New Year, New Semester!! And WINTER RETREAT! (February Update!)

I can’t believe it’s February! 

I wanted to start by sharing a reflection/devotional on 1 Corinthians 13:1-8 that I made for our corefa team! I hope you’ll take some time in a quiet time or a work break to ponder this, as it’s been super impactful to me as of late! I feel like God has really laid it on my heart just what it really means to LOVE the people around me. 

1 Corinthians 13:1-8

This passage often gets read at events like a wedding. It is possible that you’ve even heard it in a non church context or have seen it on a greeting card. Yet, the type of love Paul is talking about here is not romantic love but your desire to seek the good of your brothers and sisters in Christ. Whether it’s people in your classes, core members, or friends you’ve known for years;  We first must LOVE people! If we don’t have love, it’s meaningless. 

In this context, I want us to think of the people in our everyday circle, and what it looks like to really love them. 

Verses 1-3 list actions we can do; speaking/conversations, prophesying, having great faith, and giving/serving. 

Question to Reflect on:

• When you think about the people in your day-to-day life (family, coworkers, etc.), what are actions that are difficult to do with love? 
• What are reasons or motivations we would do any of these things in the passage without love? 

Verses 4-8 list out how God defines love. 

Here is a neat resource I found that rewrites each sentence to help break them down a bit more practically. After reading each one, ponder and star/highlight ones that stand out to you.

Love…

• Is patient and therefore does not get bent out of shape when things do not go their way or people don’t grow according to their timing/agenda. 
• Is kind and therefore has hints of compassion and goodwill in their interactions.
• Does not envy or boast and therefore is not competitive or self exalting.
• Is not arrogant or rude and therefore it is not harsh or quick to put others down.
• Is not demanding of getting its way meaning that love is flexible and built around considerations for others.
• Is not irritable or resentful meaning that love is not easily bothered, angered, or holds a grudge. 
• Does not rejoice at wrong doing, but rejoices in the truth and therefore does not celebrate sin or evil. Love is not permissive in nature and this means that genuine love has boundaries.
• Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things and therefore it is persistent, optimistic and unconditional in nature. Love does not give in to cynicism or despair. 
• Never ends and therefore we’re reminded that our eternity will be filled with this type of love from God and for one another forever.

• Is there one of these that you feel you struggle with in truly loving the people in your day-to-day life? 
• What are some ways you can specifically grow in your love for others in the body of Christ based on this definition?

I pray that the Lord used that time to minister to you! 

Now on to the monthly update! 

Staff Retreat

We get about a two week break for Christmas. Every year when we come back from break, we go on a staff retreat in the Hill Country near Austin. Our whole staff for all of the campuses goes, and it is such a neat time to get out of break mode, spiritually fill up, and get ready to be back on campus! 

My friend Michelle and I at retreat! We did a walk and talk activity together :) She works at UT Dallas with me! 

Winter Retreat

The biggest thing that happened in January was WINTER RETREAT! This is one of our biggest events all year. We combine all of our campuses for a weekend retreat with worship, teaching times, games, free time… it’s awesome. This year we did our teaching times over 1 John, and it was super impactful! All the messages were given by people on our staff, and they did a fabulous job. If you’d like to listen to any of the sermons, here is a link! (Any of the ones that say “Winter Retreat 2023” https://open.spotify.com/show/5yrx4jslg0f9tmNO7S0eVX

I got the opportunity to lead worship while there, and it’s a really cool perspective to be on stage watching 500 college students worship Jesus. It impacts me every time I get to do it, and is so special <3 

A segment of me leading worship at camp! 

Rehearsing w my band pals :)

A pic of worship!! So cool

Winter Retreat was such a neat time, and our staff put so much work into giving our students a great experience that pointed them closer to Jesus! Please pray that what God laid on their heart at retreat wouldn’t just be a “camp experience” but a long-lasting heart change for Him! 

The first picture in my blog is the sign leaving the retreat… I love it! Such a neat encouragement that we are sent out to be a light to the world! 

Prayer Request

At our first Friday Night Fellowship, a couple of our students who are brothers found out that their brother tragically passed away in a car accident. Some of our staff who mentor them drove them home to Houston immediately to be with their family. His name was Micah and he was 18, a freshman at Stephen F. Austin. The funeral is tomorrow (2/4) and a bulk of our staff and students are going to support the family. If you would join me in prayer for their family when you think of them, they would really appreciate it. Our students names are Mick and Mitchell McAfoose.

As always, thank you for your love and support. I love getting to partner with you in what God is doing at UTD through your partnership, and hope that this gives you a glimpse of what you’re investing in! 

Love, Kylie