Carry Me - Seventh Day Slumber

On my knees
Searching within
I’ve come to the end of me
And I’m ready to begin
To find my purpose
To find my way
I’m reaching for you

And I am desperate
And I can’t do this on my own

Won’t you carry me
My arms are wide open
I’m giving everything
Won’t you carry me
Oh Lord I surrender
I’m letting go today

I’m forgiven
Because you paid the price
I still can’t seem to leave it all behind
All my failures
All of my mistakes
Still I’m reaching for you

And all of these years
So lost and broken
And all of these tears
I’ve walked alone
Now reaching for you

Adjustments – Things to Get Used to

1. Taking my keys to the bathroom with me.

2. Walking everywhere.

3. Having a TV (and people I don’t know) in my room.

4. People. Always. Nearly 6,000.

5. A chemistry teacher who stands on the desk.

6. The concept of frat parties, and the girls that go to them.

7. Strange sleeping hours.

8. Eating with a tray under my plate.

9. Free time.

10. Climbing into, and making, a loft bed. (Going to bed takes real commitment.)

11. Brushing my teeth with an automatic faucet. It’s harder than it sounds.

12. Closing my blinds to change. I’m afraid someone across the way, on BNB fourth floor may just need to get used to looking away. ;)

13. Climbing four flights of stairs to get to my room.

14. Making new friends.

15. Not having coffee every morning (which may change, since I’ve discovered our dorm’s convenience store).

16. Sarah Deleware.

17. Working out.

18. Initials – SUB, CSI, SAB, SA’s. . . they all have meanings too.

19. Being called Rebekah – I decided that I’d try it out, and not go by “Becky” up here. So far, I like it.

20. Remembering to ask for cell numbers or last names, so I can contact people again or find them on facebook.

21. Having my phone always on vibrate or silent.

22. Games of Humans vs. Zombies on the quad. Imagine massive groups of 18-25 year olds running around shooting each other with nerf guns and throwing socks at each other. It’s great fun.

23. Homework.

24. Having the time to pursue basically whatever I want to, including time at the gym, and more time in my devotions and prayer.

25. Being away from my family and friends. That’s the hardest one.

Miss and love you all! I’d love to hear from you, so feel free to call, e-mail, fb message, snail mail. . . whatever. . . me!

Rebekah

by Rachel Cohen

10. Alida's Dream

Hey kid,
I did it. So there. :)

Becky, the best friend one

18. Ecuador Scrapbook

It's done! Well, mostly. I finished it Friday afternoon before I left. :) Stop by and ask Mum if you'd like to see it.

Home

Home doesn't have a physical address but spiritual one, and can be found only at the end of a road-the road to Calvary.

From "Voice of the Martyrs," found on Rachel Eldredge's blog, Song in My Heart

A Truman Bulldog!

Hey guys!
Well, here I am, blogging (for the first time) from my dorm room. Let me say that again, slowly - my. dorm. room. *Deep breath. Nah, it's been great, so far. All . . . nearly 12 hours of it. :) My roommate is super chill, and I've met a lot of great girls on my floor and in my hall. The hard part is remembering names, and room numbers. I'm starting to get used to the whole exchanging cell phone numbers thing, because there isn't really another good way to make sure you connect with someone again! I'm really looking forward to CCF's on-campus worship service tomorrow morning - hoping to find a group of strong, Christian kids to spend my time here with.

Okay, time to be a good college student and prop my door open, and socialize. Love, and miss you all!

Becky. . . oh wait. Now I'm Rebekah. ;)

The Race is On

Mum and Dad stopped by my room this morning. Dad took one look, and had two comments (with two eyes, and one mouth, that's rather disproportionate, but oh well):

"Wow, if my room looked like that, I think I'd lock my door."
and
"There is no way you're going to get everything packed and your room cleaned up by Saturday."

