Finally, we are back in Colorado after 2 days of driving back from New Orleans, Louisiana.
Mardi Gras was......
amazing.
frustrating.
eye-opening.
heart-breaking.
overrated.
stretching.
There were all types of people there, all of them God's kids, all of them reaching out for something more.
My heart was broken more times than I can count for those who roamed the streets, whatever their reason. More frustrating than the feeling that I felt like there was so much hurt and darkness around us everywhere was how God was being represented by some. On several occasions during our week there, I would pass a group of people holding signs speaking of God's wrath and judgement. One sign even listed all those who are supposedly going to hell; I don't over exaggerate when I say that it was ridiculous: "democrats, loud-mouthed women, used car salesmen (yes, really), homosexuals, liars, alcoholics....". The list went on and on and on, and these men professing that this is the God who loves us stood there, screaming at all who passed that they would burn in hell if they didn't repent.
Is this the Jesus I serve?
Last time I checked, Jesus walked this earth because he loved. He hung out with the prostitutes, the drunks, the tax collectors and cheaters. He didn't scream at the top of his lungs at them, threatening to dangle their souls from a stick over the pit of hell.
As I watched all of this unfold on the street, I watched the reactions of passersby.
Who would want to serve a god like that?
All of that frustration aside, we went without an agenda because we just wanted to hang out with people and meet them where they were at. There were so many I was able to talk to, to listen to, and you know what? The majority of the conversations didn't even revolve around salvation or christianity or anything spiritual (gasp!).
They were some of the most refreshing, real conversations I've had in a long time.
Having been raised in a church, that went against everything I was taught about "evangelism" and "ministering" to people. The closer I get to God, though, the more I realize that how we interact with people in our everyday lives should be like that: without an agenda. Who wants to hang out with someone when all they want is to get you to believe the way they do? That's not relationship; it's manipulation. And frankly, it makes me want to wash my hands of western Christianity.....
please note I did not say I want to wash my hands of God
or of any of that jazz.
But ,
I'm finding that so many of us (yes, I am guilty of it!) "Christians" hide behind our "holier than thou" mask and never step out of our comfort zones to truly love others.
Why?
Are we too comfortable to give a moment of our time to truly listen?
Is being so judgemental really that fulfilling?
Please forgive me if any of this sounds like angry rambling or nonsense. This week has just been such a reminder of how much hurt there is in the world, and for too long we have turned our backs on it.
Let's be the generation that changes that.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Loss.
I think of all the human experiences, death is the least comprehensible, the most devastating. As people, we hear of death and tragedy every single day. You can't open a newspaper or turn on the television, the radio, the internet, or even speak with people without hearing of some nameless pain. So often we move on with our lives, pausing for only a moment to empathize. Then we experience loss in our own lives, or in the lives of ones close, and the world stops.
The older I get, the more death I see all around, the more I find myself looking at my own life, wondering whether I am truly making the most of every single day. Am I loving those around me selflessly? Am I extending compassion and love to the broken, devastated people I see each day? Am I truly giving all of myself, my dreams, plans, thoughts, motives and desires to God? I say I follow him with all my heart, but so often I have to wonder if I am only babbling lies that make me feel better.
I went home last weekend to mourn the death of Donald Wood and see my beautiful Sandra, the wife he left behind. Seeing a dear friend and being able to just be there with her was a blessing, but the whole weekend screamed reminders of the frailty of life at me. I want to say I left with a complete peace and sense of God's faithfulness in my heart, which is partially true, but to be honest, I left home emotionally dehydrated in a sense, and still feel the same even as I type this. Yes, God is faithful and his love does endure forever, even through devastation, please don't get me wrong. There is just that humanness we all inherited that begs God to answer the question of "why?". I'm finding sometimes it's just not our place to understand.
Psalm 121
I look up to the mountains--does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.
If those of you reading this are ones who pray, here are some things I could use some help with from upstairs:
--The remaining $2,500 I need in less than a month for Albania. God is faithful, no doubt, but pray that He will lay it on hearts to pour out support so we may help those in human trafficking situations.
