Thankfulness.

In this Thanksgiving holiday season, expressions of gratitude and words of thankfulness are everywhere. In my life and ministry at Fairfax High School, I also see this pervasive theme. I am so thankful! I am thankful to the Lord for the countless ways in which I have seen Him working. Each week there are new kids and more kids at events. We recently took two full cabins of Fairfax students to Rockbridge, a Young Life camp, for a fall weekend retreat, where they had the time of their lives and got to hear the Gospel in a fresh, new way. High school students that have been drawn to Fairfax Young Life are growing in their faiths and feeling excited to share that with their friends.

One of the simplest and most beautiful examples yet of the Lord moving in hearts happened a few weeks ago at Campaigners, our Thursday morning time of breakfast, fellowship, and bible study. We were reading together in Mark 5 about Jesus being stopped on his way to the home of Jairus, a very important synagogue leader, by a bleeding woman. Jesus was weaving his way through a crowd and felt someone touch the end of his robe. The passage reads: “Jesus looked around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him her whole story. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” Immediately after we read this, a freshman girl from Fairfax commented, "I can't believe he just stopped for her! He, like, totally gave her the time of day! There was so much other craziness going on around them and Jesus just stood there, listening to her while she told him her whole story." Another student chimed in with, "Yeah, he really seems like he cares about her! I never thought of him like that before…" I am so thankful for moments like this! I am so thankful to get to witness the Lord opening hearts and minds to be captivated by Jesus in ways they had never thought possible. I am so thankful that kids, who together at school walk the same halls, are gathering to explore their faith in community.

I am thankful to those who faithfully and lovingly pray for, support, and care for me! The work I am privileged to do with high school students in Fairfax would not be possible otherwise. Psalm 105 reads, “Give thanks to the Lord, proclaim his name, make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; dwell on all of his wonderful acts. Give praise to his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, all his marvelous works, and the justice he declared.” I pray that you too will be overwhelmed with thankfulness in this time of year and season of life. I pray that you will feel a sense of thankfulness for what the Lord is doing in your life and in the lives of those you love. I pray that you, looking to Him, can't help but praise Him for what He has done, for all of His marvelous works, and for what He continues to do. All of my love and gratitude, Nicole

I want...

I want for Jesus to become greater, for me to become less. 

(John 3:30)

I want to be strong and courageous. I want to not be terrified or discouraged, because the Lord my God is with me wherever I go. 

(Joshua 1:9)

I want my feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of peace. 

(Ephesians 6:15)