 'credit' that is there to be taken. Similar to praying behind closed doors, the Lord sees what you do and honors it. (Matt 6)
I said somethings along the lines of:
A lot of you are in a place of transition right now, be it from a place of serving to a place of preparation, or a place of preparation to a place of serving. You know that you are there for a reason, yet now you feel the Spirit calling you in a different direction. Don't ignore it or question it. There is a reason why it is happening and you need to not quench the Spirit, or resist it. You may feel like you need to follow through, but even when you don't get to see the end result, you know that God will honor the seeds you've planted, and He will be given glory through whatever has been started. (Something like that.. it was more Spirit lead, so I can't really recall, it went by pretty fast)
It was awesome because afterwards people said that it had blessed them and it was something they needed to hear. Knowing that He did have a plan for me speaking something that didn't follow the patter of the talk was beautiful. Stepping out, being scared and vulnerable, is glorifying to God.
Okay, that is all I can write for now. My laundry is done and I have class in 50 minutes.. Plus I didn't finish eating my lunch. I'll write more about my trip later this evening if I have some time.
Thanks for reading thus far!
-M.E.
Most people left on Thursday morning. I had classes and homework that was due that day, so I stayed until Friday morning. I was picking up Kim (a girl in my small group) and Storm, who I did not know and had merely talked with on the phone to figure out where to pick her up at. We had a nice drive down there. It was beautiful and we made really good time. God was gracious and I didn't get pulled over despite my need for speed and trying to get there in a timely manner. We left Corvallis at about 8:45am (this was really late, we were the last people to leave town) and arrived at 2:30pm. We stopped twice, once to pick up milk and water for our house boat (as the drinking water tasted quite chlorinated and there were complaints, and we were also out of milk..), and another for food, for we were quite hungry as well as for gas. Gas in CA is a bit expensive I think. I won't lie, I cringed when I got my receipts both times. I'm going to pay back my parents for this trip, because asking them to shell out 90$ for gas on a trip where I didn't even come and visit them on Mother's day weekend is a bit ridiculous and inconsiderate of me. (I'm paying them back for this one).
When we got there, we departed on the boat to be taken out to join the rest of the house boats on a shore of lake. While on the boat we were briefed on what had been taught earlier that day, and naturally, I whipped out my pen and started taking notes. We were all crammed up on the top of the house boat and all of the spaces along the edge for leaning were taken. Naturally, I sit down criss-cross applesauce by the table and just begin to listen. Another girl, Jodessa, joined me on the ground and whispered "good idea, I'll join you." So we sat there, I was taking notes, she didn't have a pen so I gave her my extra one. After learning about the Trinity and talking about the Holy Spirit, they read off which house boats we were going to be on. Turns out, Jodessa was on my house boat. :)
We arrive, I sign up for my two meals of preparation that I need to help with, and proceed to hugging all of the girls from my small group that I am with on my boat. I am also with Kaaren, who is the wife of the Men's director of Courtyard. Courtyard was the Christian Co-op I stayed at over the summer, and I got to bond so much with Kaaren, Randell (her husband), and Jessica (the Women's director). They became like my second family and it was such a wonderful time, I was ecstatic to be on a boat with her.
(I'm realizing this is going to be a long one.. for I elaborate a lot. You may want to quit reading now if you don't have the time.)
Anyways, we attend the session for Friday evening where we discuss the work of the Spirit and our interactions with Him. One thing that has always baffled me was the "Blaspheming of the Spirit". For this is the one sin that is not forgiven. (Matt. 12:31). I didn't really quite understand it until they explained what it meant. The meaning is that it is a consistent resistance against the Spirit and its convictions. Knowing the truth and continuously refusing it, thus hardening your heart to the Spirit, choosing to live in malice or the selfish preference of wrong over right. We also spoke of what happens when the Spirit is in us, the products of such are a love for God, a love for people, and the fruit of the Spirit. (Gal 5:22). We spoke of the difference between Justification ( the act of Salvation) and Sanctification ( the on-going act of repentance which is the work of a life time, continuous growth and refinement). It was a beautiful and sweet time.
