Katie McGrew: Seeing Jesus

Since last year when I took the women to Nicaragua I have wanted to make an open invitation to all of the women at CCF .  Mostly because I want everyone in the world to experience what I have but also I have this thing about appearing 'exclusive'.  So an invitation to the church seemed like the best thing. Before the service I made 10 packets of information for anyone interested.  Well, I should have made 15.  I received a few phone calls that night of women interested.  What a cool thing to know that people desire to go and serve!   I received a call on Sunday night from a girl named Jessica that I had never met.  She told me she really wanted to go, she had talked to her husband he would support her, but it would be really tough for them financially.  I told her  I would love to get together and talk more about the trip and we'll see what we can figure out. Monday night I also talked to a Margie who said, "Katie, I am in.  I am going no matter what!"  The next d

Last night I was reminded of something that happened to me when I was 15 years old but this time it ended differently.   The summer after my sophomore year in high school I spent 12 weeks working at Miracle Ranch summer camp.  It was an amazing experience and I learned a lot!  One night I was sitting in with a cabin of girls and their counselor, we were having a little Bible Study when the counselor turned to me and said, "Dandy" that was my camp name (the first name Dwight knew me as) "tell us what John 3:16 says".  I wanted to hide.  By the way she said it, I knew I should know, but I had no clue.  Today I am thankful to say I do know John 3:16 and I don't want you to be embarrassed if you don't know it!  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son and whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life."  Praise God - what a gift! So last night I was sitting at the Global Missions meeting at church, we had a man named Al

In 1 Kings 19 God asked Elijah what he was doing, Elijah tells Him how zealous he has been for God and that everyone else has rejected Him and His laws.  He tells God he is the only one left following Him.   A bit of a pity party and although we may feel like this sometimes, like we are the only ones doing something important, it's not true.  It's easy to spend time feeling sorry for ourselves and wondering why do I have to be the good one?  Stay to the task that God has given you and there is a greater reward than what comes in the moment. Ok , that is not where I intended to go with this.... "So God tells Elijah to 'go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.'  Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind.  After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire."   .... let's stop right there for a minute.  

"... For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me,  and I will listen to you.   You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart .  I will be found by you" declares the Lord.   Jeremiah 29:11-14a I have been meeting with a group of girls for the last 4 years every Tuesday night.  Many of them are from the group that went to the Swinomish Indian Reservation with me 5 years ago on my first mission trip and had the vision for Nicaragua.  They had just finished their first year of middle school then and now in just a few short months they will be graduating and moving on.  Between retreats, sleep overs and mission trips I have spent more time with this group than most people in my life!  Our time together has been precious, I have learned a lot and realized that real wisdom comes from spending time seeking God

Listen carefully:  Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat.  But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over.  In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is, destroys that life.  But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal.  If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me.  Then you'll be where I am, ready to serve at a moment's notice.  The Father will honor and reward anyone who serves me.    John 12:24-26 MSG Learn to do good;  Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow.     Isaiah 1:17 NASB Yesterday at church our Pastor started a new series in Ecclesiastes, it's the book of the Bible where Solomon starts out by saying that everything is "meaningless, meaningless, utterly meaningless, everything is meaningless."  Gosh, really Solomon?  Because I don't f