Hello Everyone!!
For those of you interested: my week of training to become an RA has officially ended. After going through a week of camping, seminars, times of worship, lack of sufficient sleep, many blessed times, and being commissioned and anointed, I'm finally beginning to feel prepared for the position of leadership and partnership God has called me to this coming school year.
When I came back to Iowa to begin my training for RA, I was wanting to trust God with my concerns about being an RA, but still wasn't certain what his vision was for me in the lives of these young women, or for me in general; and I was afraid and nervous of what was to come. I think nervousness for what is to come is natural, (one of my high school teachers told me that if you don't get nervous about something, then you probably don't care about it too much. I think there is some truth to that.) The problem was that my fear was leading to anxiety and lack of trust in God to do what was best. Thankfully, over the course of this week, God conquered that fear with love and care by his Holy Spirit moving both through other people, and not. He encouraged me by my peers, and through his word spoken through different vessels throughout the week.
Also, now that I have gained practical information for this coming week, I feel better prepared to meet the different challenges I may face this coming year (though I pray many of the things I have been prepared for will be absent from this wing, floor, building, and campus.)
The thing that I felt most prepared and encouraged me this week happened last night (Thursday the 20th of August.) All Resident Life Staff took part in a commissioning service.
I will not try to explain everything that went on there, because I can't. I can explain the setting in which we worshiped in song, prayer, and in being reminded symbolically of our being anointed by the Holy Spirit in Jesus Christ. I cannot explain how the Spirit moved amongst and through those there, I cannot explain the hearts lifted in devotion and in unity to worship the Lord; only God almighty knows the mystery of these things.
Hands were laid upon those called forth in the name of the Lord,
Foreheads glistened with oil of frankincense and myrrh,
Prayers, hearts, and hands were lifted high.
Thank you, Father. Thank you.
Needless to say, not many wanted to wash their foreheads after our ceremony. Praise God that the Holy Spirit is with us at all times, because he has been poured out upon our entering into the family of God through Jesus Christ. The oil is a symbol of what God has already done. Praise him! Praise the Lord Most High!! He is worthy of all we have to offer.
For those of you interested: my week of training to become an RA has officially ended. After going through a week of camping, seminars, times of worship, lack of sufficient sleep, many blessed times, and being commissioned and anointed, I'm finally beginning to feel prepared for the position of leadership and partnership God has called me to this coming school year.
When I came back to Iowa to begin my training for RA, I was wanting to trust God with my concerns about being an RA, but still wasn't certain what his vision was for me in the lives of these young women, or for me in general; and I was afraid and nervous of what was to come. I think nervousness for what is to come is natural, (one of my high school teachers told me that if you don't get nervous about something, then you probably don't care about it too much. I think there is some truth to that.) The problem was that my fear was leading to anxiety and lack of trust in God to do what was best. Thankfully, over the course of this week, God conquered that fear with love and care by his Holy Spirit moving both through other people, and not. He encouraged me by my peers, and through his word spoken through different vessels throughout the week.
Also, now that I have gained practical information for this coming week, I feel better prepared to meet the different challenges I may face this coming year (though I pray many of the things I have been prepared for will be absent from this wing, floor, building, and campus.)
The thing that I felt most prepared and encouraged me this week happened last night (Thursday the 20th of August.) All Resident Life Staff took part in a commissioning service.
I will not try to explain everything that went on there, because I can't. I can explain the setting in which we worshiped in song, prayer, and in being reminded symbolically of our being anointed by the Holy Spirit in Jesus Christ. I cannot explain how the Spirit moved amongst and through those there, I cannot explain the hearts lifted in devotion and in unity to worship the Lord; only God almighty knows the mystery of these things.
Hands were laid upon those called forth in the name of the Lord,
Foreheads glistened with oil of frankincense and myrrh,
Prayers, hearts, and hands were lifted high.
Thank you, Father. Thank you.
Needless to say, not many wanted to wash their foreheads after our ceremony. Praise God that the Holy Spirit is with us at all times, because he has been poured out upon our entering into the family of God through Jesus Christ. The oil is a symbol of what God has already done. Praise him! Praise the Lord Most High!! He is worthy of all we have to offer.
