Month One: The Coffee Corner

Well, I have been open for a month. I am truly amazed that I own a Coffee Shop. This has been my dream for quit some time and now it is real. I forgot that I own a business. There are days that I feel like I am just working for someone, but then I am like nope this is your business Michelle. I can't believe it, God has made one of my dreams come true!

He doesn't just put desires on your heart for no reason at all. When you consult Him about guiding your path I find the things that have been layed on my heart are things God has put there. He has blessed me beyond measure with my life. He gave me the desire of working at Rainy Pass Lodge and blessed me with three amazing summers there so far and a desire to continue my work there. He just blessed me with a dream of opening and owning my very own coffee shop, MY VERY OWN, CRAZY! I just can't thank Him enough.

Now back to me owning The Coffee Corner. I am reminded daily to put my trust in God. I believe that God has let me open this Coffee Shop for a reason and that He will provide for me. I am not the biggest fan of knowing the finacil side of owning a business. When I am at work everyday I think of how I need to be selling more so that I can make my bills on time. It is a scary thought thinking that I won't have the money to keep things open, but I have to daily remember that God will provide and it might not be the biggest profit at first, but I trust He will provide what is needed to stay open. I love making coffee for people and serving them. It brings great joy to my heart when I hear that my coffee is wonderful, or I make the best cup in town. I get to be my own boss, that is pretty neat to think about. As I have said, God has blessed me and I pray that I can trust Him, daily with providing what is needed.

I have had a crazy amount of love and support from family and friends who have come to buy coffee. They are very excited for me and can't wait to see The Coffee Corner take off!

Some friends enjoying their coffee and a chat.

Me on opening day.

We have puzzles...

And games!

I am supporting Guiding Influence, a Non-Profit in Alaska raising money to send youth to Rainy Pass Lodge, where they learn to be Makers, not Takers.

I also bake my own goodies with the help of a lovely friend. 

Dreams Do Come True

Well I have been home from the lodge for a whole month now. Time sure does fly by, it seems like just yesterday I was baking cookies and serving wonderful guests.

Since I have been home I feel has I have terribly informed my friends and those I love dearly what is going on in my crazy life. But here I will just only begin to describe what is making my life so crazy, and drum role please....

...I am opening up a coffee shop. Yup you heard that right, I am a business owner and dreams do come true.

So this has been something that I have wanted to do for I don't even remember how long, but I do know that ever since I was a little girl when I was asked what I want to be when I grew up I never really knew, I just knew that I wanted to be the boss of my self and create my own schedule. When I was in High School, I believe, is when I decide that I loved coffee and wanted to open up a coffee shop. This summer while I was at the lodge, one of the many times I chatted with my mom, she asked me if I was ready to open a coffee shop. At first I thought that things would not progress, so I said of course. As the time went by I would talk to my mom about it all and we started to plan things. She was my voice for me while I was at the lodge. She made the phones that needed to happen and I was making the money that I needed to get things going, we make a great team ;)

Well fast-forward to now. As I said before I have been home from the lodge for a month now and this month has been filled with business things. Like painting the room my coffee shop is going (p.s. I am renting space from my mom in her consignment shop for home decor), helping my brothers build the counter top that I will making coffee on, decorating the room, making a menu, tuning up my barista skills, buying coffee, tea, and other necessary supplies. Things just don't stop.

We have had slight problems, but they will work themselves out in God's time. The goal was to be open a week ago or this wonderful day on November 1st, but as I had mentioned things are going at their own pace and I have no control over it. So as I wait I have to find my patience that is being tested ever so much and keep my heart focused on God who has been making this dream possible and has been my strength on the hard days.

I truly can't thank my whole family enough. They have been such a HUGE help in getting things going. My dad helps me hang shelfs, my brothers built the counter and the base, mom has been there for me every step of the way with paper work, to buying supplies, to painting and sewing curtains. It is truly a family affair.

Progress pictures....

 Before Paint...

 Walls have been painted and I got to start decorating.

 The frame of the counter...in progress.

 Base Complete and in the shop.

 Counter top installed and sinks are going in.

 Decor and sign...

Some of my favorite art work on the wall. 

A piece of my heart is there. 

Rainy Pass Lodge.

This is where my seating is.

Decorating and the seating arrangements are in progress.

(If you haven't noticed yet my decor scheme is rustic/county/Alaskan, where my heart belongs.)

There is still work to be done, but things are coming along nicely and I couldn't be more excited that my dreams are coming true, well unless it was happening a little faster, but again I am not in control and God has a plan for it all. 

Hopefully I will post again soon and the rest of the progress and when we are open fro business. Until then thanks for catching up on my life and whereabouts. Love you all!

Changing Seasons...

I can't believe it is just about time to pack up and head home. Four months is almost up. The seasons come and go, watching summer temps rise and the snow melt off the tops of the mountains as the colors change to green and the flowers come out in all their color and beauty. I just love watching the season pass and enjoy them for how God has created them. Fall is here and there is beautiful reds and yellows all around, turning quick with the frosty mornings we have had. No termination dust on the close mountain tops yet, but when you step outside on a clear morning you can feel the crispness of winter and smell the snow in the air, winter is just around the corner and that means I am going to be home soon.