--My school is leaving in a little over a week for New Orleans, Louisiana to do some work during Mardi Gras. Pray that we would be effective and represent Jesus as he truly is, not as some present him to be.
--Direction for me after this school is over. I was officially accepted to The French Pastry School in Chicago, IL and my heart's desire is truly to go there and one day open a vegan, organic bakery from which the profits would go to benefit social justice programs (anti-human trafficking, etc.), so by buying cupcakes you'd be potentially saving lives. :) I just want to be used by God in whatever way He wants, and if it means laying this down, I will, but for forever something inside of me has been tugging at my heart to go.
--Encouragement. I need it these days.
I am off to do homework. I pray that God would melt your heart today with his amazing love and grace. I love you guys. Stay in touch.
The older I get, the more death I see all around, the more I find myself looking at my own life, wondering whether I am truly making the most of every single day. Am I loving those around me selflessly? Am I extending compassion and love to the broken, devastated people I see each day? Am I truly giving all of myself, my dreams, plans, thoughts, motives and desires to God? I say I follow him with all my heart, but so often I have to wonder if I am only babbling lies that make me feel better.
I went home last weekend to mourn the death of Donald Wood and see my beautiful Sandra, the wife he left behind. Seeing a dear friend and being able to just be there with her was a blessing, but the whole weekend screamed reminders of the frailty of life at me. I want to say I left with a complete peace and sense of God's faithfulness in my heart, which is partially true, but to be honest, I left home emotionally dehydrated in a sense, and still feel the same even as I type this. Yes, God is faithful and his love does endure forever, even through devastation, please don't get me wrong. There is just that humanness we all inherited that begs God to answer the question of "why?". I'm finding sometimes it's just not our place to understand.
Psalm 121
I look up to the mountains--does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.
If those of you reading this are ones who pray, here are some things I could use some help with from upstairs:
--The remaining $2,500 I need in less than a month for Albania. God is faithful, no doubt, but pray that He will lay it on hearts to pour out support so we may help those in human trafficking situations.
--My school is leaving in a little over a week for New Orleans, Louisiana to do some work during Mardi Gras. Pray that we would be effective and represent Jesus as he truly is, not as some present him to be.
--Direction for me after this school is over. I was officially accepted to The French Pastry School in Chicago, IL and my heart's desire is truly to go there and one day open a vegan, organic bakery from which the profits would go to benefit social justice programs (anti-human trafficking, etc.), so by buying cupcakes you'd be potentially saving lives. :) I just want to be used by God in whatever way He wants, and if it means laying this down, I will, but for forever something inside of me has been tugging at my heart to go.
--Encouragement. I need it these days.
I am off to do homework. I pray that God would melt your heart today with his amazing love and grace. I love you guys. Stay in touch.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Forgiveness.
These two songs struck me this week, the first a few days ago, and the second just this morning as I finished making breakfast. Interpret them as you will, but for my heart, they scream the grace of God at me.
"Good God, if your song leaves our lips,
If your work leaves our hands,
Then we will be wonderers and vagabonds.
They will stare and see how empty we are.
How the freedom we had turned us up as dead men.
Let us be cold, make us weak
Let us, because we all have ears
Let us, because we all have eyes, good God
How they knew that this would happen,
We're so run down.
Good God! Can you still get us home...
How can we still get home?
I'm not dreaming.
We're forgetting our forgiveness." Underoath
.....
"All the time you were burning my letters, you were only acting the part.
You think without me, you'll get on much better, but you don't even know your own heart.
Come home, darling, come home quickly.
Come home, darling, all is forgiven, so come home quickly.
I treated you as if you were a princess; you treated me like a cop.
I gave you boundaries to save you from certain death, dangling from the end of your rope.
Come home, darling, come home quickly.
Come home, darling, all is forgiven, so come home quickly.
But you're still playing for a love you'll never find, outside of these arms of mine.
