Things that Excite Me

It’s not hard.  I excite easy.  I have had people tell me that the first time they met me, they were scared of me.  that could be a problem.  But it’s generally because I’m really excited about something.  Probably TOO excited in many people’s estimation.  And for some reason, God found it funny to give me really close friends who DON’T excite easy.  Yeah, that’s NEVER led to miscommunication (sarcastic finger is raised right now for those who care or need to know).  I even have a couple friends who have assigned bird names to various individuals: one is a goose, another is a duck…they call me an egret.  Yeah, because that’s the only bird name they could think of that starts with an “E”.

So this excitable egret over here wanted to share something that pumped me up yesterday.  Frankly, it’s been a tough week.  I NEEDED something to excite me.  I guess another personality trait/desire is an excitement about introducing friends to each other…particularly if it’s gonna be beneficial to them both.  Honestly, I have a whole slew of friends who are only friends with each other because I introduced them (and it’s really turned into a fun game of “who do I have the most mutual friends on Facebook with” contest for a few).  Here’s my favorite recent one, for your enjoyment and awe of a God who knows what He’s doing.

Krista is one of my little sisters from my time at Auburn.  She played softball and we dug into the Bible together during my time there and we’ve kept in touch ever since.  She just got a job with Teach for America in Memphis.  WAY TO GO, KRISTA!!!  Julie is another little sister graciously given to me during my time at Clemson.  She’s a stud who wears cardigans in her aspirations to be a counselor someday and help people be godly (she gets plenty of practice helping me for now..haha).  She’s on leadership with Clemson FCA…who goes on a spring break missions trip every year, connecting with the local church, FCA, and other service organizations.  Guess where they’re going this year?  Yeah you guessed it…Memphis!  So I get to introduce Krista to a Julie, who will be able to help Krista know what church to check in Memphis, facilitate meeting the Memphis FCA staff, and who knows???  If schedules work out, Krista might get to even join them for the Spring Break Trip!  Yay for introducing my friends to each other and God using it for good!

End of the year- a new chapter begins

What an incredible year this has been!!! Clemson is an incredible place with a ridiculous amount of ministry going on! I am floored by getting to be a part of incorporating the campus FCA with true athlete ministry. We have set several things in place that fulfill Clemson FCA’s goal of “Loving God- Loving Campus” within the arena of the athletic department! There is now an athlete ministry leadership team comprised of 20+ athletes from almost every team. They are gonna be used of God to rock their teams, the athletic department, and this campus!

As for me as an FCA staffperson, however, this has been a very abnormal year. All the other FCA staff in our area have moved on from their time with FCA. Between that movement and the economy, funding for staffing has be lacking. As I look at the ministry needs here objectively, I realize that my strengths matched the need when I arrived, I could meet the current need, but it currently would be better suited to someone else’s strengths. All of this comes together to help me in my decision to accept another position within FCA that is exciting, yet sadly would take me away from Clemson. I will be moving to the bay area (San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland) in California to serve several high schools and colleges. As the door has opened to work there, I have wrestled with the decision, realize that my strengths are needed there, and the position pursued me…all things to seriously consider. I feel blessed to get to remain with FCA as it has had such an INCREDIBLE impact on my life and countless others! I just got to attend the 2nd annual college conference as a Huddle Leader and watch 180 college athletes from across the nation get sold out and grasp their influence. Can you imagine the ripple from things like that?!?!

I’ve been asked what the job description would be…so….the area is only 4% Christian. Talk about being a missionary in your own country. Therefore, the mentality is to hit the open doors and use each staffer’s unique strengths. That means I will spend 1-2 days/week with a handful of highschools to relieve the other campus representative. My unique addition to the team is that I am female and my sport is soccer. The rest of the week would be spent with college and professional female athletes. FCA has presence on multiple college campuses in the area. Also, women’s pro soccer has launched in 6 cities, one of which is San Jose. That should tell you a little something about the soccer community there. There is still a need for the position to be fully funded and that will be a part of my job still, but I will have teamwork towards that. (If you would consider getting involved in that part, please let me know.) All this has happened so fast. I hate that I have not been able to call all of you who have been friends to me through this journey. The intention in coming to Clemson was to be there for the long haul. This doesn’t make sense, yet also makes tremendous sense all at the same time. There’s so much more I would love to share with you…please feel free to call me as I am journeying…and new posts will be coming soon!

For such as time as this

As you can well tell, it has been 3 months since I last wrote. Honestly, I was afraid to because there was so much change going on around here with FCA, I didn’t want to mis-speak. But I was recently convicted…it’s as if God was saying, “I’m up to some incredible things around here and because you’re afraid of how stuff will sound or what it will look like, you’re not giving me the glory I deserve for the cool stuff going on”. Yeah…that = slap in the face and a reality check and a “Yes sir” out of me.

