The end of a wonderful journey...

Well…the end of the Forge. What a journey it has been. Honestly, I can’t believe it’s already the end of eight months. The Lord has used these eight months in my life to teach me, challenge me, show me, sanctify me, and has never failed to show up in ways I never expected.

I learned the incredible blessing of provision. Seeing and experiencing his hand in providing in such a real and tangible way. $12,000. Sometimes I still can’t even believe it when I think about it, but what a neat way of being able to bless God, and see his hand once more in me being here this year.

I have learned the blessing of memorizing Scripture. 1st Peter. Five chapters. 105 verses. It seemed like the most daunting task at the beginning of the Forge, but now it seems like my heart didn’t know Scripture without knowing 1st Peter. There have been so many times where I have been able to reference a verse or a chapter, both for circumstances in my own life and to help encourage others. I have loved memorizing the entire book as well, as I have come to love knowing and understanding Scripture in the context as a whole. It has been a challenge, and one I hope to keep up throughout my life.

I have learned the sweetness and blessing of community. Living with 28 people…who would have ever thought. I have loved living through the ups and downs and highs and lows with these people who really have become my brothers and sisters and some of my dearest friends. Common experiences really do bond people, but what bonds people more is the love and shared faith in Jesus and the unity that happens when you submit to living under the Word.

I have learned the blessing of seeing. “What makes one Bible student better than the next?” “What he can see.” Seeing takes place in reading Scripture absolutely, but it also plays a role in every day life. Keeping your eyes open has become a key aspect of my life these eight months, and I think that is has helped me see so many things clearly.

I have learned the blessing of faith and obedience. Walking through Israel was one of the neatest few days, as I saw things and experienced things, but also learned that faith and obedience are really the cornerstones to a life submitted to Christ.

I have learned the blessing and power of prayer. Being on top of Mt. Arbel is something I will never forget. Coming to him as a daughter coming to her father, and simply asking and listening, praising him and blessing him for all of his provision.

I have learned the blessing and sweetness of remembering. I am a huge memory collector, and I love the discipline of being able to look back and not just reminisce on good times, but really remember and remember all that the Lord has taught me and all that he continues to teach. I hope I will remember these eight months in the Forge and never forget what the Lord has done and all that He will continue to do.

I think if I could sum up my journey in the Forge in a picture...I might choose this one... I love the analogy of a window being foggy, covered in ice, or dirty and smudged – you can see out of it, but you can’t see clearly. You can make things out and you are able to see the weather through some points in the glass, but as a whole nothing is very clear or precise. You miss most details and it’s hard to make out what is actually happening or what the weather is really like. Well, I think coming into the Forge, this is what I was looking at. I could see, I had a faith and a foundation, and it was strong enough and clear enough that it got me through several years, but throughout the eight months, the fog has gone away, the ice has melted, and the window cleaner has made it sparkling and clear. I can see and have a foundation that will continue to help me see clearly as I continue throughout the next steps of life. I know that windows can so easily become dirty, fingerprinted, and just fogged due to everyday use and life, however, I think I have tools that can help and that I know how to use to clean those windows and keep up daily maintenance, so that they never become too foggy to see out of. I know there will be times that they might get that way, but instead of panicking or thinking I need to completely replace the windows, I can have confidence in the One who can help me see again. The One who can help the windows become clear, by being in His Word, meditating on his Truth, and walking in faith and obedience. Realizing that it’s not about what I do, but what he does for me. That his grace is greater and more precious than I could ever know, and that he so graciously gives it is the greatest gift I could receive. Seeing clearly is one of the biggest takeaways and as I continue to walk in faith throughout my life, I know I will continue to grow and learn, and I hope that the glass continues to become clearer and clearer and maybe one day, I will realize that what I am looking at is not even through glass, but something open and as clear and as wide as the eye can see. I am thankful for these eight months, but I am even more thankful for the days that are to come and to see how the Lord uses this foundation to continue to teach me and use me for his Kingdom and for his glory.

