"HE must win the battle."

"Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God's own choosing;
Dost ask who that may be:
Christ Jesus it is He;
Lord Sabbaoth His name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle."

We sang "A Mighty Fortress is our God" at church on Sunday.  I was thankful for the reminder that all ministry here at Wake is based on the strength of God and nothing of my own merit or choosing.  He is fighting this battle... I am merely a vessel.

Today I have been in Winston-Salem for one week!  I feel like it has been longer.

I feel like a freshman again, but I'm not going to lie... it's kind of fun.  We have been at Preschool all week.  It is an orientation for Wake Forest freshmen... but essentially it revolves around religious organizations and ministries.   It was a wonderful opportunity to find out a lot more about Wake Forest, get to know a few older students which helped me learn more about the culture of Wake Forest, meet lots of freshmen, and meet other campus ministers and staff around campus.  It's a strange thing to begin to fall in love with a whole new school and a brand new group of students.  This week has been a little overwhelming... a lot of changes in a short amount of time, meeting a ton of new people, and living in a new place.  However, I am so glad to be here, at this point.   

This morning preschool ended.  The head chaplain gave a closing message, we sang a few songs, and as the students left, the leaders gave a prayer blessing to each student.  Also, a few students were chosen to stand and a read a passage from Psalm 139.  I have not cried all week, which is quite remarkable since I am prone to weep at any tender moment.  However, I think I have been on cruise control since I left Scottsboro.  This morning it seemed to catch up with me and I worked to keep the emotional dam from breaking.  Back to Ps. 139.  This particular psalm was the first piece of scripture that melted my heart that revealed the love of God to me in an irresistible way.  To this day it's one of my favorites.  So, after a long week and meeting sweet faces that I look forward to getting to know... they stood up to speak these words that the Lord spoke so tenderly to me for the first time over ten years ago.  

"O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
   you discern my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down
   and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
   behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.
You hem me in, behind and before,
   and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
   it is high; I cannot attain it.

My frame was not hidden from you,when I was being made in secret,
   intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;in your book were written, every one of them,
   the days that were formed for me,
   when as yet there was none of them."

- Psalm 139:1-6, 15-16

The Lord is deeply in love with you and I and this scripture shows us that.  I am so humbled and excited to take part in His ministry here at Wake.  I am thrilled that He has chosen me for this.  Please pray that in all that RUF takes part in here at Wake, He would be glorified.  Pray that He would reveal any idols in my heart or within our staff so that we would be free to serve Him.  Pray that students would be receptive to the Gospel... whether they are believers or not.  Pray that I would continue to adjust smoothly to this new place, a new university, and new people.  Pray that my mind and my heart would never cease to look to Him and to praise Him.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your support thus far.


P.S.  There just might be a guest post from Kevin Teasely himself, real soon.  And pictures coming soon.