Hey Everyone....
I have a favor to ask of you! Last year my brother Robby took part in the Climb for Captives, he and a group of his friends climb Mt. Rainier (in Washington state) which is 14,000+ high, in order to raise awareness of human trafficking. They raised over $15,000 last year on their climb, and are doing great work with the money raised. They are heading back on August 14-16 to summit Mt. Rainier, and they have asked for involvement with people around the US and globe.

Go to:

http://vimeo.com/5280497

...and show your support of prayers by taking the photo that they show on the video.

As a sister it is good to know that while my brother is away climbing a very dangerous mountain that God is with him! Email your photos to me, and I will send them to the guys!

You have not because you ask not...

Recently I have jumped back into the pool of prayer. I hadn't strayed from it necessarily, but I didn't use it as an outlet to get through my day, or to call on God for help...I try to find my own way out of things...or get by. But me and my boyfriend Craig pray together each night before we leave each other for the day, and in the past few days there have been almost comical answers to prayer. It's the little things that blow my mind when it comes to prayer. He sent me a text saying he was stuck in traffic on his way to work, and he HATES being late, and I don't think he had ever been late anywhere! So I was like...Ah, God I pray that you would give him an extra lane so that he can make it on time. He said...wow I-90 just cleared out completely...so I thought....sheesh. This stuff really works! I was praying over a job situation...seeing as I'm unemployed, and out of the blue the human resource department emailed me saying that they had my resume. What a blessing, because I am broke.
I don't know if you all are as amazed as I was at the little things I mentioned, but I know for a fact that God answers prayers and all we have to do is ask.
James 4:2. In the bible there are so many verses that share that all you have to call on God and he will provide or answer what you call on him for. I think it is easy to try to do everything ourselves or google solutions when we're one sentence away from getting what we need.
I was encouraged. So I challenge you to ask for something you haven't asked for yet...mean it in all sincerity and who knows...maybe you'll get the email you were anxiously awaiting or you may even get a clear interstate for once. :)

Day Alone With God

Hi Friends!  Wow!  It's great to be able to connect with you all again!  A HUGE thumbs up to Ashley and Ben for their initiative in the growth process.  This is my 8th year of having a Day Alone with God (I actually do 2 a year now), and it is still one of the most enriching times of my year.  I want to challenge every one of you to follow the examples of Ashley and Ben- in the next month, choose a day to get alone with God.  Do what you have to do...make it happen.  Let me give you a couple thoughts before your DAWG:

• Clear out distractions.  Shut your cell phone off or your iPhone or your Crackberry (iPhones rule).  Don't bring your laptop.  Get out of town.  Get away from places you'll see people you know.
• Consider fasting.  Fasting on your DAWG is a great way to develop self-discipline, learn a deeper trust in God, and gain clarity in hearing from the Holy Spirit.
• Prepare to plan.  Your DAWG will be great...refreshing...relaxing.  But you don't want it to stop there.  Come into your DAWG believing the God will speak to you.  He'll give you insight into where you are and where He wants you to be.  Laying a out a growth plan is going to help you identify what is most important to you now and how you can grow in those key areas of life.  Do you remember this from EuroTrain?  Maybe Ashley can help me figure out how to put up a document you can download to help you with a growth plan.

Again, do this!  Get alone.  Don't let your month, your summer, your year rush by.  Psalm 90:12 says, "So teach us to number our days, that we may get a heart of wisdom."  Your DAWG will help you gain insight and wisdom into your life.  

Once you finish your DAWG, post it on here!  How was it?  What did God tell you?  What did you learn?  What did you decide?  Share it!

Hey, also, I'm going to be posting a little more about this on my blog:  ryanmotsinger.blogspot.com.  Check it out and while you're there, subscribe to my blog.  It's a blog that's all about personal growth and leadership for the Kingdom!  

You are loved!  And Markey and I are excited to hear what God is developing in you!

Such a great idea!

Hey guys! Chelsea here :) It's amazing that you thought of this Ashley, because I've been thinking about that trip a lot lately. Isn't it insane that it's been 3 years?! I don't have a lot of time to write because it's finals week, but I wanted to acknowledge that I got the message. :) I'll write more later, but know that you all are missed and a large piece of my heart is still sitting on the steps in Paris doodling on our workbooks and laughing while SUS was being carved on trees :) Have a blessed day!

More later!

Chelsea

Stillness

Hey Everyone, Ashley (Hipp) here!

I am not sure why, now in June 2009, that you all here on my heart. As I stated in my Facebook message, I was challenged by the idea of stillness and was remembering the time we all shared in Switzerland. The Day Alone With God, for me was one of the most influential experiences I have had to date. I have had the opportunity to be with many great leaders, and this day had the most impact.

At times, it was easy to forget. I get to busy and have different priorities than I would have had on a leadership trip to Europe. You get back into the swing of things, and it is easy to realign your priorities. I have done so since being in college. Wrapping up my college career, I am now getting back to the point that I was in 2006. I feel like I am needing God more than ever before. When I went on the trip, fresh out of High School graduation, I felt like I could take on the world, that I could change the world. Now three years later, I am just back to that point.

I know what is important again, and I have not been silent before God since Switzerland.

I remember walking down the path towards Lake Zurich from our hostile in Rapperswill, looking at the gorgeous Alps, and just weaping before God. I was so in love, and felt closer to him than I had ever before. It was raw, and I felt like I let God into my hear fully. I felt like I was exposed and as people passed me as my arms were raised in the middle of the path...I thought I hope they can understand my English. I want everyone to know that God is God, and that he is here.

I always used to be timid with my relationship with Christ, I never wanted to shout what I was feeling from the rooftops, but in Switzerland, they all heard.

I want to be in that place again, and hope all of you do as well.

I am commiting to take a day, this June to be exposed to God again, and listen.

It is a scary thing, at least for me, to sit before God and listen. Truly listen. I have things that I do everyday that if I sat before God and said, he I am, I will do what YOU want, I would be scared if he told me to change.

I dont want my routine to so set, that I would not want God to direct me.

We all need Gods direction, and it is our duty to ask it of Him, and trust that He will speak to us.

Please ALL of you, post on this blog, and share where you are. Whether you are growing, or far away from Him, fill us in.

I am sure that all of you feel the same as I do when I say that you guys are the people I feel most comfortable with, simply becuase you shared those few weeks together. I think we all deserve to know whats going on, and I miss all of you!

I am excited to see where you all are now, and what God is doing!

-Ashley H