Sounds like a challenge to me! I went shopping this morning and got even more stuff that I need to pack, so we shall see. Here's a picture from a few days ago - it is nothing near as orderly as this anymore. ;)

Devotional Thoughts from Oswald Chambers

Aug 17: Are You Discouraged or Devoted?

. . . Jesus . . . said to him, ’You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have . . . and come, follow Me.’ But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich —Luke 18:22-23

Have you ever heard the Master say something very difficult to you? If you haven’t, I question whether you have ever heard Him say anything at all. Jesus says a tremendous amount to us that we listen to, but do not actually hear. And once we do hear Him, His words are harsh and unyielding.

Our Lord knows perfectly well that once His word is truly heard, it will bear fruit sooner or later. What is so terrible is that some of us prevent His words from bearing fruit in our present life. I wonder what we will say when we finally make up our minds to be devoted to Him on that particular point? One thing is certain— He will never throw our past failures back in our faces.

Aug 18: Have You Ever Been Speechless with Sorrow?

When he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich —Luke 18:23

The rich young ruler went away from Jesus speechless with sorrow, having nothing to say in response to Jesus’ words. He had no doubt about what Jesus had said or what it meant, and it produced in him a sorrow with no words with which to respond. Have you ever been there? Has God’s Word ever come to you, pointing out an area of your life, requiring you to yield it to Him? Maybe He has pointed out certain personal qualities, desires, and interests, or possibly relationships of your heart and mind. If so, then you have often been speechless with sorrow. The Lord will not go after you, and He will not plead with you. But every time He meets you at the place where He has pointed, He will simply repeat His words, saying, "If you really mean what you say, these are the conditions."

"Sell all that you have . . ." ( Luke 18:22 ). In other words, rid yourself before God of everything that might be considered a possession until you are a mere conscious human being standing before Him, and then give God that. That is where the battle is truly fought— in the realm of your will before God. Are you more devoted to your idea of what Jesus wants than to Jesus Himself? If so, you are likely to hear one of His harsh and unyielding statements that will produce sorrow in you. What Jesus says is difficult— it is only easy when it is heard by those who have His nature in them. Beware of allowing anything to soften the hard words of Jesus Christ.

Going, Going. . .

Rebekah Hall
Dobson Hall 4106
1111 S. Mulanix St.
Kirksville, MO 63501

This is my new address, valid starting August 22nd. ;) I have zero expectation of hearing from anyone via it, but I posted it on principle. It's like an unwritten rule - "When you go to college, tell people your address so that they can not send you things." I find it strange, but oh well. I'm a big fan of following unwritten rules.

33. and 34. ish

So, some of the things that have happened this summer weren't on the list, and weren't very pleasant. However, I decided to add them to The List, even if they weren't things I particularly wanted to have happen, so that my memories would remain intact and organized numerically. You see, for the first time in my life (and both occurring in the past week), I:

33. Ran out of gas
and
34. Got a flat tire

Fun, huh?

23. The Great Cookie Dough Escapade

Hurray for tupperware, big chest freezers, and strong biceps! I have been making cookie dough off and on for this past week- so far, I have . . . actually, no idea how many dozen balls of cookie dough I have frozen. But it's a lot, and I am more than grateful that I'll be gone, and not subjected to eating any of them. 'Cause I know just what goes into those innocent looking spheres, and since that includes chocolate and a lot of sugar and good stuff like that, my waistline is going to be grateful to be three hours away. Just saying.

No pictures, because I'm lazy like that.

28. Touch a . . .

Sigh.

I did not touch a cow.

Or so Nathan informed me.

I did touch a bull, however.

It counts.

Trust me.

It does.

Even if my hand was in contact with the bull's head for all of .4672 seconds.

And even if I didn't let Mark take a picture of me doing it.

It still counts.

It was a once in a lifetime experience.

(Mostly, that means that I don't really want to do it again.)

Oh - and cows smell and drool. For the record.