THANK YOU

Dear Friends and Family,

I just wanted to write one final letter saying THANK YOU for all of your support over these last eight months. I have seen the Lord provide in so many ways this year, and many of you were the answer to many prayers, as $12,000 fully came in by March 1st.

This year has been full of so much discipleship, studying, learning, teaching, understanding, and building a foundation that I can rest my faith and hope on the rest of my life. I have learned the blessings that come along with faith and trust in Jesus Christ, and I am excited to continue to serve and teach all that I have learned this year.

As part of The Forge, we studied for two weeks in Israel, as a culmination of all that we had studied and learned throughout the entire year. Leslie Strader wrote it in a perfect way for the Tyler Morning Telegraph when she said, “Along the way, something shifted inside each of us. The bone-tiredness we all felt was offset by the beauty of what we saw. We were filled with a rare joy. Rare because we had seen and felt and smelled and touched things we knew were holy. Not holy as in something to be worshipped, but holy in how uncommon they were set against the notions we came with. We were replacing imagination with the real thing. To see where Jesus was born and lived his days on the earth, to dip your toes in the water he walked on and climb the mountainside where he went alone and prayed. To make yourself look at the place he suffered so that you might have life. And to step into the tomb those brave women found empty on that bright, beautiful morning. It's like looking into his eyes and seeing a love you didn't know existed.”

Throughout The Forge, that love has become so real and genuine, as I have served in ways that I never thought I could, stretched myself in ways that made me grow, and learned what life truly can look like when you commit to loving the Lord your God with all your all your heart, with all your soul, with all your might, and loving your neighbor as yourself.

Thank you for coming alongside me in this journey and making it possible through so much encouragement, prayer, and support. I am excited to begin teaching in the fall and apply so much of what I have learned to my career as a teacher and to my life as I continue to follow where the Lord leads.

So much love and thank you again,

Tabitha 

Christmastime at Pine Cove

Camp in the summer is always fun and in full swing...but camp in the winter...who knew that Pine Cove is going all year, and this year I've gotten to be involved and see so many different aspects of the different seasons. 

I had the privilege of working a conference just a few weeks before Christmas, and it was such a fun few days spent with families and their kiddos. We made gingerbread houses, used more paint, glue, and glitter than I thought was possible in arts and crafts, dressed up for Christmas skits, and as always had some great worship and speaker sessions.

This was our small little team of champions during the Gingerbread House Competition...the stakes were high, and as much as I wish I could say our house is the one on the right...I'm proud to claim that candy yard and fallen down house in the middle. :) A fun night! 

Got to be in a Pine Cove skit...which if you know a lot about Pine Cove you know skits are the epitome of camp fun...I was Ellie the Elf with my friend Eddie the Elf and we were working hard to get things ready in Santa's Workshop...but the two "Lumberjerks" came along and wanted to chop down all the trees and destroy the workshop...throughout the weekend we finally brought them back to the true meaning of Christmas and had them turn their chopping skills into making their very own Gingerbread House...a fun few days with these friends!

Arts and crafts...making Christmas ornaments and painting pine cones...if you don't make a mess, did you even really do arts and crafts?! Haha...I did, however, realize that glitter is extremely hard to clean up...but as an elementary teacher, I say more glitter, more fun, right?! :) ....most of the time...

In the midst of loving on campers, making gingerbread houses, being in skits, and painting ornaments, there are always meals to serve and dishes to clean. This is our incredibly fun and hard-working Work Crew that we got to hang out with all weekend. They made the meals run so smoothly and were so eager to serve and help! Love these girls and the friendships made!

These are my fun friends who make working on the weekends a joy and a lot of fun. We serve at the Shores, the high school camp, and the Bluffs, a family camp, helping out with retreats and conferences. These guys keep me laughing, always take pictures when I fall asleep, and know how to play a great game of Mafia at a Christmas party...haha! Love serving for the sake of the Gospel with these guys. 

