Soul Thirst

Psalm 63:1 "O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. "

This verse is my prayer for the men and woman at San Diego State University. The world dries our souls out, yet we look for refreshment and nourishment in temporary fixes. We are dehydrated children satisfying ourselves on the frivolous comforts of soda and coffee rather then the life giving water we actually crave. Whether these students are starting their journey with God, beginning to get curious about Him, or have been walking with him for years, my prayer is that they would find their true satisfaction in Him and Him only. I pray that the Holy Spirit would lead them to Himself on a daily basis to read, mediate and apply his Word to their lives. That they would openly and earnestly talk to Him in prayer. I know of no other comfort as life giving as my daily time communicating with God, my Husband and lover of my soul. The world will always strive to wear us down but I pray for these students that in the end they will be able to whole heatedly agree with the Psalmist "If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction" I pray these students will delight in God's law, His Words. Will you join me in this prayer?

Fall 2011 Start-up!

Thank you all for your prayers.We had a very successful camping trip this weekend! About 15 people showed up early from summer vacation to join us, which was a major answer to prayer! These students represent the core of students that we will be starting with this Fall.We were able to spend some time in God's Word together, pray together for the upcoming school year, and re-connect after a summer apart. We also got a lot of planning done for events that we will be inviting students to come to. This year is a little bit different than other school years for start-up because Valerie and I are going to be the only staff people on campus. We will be relying heavily on the students that God has blessed us with to come along side and serve with us.

School starts tomorrow! Which means that we will be going onto campus to meet new students and see who Jesus brings into our midst. Please pray for us that God would:

• protect us from the enemy
• Give us courage and strength during the next couple of weeks to be intentional with students
• bring the right amount of new students into our sphere of influence
• unite our current students in a Spirit of unity and purpose 

We are excited for the new school year to be starting up, but also a little nervous since this will be the first time we are going solo (staff-wise) for a Fall start-up. This is an incredibly important time of the school year because how the next couple of weeks go often determines how the rest of the school year will go. So please keep us in your prayers and ask that God would do BIG things on this campus!

Camping

Hi Friends!
Could please pray for us. We are taking some students from SDSU camping tonight. We will be using this time to re-connect with each other and with God. Our goal for this time is to discuss the new school year and brain storm ways to meet new students. I can't express in words how grateful we are for your prayers and support!!!

Trust is a Good Thing

A blog by Ryan P Buss.

This last school semester was quite a ride for me personally, and for Valerie and I as a couple. Now that summer is in full swing I have had some time to reflect and see what it is that God is doing among Valerie and I. I would say that the biggest, most front and center thing that He is growing us in is our trust in Him. Trust. We trust and depend on a lot of things on a daily basis. In fact, you could say that we humans are very needy and dependent as a whole. I would invite you, for a moment, to think through all the things that you depend on and trust in every day.

Do it. C'mon, do it! 

Did you do it? How many things did you come up with? Probably less that you really are depending on because we are so prideful in our feelings of our own strength, intelligence, skills, or of other people telling you to do things. If I sound kind of mean, I am not trying to be. I just want us to stop for one moment and think about how we are REALLY dependent and needy people.

The question that Valerie and I have been asking ourselves a lot recently is not what we are depending on, but WHO are we depending on?  If we look around at our lives it can be pretty easy to despair or let fear in and enslave us all over again. So where do we look for provision when we feel as though we have nothing? Who do we turn to when our sin and guilt overwhelm our fragile hearts? Where do we look for truth about the world and who I am when all I see is confusion and darkness? Where do I find strength when I am helplessly weak?

...Jesus.

He MUST be the One to whom we look, all other places fail. I will fail. Valerie will fail. Family will fail. Friends will fail. Jesus will never fail. He who did not fail when, knowing the pain and anguish and rejection He would receive, He went to the cross. He went, willingly, obediently, humbly, lovingly to His death and resurrection three days later. That we might know Him and be reunited with His Father, the Creator and God of all the universe! Since He did not fail in this, He will not fail if I trust Him with my life. He will not fail if I trust Him with my marriage. He will not fail if I trust Him with our finances. He will not fail. Not ever.

That doesn't mean that He won't allow hardship or troubles or afflictions or persecutions to come our way. But it does mean that we have a living hope that He will guide us through them, sustain us in them, and remind of Himself because of them. We have a living hope that when we finish our time here on earth we will be with Him for eternity where there is not death, nor tears nor pain, and where we get to hear the sweet words of our Master "Well done,thou good and faithful servant."!

                           

                             O! to hear the Master say "well done" is the desire of my heart

                             To see His smile and to feel His arms embrace my weary soul.

                             I cry to You, faithful Jesus, when the waters surround me

                             For in You,and You alone, is all my trust and victory!

Who are you trusting in with your life? I hope it is Jesus.