After this was cabin time where we all went back to our house boats and spoke with one another and opened up what the Lord was putting on our hearts. Now, I really dislike opening up and talking in front of people, and I honestly don't have any problems or pressing issues to share that I needed prayer for. Yet, when others open up and speak, sometimes you feel like there is something you ought to share with them. For me, it is generally a word of encouragement or a passage in scripture that I want to turn them to. This time in our sharing, we would have someone speak what was on their heart for their struggles and pray over them collectively. (There are 20 or so of us in a cabin, so it is pretty intense). Whenever I feel like I'm supposed to say something, my heart beats rapidly and I get all nervous and it takes a lot of courage to speak up and say something. Even if it is only 20 people. While people were speaking, I just wrote down these things, and since I couldn't muster the courage to utter a prayer over them, later I would share it with them. Though there was one instance where I felt God wanted me to wait to share it with them. And then I realized that this was not only applicable to that individual, but several others in my house boat. Then He said, well, not just those people, but others as well. That's when it hit me. He wanted me to share in front of everyone.
Public Speaking. 100+ people= probably the most nerve wrecking moment ever. The sharing was to take place Saturday morning, since they had no session planned. It was to share what God placed on people's hearts. And so.. That's what I waited for. Saturday morning.
Saturday morning I was in charge of breakfast. Mostly I did the dishes from the night before to clean it all up and get it ready for making the pancakes and fruit and such. Then Jodessa and I went out Kayaking across the lake while others ate the food, and we came back and had the left overs. It was so beautiful. I saw fish jumping out of the water and stuff. Absolutely marvelous. The lake looked like glass.
We went to the session. Sang out praises for the Lord, and then the time came for sharing. People got up as they felt lead. Brianna was supposed to have braided my hair during the session, but she only managed to get half of it done before people started going up and we had worship. When people were going up, what they were sharing about was the testimonies that had been shared during cabin time, the confession of shame and the freedom that came from sharing and just lifting one another up in prayer. What I had been given to share didn't fit as to where the Spirit had seemed to be moving with everyone else, and I was hesitant, questioning if I had heard God correctly and that He wanted me to share. I was off to the side talking to Pastor Rob, explaining that I thought it was what He wanted me to share, but it didn't seem to fit the pattern. So I let someone go ahead of me, and I began to cry. The nervousness set in, so I sat criss-cross applesauce on the hillside and prayed about it. Three beautiful ladies came over and asked what I was hoping to share.
For when I had spoken with Jodessa earlier on Friday, we had both discussed being RAs and the difficulty that came along with that and also being ourselves and serving the Lord. How we are in such a key role of serving people and encouraging them, yet sometimes we just want to pray for people. It's hard to leave that position where you feel God has called you and you are actively serving to go somewhere else where you are comfortable and being encouraged instead of out serving. You want to see the work completed, that what you have invested in is not fruitless. This is what I have written down for it:
- You may not get to see the fruit of your actions, but even still, the Lord is more glorified when we don't know of the 'credit' that is there to be taken. Similar to praying behind closed doors, the Lord sees what you do and honors it. (Matt 6)
I said somethings along the lines of:
A lot of you are in a place of transition right now, be it from a place of serving to a place of preparation, or a place of preparation to a place of serving. You know that you are there for a reason, yet now you feel the Spirit calling you in a different direction. Don't ignore it or question it. There is a reason why it is happening and you need to not quench the Spirit, or resist it. You may feel like you need to follow through, but even when you don't get to see the end result, you know that God will honor the seeds you've planted, and He will be given glory through whatever has been started. (Something like that.. it was more Spirit lead, so I can't really recall, it went by pretty fast)
It was awesome because afterwards people said that it had blessed them and it was something they needed to hear. Knowing that He did have a plan for me speaking something that didn't follow the patter of the talk was beautiful. Stepping out, being scared and vulnerable, is glorifying to God.
Okay, that is all I can write for now. My laundry is done and I have class in 50 minutes.. Plus I didn't finish eating my lunch. I'll write more about my trip later this evening if I have some time.
Thanks for reading thus far!
-M.E.
I have always read that Lake Shasta is one of the most beautiful places to visit in the entire continental United States. Is that the place where they get a crazy amount of snowfall in the winter as well?
ReplyDeleteI believe this is correct information. It is absolutely gorgeous! I want to keep writing about it, I even got to be 30 ft from a deer! It was beautiful. If you ever get the chance to go, I highly recommend it. It may be quite the trip for you, but goodness, its so relaxing. Not to mention the swaying of the boat and the blueness of the water, its mesmerizing. Even the drive there and seeing Mt. Shasta and the giant ash hill, oh it is breath-taking!
ReplyDelete