Lessons from my Father

This blog is uber late, but if you only knew what my past 3 weeks have been like you would understand!

How sweet it is to hear the Lord speak! When I went home for Thanksgiving I was a little bummed because I felt as if "my plans" were all changing and even irrelevant. I had to prep myself before living for Piedmont. Believe it or not life has changed for the little Tindle family!

 I think it was in September my parents became emergency care for four kids ages 10, 7, 6, and 4! My parents haven't had kids is the house for many years. Not trying to call them old, but there baby is 24! So Thanksgiving wasn't just going to be the five six of us anymore. As some like to say, I have four new siblings! That's a family of 10, but wait now that Jamie is also engaged we are at 11! I prayed as I drove home for patience deliverance. And oh did the Lord deliver me. Not from these children and what I labeled chaos, but He delivered me from my own bondage and sin.

On Thursday Thanksgiving a passage kept coming to my mind. It's a commonly known passage and even one I like to use as I present my testimony. Matthew 19:13-15. Brief synopsis: Little children are coming to Jesus, the disciples rebuke the children, Jesus rebukes the disciples, and tells the children to come. I read this passage is a new light. Before I was always the child. Wanting to come and sit with Jesus, desiring to be in my Father's presence. But my Father proved to me that I one wasn't desiring Him and two that I wasn't the child in this passage I was a disciple. I have been living in a jealous state trying to turn these children from the presence of my parents, trying to regain that attention I once had from both mom and dad. Feeling as though they loved me less because they now had four new ones to love. I learned a lot about who I am in Christ, my desires, and my immaturity. Never again do I want to find myself pushing children away from the love of my Savior. These children are receiving that love through my parents. They are seeing Jesus in a way they have never seen Him before and what a blessing for them my parents me to see.

Meet Destiny(10) Bethany(7) Jessie (4) and Lee(6)

The family of 11

I love this picture. You can just see the love my Daddy has for this child. 

We really could be sisters. Teaching her to bake an apple pie

These boys could possibly be my favorite. They would never believe it!

The first, but hopefully not the last.

This weekend I had the honor of being a part of East Cooper Baptist Church's Revolutionary Conference. This conference was for the middle and high school girls. I had a blast. Yours truly was one of the "guest speakers" for the conference. The name of the conference came from Bethany Dillon's song Revolutionary.  Jillian and Alex's (the girls in charge) goal for this conference was to bring to light things girls are faced with but not also taught in the context of the church. They had been praying for this conference for over 5 months and I believe the Lord did big things. Jillian and Alex both desire that their girls will live revolutionary lives. Changed not by the world but by Christ.

My topic for the weekend was modesty. As I planned and prayed for this time the Lord taught me so much about my own personal modesty and just how difficult as women of the Lord it is to be truly modest in not only the way we dress but also in our speech and behavior. I spoke from 1 Peter 3:1-5. I am convinced that this is God's standard for us as His daughters. Now knowing, studying, and teaching from this passage my prayer is that not only these young girls seek to live modest lives so they may glorify God, but also that I may be an example to these girls through my modest behavior.

This weekend was my first time ever giving a talk to an audience. And I can't lie...I enjoyed it! I pray that the Holy Spirit spoke through me and that lives were changed not because of me but because scripture pierced their hearts. I rejoice with my Father that I had this experience and that He equipped me to do this work. I do pray that more opportunities such as this will be given to me. I think it's very sanctifying in the fact the I had to study my topic so well that I knew it forward and backwards. This holds me to a new level of accountability and I think it's a healthy challenge.

Thanks Jill and AL for giving me a chance!

India

I wanted to share with you a video that was sent to our team. It can help give a vision, purpose, and need for God's people in South Asia.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCqQxbb2-jU

a year to remember.

So there was a big day the first of this month. I like to think of it as my favorite holiday (that might be a little selfish of me). You think you know, you are probably right...it was my BIRTHDAY! I was a little bummed at first because this was also the same time as our fall retreat in Rock Hill. Little did I know that I would feel more loved on that one day than I have felt in a while. My staff partner and good friend Kelly really went above and beyond.