So here you go…to catch you up on changes…bottom line…everybody that was on staff with FCA has now left for various reasons, and I am now the only FCA staff member in the area. This has posed a challenge in both things to do ministry-wise and in funding. Not sure what that will end up meaning for this area or me, but He has finally brought me to such a place of peace and rest about it! I have wrestled…”God what do you want for FCA here?!?! What is my role supposed to be?!?!” I’m sure many of you out in the working world have begun to have the same wrestle as the economy slides and jobs are threatened. Many of you are college students also…wondering what is the next step for you. This is what He has laid on me in that regard:

“Marla, you are seeking after my yet-to-be-revealed will. How are you doing on my already-revealed will? Loving me and people with everything you are…knowing me and making me known…being Spirit-filled? Are you seeking my hand or my face…making my will an idol in your life?”….. how bout you? We are each where we are today “for such a time as this“.

There’s nothing like watching God take His people, no matter how amazingly or little talented they are, and blow a place up! So to brag on Him…a few things I’ve watched the past 3 months. 400 students and student-athletes decend on St Louis, MO and share the love of Christ over spring break. 25 of our students serving as Huddle Leaders at the FCA high school state retreat. Pick of the week- where campus FCA decends en masse on athletic events in a way that has impacted athletes, coaches, AND support staff. Why Jesus?…an event put together by students in multiple campus ministries that rocked our ampitheater. I get to watch multiple students and student-athletes serve the youth group at my church and lead kids weekly. And something I personally am very excited about, adding “Athlete Ministry” to the leadership team within Campus FCA…I got to watch our athletes talk about their desire to love, serve and reach their teams and our athletic department last Sunday night! You’ll be hearing more about that!

And these are just a few…and not to mention all the things He’s been teaching/leading me through. So here’s to living out loud…today. Chances are, we live in a generally safe enough country and live relatively comfortable lives…However, you’re not promised tomorrow…and we weren’t called to lives of comfort. And there are days we all (if you’re like me) have amnesia. Make war on that today…”FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS”!

Did I really just have that week?!?!?

Can you handle this? Really can you? I don’t know if I can…good stuff to remember when you get discouraged…God’s kinda faithful. Check out this past week! Here’s a few highlights…

Monday 1/19- Was kinda an off day. I had a friend in town to visit and we got to go to two coffeeshops (one of my favorite things to do)! This was good, because that evening and the next 8 days would rock! That night we started off the semester for the Female Athlete Huddle. Nothing like sitting around with 10 or so athletes talking about freedom in Christ
Tuesday 1/20- Had a phone conversation with a woman God placed in my path when I needed a smack in the face. Haven’t really talk to her since college. God started something in my life through her act of obedience. I don’t think I even understand how far the ripple from that has run. But it was cool to get to share part of it with her.
Wednesday 1/21- It’s so exciting to periodically get a call from one of the girls I invested in at Auburn University last year. That was Wednesday! Got to spend some time on the phone listening, walking through Biblical responses and challenging/encouraging once again…so cool. Also that night, one of our runners got baptized…the even cooler thing was she was more excited about the 2 rows of teammates that came to support her, some of whom don’t go to church. How cool.
Thursday 1/22- I got to meet the cheerleading team for the first time. They listened intently as a shared what FCA is about after they had had a 4 hour practice. And about 8 came up afterward to personally introduce themselves, thank me, and way they want to get involved. Wow.
Friday 1/23- I went to cheer on the women’s tennis team, and unknowingly sat down amongst the men’s team. Poor guy I say next to I think felt uncomfortable as soon as his teammate said, “Hey, she’s the female FCA chaplain!” Come to find out, that guy has promised the teammate I sat next to a filet mignon if he would come to church with him. What?!?! I said, “Dude, take your steak and GO!” We’ll see…all I know is the steak cooking, church inviting tennis player is my hero.
Saturday 1/24- Working with the Student Body FCA on ways to love the athletic department to show them Jesus. How bout 100+ fans showing up to the swim meet and packing out the facility like I’ve never seen it before?!?
Sunday 1/25- I got to take 2 athletes with me to speak for a women’s Sunday school class at a local church. I got to share some about FCA and what we do. They shared their testimonies. Nothing like watching to young women grow as they step out to share their story with women 50-60 years their senior and everyone being encouraged. That afternoon, I went to the church I’ve been attending and watched 40+ people get baptized…in just that service. There were 3 others that day. What?!?
Monday 1/26- Just was amazed at how He ordered my steps all day to orchestrate 5 one-on-one conversations and an amazing female athlete huddle again
Tuesday 1/27- We had an FCA state-wide staff meeting all day, which was cool. But the best part may have been talking to a friend who is moving away…but hearing how God is orchestrating details. I went to an event hosted by church expecting to not know a soul and run into a girl I worked FCA camp with 5 years ago, and two others with many mutual friends. Topped off the day talking with FCA staff from San Francisco where my buddy is moving to play soccer. It is awesome to watch the family of God at work…taking care of each other and connecting His people.

I needed that reminder…that He’s got the details. I forget sometimes. Hope you see Him as huge too.

Christmas 2008

The end of the semester has come and most students are gone. Finals were a whirlwind of a time for our students…no surprise. A couple highlights over the past couple months are:

• I had an opportunity to speak at another school and took Julie, one of our soccer players. She did an amazing job!
• During finals, Evan Bryant (area FCA staff guy) and made around 500 cookies and took them to athletes and students involved in FCA to provide mini-study-breaks for them…some good conversations arose out of that.