Home has been a different place in the different seasons these past 2 1/2 years. Here the lodge has been my summer home and during the fall, winter and spring I made my home in Cannon Beach, OR at tenting Ecola Bible School. Now I get to go back to the place that has been home for the majority of my 20 years of life. I get to be with my family; dad, mom and my three brothers. I am just ecstatic to be going back and spending time with them. Getting reconnected with my church and friends that are still around. This is the moment I have been longing for and it is only a month away, a month that will fly by if I blink and then I will be gone. So I must remember to enjoy this place of home at Rainy Pass Lodge, soak up being in the middle of God's creation and just enjoy watching the season change. Enjoy being curled up next to a fire, reading a good book because before I know it I will be back where cars are my transportation and I will be busy and in the hustle and bustle of life with everyone else.

 

July 2014

September 2014

Two Weeks into the Season

I couldn't ask for a better place to be spending my summer than here at Rainy Pass Lodge. It still amazes me to this day that this is my third summer being here, I still remember applying for the job and just waiting to hear back from the Perrins. The patience I endured on waiting to here what my summer may be bringing in 2012 was only a thought and a dream and to think that this dream came true and have been accepted by the whole family as a little sister has meant the world to me. I just can't comprehend the fact that this is summer 3. The Perrins have blessed me and loved me here. I am more than happy to call this place my home. 

This season has been a little on the slower side so far. We have a group of four campers out here with a nonprofit that Steve 2 and his wife Carly started. They are four boys ages 14-17. They get to experience different work projects, go on horse back rides, canoeing, volleyball, horseshoes, shooting guns and bows. They are having a blast, but a large part of this camp is learning to me a maker and not a taker in our world today. They have daily talks and are learning more about themselves everyday. It is a truly amazing thing to watch them grow and talk about life together and the bond that they make with one another is truly amazing. 

I have not been super busy, but busy enough. Helping Denise cook for the campers and staff, we are up to about 15 of us that we cook for. I am of course on dessert and cookies making duty and let me tell you these boys and pack the cookies away and the food, I am in shock at every meal. 

The first week of being here was before the campers arrived and Carly and moved the kitchen from the Main Lodge (what is used in the winter) to the Cookhouse....and that is no small task. We had to deep clean the place and them bring dishes, pots, pans, utensils, and food over, it doesn't sound like much, but it is a day long task and an exhausting one at that. After moving everything over the next day the hot water heater broke down, we had to resort to boiling our water to do the dishes until we could get another hot water heater out on the next plane. 

That first week we got to go on the first horse back ride of the season and it was so peaceful and enjoyable. I love the horses out here.

The weather has not been super pleasant, we all feel like it is fall time and supposed to be hunting season. It has been rainy and windy for about a week and a half. We are all ready for the summer weather. Where is our sunshine and heat??  

That has been my life so far and it feels like I have been here for more than 2 weeks, but in a good way. I can't wait to see what else this summer is going to bring and what new experiences I will be having.

I will always say this is the Best Job Ever...I have no idea how long I will be doing this for, but if I still enjoy it I will be back again and again. This place has stolen my heart and no matter what will be one of my most favorite places on earth.

Growth and Lessons Learned...Ecola

Well I have been graduated from Ecola Bible School for about a month now. How the time has flown.

I was blessed beyond measure these past two years at Ecola, I would have never imagined the growth and stretching I would be going thought or all the friends or I should say family I would be gaining. God taught me a lot about myself and also about life while being at Ecola.

For this who don't know Ecola Bible School is a little place located on the beautiful coast of Oregon in Cannon Beach, with the famous Haystack Rock and many wonderful hiking places, you couldn't ask for a more God created location. He is everywhere you look, as you gaze as far as the eye can see into the ocean and up the mountains in the trees and to the sky. A one year bible program with the option of applying to the Second Year School Of Ministry Program.

I completed my first year not feeling like a grew a whole bunch, but knowing that deep down God had worked in my heart and was going to continuing doing so. I had lots of fun my first year, going on walks and hikes just about everyday or playing some volleyball, basketball and ultimate frisbee, of course with some studying here and there. It was a year full of FUN and meeting lots of new people. I was drug out of my comfort zone from the moment I stepped onto that campus knowing I would be going somewhere far from home and family and friends. I didn't know a single soul there and was ready to make new friends. It came a lot easier than I had expected. God blessed me with a wonderful best friend within the first week, not knowing how deep our friendship would grow, but by the end of the year we where not seen apart and if we you did see us apart it was weird.

As the year progressed I tossed around the idea of going to Second Year, or at least applying. The whole reason I decided to attend Ecola was because I would only be away from Alaska for a year (8 months) and I thought that was long enough for this heart that belongs in Alaska. I would toss around the idea about every other week, yes I will apply, no I won't, yes, no, back and fourth. When I went home I told everyone I would apply, but by the time it was time to go back to school I was not ready to leave home or think about even applying to come back. A few weeks back from break the applications for SOM came out and I applied, telling myself that if I got accepted that I would apply to be an RA as well. Not really wanting to have to be in charge and lay down rules to a dorm full of girls, but just wanting to open that door before I closed it completely to what God might have planned. Low and behold I got accepted to the School of Ministry and not much longer down the road got the position as one of the female RA's. I was excited and nervous about what the year was going to bring.

Summer came and went in the blink of an eye at the lodge for me and it was back to Oregon again.

Upon arriving I found out that I would be the RA of the Anchorage Dorm, I was so excited, that was my dorm my first year. It was hard being there and remembering all the memories form the year before, knowing in my that this year would be different and that I was not there as a first year but a second year this time, and that the girls would be looking up to me and seeking me out for advice and to be a listening ear.