Videos

Okay, so Isaac has discovered our video camera. And now, if you are so inclined, you could come over and watch countless hours of. . .

me making pies in the kitchen
Isaac and I drinking a blueberry smoothie
Isaac singing "I like to move it, move it" from Madagascar
Isaac and Elizabeth light saber fighting
Isaac snitching from the pies I just made, and me yelling "Don't touch the pies!"
Isaac talking about the "Democratics" and the "Publics," in a British accent
About 30 minutes of our carpet

And so much more!

10 Days - 10!

As I'm sure everyone reading this blog is aware, I'm headed to Truman State U, up in Kirksville, MO for school this fall. I leave in 10 days. Mum and I were talking yesterday, and she said that people keep asking her if I'm excited about school. She was like, "So. . .are you?"

Oh, I am so excited!
At the same time, I'm nervous about living on my own.
And I'm terrified at the intensity of how much I'll miss home.
And so much more - all at once, too. Who would have thought?

My dear friends have been very understanding during this time, comforting me when need be, and getting excited with me when the occasion calls for it. However, I am most encouraged when they remind me that God is going up to Truman with me. I've often marveled at how much the Psalmists trusted in God. Those are some of the most emotional chapters of the Bible. They were written at times of extreme feeling, both positive and negative. And yet, in each one, we see the quiet confidence the author has in the fact that God is there - that He is faithful - that His love never, ever fails. It's hard to always feel like that, isn't it? Often times, I don't feel like that at all. But I know - I always know - that despite what my feelings tell me, He is there, and He isn't going anywhere. Thank goodness!

I'd appreciate it if you'd keep me in your prayers these next 10 days, and the coming semester, as I begin this new phase of life. Praise God, that He is coming with me, and that he'll be there every step of the way. Ask that He continues the work He has begun in me - we have a long way to go, but I firmly believe that it can be done in Rolla, Kirksville, or where ever He may call me.

~Rebekah

"Be strong. Take courage. Don't be intimidated. Don't give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He's right there with you. He won't let you down; he won't leave you."
Deuteronomy 31:6

The Much Loved Pirates

Today, I'm watching the kids (Isaac and Libeth). This involves things like playing dollhouse, wiping bottoms, giving them lunch, putting them down for naps, and, of course, listening to Pirates of Penzance.

And I've got to tell you, Elizabeth does the policeman routine incredibly well. The little club and hat that she has definitely help with the overall effect. If you've never before experienced it, the ultimate is watching her from behind - oh gosh. I almost wet my pants it was so funny.

Try to envision it. (Her doing it, not me wetting my pants.)

29. Photos are Horrid

I had my picture taken with Alida!

Unfortunately, I looked awful. So, although it did count. . . .Yeah.

So rather than trouble you with that, Alida and I managed to think up an old photo that had both of us in it. Yay!

Don't laugh.

East to West – Casting Crowns

Here I am Lord,
and I'm drowning
in your sea of forgetfulness
the chains of yesterday surround me
I yearn for peace and rest
I don’t want to end up where you found me
and it echoes in my mind,
keeps me awake tonight

I know you cast my sin as far as the east is from the west
and I stand before you now,
as if I've never sinned
but today I feel like I'm just one mistake away
from you leaving me this way

And Jesus can you show me
just how far the east is from the west
cause I can't bear to see the man I've been
rising up in me again
in the arms of your mercy I find rest,
cause you know just how far the East is from the West
from one scarred hand to the other.

I start the day the war begins
endless reminding of my sin
time and time again your truth is drowned out
by the storm I'm in
today I feel like I'm just one mistake away,
from you leaving me this way

And Jesus can you show me,
just how far the East is from the West
cause I can't bear to see the man I've been
rising up in me again
in the arms of your mercy I find rest
'cause you know just how far the East is from the West
from one scarred hand to the other.

I know you've washed me white,
turned my darkness into light
I need your peace to get me through,
to get me through this night
can't live by what I feel
but by the Truth your Word reveals,
I'm not holding on to you
but you're holding on to me,
you're holding on to me

Jesus you know
just how far the East is from the West
I don't have to see the man I've been,
rising up in me again
in the arms of your mercy I find rest
'cause you know just how far the East is from the West,
just how far,
from one scarred hand to the other.