Some Track girls we picked up along the way helped us deliver cookies and carol as we went.

• FCA partered with Men’s Basketball to bring in Bruce Crevier. He did a halftime show in the middle of one of our games, and we followed the game with a Rally. Over 25 people responded to the Gospel, 6 of them being adults. Some of our Women’s players helped.

The audience responding to Bruce’s presentation of the Gospel

Todd Steelman, one of our women’s basketball coaches sharing his testimony at the rally

One of our Women’s players helping Bruce at halftime

• There has been more conversation between the Student Body FCA and myself. I’m really excited about opportunities to partner with them this Spring!

I leave you with a devotional that a friend, Amber Salter, wrote several weeks ago. i hope it encourages you this season as it did me.

Is your life full of drama and complexities? Are you able to rest even in the midst of all the “things” we have to do here? Do you wish your life was simple?
Jesus wants it to be.
Think of how you came to salvation.
It was as easy as coming when He called.
“Come to me all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
It was as simple as drinking water.
“If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the scripture said, ‘from his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water…’” (John 7:37-38)
It was as simple as receiving a gift.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
It was as simple as calling for help.
“For whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
Do you ever look at young kids, and see the absolute care-free freedom they live in, and wish you could live like that? Not maturity-wise, but to be that trusting and alive. Not to be burdened down with business or confusion or drama.
He wants you to live your life with that kind of freedom and rest. And He tells us how.
“Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him…” (Colossians 2:6)
There’s no striving. It’s simply trusting Him, with everything. You trusted Him to save your life, now trust Him with your life, and He will save you from your burden. He’s big enough to carry your sin, He’s big enough to carry you.
It really is as simple as reading and believing. Read what He has to say, what He says about Himself, what He says about you. And when you rest on Him and what rely on what He’s said, life is simplified.
If He made it so simple and easy to accept Him, why would He make it more difficult to live with Him? It takes the same kind of faith.

Smiling Faces, Beautiful Places

That’s the tag line on the SC license plates. I love it!

So it’s been a great month here in Clemson. Things are slowly picking up. We’re working on developping a Female Athlete Huddle within the FCA Chaplain’s Ministry here. But we’re also working with the Student Body FCA to adopt and support our coaches and athletes here. Our Female Athlete Huddle paired up with the small groups from the Student Body FCA to host a tailgate for our Women’s Basketball Orange/White Scrimmage.

Spencer and Rochelle grilling it up!!

Several of our athletes at the Bball game

I got to take a couple of our Women’s Basketball Players to a local FCA HighSchool huddle to share their testimonies! How awesome it was to watch these young women stand up in front of 50 or so high school and middle school students to share what God has done in their lives…and watch Him weave together their stories along with the main speaker’s story to pound home the same point in 3 different ways!

Chelsey speaking

Lindsey speaking

My Parents also came to visit me in Clemson. The only non-music major in the family…I think they occasionally have no idea what to do with me. It was awesome to get to show them around and have them join me for a couple days.

Dad and me at the Swim Meet

Mom and me in front of the football stadium

I’ve also spent quite a bit of time out of town this month too (so happy to be landed for a while!). All new FCA staff has to go to New Staff Training Camp. So off to Kansas City, Mo we flew to spend a week at the FCA Home Office. It was amazing! There were 44 new staff from all over the country there that week. We spent 5 days learning more of the “X’s and O’s” of FCA and getting a glimpse of the big picture of FCA across this country and internationally! They were not only sure to equip us for the ministry, but also pour into us through sessions on Spiritual, relational, physical, and financial health. But like any camp, some of the best time was the “in between” time where there were conversations that encouraged, challenged, and set new vision in all our hearts and minds.

I got to meet Jill Ewert in person…she’s the editor for FCA’s Sharing the Victory Magazine

I also got to be a part of the first ever Female FCA Staffperson Retreat. The Georgia/South Carolina Region has the largest number of female staff in the entire country. We have about 20% of the nation’s female staff here! So we got together to discuss how we can tackle some of the topics specific to female athletes and coaches, share ideas of things we had done in our own areas, and just hang out too! I was asked to lead worship for the retreat too…

The younger female staff at the retreat. I am always real intentional about hanging with the staff older than me as I enjoy them and can learn a TON from them. I also really have been blessed with some solid encouraging friendships out of this group!!!

I hit the road once more this month to go attend some athletic events. Particularly due to the drought around here, going to Chattanooga for the “Head of the Hooch” regatta could possibly be the only time I would get to see our rowing team compete. It was incredible to watch these girls compete in one of the largest races in the southeast. I got to encourage many of our rowers who are involved in FCA, and also meet other members of the team for the first time.

One of our boats before they compete

Chatting with one of our coaches and novice rowers

Lastly, I got to go back to Auburn as a part of the trip to Chattanooga for the Women’s Soccer Senior Night. It was so encouraging to see the FCA staff there that had been formative in my time with the chaplain training program. I also got to see some of the athletes I served in my time there.

Allison Whitworth and me after her Senior Night shut-out!