Thirsty Ladies

2012 Keeping Tabs with Campus Ministry

Kean Cru - Hungry Men and Thirsty Women

It all started with a hungry man. The men from Kean Cru began to eat together on various days simply because... Well in the words of our Kean Cru student prayer leader, Mario: "Yo. I'm hungry man, let's get some something to eat!" While they unintentionally bonded over their common physical hunger, these twenty-something year old men began to recognize a spiritual hunger within themselves to be encouraged by other godly men. So in response to the Holy Spirit's lead, they started to have a regular men's time Tuesday nights over dinner. Just recently, Jon Lopez (weekly meetings leader), announced that they would go through a Bible study series called "Courageous", based off of the hit Christian song and recent movie. Please pray that these men would not lose hope but continue to edify one another as they regularly meet.

Slowly, but surely the women started to catch on. Last semester, they made random efforts to eat together and form deep, meaningful relationships amongst those who attended Fall Retreat. This semester the women have just started to intentionally meet together on Monday nights at the Starbucks located in the annex of the library on campus. Our first time meeting together (pictured right) we talked about the constant temptation to quench our "thirst", like the Samaritan woman in John 4, through things that won't ultimately satisfy. We watched a spoken word interpretation of the passage and talked for two hours about how we each related to this woman! God's starting to move in new ways through these ladies lives. Please pray they continue to trust God and go to Him to be fulfilled in life as opposed to the temporary pleasures of this world that don't ultimately satisfy. (Tasha, bottom right, gave her testimony at our annual fellowship dinner.)

QT - Who am I?

Lately I've been thinking about who my Creator sees when He looks at me.

He created ME right? But for what and to make what decisions in life? And how do I make sure I'm best pleasing Him with the decisions I make? Am I keeping Him number one? Is He priority in my life or do I follow my selfish ways?

Recently I've had to look within myself due to life circumstances. I notice people tend to look at a person and define them by the actions they see. For example, I have one friend who is known to be a very giving and caring woman because whenever people are in need, she extends open hands. However because she's recently lost her job, it appears as though she would be considered more of a begger unless you knew her character. See, even in this difficult time, she would give to me before she fed herself. - Character not effected by circumstance. I have another friend who is known to be a "Christian" by her proclamation, however, everything that flows out of her mouth and her actions speak to her not living for Christ.

As I thought about this, I even recognize the many that begin to follow Christ and fall away. Some repent and return through proof of their actions and the rest of their lives, whereas others stay stubborn til their dying day. I'm reminded of David and Samson, Mary & Martha, Daniel, and all the men & women of faith in Hebrews 11. They all messed up, but in the end day, they all showed where their loyalty stood.

I'm reminded of the songs "Who am I" by Da TRUTH and "Beautiful Ending" by BarlowGirl. What a tragedy when one lives for Christ and loses sight of the love He has shown to the point that their ending results in selfish desires leading self-destruction. When one chooses self over Christ, losing the steps paved for them and falling into the worst ending of it all.

At the end of it all, I want to be in His arms.