The year flew by, I didn't think it would be over so fast. I was stretched in many ways. I would have not said YES make and RA because I am not always the best with dealing with girls and all the emotions and drama that comes with it. I did grow up with three brothers and then worked with a bunch of guys at a hunting lodge, I know how to handle and joke with the guys, but the girls are a bit different. Learning curve! I had to lean on God more than ever to get me through the year. He was my strength and energy. I would have not survived the year without Him. Staying up until at "earliest" 12:30 every night to do dorm checks and chat with my girls and then rising in the morning, learning quickly how much I liked my sleep and learned how to sleep in until the last minutes before going to class. I learned how to manage time better due to having all this homework assigned and it not due until the end of each term....any like to procrastinate? I know I do, but I learned fast that I needed to use my spare time to do homework, whenever that spare time came up. I learned that I am not going to be a counselor when I grown up, I enjoyed girls talking to me, but I know I learned things about people I would have never guessed or really wanted to her, but God knew I could do it and that I would be finding Him. I learned that sometimes you don't need to give advice, but just let people talk it out as they already know in their heart the answer they just wanted to talk about it and get to the point out loud. Life was good, more time was spent getting to know and love on those around me, my brothers and sisters in Christ.

I miss my time at Ecola, but know that it is time to move on and see what God has next. I made great life long friends. And I would never want to trade my time at Ecola for anything different. God knew what He was doing for sure, and I am so glad that He lead me there.

 Famous Haystack Rock

 Graduation from Second Year

 Prayer Group Ladies

Dorm Ladies

Everyday is Part of Your Ministry...(Essay)

This was the last paper that I had to write for school this year. It was a persuasive essay and I chose my topic to be Ministry Outside of the Church and Mission Field. I believe that every has a ministry wherever God has placed them. Since this was our last paper we didn't get our final grade back, which was fine by me as I had many problems writing this paper, with my computer crashing and loosing it, to  not emailing it properly to myself. So me finishing this thing was a miracle and I know it is not the best I have done, but if you feel the like reading it please do.

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Michelle Tingstrom

Paul Knoch

Persuasive Essay

April 27,2014

Ministry Outside of The Church

“Your everyday work and mine must be included among the “all things” that we now claim for God's kingdom through Christ. And since our ordinary work belongs to God, we make the delightful discovery that we serve only one Master – our heavenly Employer.”(Peabody p.18). Everyone of us is in a Ministry weather it be Pastoral, cross-cultural Missionary, or working in what we like to call the “secular work field.” As believers and Christ-followers, we are to be furthering God's kingdom in all that we do, no matter what field of work we are in. “The New Testament draws no sacred/secular lines between Christians in full-time service and those in other types of work. It teaches that all Christians should serve God full time, even though differing vocations display such service in a variety of forms.”(Peabody p.18). God has called us all to help fulfill the Great Commission; He has blessed us all with different gifts, He has given us different callings in life and He has put different desires on our hearts. We were created in His image and He was the first keeper of this earth. We need to carry out what He started to keep the earth going.

We have been put on a mission by our commanding officer, Jesus Christ, and the mission is to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19 ESV Bible). This mission was first given 

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to Jesus' eleven disciples. As they were told to go out and make disciples, we are to follow in suit and carry out the Great Commission as well. Paul talks about what it means to go and make disciples in 2 Timothy 2:2; “And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”(ESV Bible). We must go out and preach the gospel to all the nations. This might mean being a preacher or a missionary, but it is not limited to these things. Not all are talented to carry out the Great Commission in those ways; some are to be farmers, clothing designers or even entrepreneurs. “Our primary object is to produce mature men and women whose ordinary station and positions in life can be transformed into platforms for ministry for maintaining this earth according to God's plan, for shedding God's light and love in an embittered world full of darkness and self love.” (Peabody p.134).

God has not made all people capable of doing all the same jobs in the world. He has blessed us with gifts that vary from one another. Paul talks about the different gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:4; “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord.” (ESV Bible). I would say that if we are blessed with different gifts, then God is calling us to different occupations in life. Not everyone is gifted to teach, be pastors, or to go out into the world and be cross-cultural missionaries. If God has given us different gifts, we should work and apply our gifts where we are going to best be used to bring glory to God. Paul also talks about how we are all in the same body of Christ with many parts: “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” (1 Corinthians 12:12 ESV Bible). He goes on to say, “But as it is, God 

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arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.”(1 Corinthians 12:18-20 ESV Bible). We are all blessed with different gifts to carry out the Great Commission. In this we are able to reach out to all the people of the nations. As Christians called on the mission of preaching the gospel to non-Christians a place to start is where you have been called by God to work, whether it be a preacher or an entrepreneur. God has given us all different gifts and we need to use them as is pleasing to Him.
We have been called to minister others. “Ministering means taking care of the needs of others.” (May p.68). God has sent us all on a mission; the Great Commission is out mission. Now being on a mission you might think of missionaries in other countries spreading the gospel, but in fact one definition of missionary is “A person send on a mission. Mission means: it’s a specific task with which a person or group is charges (affecting, touching).” (May p.68). God’s calling for you may look different from your best friend’s calling, and that is okay because going back to our gifts, we all are blessed differently, excelling in certain areas of life. Larry Peabody says it so well: “Each of us must rely upon the holy Spirit in discerning God’s calling for us personally.” (Peabody p.28). Whether God wants you in full time gospel work or in ordinary work we are to obey Him and listen to His calling. “Engagement in gospel work is no indicator of the level of one’s commitment to Christ. God sets some apart for the work of the gospel, and He sets others apart to bear fruit in the ordinary vocations.” (Peabody p.28). It is okay to feel inadequate in the ministry God is calling you to as long as you are asking God to support you every step of the way. Don’t be afraid that God is just going to change his mind. 