The whole town is one step behind you, with the hangman on call.
They've got the judge and you're convicted without a plea.
Darling,
They will listen to me." Pedro the Lion
.....
God has been melting my face off with his forgiveness today. I hope this reminds you, even a glimpse, of his grace.
"Good God, if your song leaves our lips,
If your work leaves our hands,
Then we will be wonderers and vagabonds.
They will stare and see how empty we are.
How the freedom we had turned us up as dead men.
Let us be cold, make us weak
Let us, because we all have ears
Let us, because we all have eyes, good God
How they knew that this would happen,
We're so run down.
Good God! Can you still get us home...
How can we still get home?
I'm not dreaming.
We're forgetting our forgiveness." Underoath
.....
"All the time you were burning my letters, you were only acting the part.
You think without me, you'll get on much better, but you don't even know your own heart.
Come home, darling, come home quickly.
Come home, darling, all is forgiven, so come home quickly.
I treated you as if you were a princess; you treated me like a cop.
I gave you boundaries to save you from certain death, dangling from the end of your rope.
Come home, darling, come home quickly.
Come home, darling, all is forgiven, so come home quickly.
But you're still playing for a love you'll never find, outside of these arms of mine.
The whole town is one step behind you, with the hangman on call.
They've got the judge and you're convicted without a plea.
Darling,
They will listen to me." Pedro the Lion
.....
God has been melting my face off with his forgiveness today. I hope this reminds you, even a glimpse, of his grace.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Angels.
Wow. So, so much has happened since my last update. You would think doing a school up in the Rocky Mountains, 45 minutes away from civilization, would allow for copious amounts of free time.....
nope.
Not so much.
Our first week's teaching was about responding to God, taught by a lovely lady named Donna McGowen, and this last week was about prophetic evangelism by Greg DeVries. Both weeks were incredibly paradigm-shifting, to say the least. God has been tearing down some walls around my heart that I didn't even know were there, which is painful, but necessary. He's been showing me that I've spent so much time pouring into others that I've forgotten about my own gaping wounds. I've always been the strong one, the encourager, regardless of what context that has been, and the whole time He's been screaming at my spirit that I can't be strong in this season if I want my heart to change. It's definately a time of brokenness and vulnerability, which I hate, but am embracing at the same time.
In addition to class time Monday through Friday, we have book reports every few weeks, worship three times a week, a quarter-long project on the Native American people which will culminate in a 24/7 prayer room for the YWAM Denver base, work duties (mine: making breakfast for the base....5:30 am is glorious), and weekly outreaches to the Denver community....
and the list goes on.
I am also an intercession leader with a group of the DTS students (the primary school YWAM offers), in which we are praying for Cambodia these next 3 months, which is totally amazing to be able to stand in the gap for these countries that are needing radical change.
It's all incredibly exciting, but as I said, busy. Through all of it, God has been reminding me that yes, he is calling me to be a leader at some point (whatever that will look like) but with that comes more responsiblity! So I'm embracing the craziness with open arms and an open mind.
Add that to my attempt to learn Norwegian in my free time, and I've promised about 10 crocheted hats, mittens, or scarves to fellow students....
Our school will also be traveling to New Orleans, Louisiana mid February for Mardis Gras street ministry. I was a bit apprehensive at first, because typical "evangelism" has always rubbed me the wrong way....you know, those who you see holding up signs that proclaim "You need Jesus or you will burn in hell", etc. But I know that isn't what God has for us....He has people with hurting hearts he wants us to reach out to, in whatever way he leads us . But I can guarentee it won't be with a megaphone and tracts. :D
Something I am incredibly excited about: Albania! We will be doing an outreach there for 5 weeks in April-May, with the focus being on anti-human trafficking efforts there. For those who don't know specifics on the global problem of human trafficking, I strongly encourage you to go to http://www.love146.org/ . God has been ripping my heart to shreds about the issue, and I know I can't sit idly by when I have the opportunity to go to a country and influence people first-hand. We will be training in Albanian towns on human trafficking, volunteering at victim safehouses, speaking and bringing encouragement to Albanian churches, training of law enforcement on human trafficking, as well as practical projects around the cities we visit. The cost is $2,700 for the 5 weeks . I know I am supposed to go, and that God will totally provide. So many of you gave for my tuition for the school, but I'm asking you pray about possibly giving towards this as well. Full payment is due March 2nd. By helping me out on this, you are directly feeding into a ministry that will influence women and children who have literally been sold as property.
