Faith

It is said that faith can move mountains.

"He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”-Matthew 17:20 ESV

Though I have been a Christian for six years, my faith in the Lord continues to grow on almost a daily basis...

You see, back in January, God put a deep, passionate desire on my heart, a desire to reach my campus for Christ.

*cue Journal entry from eight months ago*

1/4/12:
" I am convinced that God can and will use me to change the campus of CBC. At age 20 3/4 the reality of the Gospel, of the need to share my faith, has finally fit me in the face."

Then, school began again. There were a few of us like-minded people on campus (Lauren and Andrew) and we began praying about how to get discipleship groups started at Central Baptist College.
The rest of the spring was slow-rolling...We began training at UCA and gained the interest of a few students, but it was hard-work with just the three of us and for a while it seemed like the Lord was silent...

5/5/12:
Lauren graduated. That left Andrew and I.

And then the college-world welcomed summer.

5/19/12-6/30/12:
My life was completely changed by spending six weeks in Bologna, Italy doing ministry with college students.
I left Bo knowing more than ever that I wanted meaningful, real community on my college campus back in Arkansas.
Better yet, I knew that the Lord wanted change to occur at CBC, but I wasn't sure how it would happen...

7/29/12:
I received a facebook message from a new staff member reading, "I talked with Sarah the other day and told her my interest in creating discipleship Groups on campus (CBC). She said that you were super interested in that!" etc. etc. etc.

This was the first, small taste of what the Lord had planned.
8/8/12:
I was given the opportunity to share with the entire residence life staff my vision for our campus, my desire to see people living out the Gospel in each other's lives.
These people are leaders on our campus and some of them were intrigued...

8/19/12:
Several new faces met with Sam, Taylor (our awesome friends and support staff from UCA Cru), Andrew and I about DNA groups.

D-divine truth:  studying scripture together

N-nurturing community:  calling out greatness in one another and confessing sin to fellow members

A-apostolic mission:  living out our faith and sharing it with others

Toward the end of our meeting one of the guys said, "This could be why I'm supposed to be at CBC this year."

Get excited.

8/20/12:

Tonight, I stood in a room of thirty students at a discipleship group interest meeting. While they chowed-down on pizza, I got to share with those precious students our vision for a campus that is radically changed by the Gospel of Christ.

(Photo courtesy: Devin DiGuilio)

Our first D-group meetings are Monday for the girls and Tuesday for the guys. Please be in continued prayer for us and the work that God is doing at CBC.

I still can't believe that this is real and actually happening...

But

I have prayed and continue to pray for God to do big things and I have faith that He will...

Let the mountains move.

Conviction

Conviction.

I know, I know. The title of this post is just alluring, isn't it?

Let's face it, no one likes conviction. Why would we?
This 'C'-word often manifests itself as a slight tug at our heartstrings, a that warning that something is amiss in our inner-being.
It's an ever-present reminder that something needs to change...

We hate conviction because it reminds us of our failures, our flaws, our imperfections, our short-comings and our weaknesses...This creeping 'C' is easy to run from and even easier to hide.
Just keep doing your normal routine. Be satisfied. Be content.
Stop dreaming. Stay complacent.

Simply ignore the 'C'...or at very least try...

Trust me, I am an expert at running and hiding, but a recent sense of dare-I-say, conviction, has yet to leave.
Frankly, I'm not sure that it will...not until change is made...

It began at a church camp in the boonies of Missouri. A few things that the speaker said read like this from my recycled journal:

"Suffering is more than an inconvience."
"The world is not attracted to a shallow belief system."
"Our religion says that you go deep and risk everything for the gospel."

and then, the mind-set of some American Christians:

"I love my Christianity, but I'm not going to take huge risks for God."

*cue conviction right about now*

I've been on mission trips. I've given to the poor and fed the hungry. I've made sacrifices for God and the furthering of His Gospel.
but...
I'VE NEVER SUFFERED, especially not as I sit in this clean, well-lit, well-air conditioned home, drinking filtered water and typing away on my newly purchased laptop.
I'VE NEVER RISKED EVERYTHING FOR THE GOSPEL.

When I think of sacrifice, two stories in Scripture come to mind.

First, is the one of the rich, young ruler which can be found in Luke 18:18-30.

"When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "One thing you still lack, Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me (18:22)."

Secondly, I am reminded of the disciples' callings. Here's an example:

"After this he (Jesus) went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, "Follow me." And leaving everything, he rose and followed him (Luke 5:27-28). "

I don't know about you, but I more often feel like the rich ruler, who walked away sad after hearing Jesus' words, than the disciple.

Each packed box for college and each little "bing" at the check-out counter result in layer upon layer of conviction.

What if I really did sell all that I have and give it to the poor?
Resulting in:  myself, the clothes on my back, my Jesus and His Word.

Would I be labeled as some wacko, super Christian media-stunt ...or would others actually take a stand and do the same?

Is Jesus really who He says He is? Would I really be satisfied if all I had was Jesus?