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God is not in the business of changing His mind. If He said it and has shown you a certain ministry to do, He believes you are able to do it. God would not say, ‘I have called you to be a preacher,’ or anything else in ministry and then say, Never mind. You’re not good enough. God knew exactly what He was doing when He called you. He knew all your failures, your weaknesses, your strengths, and your abilities. He sees beyond what we see in ourselves. First Samuel 16:7 (NLT) says, “The Lord does not look at things man looks at, man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. God sees the potential in us when no one else does. (May p.102).

 I agree with Tracy May that God will not just up and change His mind about where He has called you, but it is possible that He will call you somewhere else in the future.`

Along with our gifts and calling, we all have desires on our heart. These desires will be given to you as said in Psalm 37:4; “Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” (ESV Bible). As we continue to submit to the Lord and let Him guide our path, He will give us the desires of our hearts. When we pray, we should ask the Lord to align the desires of our heart with His heart. If you are seeking God in all you do, your hearts desires should be what He has placed on your heart. “These desires you have and those talents that you were born with came from God, so surely he knows how to bring those desires you have into his purpose and calling on your life. Never underestimate the hand of God, who you were created for.” (May p.106). God does not want to make your life miserable. He never said that it would be easy, but if he has blessed you with talents and you have a desire to go to where your talents are going to be best used to bring glory to Him and His kingdom, then I believe that He will call you.

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So you are a farmer, a clothing designer, a construction worker, or even a cook. Fun fact, God was the first of all those works. He planted the first crop when He created the earth. He made the first piece of clothing to cover man in Genesis 3:21: “ And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.”(ESV Bible). He designed the first boat for transporting and he was the first architect designing the Tabernacle. “These few examples make it clear that a large part of God's will for our lives centers about our daily work.” (Peabody p. 71).We are carrying out the work that God had started, contributing to the earth that He created.

God has blessed us with all different talents and gifts. He has put different desires on our hearts. He has called us to different work fields. We are uniquely created, all put on the earth to carry out one purpose, to carry out the Great Commission. “Remember, all ministries are unique in their own way. God created each one of us to be used differently with different personalities and with unique ways for the body of Christ.” (May p.105-106).

Works Cited

ESV Study Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2010. Print.

May, Tracy. Ministry Surrounds Me. Mustang, OK: Tate, 2011. Print.

Peabody, Larry D. Secular Work Is Full-time Service. Fort Washington, PA: Christian Literature Crusade, 1974. Print.

Suffering, Joy, & Glory

Every Monday Dave Duff the Director of Ecola teaches a class to the second years on the Principles of Ministry. This class was one that really hit home for me and thought I would share it with you.  So here are my notes that I took.

This is WAR!

And part of being a soldier is suffering, it is inevitable.
       -1 Peter 2:19-21

Scripture makes it abundantly clear that suffering is part of the deal for EVERY Christian.
       -John 15:18-20

But especially for those who would serve the Lord in Ministry.
       -2 Timothy 1:8, 3:12

Suffering can come to us from many sours and take many forms:
  In Hardship:
       -Pauls list 2 Corinthians 11:23-27
  In Temptation:
       -2 Corinthians 11:29
  From the Enemy:
       -2 Corinthians 11:13-15
  Rejection of the message:
       -Isaiah 53:1
  Suffering caused by unbelievers:
       -1 Peter 4:4, 4:14; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2
  Suffering caused by believers

Make no mistake, suffering is part of the package.
       -Philippians 1:29, 3:10

Once again our primary example is Jesus:
       -Hebrews 2:9-10

But the resold of suffering is GLORY.
       -Philippians 2:8-9
       -Isaiah 53:11-12
       -Romans 8:17-18
       -Hebrews 11:32-38 (The Hall of Faith)

Hebrews 12:1-3
1 Peter 4:19

(Class date: January 22, 2014)

Worship is an Everyday Thing

For our Second Term Paper here at Ecola we had to pick a Christain Topic and write a research informative paper on the topic, my topic was Worship. I chose to do mine on worship because most people think of worship as just singing, which is just merely a form of worship. It was so great to read on the topic and expand my knowledge on everyday acts of worship. I did very well on this paper and got a check plus. So if you so desire to learn on the topic of worship and want to ready my paper, here it is and I hope you enjoy.

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Michelle Tingstrom
Paul Knoch
Writing Class
February 23, 2014

Worship Everyday with Every Action

What is worship? John MacArthur defines worship as “our innermost being responding with praise for all that God is, through our attitudes, actions, thoughts, and words, based on the truth of God as he has revealed Himself” (MacArthur 165). Also Louie Giglio defines it as, “our response, both personal and corporate, to God - for who He is! and what He has done! expressed in and by the things we say and the way we live” (Giglio 53). When we worship, God doesn’t just want the words we say, but He wants us to worship in our every action (Giglio 76).
There are four unacceptable ways to worship. We can worship false gods, worship the true God in a wrong form, worshiping the true God in a self-styled way, and also worship the true God with a wrong attitude (MacArthur).
First with worshiping false gods, as a fallen human race we have a tendency to idolize things we have a passion for and in turn worship them. A false god can be a material object or it can be mythical and supernatural being (MacArthur 20). Exodus 34:14 says, “You shall not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God” (ESV Bible).
When we worship God in a wrong form, we tend to make a sculpture of what  we think God is, and in turn start to worship that thing. We don’t know what God looks like - we only can imagine it but we can’t limit God, even visually. We can’t reduce God to an image like the