If you feel led to give, please send to:
Bethany Roth
c/o YWAM, WISE 2009
12750 W. 63rd Ave.
Arvada, CO 80004
(please make checks out to Youth With a Mission)
Now, on to how amazing God is and how he intervened in my life last night. The highway up to the mountain base is a very curvy 45 minutes of driving. After an amazing meal of Indian food in Arvada, everyone else but 4 of us stayed in the city for the weekend, and we came back up the mountain in our 15-passenger van...I wouldn't recommend that to anyone when the road is icy and you have no weight in your backseat...
Long long story short, we came about a foot or two from sliding off the road down a deep drop-off. I don't think I've prayed so hard in a situation like that before. Coming from South Dakota, as so many of you know, weather is fickle there and anything can happen, so I've been in situations similar, but in cars, not 15-passenger vans. There was no doubt that there were angels holding our van and all the other cars there until a rather swell fellow came and towed us with his truck. Besides not being able to feel my toes and fingers, everyone was fine, but there was no way that we should've stayed on the road. Thank you, Abba.
The really funny part of the whole situation was about 1 minute before, no joke, we were praying that God would break us, that he would increase our trust and melt our hearts. Well, be careful what you pray for, because my trust is certainly through the roof today! God truly has a sense of humor sometimes....but in all seriousness, God was looking out for us, and I am grateful beyond measure.
I will try to update this at least weekly so you can all stay updated on a consistent basis.
Please be praying for me and the other students in our school, that we would be open and vulnerable to what God wants to do during this time. I also need the money for outreach; pray that people would respond if God lays it on their hearts to give.
Thank you for who you are, and how all of you have impacted my life. Until next time I see you, know you are all in my prayers and that I love you!
nope.
Not so much.
Our first week's teaching was about responding to God, taught by a lovely lady named Donna McGowen, and this last week was about prophetic evangelism by Greg DeVries. Both weeks were incredibly paradigm-shifting, to say the least. God has been tearing down some walls around my heart that I didn't even know were there, which is painful, but necessary. He's been showing me that I've spent so much time pouring into others that I've forgotten about my own gaping wounds. I've always been the strong one, the encourager, regardless of what context that has been, and the whole time He's been screaming at my spirit that I can't be strong in this season if I want my heart to change. It's definately a time of brokenness and vulnerability, which I hate, but am embracing at the same time.
In addition to class time Monday through Friday, we have book reports every few weeks, worship three times a week, a quarter-long project on the Native American people which will culminate in a 24/7 prayer room for the YWAM Denver base, work duties (mine: making breakfast for the base....5:30 am is glorious), and weekly outreaches to the Denver community....
and the list goes on.
I am also an intercession leader with a group of the DTS students (the primary school YWAM offers), in which we are praying for Cambodia these next 3 months, which is totally amazing to be able to stand in the gap for these countries that are needing radical change.
It's all incredibly exciting, but as I said, busy. Through all of it, God has been reminding me that yes, he is calling me to be a leader at some point (whatever that will look like) but with that comes more responsiblity! So I'm embracing the craziness with open arms and an open mind.
Add that to my attempt to learn Norwegian in my free time, and I've promised about 10 crocheted hats, mittens, or scarves to fellow students....