The day started out with a surprise trip to Waffle House being greeted by the most "manly"  birthday song I had ever heard! Then all day was spent at Carowinds and the 20 people I that were with us sang happy birthday to me in every line that we stood in! Oh boy oh boy what a day! The day continued with more song at lunch and after our last retreat meeting and at the end of our Saturday party. Though I wasn't with all of my most dearest friends and wonderful family those that I were with made my day extraordinary.

Now I know what you are all wondering... "How old is this chick?" Well I turned 24... yes 24! To me this yes seems old, but gets me super excited. This is  going to be my golden year. At least that's what I'm telling myself. I am convinced that God has big plans for this year of my life! One of my previous pastors (who makes with God and hears directly from Him. I look up to this man greatly for all things of Jesus) has told me that this next year of my life something is going to happen. At first I wasn't sure if this made me nervous or excited?!? Well it's here and 24 has always been my most favorite number, so why not get excited!!

So start things off right I have taken up on the opportunity to go with a group of women from East Cooper Baptist Church to India! We will be there from December 2-12. I am so excited to see how the Lord is going to use us there and also how the Lord is going to change us through this opportunity! We will be working with children and women while there learning about how they live and their culture. Need less to say I so yes overwhelmed and nervous but thrilled to be going back over seas!

Fall is here!!

Oh how I love Fall! So many of my favorite things happen in this season! Pumpkins, pumpkin spice, cooler weather, falling leaves, and so much more!

Ministry at CSU is starting to really get moving, from football games to our fall retreat we are keeping busy!

A couple weeks ago we had our first home football game tailgate! So much work does have to go into these to plan but I really do enjoy them. Going to a school that didn't have football I have really come to appreciate the small program CSU has. Tailgates at the games give us an opportunity to fellowship with students we have been building relationships with and also meet some new students. We usually have a good turn out because free food to a college student is very enticing!

Keeping on with fall we just returned from our Fall Retreat. We went to Rock Hill, SC and on Saturday spent the day at Carowinds. CSU didn't have a huge number of students go with us but our time together was great. We were able to spend quality time together all day Saturday at Carowinds which allowed us to have great conversations as we waited for the next roller coaster!! 

Richard Harris, from Houston, TX was our retreat speaker and he simply explain the gospel to many non-believers and I pray that hearts were penetrated and lives were changed. 

Please continue to pray for us as we do ministry at CSU and stay tuned for more as I walk through this journey.

The best way to end the summer

On the last Sunday in August at East Cooper Baptist Church we had ocean baptisms! What a blessing to share with friends and students the joy of baptism! I was so encouraged by the number on students who stepped out in faith! 

What's really neat about this baptism is that it was done in the ocean. This has quickly become one of my most favorite things about going to church on the coast! Being born and raised in the Upstate all i've ever known is baptism in the pool at the church. 

I pray the Lord will keep His children close to Him and use them for His kingdom and glory. 

Back to it...

Well the first week back on campus is just about over and let me tell you we hit the ground running!! We had freshmen move in day Friday and events on campus just about every night since then. This year was my first freshmen move I. Day since my own about four years ago. To say the I felt old, but it can be refreshing when people told me they would have pinned me as a sophomore. I hear I'll be greatful for that one day. We have met some pretty cool freshmen and I'm looking forward to build friendships with these girls!

We also have been in the midst of figuring out discipleship groups. Please pray for those. My staff partner Kelly and I continue to ask for God's wisdom and discernment in this area. We have 20 girls we are trying to think for this semester. That's more girls than I have ever had to personally think for. I continually realize I cannot do it without my Heavenly Father.
Over the past few weeks I've been studying First Peter and for some reason the Lord keeps showing me where my character lacks... That's always a joy! But also keeps pointing me to Christ as my example and leading me back to my Cornerstone. Sometimes I wonder why the Lord is so faithful to us in and out of season and He reminds me of his love for me! Chew on that today the Lord loves you for you. And he wants good for you. But just maybe what's best for you in a season of darkness.
Oh and just thought I might add...my brother Jamie is engaged!!