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Israelites did in Exodus 32 when they made a golden calf and worshiped it as God (MacArthur 22). “And he received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden calf. And they said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’(ESV Bible, Exodus 32:4).
Nadab and Abihu worshiped God in a self-styled manner when they burned incenses that where not commanded by the Lord on the altar. An example of how people today have worshiped God in a self-styled manner would be when a lady in New Mexico was frying a tortilla and found that her skillet made marks on the tortilla that looked like Jesus. She then went to her priest and got him to bless it. We are not to worship God by taking liberties and doing things our own way (Grace To You).
A subtle kind of worship is when we worship God with the wrong attitude. To have the right attitude in worship, our hearts are to be fully in the worship, giving the best we have and being filled with awe and reverence (MacArthur 24).
Worship doesn’t just happen on a whim; we are to prepare for worship. These are the checkpoints: sincerity, fidelity, humility, and purity. Hebrews 10:22 says, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (ESV Bible). We are to draw near with sincerity and a true heart. We are to have a single-minded heart that is fixed and focused on God. In fidelity we are to “draw near in full assurance of faith” (MacArthur 186). Believers must access God throughout Christ by faith, fully assured He is the way. We are to come humbled because of our unworthiness, knowing we don’t deserve to be purified by the blood of Jesus Christ. With

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purity we should confess daily and purge spiritually, dealing with our sins (MacArthur). “Without them we are not prepared to enter God’s presence to worship. If, however, we can pass those checkpoints, we may draw near in full confidence, and God will draw near to us” (MacArthur 188).
You may wonder where are we to worship. John says, “The sphere of worship is unlimited” (MacArthur 137). Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 6:19-29, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (ESV Bible). As believers we are living and breathing temples where God dwells. Therefore, we are able to worship God everywhere; on the beach, in the woods, on top of a mountain, in the store, driving in our car, flying on a plane, when we go for a run, while shopping, and even while we are in a church building (MacArthur 136).
There are three dimensions of worship: outward, inward, and upward. To clarify, they can be done by praising God, doing good, and sharing with others. “The Scriptures are dedicated to the subject of worship from cover to cover, so the believer should be dedicated to the activity of worship, consumed with a desire to use every moment of his life to devote himself to doing good to all, sharing our blessings with our neighbors, and praising God, who is the source of all goodness and every blessing” (MacArthur 46).
The outward dimension is how we act and treat those around us. Paul talks about how to treat others in the book of Ephesians: “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who

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hear” (ESV Bible, Ephesians 4:29). It gives God glory when we treat His creation with love and respect. “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (ESV Bible, Ephesians 4:23).
The inward dimension is our personal behavior. People observe us daily and see the way we behave, we should behave in a way to glorify the Lord. Ephesians 5:15-20 says, “Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (ESV Bible).
With upward dimension we are focusing on the praise we give to God. In Hebrews 13:15 it says, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that openly profess his name” (ESV Bible)
When we worship we are to do so in Spirit and truth. Worship takes place in the spirit, you don’t need a specific place to worship but, you do need to have an undivided heart.  Psalm 103 says, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!” (ESV Bible, Psalm 103:1).  We worship God by praise. In psalm 103, David is praising God for all that he is from his soul and his spirit. You have a worshipping spirit when you are prodded by the Holy Spirit, and we receive the Holy Spirit when we accept that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. To worship in truth “is a response of adoration and praise prompted by truth that God has

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revealed” (MacArthur 160). John 1:1 tells us that the word, or scripture, is God: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (ESV Bible).
When we worship God we are glorifying Him. We can glorify God with unwavering faith, verbal praise, confession of our sins, abundance of fruit, confident prayer, having a
willingness to suffer, with a contented heart, and being a clear witness (MacArthur)
We glorify God when our faith in Him is not wavering. This doesn’t mean that we don’t think through the meaning of what God has revealed to us, but that we don’t let it settle in our hearts to leave us doubting God. “Faith is perhaps the most basic form of worship” (MacArthur 176). In Romans 4, Paul writes about the Faith that Abraham had: “No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised” (ESV Bible, Romans 4:20-21). We, as christians, tend to think of doubt and worry as small sins, but when we “display unbelief, anxiety, or an inability to cope with life”, we are saying “My God cannot be trusted” (MacArthur 176). That kind of untrust is dishonoring to God and does not glorify Him.
Praising God with our mouths is another way we can glorify God daily. We praise Him verbally when we give thanks for what he has done for us and those around us.  1 Chronicles 29:13 says, “And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name” (ESV Bible).
When we confess our sins, we are agreeing with God on our responsibility of our sins and are humbling ourselves before Him. John 1:8-10 says, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a

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liar, and his word is not in us” (ESV Bible). Obeying God’s truth is worship. In His word He speaks of confession of our sins, which in turn is a form of worship.
Being a fruitful believer also brings glory to God. Jesus said in John 15:8, “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples” (ESV Bible). In Galatians 5, Paul expands on what the fruit of spirit saying: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (ESV Bible, Galatians 5:22-23a).  Fruit in our lives reflects God’s character in us.
“Prayer is a form of worshiping God. Our prayer can be a message to Him that we love Him and are thankful for everything He has done for us. Prayer can also be a way to ask God about things or for things” (Life’s Handbook). John 14:13 says, “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (ESV Bible). When we glorify God we are in turn worshiping Him.
We are to love God so much that we are willing to suffer for Him. Peter is one example of being called to glorify God by dying for Him. He wrote in 1 Peter 4:14-17, “If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (ESV Bible). Suffering is not only dying but as Peter wrote in the previous verses, it can also be being insulted.
We should live our life in contentment. As it is written in Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the