Our school will also be traveling to New Orleans, Louisiana mid February for Mardis Gras street ministry. I was a bit apprehensive at first, because typical "evangelism" has always rubbed me the wrong way....you know, those who you see holding up signs that proclaim "You need Jesus or you will burn in hell", etc. But I know that isn't what God has for us....He has people with hurting hearts he wants us to reach out to, in whatever way he leads us . But I can guarentee it won't be with a megaphone and tracts. :D
Something I am incredibly excited about: Albania! We will be doing an outreach there for 5 weeks in April-May, with the focus being on anti-human trafficking efforts there. For those who don't know specifics on the global problem of human trafficking, I strongly encourage you to go to http://www.love146.org/ . God has been ripping my heart to shreds about the issue, and I know I can't sit idly by when I have the opportunity to go to a country and influence people first-hand. We will be training in Albanian towns on human trafficking, volunteering at victim safehouses, speaking and bringing encouragement to Albanian churches, training of law enforcement on human trafficking, as well as practical projects around the cities we visit. The cost is $2,700 for the 5 weeks . I know I am supposed to go, and that God will totally provide. So many of you gave for my tuition for the school, but I'm asking you pray about possibly giving towards this as well. Full payment is due March 2nd. By helping me out on this, you are directly feeding into a ministry that will influence women and children who have literally been sold as property.
If you feel led to give, please send to:
Bethany Roth
c/o YWAM, WISE 2009
12750 W. 63rd Ave.
Arvada, CO 80004
(please make checks out to Youth With a Mission)
Now, on to how amazing God is and how he intervened in my life last night. The highway up to the mountain base is a very curvy 45 minutes of driving. After an amazing meal of Indian food in Arvada, everyone else but 4 of us stayed in the city for the weekend, and we came back up the mountain in our 15-passenger van...I wouldn't recommend that to anyone when the road is icy and you have no weight in your backseat...
Long long story short, we came about a foot or two from sliding off the road down a deep drop-off. I don't think I've prayed so hard in a situation like that before. Coming from South Dakota, as so many of you know, weather is fickle there and anything can happen, so I've been in situations similar, but in cars, not 15-passenger vans. There was no doubt that there were angels holding our van and all the other cars there until a rather swell fellow came and towed us with his truck. Besides not being able to feel my toes and fingers, everyone was fine, but there was no way that we should've stayed on the road. Thank you, Abba.
The really funny part of the whole situation was about 1 minute before, no joke, we were praying that God would break us, that he would increase our trust and melt our hearts. Well, be careful what you pray for, because my trust is certainly through the roof today! God truly has a sense of humor sometimes....but in all seriousness, God was looking out for us, and I am grateful beyond measure.
I will try to update this at least weekly so you can all stay updated on a consistent basis.
Please be praying for me and the other students in our school, that we would be open and vulnerable to what God wants to do during this time. I also need the money for outreach; pray that people would respond if God lays it on their hearts to give.
Thank you for who you are, and how all of you have impacted my life. Until next time I see you, know you are all in my prayers and that I love you!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Colorado
It's Monday and I've been here in the Rocky Mountains for a week, and I must say it's rather fantastic. The majority of the 3 months will be spent up in the mountains: no cell phone, no city, lots of snow and trees. Marvelous. I don't have heaps of time at the moment but I wanted to give everyone a quick update, just so you know that I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. :D
There are about 100 of us here at the Eagle Rock base, and Monday is supposed to be our laundry/down in the city day, but it's been snowing all night and doesn't look like it's letting up anytime soon, so it's all up in the air.
God is so faithful, by the way. I just found out that I have more than enough money for the tuition for my schooling, not that I'm surprised but it still puts a smile on my face. All praise to him!
He's also been showing me that this season is going to be a time of rebuilding. I'm so sick of so many attitudes, prejudices, and even just some belief systems I find myself reverting back to and I know that this is going to strip me of all of that. I'm excited to see what tomorrow holds, and everday. I'll write more later when I get the chance. Until then, I pray God will melt your face off with his blessings today. :D
Love you all.
There are about 100 of us here at the Eagle Rock base, and Monday is supposed to be our laundry/down in the city day, but it's been snowing all night and doesn't look like it's letting up anytime soon, so it's all up in the air.
