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)

Osawald Chambers had some things to say

The goal of the missionary is to do God’s will, not to be useful or to win the lost. A missionary is useful and he does win the lost, but that is not his goal. His goal is to do the will of his Lord.

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Two Weeks Notice

Nope. I'm not quitting anything. And nope. I'm not Sandra Bullock's worst-ever movie.

I have officially been living in Fairfax, VA for two weeks now, not including the incredible week I got to spend with high schoolers at Lake Champion, and I have just started noticing small little things I find interesting about this place. Some things I love, some I absolutely hate, and some quirks about this place that have just caught me off guard.

Things I've noticed and LOVED:

• Friendship. I have been here so briefly but have been blessed to already have some fun time with some fun new friends and I am really, really thankful for that!

• FRO-YO!!! Seriously, I'm hooked.

• A bike trail called the W&OD- Washington and Old Dominion trail. The trail itself is great and has finally given me a place to escape to with my bike for a few hours, but it is also a quaint little piece of history with cutesy rest stops that have antique-y benches and snippets of history. I likeeee that. 

Things I've noticed and not-so-loved:

• The humidity. I know, I feel so whiny complaining about it, but really. It's awful. Walk out the door: insta-sweat. No matter the actual outdoor temperature.

Things I've just noticed:

• Occasionally what I would call a "Park and Ride" is referred to here as a "Kiss and Ride". I think I like this, it's endearing. Although, I feel like I shouldn't like this, because, more than likely it has anti-feministic-y roots, I'm guessing deriving it's name from wives who would see their husbands off to work on the Metro- drive them to the stop, kiss them and watch them take off. Oh well, good thing I'm not a feminist.

Greetings

So. Here I am. In Fairfax, Virginia.

For those who don't know, in speed summary version:

ItookajobherewithYoungLife

Imovedhere3weeksago

Igetlostallthetime

Idon'tknowmanypeople

butIamLOVINGit.

As I try to figure out a brand new season of life, doing a brand new job, living in a brand new place and working to establish brand new friendships, I feel like the Lord has been teaching me just a ton.

As I've drawn near to Him, one specific thing I've been struck by lately is the way Paul, the servant and apostle of Christ, greets others in his many letters.

Paul, after a life changing encounter with the Lord, cleaned up his act, did a 180 and devoted the rest of his life to ministering to, encouraging, and loving God's people throughout the ancient world. He travelled from city to city, from new place to new place, spreading the good news of Jesus- what He had done for him, personally, and what He had done for the world.

In his letters throughout Scripture, Paul had boatloads of good and important things to say. But, more so than ever before, the way he begins his writings, the way he greets group and after group of people he doesn't necessarily know, has just captivated me.

In letters like the one he writes to the Philippians, he begins his address with comments such as,

I thank my God every time I remember you... I am confident of this: that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus... I have you in my heart, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus... And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight...

Paul, repeatedly in his letters, welcomes and greets people with such warmth. Such excitement. Such a prayerful posture. Such encouragement. Such hope and confidence. Such gratitude and humility.

My favorite little Paul-ian greeting snippet right now, however, is a simple one. As he begins writing to those in Rome, he says in Romans 1:7,

To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Goshhhhh. What if I greeted people, welcomed people into my life with this attitude?! I don't mean in a creepy, monk-like, deep-booming-voice and solemn-bowing-motion kind of way. I simply mean: what if my heart felt this way, assumed this posture towards others as I greet them, welcome them into my new life? What if I saw others first and foremost as loved by God and called to know Him? What if I inwardly offered others some of the grace and peace I find in knowing Christ?

Adventure

If life has been anything the past few weeks, it has been an adventure. I have been up to a lot, much has changed and shifted but the one consistency is this: life's been adventurous!

Last week I was so fortunate to spend a week out in nature, whitewater rafting down the Colorado River and hiking with my Dad, sister, and a few good family friends. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from that adventure!

After returning from the wild, wild west, I got to spend my very favorite holiday and my last day in Wisconsin with some of the best people I know. After a day of fun, SWEATING, eating great food, laughing, playing cards and watching fireworks, I watched these five amazing women pile into a car together and drive away. Watching them go I felt so overwhelmed with the amount of love I felt for that car full of friends and by the amount of love they've shown me. We've shared some hilarious memories, some hard moments, and some unforgettable life experiences together.

Then, finally, just days ago, I loaded up my car with wayyyy too many things and headed east for the start of my biggest new adventure: life in Fairfax, Virginia!

I have now been in Fairfax for a few days and truly, every moment of every day feels like a little bit of an adventure. From small things, like journeying alone to the closest Trader Joe's (yes, of COURSE that happened within the first few days) to bigger things like praying about how to form a loving and supportive community around me, I feel brave yet unsure, empowered but nervous. On this adventure some days I'm certain I'll feel scared or overwhelmed or lonely. But more than anything I feel so assured that this adventure I find myself on is just where I should be. I've heard the Lord call to me to step out in faith in this way for Him, I daily wake up asking Him to remind me of the things He's promised me and I wait with excited expectation to see what new things are around each turn.

God intends for us to live adventurous lives. He desires for us to put ourselves out there, but reminds us that we are never alone. And especially in this season of newness I am so thankful for that! David gives word to what my heart feels, singing thanks to the Lord in 1 Chronicles. He says,

Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him, tell of all his wondrous works! Glory in his holy name, let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice! Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his presence continually!

As cute little Russell from the movie "Up" exclaims, I feel the Lord saying to me, and to all of us, right now-- ADVENTURE IS OUT THERE! And let's be thankful for that.