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Lord always; again I will say, rejoice” (ESV Bible).This is rejoicing, regardless of the circumstances that we are in.
“We worship God by proclaiming His Word with clarity” (MacArthur 184). When we profess God’s word to those around us, and bring them to Christ through that, we are glorifying God. “For when a person is redeemed, he too begins to worship in spirit and truth and devotes his life to the glory of God” (MacArthur 184). We are to be a witness to those around us.
“Nothing is more important than worship. It is the theme of Scripture, the theme of eternity, the theme of redemptive history - to worship the true and living and glorious God. Worship is the central issue in all of creation!” (MacArthur, Back cover). So if nothing is more important than worship and we worship God in our every action then we should be aware of how we are acting with or without others watching our every move. Remember to glorify God in all you do. Prepare your heart for worship and let the worship begin.

Works Cited

MacArthur, John. Worship: The Ultimate Priority. Chicago, IL: Moody, 2012. Print.
Giglio, Louie. The Air I Breathe: Worship as a Way of Life. Sisters, Or.: Multnomah, 2003. Print.
ESV Study Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2008. Print.
"Life's Handbook." Prayer and Worship -. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2014.
<http://lifeshandbook.wikidot.com/prayer-and-worship>.
"Grace To You." True Worship, Part 2. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2014.
<http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/2005/true-worship-part-2>.

You Blink and Time Starts to Go Faster

   Well Spring Break is here and gone already. I spent the first week in Cannon Beach just relaxing and hanging out with the few that were still there. It was a great way for me to start of break. Next I got blessed with the chance to go home for a week, let me tell you that was a total God thing (quick story) I had been looking at tickets to see what I could afford to do over spring break and tickets to come home round-trip were averaging about $600 and I knew there was no way that I could just do that. My plans to stick around the coast started to come together, at least just the first week and as I thought more and more about it I figured I would be doing some couch hopping and wasn't looking forward to that. Well on Valentines day my mom texts me and say I got your tax return and you are getting almost $400 back. That weekend I got the thought to look at tickets to come home again and they were down to $180 one-way and I had miles to cover one way, so in the end I bought a ticket home for $180 and spent a week in Cannon Beach and week in Alaska.

   While I was home I got the chance to have lunch with a dear friend that I have known since Kindergarten, have dinner with yet another dear friend that I have also known since Kindergarten, meet my dear friends little baby girl and spend about four hours chatting with her and her mom, I got to go to a treasured families home and see all there little (not so little) kids and meet the newest addition to their family and hear the stories of bringing him home from a village, so heart warming, I had lunch with yet another friend, and a yummy family dinner with all of my brothers and family friends.

   I can't believe how fast break went and I am sad to be leaving, but so excited to get back to school and see everyone again. These next 8 weeks are gonna fly by so fast and once they are done only God knows when we will see each other again or if we will ever. I am almost done with Two years of Bible School.

   Alaska here I come in May and ready to be back, Rainy Pass Lodge I hope you are ready for me. I am so excited to see what God has in store for me next.

My Whole30 Challenge

I had a good friend share this with me. It is called the Whole30, a month devoted to eating whole raw foods for 30 days, no dairy, gluten, beans, sugars...just the fruits, veggies, some meats, and some nuts. When she first mentioned this to me and asked if I wanted to join I thought NO WAY! a) I was on a meal plan at school and had no control over what they were feeding me b) I didn't have the money or time to prep meals that I could eat. After she finished the Whole30 and I found out how much better she felt, after reading a lot about it on the website (http://whole30.com), reading other testimonies and also buying the book It Starts with Food to read it, I thought to myself, I have been feeling tired and want to feel better about myself and my body, I decided to do it!

So over Spring Break I started on the track to a healthier feeling me. I cooked all the dinners and breakfasts that I would need to eat once school started back up and froze them.

I am 3 full days in so far and I am feeling good and enjoying cooking meals and just eating healthier, no big changes yet but I am excited to see how I feel at the end of this. I will do my best to keep you updated on how I am doing and what I am eating.

Day One:
I was feeling a bit of a headache coming on and some flu like symptoms at the end of the day, but those went away with lots of water and a good nights rest.

Day Two:
Still some headaches here and there but nothing unbearable. I even went and had dinner with some friend and there was homemade pizza (my weakness) and salad, I said no to the pizza and YES TO THE SALAD.

Day Three:
Feeling fine. No headaches just the munchies which is where carrots, cucumbers, and strawberries came in handy for me.

Day Four:
Black coffee has never been my first option, but when you go out to coffee with a friend that is what you get and I drank it no problem...still not my favorite, but hey better than nothing...and watching them eat yummy coffee cake is a challenge, but I am strong and I have got this. A yummy salad with chicken, hard boiled egg, carrots, bell peppers, spinach, avocado and cucumber was just what I needed to fill me up.

I hope that I can inspire others to take on this challenge as well and that I can be successful in it.

Harriet Tubman

     One of our assignments each term in the Second Year Program at Ecola is to write a 5-8 page Essay. Our first essay was a Biography and I write mine on Harriet Tubman. My overall grade was a Check, not to bad, I had one spelling error and then did not cite my work throughout the paper enough, but here it is if you are interested.