God is so faithful, by the way. I just found out that I have more than enough money for the tuition for my schooling, not that I'm surprised but it still puts a smile on my face. All praise to him!
He's also been showing me that this season is going to be a time of rebuilding. I'm so sick of so many attitudes, prejudices, and even just some belief systems I find myself reverting back to and I know that this is going to strip me of all of that. I'm excited to see what tomorrow holds, and everday. I'll write more later when I get the chance. Until then, I pray God will melt your face off with his blessings today. :D
Love you all.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Delight
"Regarding Zion, I can't keep my mouth shut; regarding Jerusalem, I can't hold my tongue; until her righteousness blazes down like the sun and her salvation flames up like a torch. Foreign countries will see your righteousness, and world leaders your glory. You'll get a brand-new name straight from the mouth of God. You'll be a stunning crown in the palm of God's hand, a jeweled gold cup held high in the hand of your God. No more will anyone call you Rejected, and your country will no more be called Ruined. You'll be called Hephzibah (My Delight), and your land Beluah (Married), because God delights in you and your land will be like a wedding celebration. For as a young man marries his virgin bride, so your builder marries you; and as a bridegroom is happy with his bride, so your God is happy with you." Isaiah 62:1-5 MSG
I think all of us forget all too quickly that not only does God love us, he also delights in us. When I look at this past year I find myself wanting to focus on all the mess-ups, the wrong choices, the words I've regretted saying to others, but in all reality, God still is overjoyed with me. He's overjoyed with US! The past few months He has been emphasizing to me how delighted he is with me. It's a hard thing to swallow when you feel like you disappoint so many others in your life, but an incredible thing when you begin to see it, even just a glimpse.
I'm starting this next year, and this next season in my life, with that in mind. To say I am ready for change is the understatement of the year. I'm not one that can easily live with routines, with 9-5 jobs, with sameness. It chokes me, in a sense. But that's not to say that God hasn't used these past 2 years back home for his good. So much good has come from being here; I just fail to recognize it at times.
I leave on Sunday, January 4th for Colorado to do more training with YWAM Denver. The school will be held up in the Rocky Mountains for the entire 3 months, and I'm hoping to go overseas again on outreach, but that depends on God. I have almost enough money for the tuition (yay!) but no extra, which I'm honestly stoked about. I'm selling my car and getting rid of so much extra crap I don't need, and I'm thrusting myself off this cliff of comfortable predictability and into God's plans for me. I'm tired of trying to make sure all my bases are covered, that all my planning will work out. It's that feeling knowing that change is coming, not just with my actions and surroundings, but within me. It's like shedding a layer of skin. I need it, and a softer heart.
Some things God has laid on my heart to do/goals for this next year:
Grow deeper than ever before in my relationship with God
Learn to love people without an agenda of my own & without condition
Do more photography
Learn the Norwegian language
Leave the country at least twice...hopefully more
Cook some dang good food for people more deserving than I
I hope all of you had the most amazing Christmas season. Thank you for all you have poured into my life, and for helping me to make this next step. Be blessed!
-Bethany
I think all of us forget all too quickly that not only does God love us, he also delights in us. When I look at this past year I find myself wanting to focus on all the mess-ups, the wrong choices, the words I've regretted saying to others, but in all reality, God still is overjoyed with me. He's overjoyed with US! The past few months He has been emphasizing to me how delighted he is with me. It's a hard thing to swallow when you feel like you disappoint so many others in your life, but an incredible thing when you begin to see it, even just a glimpse.
I'm starting this next year, and this next season in my life, with that in mind. To say I am ready for change is the understatement of the year. I'm not one that can easily live with routines, with 9-5 jobs, with sameness. It chokes me, in a sense. But that's not to say that God hasn't used these past 2 years back home for his good. So much good has come from being here; I just fail to recognize it at times.