Ecuador!

Yesterday evening, we got back from our big family vacation of the summer - two weeks in Ecuador. Of course, it was incredible. But you know me (if you're reading my blog, you'd better know me!) - I'm so glad to be home!

We have nearly 600 photos from the trip - and that's just our family. It was a family reunion, so that means there were 4 other digital cameras. I'm willing to bet that each one of them took more photos than we did.

On our way home, I had a thought (yes, it does happen) - what if I (oh horrors!) made a paper scrapbook, with printed photos, instead of blogging 7 billion (Isaac's favorite number) posts to show them all? As Harlow Doyle (from Odyssey) would say, "A brilliant idea!"

So - if you want to see Ecuador photos, then swing by our house in about two weeks and I'll let you have a peek. Or, if you really, really want to see some now - click here for an online album of them.

A Summer to Remember

Right before our family left for Ecuador, we had the last week at Camp David of the Ozarks, where I’ve been spending a large amount of my summer. We had 2 “senior” weeks, with campers age 13-16, and 4 “junior” weeks, for kids 8-12 years old. I never really had much interaction with any of the kids – looking at 500+ pictures of them each week doesn’t count. Even so, it was an incredible experience. There were days that were long, and hard, and even stressful, but I’d do it all over again in an instant.

Probably my favorite part was the relationships I made – new relationships, outside my “usual” group, that I wouldn’t have otherwise been a part of. Earlier, I already mentioned Sissy, the camp nurse. She was always such fun to have around, especially since in past years, she did a lot of what I did this year. We always enjoyed comparing notes.

Of course, Grace and Ben were just fantastic. Grace especially, as the one I answered to, really helped me to gain a new, fresh perspective on life. One of the things I heard her saying over and over again was, “It’s not a problem, it’s an opportunity.” While there were times when she wasn’t sure how things would work out, I never saw her anxious or unsettled – regardless of the chaos around her, she never lost her peace, and her giggle was always to be heard.

Another person I got to know well this summer, especially during the boys’ weeks, was Danielle Foley, my twin. She got to be office help, and do all the boring, and/or really awful jobs that I didn’t want to do. Apparently, we look alike. . . neither of us can really see it, but several people told us so. Anyways, she was always tons of fun to have around, especially when she played the weird African music on the computer, and made horse sounds when she was frustrated. Love you, Dani!

Linda, the horse director, was also a sweetie. Although her job mainly consisted of outdoor activities, and mine consisted of entirely inside activities, her encouragement and friendly conversation were there anytime we came into contact. She always made me feel so important, and valued, and was a really good role model for the campers and wranglers.

Lydia and Zach were two people who, although I didn’t get to know them too well, always helped bring a smile to my face. Without fail, I would embarrass myself in front of Zach whenever he was in the office. He never said anything about it. . . but I’m not sure he knew what to think of me. Lydia, on the other hand, is one of those people who, after having only one conversation with, you feel like you’ve known a lifetime. She was so very sweet, and so good to me. I loved the few conversations I had with her, and wish that time and space would allow us to become even closer.

Lastly, I just loved it when my friends came out to be counselors. I think I already mentioned Andy coming out in an earlier post. The week after he came, my dear friend Ashley was a counselor, and then several weeks later, Carl and Zephan were there. It’s always neat to get to see them interacting with the kids, having a great time.

So there you have it – that’s what I’ve been doing with my life most of this summer! It’s been a truly growing experience, and I can’t wait to see if I get to keep being involved in this ministry in years to come.

8. Cartwheeling with Style!

This is me. I did a cartwheel. Over the equator in Quito, Ecuador. I went from the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern Hemisphere on my hands. It was thrilling.

(It took Andy like 10 tries to get this shot. My hands were tired.)

Cartwheels. They rock my socks.