HARD LOVE

It has literally been forever since I have blogged, and this will probably not be a long post.  Project has hit me hard.  Between work, project meetings, going out to explore the city and wanting to spend time in the Word I have had little down time.  But I am not complaining! God is teaching me to use my time wisely.  Instead of going to hang out with friends after meetings, going to bed early and spending time reading my Bible has been something that has not been easy. 

Though time management has been a serious struggle this past week the Lord has revealed so much of His characters to me.  He has revealed so much about my Identity (ironically this is the project theme for the week).  My identity is rooted who God is and who the Holy Spirit is changing me to be through sanctification.  I have learned a lot about how God is a judge and though He has graciously redeemed me from all of my sin, I am still so accountable for the way that I live for Him now.  He has showed to me that as a child of the King, I am to loving be a slave to the One who first loved me.  

On that note, my roommates and I have been interested and learning about all of the forms love that are in the Bible.  There are three actually, I know! how crazy is that, all the English language has for us is L-O-V-E.  So we found these three types of love and they are eros, phileo and agapao.  Eros is the love passionate and much more like lust and desire we use this a lot when referring to relationships.  The second is the type of love most used in our society. It is the "fluffy" love.  This is how we usually want to love God, because it is based off of emotions.  It is easy to love something with Phileo.  But the best love, the love that explains the way that God loves us is, Agapao.  Agapao is NOT easy.  God is love (agapao) and He sacrificed His live for us knowing that we would refuse Him because of His agapao love.  Agapao means loving someone with no personal gain involved.  This is the way that God has called us to love Him and others (Mark 12).  

Applying this to project, I have learned that I am called to give this love to others by presenting the gospel to the people around me.  We do not share with any personal gain, but because we love God and He is glorified in our obedience.  Knowing this truth that God is love and this love means to cast my self image and reputation aside for the love of Christ, evangelism in Chicago has become much less about how I present myself to others and more about how God can be glorified.  

Yeah, so that is just a small taste of who God is molding me here in Chicago.  He is doing big things here! Can't wait to see all that He has for this body of believers.  

URGENT

I have officially lived in Chicago for not quite six days now.  Though it has only been six days I seriously feel as if I have been here for months!  Coming into project I knew that I would be able to have a strong since of community because I had so many people from my campus coming with me (ECU is the biggest group here).  But, I never expected that the WHOLE group all sixty something students would be so grounded in the same foundation and have a such a connection.  

So every year project focuses and studies a book of the Bible.  This summer we are studying 1 Peter.  Let me tell you, I am beginning to love 1 Peter!  On Tuesday nights we have an action group Bible study over the book.  This Tuesday we went over chapter 1 verses 1-12.  The urgency of the early church really stands out to me in the passage.  Though the church was scattered and different from the world they were on fire for Christ! The church lived in such a sense of urgency because of the impending return of Christ.  They took opportunity to share the good news and in their generation the entire Roman Empire was touch by the gospel.  

Learning this about the Early Church really convicted me.  Yeah, I'm on a project with a focus to share the good news,  but where is my urgency.  I seem to forget the we are not certain of when Christ may come and that people die everyday, their souls forever disconnected from thee Father.  But being in this Bible study opened my eyes that having a gospel mindset means, seeking all opportunities for Jesus.  Not thinking, "Oh well I have plenty of time to share with this or that person,"  but to think, "This is the time God has given me to give His Word to another child of His."  

So today I was able to put this new thinking to use on my designated campus, UIC (University of Illinois Chicago).  On campus we go out with the intention of getting into spiritual conversation with the students that attend.  I first went out with my discipler,  Rachel (she is great by the way!)  We were able to talk to two groups of girls about a survey but never went too deep with them.   After these two conversations my discipler and I had lunch and enjoyed great conversation, centered around Christ.  The first part of the day we share with our disciplers and then they all leave we students are left to share together.  I was paired up with my good friend Sam, and after being rejected once we decided to just sit on a bench and really get to know the fellow God follower that we were paired with.  This was a truly fantastic time because we are able to share our stories with each other and just talk about the Magnificence of God.

After talking for awhile Sam and I ventured out again on campus.  We were able to get into a great conversation with this one girl.  I initiated the conversation with a spiritual survey and was able to speak quite easily with the her, Carmen.  When I asked what type of religious background she had, her response was Catholic. While getting to speak to her about why she was dissatisfied with Catholism, she completely hit the nail on the head and told us the she just could not believe that someone could earn their salvation.  We completely agreed and Sam asked if she could share a KGP with her.  (Knowing God Personally is an outline of how God created us to be relationship with Him and how Jesus is the only way to bridge the gap that sin creates between us and out Maker).  After sharing the booklet with her she was super excited and wanted to show it to her Catholic boyfriend.  Though we did not see Carmen receive Christ,  I know that a seed was planted and that God is in control of the situation.  

Just a small picture of how God is working in the city and what He is teaching me. 

Love ya'll, 

     Amanda Driggers

Friendly in the City

     I am so happy to have been in the city for two days!  When I think about having arrived here yesterday, I feel as if it has been a week.  So much has happened in this short amount of time.  In the span of two days, I have meet and at least tried to memorize close to ninety names,  attempted to learn the public transit system in Chicago and walked over a lot of the city!  Needless to say it has felt like a whirlwind, but I very good one.  
     Yesterday, me and my fellow "Chicago Summer Projector", Danielle,  set off on the journey up to Chicago at 4:30 in the MORNING! It was real rough.  In the plain as soon as we were about to take off, we received news that the flight would be delayed due to bad weather and slow traffic going into Atlanta.  Because of this major set back, we had to quite seriously run to our next flight and only barely made in to the plane on the final boarding call!  After meeting another girl on the plane from project,  landing and getting picked up from the airport we made our way to our new homes for the summer and began the orientation festivities!  Our group was introduced to staff and good ole' Chicago style pizza, which I admittedly did not have to courage to try just yet at that time, and still have not tried.  After having a long day of travel, moving in and adjusting to a whole new environment, I can easily say yesterday was one of the most tired days I have ever been in my life. 
      Today, was  a great day!  I was able to get to know a lot more people and really feel so blessed to be able to spent the summer with such an awesome group of chicks, dudes and staff!  We started the day out with a sweet breakfast.  Just a little side note,  I have been insanely hungry the entire time I have been here.  After filling my stomach,  we had an orientation and bible study.  The Bible study was great and really helped me and I'm sure the group open up a share what things I am struggling with that might hold me back while I am in the City and how I can be made accountable to rely on God to get me past them this summer.  Next was a much enjoyed lunch, followed by scavenger hunting in the City.  It was so nice to be able to see where I will be living and how to get around!  Chicago, well all that I have seen of it, is so beautiful.  Again,  scavenger hunting was followed by dinner with the roomies and two awesome weekend guests!  We walked around Little Italy for about an hour until we finally decided to eat at this great little pizza place where none of us got pizza.  
     Though today has been a great day,  I have been constantly tired from all of the business.  Especially since hanging out with all of my project family, entails staying up late in the lobby shooting some pool! I know this post is pretty informational, but I hope the bigness of God shines through, because only because of Him are we all here in the City.  In Chicago for two days.