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Michelle Tingstrom
Paul Knoch
Biography-Harriet Tubman
November 20, 2013

The Life of Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman was born into slavery. She was born in Dorchester County, Maryland. The exact year of her birth is unknown. She is thought to have been born between 1820 and 1825. Her parents gave her the name Araminta Harriet Ross.
According to the family lore Harriet was one of eleven children, but it is not known in which order she was born in regards to her brothers and sisters. While her mother was away from the home, Harriet was required to take care of a younger brother and an infant. This could possible lead to the idea that she was the eighth child born. As Harriet was growing up her parents where constantly sold in and out of slavery. Harriet grew accustomed to living in various environments. Due to the constant changing of the living conditions Harriet and her brothers and sisters where unable to live with each other on a regular basis.
The first time Harriet was sold as a slave she was five years old. She worked for a couple who had an infant. Her responsibilities included taking care of the needs of the infant. Harriet was so small that in order to hold the infant safely she had to sit on the floor. Additional responsibilities where domestic tasks throughout the day. She was constantly working from the moment she got up to the moment she went to sleep. Yet many nights she was required to cradle and rock the infant to sleep. The mistress did not go to comfort her own child, yet if the child was not comforted by Harriet, Harriet would be whipped for neglecting the infant. Harriet recalls

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the horror of being whipped five times during the night, before breakfast.
At the age of twelve Harriet graduated from domestic labor. As she grew into her teen years she was sold to a farmer who had her doing backbreaking work, usually left for men. She was working in the fields and hoisting barrels of flour into carts. Due to being in the outdoors working she was often with a brother. She learned to enjoy the physical exertion. She also enjoyed working in the open fields.
While Harriet was a slave she acquired many different injuries that followed her throughout her life. As previously mentioned she often remembered being lashed five times before breakfast one morning and the scars that it left. The scars from this beating would be carried with her the rest of her life. When Harriet was a teen she experienced a severe injury. The farmer she worked for sent her to the store for supplies. As she was walking, she came across a slave who left the fields without asking. The slave’s overseer demanded that Harriet help retain him. She refused, leading the overseer to throw a two-pound weight at the runaway, however the weight missed the runaway and struck Harriet in the head. This injury was to cause Harriet to have seizures, severe headaches and narcoleptic episodes for the rest of her life.
In 1844 when Harriet was about 25 years old she married her first husband,  John Tubman. John was a free African American. He did not share the same dream that Harriet had to escape slavery and go north. John and Harriet remain childless. Harriet carried the fear that if she married she would be separated from her husband if she where sold into slavery. When she finally escaped from slavery it was Harriet who left John behind. Harriet had no desire to divorce, so she remained married until his death. In 1867 she learned that John had been gunned down and was now a widow in the eyes of God. This opened the door for her to be remarried. In

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the winter of 1867 she married a man named Nelson Davis.
Harriet escaped slavery in 1849. She had initially escaped with two of her brothers. She made sure that they returned safely back to the plantation due to their second thoughts of running away, these doubts placed the escape in jeopardy. Harriet would not return with her brothers and continued north alone. The safest way for Harriet to travel would be at night and rest during the day. She sought rest near hollowed-out trees, looking for nests of brown bats to keep the mosquitos away. Her journey was made mostly on foot and once in a while a wagon ride. The moment she crossed the line into the free state of Pennsylvania she had a great feeling of relief and awe. She later recalled, “When I found I had crossed that line, I looked at my hands to see if I was the same person. There was such a glory over everything: the sun came like gold over the fields, and I felt like I was in Heaven.” (Harriet Tubman Biographry)
When Harriet escaped she left everyone she loved behind, including her husband. Harriet tried to talk her family into going with her so that they could be free as a family, but they were not ready to try to escape as they knew the consequences which could come if they where to get caught.
Harriet took routes following the Underground Railroad to escape to freedom. The Underground Railroad was not actually under ground nor was it a real railroad. It was named from the activities of freeing slaves in secrecy and darkness. Railway terms were used by those involved in the system. The different routes were lines, places they stopped were stations, the ones who helped along the way were conducters and their charges were packages or freight.
In 1850 Harriet became an official Underground Railroad Conductor. She was now aquatinted with all of the routes into free territory. She had to take on oath of silence saying that

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she would keep the Underground Railroad a secret. As an Underground Railroad Conductor she aided many friends and family members into freedom. Harriet was to make 19 trips to Maryland and helped 300 people to freedom.
During her years with the Underground Railroad she claimed that there where two things that sustained her. One being the pistol she carried at there side and the other being God. She wouldn’t hesitate to use the pistol for self defense, but it was more of a symbol instructing slaves and making it clear that “dead Negroes tell no tales.”  (Harriet Tubman) The timid ones found courage in her presence. She affirmed her faith in God with this statement, “I always tole God, I’m twine to hole stiddy on to you, an’ you’ve got to me throu.” (Harriet Tubman)

Harriet said herself “On my Underground Railroad I never run my train off the track and I never lost a passenger.” (Harriet Tubman-Leading Slaves into Freedom) That was something that most conductors could not say themselves. Her true passion in life was helping those who where in slavery to find their way to freedom. 

When the war ended in 1869 Harriet remarried a man by the name of Nelson Davis. They lived a wonderful life and where married for 19 years when at that time Nelson died.