I leave on Sunday, January 4th for Colorado to do more training with YWAM Denver. The school will be held up in the Rocky Mountains for the entire 3 months, and I'm hoping to go overseas again on outreach, but that depends on God. I have almost enough money for the tuition (yay!) but no extra, which I'm honestly stoked about. I'm selling my car and getting rid of so much extra crap I don't need, and I'm thrusting myself off this cliff of comfortable predictability and into God's plans for me. I'm tired of trying to make sure all my bases are covered, that all my planning will work out. It's that feeling knowing that change is coming, not just with my actions and surroundings, but within me. It's like shedding a layer of skin. I need it, and a softer heart.
Some things God has laid on my heart to do/goals for this next year:
Grow deeper than ever before in my relationship with God
Learn to love people without an agenda of my own & without condition
Do more photography
Learn the Norwegian language
Leave the country at least twice...hopefully more
Cook some dang good food for people more deserving than I
I hope all of you had the most amazing Christmas season. Thank you for all you have poured into my life, and for helping me to make this next step. Be blessed!
-Bethany
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Fundraising
Alright, so tuition for my secondary school at YWAM Denver is $3,400.
Currently, I have a little less than half.
I leave in 2 1/2 weeks.
During other times in my life, I think I would've looked at that and been absolutely intimitated and just given up. Thankfully, God has done some things with my faith level this past year and I know without any doubt that He's totally going to provide more abundantly than I can imagine.
I've been reading a lot in both 1 & 2 Corinthians lately, and this jumps out to me everytime:
"...What God has planned for people who love him is more than eyes have seen or ears have heard. I has never even entered our minds!" (CEV)
That makes me smile. God is so faithful, even when we're not, and not only does he love us, but his plans are incredibly more than we could ever dream for ourselves. I'm pretty stoked for those plans, and even more excited to see how he is going to surprise me.
As far as this next step, Doug and Stacey Wollman have donated some of Doug's cds to be sold to help for my YWAM fund. (They are incredible people. If you don't know them, it's time to change that). Anyway, they are both instrumental worship cds that I'm selling for $15 (suggested donation) and all the proceeds go to help me. Let me know if you're interested in buying any; they make good last-minute Christmas gifts for anyone on your list or for yourself!
For those who haven't received a support letter and want to help out or drop me a line, my address until Jan. 3rd is Bethany Roth, 23191 Custer Trails Rd, Rapid City, SD 57702. After that, please send any support to Bethany Roth, c/o YWAM Denver, WISE 2009, 12750 W. 63rd Ave, Arvada, CO 80004.
Thank you so much, everyone. You guys are amazing.
Currently, I have a little less than half.
I leave in 2 1/2 weeks.
During other times in my life, I think I would've looked at that and been absolutely intimitated and just given up. Thankfully, God has done some things with my faith level this past year and I know without any doubt that He's totally going to provide more abundantly than I can imagine.
I've been reading a lot in both 1 & 2 Corinthians lately, and this jumps out to me everytime:
"...What God has planned for people who love him is more than eyes have seen or ears have heard. I has never even entered our minds!" (CEV)
That makes me smile. God is so faithful, even when we're not, and not only does he love us, but his plans are incredibly more than we could ever dream for ourselves. I'm pretty stoked for those plans, and even more excited to see how he is going to surprise me.
As far as this next step, Doug and Stacey Wollman have donated some of Doug's cds to be sold to help for my YWAM fund. (They are incredible people. If you don't know them, it's time to change that). Anyway, they are both instrumental worship cds that I'm selling for $15 (suggested donation) and all the proceeds go to help me. Let me know if you're interested in buying any; they make good last-minute Christmas gifts for anyone on your list or for yourself!
For those who haven't received a support letter and want to help out or drop me a line, my address until Jan. 3rd is Bethany Roth, 23191 Custer Trails Rd, Rapid City, SD 57702. After that, please send any support to Bethany Roth, c/o YWAM Denver, WISE 2009, 12750 W. 63rd Ave, Arvada, CO 80004.
Thank you so much, everyone. You guys are amazing.
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