Two Weeks to Raise $1,000

One of the biggest things I’m learning right now is how to truly trust and depend on Him as I am raising $12,000 and that sometimes prayer is bigger than I could ever have imagined and usually more fruitful than I could have ever dreamed. I am so thankful for every donation that has already been so graciously given, tears always come to my eyes as I look at my spreadsheet and think that you would be willing to support me in furthering God’s ministry in this way.

I wanted to update you as partners and supporters that for the first time, I just missed my financial deadline for this month, and am currently on an extension and have just two weeks to raise just under $1,000. I know the Lord can provide and I am learning how to trust Him, but also humble myself and ask for help, which is sometimes the absolute hardest. I know it’s nearing the holiday season and things are absolutely crazy, but someone once told me that if I never ask no one will ever know where I stand in support, so I wanted to let you know and bring you in on the journey to pray that the Lord will provide the remaining $940 for this month and $6,340 for the duration of the Forge.

Right now, I am praying for 12 people who would be willing to support me with $100 a month for 5 months. However, He is teaching me that if I am obedient in little He will be faithful in much and that He often uses the smallest blessings to add up to exactly what we need. I think this time of being dependent on Him has taught me more than I’m even realizing now. So, I am thankful for this time of fundraising even in the hard days and also very thankful for you and your support in this journey.

After prayerfully considering support in this crazy season, if you do feel led to give, you can donate either with one time gift or a monthly donation. All gifts are tax-deductible and you can donate directly online at pinecoveforge.com by just putting my name in the Forge Student section. But most of all, just having a partner in prayer that He would provide over the next few months and continue to teach me and use this for his glory would be incredible.

Thank you doesn’t even come close to expressing my gratitude for your encouragement, support, and prayers. I can’t wait to share all that the Lord is teaching me in this journey and would love to hear from you and keep you updated.

With so much love and thankfulness, and a heart learning to trust,

Tabitha 

Just a few things I'm learning...

The past twelve weeks I have seen the Lord be so faithful in me being in the Forge – here are just a few snapshots of some of the takeaways I am learning right now.

•  I am learning how to truly study God’s Word and not just scan it like an ‘iTunes service agreement.’ We are reading five chapters in different sections of the Bible every day, as we are memorizing the entire book of 1 Peter, along with studying it in depth and choosing a passage to teach next semester. This has been so fruitful as I am seeing the benefits to truly having Scripture on you heart and in your bones. We are also studying the Bible through the eyes of Israel and learning the culture, background, language and context of so many stories as we are preparing for our two-week trek through Israel in March.

• I am also learning what true Christian community looks like, and what a blessing that I get to live in the midst of 28 believers for eight months. This community has already experienced incredible joys and very low valleys, and I am learning what it looks like to encourage each other, spur each other on, and point each other to the Word as bringers of salvation.

•  I am learning the ins and outs of being a leader and skills that I will be able to apply in any aspect of life. The joys, hardships, challengers, strengths and weaknesses that come along with being a servant-leader.

• We are learning about ministry in a way that I truly think will impact the rest of my life, no matter what I do or where I go. I am discovering who God has specifically designed me to be and how I can use those gifts and strengths for his kingdom throughout my life. Whether I am a teacher, mentor, wife or mom, these truths that I am learning will help me more fully live out my design and walk in the good works he has planned.

Even just a few months in, I am seeing how faithful the Lord has been in me taking eight months to slow down, learn more about who He is and in that process learn more about who He has created me to be. He has softened my heart so much toward being his follower and finding so much joy in learning what he is teaching me and walking in faith through every step of the way. 

Community

“Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” 

- Psalm 133:1

Life with 14 girls...so much fun, laughter, tears, honesty, truth, and hot tea. I am learning what it looks like to live with in Christian community and to spur each other on, coming to one another as bringers of salvation.

An Anvil

An anvil...

It has never been an image that I have thought much about until being in the Forge. For almost three months now, I have been learning what it looks like to have a Blacksmith mold and refine you until you are the piece that He intended you to be. Through the joys and trials, I am seeing how faithful the Lord has been in me taking eight months to slow down, learn more about who He is and in that process learn more about who He has created me to be and how I can walk in that to glorify and serve him the rest of my life.