update from ellie belly the island girl
hey everyone!!
i'm praying that you are all having a restful, Jesus-filled break... i miss you all A LOT and think about you all the time. I'm so looking forward to spending the next four months with you guys...
well, since my last post, i've been kind of flip-flopping back and forth between emotions... when i have a lot of time to think, i tend to get this way. It's been so amazing though, before the break i was praying that God would help me plan my schedule around time with Him, and that i would just have a longing to be in the Word... and He's answered that prayer so evidently... i haven't gone this deep on my own (aside from classes and such) in a while... so cool :)
You know, I've been thinking...even though it seems like i've been obsessed with my spiritual growth for the last few months and have been constantly wanting to move forward, God's been reminding and inviting me to just rest in Him. On Sunday, i went to new life, which was so very refreshing... being able to see everyone... just soak it all in... i've really missed it. Mark's sermon was talking about the passage in Isaiah 9 which gives 4 different names to the coming Messiah... Wonderful Counsellor, Everlasting Father, Mighty God, and Prince of Peace... this week was focussing on how God is Mighty... and how in the Hebrew it actually translates more like 'Mighty Warrior'... he explained how God is a Fighter God, that He will fight for us, all we have to do is show up and watch Him move. It was definitely what i needed to hear in regard to my whole family situation and my unshakeable obsession with constantly growing (which i know is important to have, but when i'm seeking the growth on my own it gets extremely exhausting)... and also thinking about what i'm planning to do after Kaleo (people have been asking me about it left right and centre it seems.. or perhaps interrogating is a better word :) ) It's been really refreshing to just be able to step back and see the effects of the ways that i've grown, and rest in the fact that none of it would have come except by the grace of God.
It has been kind of weird though, to be back home and finding myself clashing with my parents because it seems like they don't understand a lot of what i've learned in the last 3 months. please pray for patience for each of us in this! It's humbling to see how God has grown me so much, and yet there are still things like this that trip me up... how so very weak am i... well everyone really... but to rest in God's perfect power in that is such a cool blessing. He can do so much more than we can even fathom...
Oh! another cool thing is that I've been able to spend some good quality time with my sister the last few days... it seems like we get along so much better now that we have been apart for a while, and have had some time to grow individually... its been sweet. And as for Mr. Jones... :) I'm looking forward to spending Christmas with him, having him join me at my family gatherings, and vice versa. Last year this time, he was still in England, so this is technically the first Christmas we get to spend together... please pray though, that we would find time to just enjoy each other in all the hustle and bustle!
Aaand one more prayer request... a girl named Amanda who i know from school last year (she's in grade 12 this year) has been talking quite a bit with me on facebook, she's feeling really isolated from all her friends at school... I think she's just really longing for genuine community and relationships. I think i'm going to invite her to spend a day with me/us at the camp in the new year, so you'll all get to meet her hopefully. She's going to the same Capernwray next year that Lew went to last yeat, so that's a cool connection. but yeah, please be praying for her!
Anyways, I think that is enough out of me for now. I love you guys so much!! Can't wait to see you all again!
i'm praying that you are all having a restful, Jesus-filled break... i miss you all A LOT and think about you all the time. I'm so looking forward to spending the next four months with you guys...
well, since my last post, i've been kind of flip-flopping back and forth between emotions... when i have a lot of time to think, i tend to get this way. It's been so amazing though, before the break i was praying that God would help me plan my schedule around time with Him, and that i would just have a longing to be in the Word... and He's answered that prayer so evidently... i haven't gone this deep on my own (aside from classes and such) in a while... so cool :)
You know, I've been thinking...even though it seems like i've been obsessed with my spiritual growth for the last few months and have been constantly wanting to move forward, God's been reminding and inviting me to just rest in Him. On Sunday, i went to new life, which was so very refreshing... being able to see everyone... just soak it all in... i've really missed it. Mark's sermon was talking about the passage in Isaiah 9 which gives 4 different names to the coming Messiah... Wonderful Counsellor, Everlasting Father, Mighty God, and Prince of Peace... this week was focussing on how God is Mighty... and how in the Hebrew it actually translates more like 'Mighty Warrior'... he explained how God is a Fighter God, that He will fight for us, all we have to do is show up and watch Him move. It was definitely what i needed to hear in regard to my whole family situation and my unshakeable obsession with constantly growing (which i know is important to have, but when i'm seeking the growth on my own it gets extremely exhausting)... and also thinking about what i'm planning to do after Kaleo (people have been asking me about it left right and centre it seems.. or perhaps interrogating is a better word :) ) It's been really refreshing to just be able to step back and see the effects of the ways that i've grown, and rest in the fact that none of it would have come except by the grace of God.
It has been kind of weird though, to be back home and finding myself clashing with my parents because it seems like they don't understand a lot of what i've learned in the last 3 months. please pray for patience for each of us in this! It's humbling to see how God has grown me so much, and yet there are still things like this that trip me up... how so very weak am i... well everyone really... but to rest in God's perfect power in that is such a cool blessing. He can do so much more than we can even fathom...
Oh! another cool thing is that I've been able to spend some good quality time with my sister the last few days... it seems like we get along so much better now that we have been apart for a while, and have had some time to grow individually... its been sweet. And as for Mr. Jones... :) I'm looking forward to spending Christmas with him, having him join me at my family gatherings, and vice versa. Last year this time, he was still in England, so this is technically the first Christmas we get to spend together... please pray though, that we would find time to just enjoy each other in all the hustle and bustle!
Aaand one more prayer request... a girl named Amanda who i know from school last year (she's in grade 12 this year) has been talking quite a bit with me on facebook, she's feeling really isolated from all her friends at school... I think she's just really longing for genuine community and relationships. I think i'm going to invite her to spend a day with me/us at the camp in the new year, so you'll all get to meet her hopefully. She's going to the same Capernwray next year that Lew went to last yeat, so that's a cool connection. but yeah, please be praying for her!
Anyways, I think that is enough out of me for now. I love you guys so much!! Can't wait to see you all again!
posted by Ellie at 8:46 PM
2 Comments:
Ellie! Sounds like you're having an amazing time!! Enjoy the family and the time in the things you're used to! I'll be praying for you
Did you see me wave to you across the water today? Praying for you!
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