Once the war ended Harriet retired from the Underground Railroad. She had been part of the Railroad for eight years. After retiring she created a home, not only for her family memebers, but for those who had been forgotten or abandoned. Her charitable endeavors became a symbol for reformers, and her accomplishments showed the proof of individual dreams shaping a reality. 

Harriet’s life came to an end in 1913 due to pneumonia. She was buried with military honors honors at Fort Hill Cemetery in Auburn, New York . Her tombstone simply reads 

“Servant of God, Well Done.” 

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To this day Harriet is widely known and respected for the courage and compassion she 

showed during her life. She became an American icon after her death. Harriet’s life continues to inspire generations of Americans, who advocate for their civil rights, with her bravery and bold actions. In honor of Harriet Tubman there have been many schools throughout the United States named after her. Two institutions that serve as monuments to her life are the Harriet Tubman Home in Auburn, New York and the Harriet Tubman Museum in Cambridge, Maryland.

Works Cited

Clinton, Catherine. Harriet Tubman: The Road to Freedom. Boston, MA: Little, Brown, 2004. Print.

"Harriet Tubman - Leading Slaves into Freedom." Harriet Tubman - Leading Slaves into Freedom. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.

"Harriet Tubman Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2013.

"Harriet Tubman." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.

"Harriet Tubman Timeline." Harriet Tubman Timeline. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.

"Underground Railroad." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.

Devotion...

     So as a Second Year at Ecola Bible School one of our requirements is to prepare and give a morning Devotion to the First Year Class. We have to opportunity to prepare and present it to the Second Year Class during First term and then during Second and Third Term each student picks a morning and presents their devotion. I know that there were some people who wanted to know what I did mine on. So here you go.

     Does God give you more than you can handle?

• My answer is yes, if you are trying to handle the situation on your own without seeking God for His help through the situation.

I gave the class a brief description of my life growing up and what First Year was like at Ecola. I continued to talk on how hard Second Year at Ecola has been for me and the things that I have been giving up to God to help me through, I have not had to rely on Him so much.

I read a piece of an article to the class:
     A part that really stuck out to me was "When we become aware that life will give us more than we can handle we find a promise: God is faithful to meet us in the mess and the pain." (Hidalgo, Michael "Yes, God Will Give You More Than You Can Handle." 10 September 2013)

Read the whole article at: http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/yes-god-will-give-you-more-you-can-handle#vvHiIg8L33MPY4IF.99

I also gave them some of the verses that have comforted me through the hard times.
James 1:2-8:
  "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials fof various kinds,  for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.  For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."

Philippians 4:13
  "I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

Jeremiah 29:11-14a
  "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me awith all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord"

Psalm 18:1-3
  "I love you, O Lord, my strength.
 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies."

Psalm 40:1-3
  "I waited patiently for the Lord;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
 He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
 He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the Lord."

1 Peter 1:6-7
  "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

Lastly I played a song that I heard this summer:

There is A God- Trent Willmon

(www.cowboylyrics.com)

Try and put your arms around 

the 100 year old tree

Climb up on a horse 

and let it run full speed

Take a look out at the world from 30,000 feet

on your next flight

Watch a flock of birds 

against the morning sun

Close your eyes and listen 

to the river run

Catch a firefly in your hand 

or a raindrop on your tongue

That's right

Chorus:

There is a God

There is a God

There is a God 

How much proof do you need?

Plant a seed and see 

what comes out of the ground

Find the heartbeat on your baby's ultrasound

In a few years hear it laughing, 

and don't it sound like a song?

Stop and think about 

what you don't understand

Things like life and love 

and how the world began

Hear the doctor say he can't explain it, 

but the cancer is gone

Chorus:

There is a God

There is a God

There is a God

How much proof do you need?

Bridge:

Science says it's all just circumstance

That this whole world is just an accident

But if you want to shoot that theory down, 

just take a look around

Oh just look around

Now there is a God

There is a God

Oh there is a God, 

How much proof do you need?

Now, There is a God.

If you would like to listen to the Devotion I do have it on recording, I just can not download it on here. So just ask and I can email it to you.

The beauty in His creation

Rediscovering My Inner Child

Today was our Day Of Prayer here at Ecola, which we have once a term. I had been enjoying the day of relaxing and reconnecting with the Lord. I took my time to lift up my fellow classmates and those who I got prayer from. I sat down and journaled out all of my prayers. When I had finished, I had a desire to go out and enjoy the beach, although it was raining, I put on my coat and rain boots and walked out the door. As I got to the beach the tide was going out and I followed the river down to the ocean as I was walking I started to realize that I was enjoying the rain again. When we first got back from Christmas break it was raining and I was not at all excited for a term full of rain, well of course we have been blessed with the weather we would be having in April. The rain comes today and I love it, crazy.

As I was walking I started going back in time to my childhood and remembering all the times I would go out and play in the rain with my brothers and friends puddle jumping, mud fights, bike riding, walks, four wheeling and many other things. I remembered a time from when my friends and I got all dressed up just go puddle jumping in our dresses.

While standing in part of the river I closed my eyes and just listened to the water run against my rain boots taking me back to all the times of fishing with my family, getting in and out of the boat standing in the river and the water just rushing over my boots...the sound so refreshing.

On my walk back to campus I decided to started jumping. It was so freeing and I didn't care how crazy I looked doing it I was having fun and being a kid again. The joys of just jumping and watching the water fly all over the place, hair getting soaked like you just got out of the shower.

I realized that it is okay to step back into my childhood and relive those days of being free and not having to be an adult for a bit. It was satisfying to the soul.