I have a passion for youth.
I knew this. I mean, I simply ADORE my small youth group at home. Always have, always will.
But this weekend, I was surrounded by 450 middle and high schoolers who were praising our Lord with utter abandon and it hit me:
I really, really, REALLY love youth. Like, this truth is kinda weirding me out a little because it's hitting me so hard. But it's legit.
I got to bond with four sweet, beautiful young women of Christ over the past couple of days. We got to share our hearts with each other and just talk and laugh and enjoy the Lord's presence together. And let me tell you.... I LOVED IT. There was not a single point in this weekend where I grew tired of being around these kids. Yes, I was exhausted pretty much the whole weekend. Yes, I had to watch high school boys eat cat food and guzzle Coke through someone else's sock for a game. But I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Watching God move in these kids.... it's like nothing else in the world. Kids that were dead in their sins were made alive this weekend. Kids (and adults, too!) that were sleeping through their walk with God were awakened. God just continues to blow my mind with His works, and I'm totally digging it!
My hope is that I'll be someone that these kids can look to and see Jesus. I want my life to shine the light of Christ so much that they'll be able to say "Wow, God is so good" and give the glory He deserves back to Him. Matthew 5:16 says "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Life motto right there!
I have no clue where God is planning on taking me next with these kids... but I'm expecting HUGE things to happen!!!
--
Where You go, I'll go
Where You stay, I'll stay
When You move, I'll move
I will follow YOU!
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
DNOW: Before
In a few hours, I will be heading off to West Rome to be a leader at DNOW this weekend. I've never lead a small group before, so I've kinda been freaking out the past couple of days, but I'm extremely excited. Six 11th grade girls and I are going to get to hang out this weekend and talk about Jesus.... and I think that's pretty fabulous!
The theme for this weekend's DNOW is Awaken. My prayer for this weekend is that God will completely awake our souls and create a passion in our hearts to seek Him out in our lives. A lot can change over a few days when we let God move... and I can't wait to see what God does in these high schoolers, my girls, and even myself. I'm expecting some big things from my big God. :)
So God, move in us this weekend. Set our hearts on FIRE for you. Don't let this be just another weekend... change our lives forever. We may be going into this weekend with heavy hearts, Lord... myself included. Break our chains, give us peace, give us You. Let Hannah, Samantha, Megan, Vanessa, Emily, Chloe, Anna and I bond this weekend and become friends that can trust each other and help each other run to you. Rock our worlds, God! Awaken our hearts! You're all that we want!
--
"Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light!"
-Ephesians 5:14
The theme for this weekend's DNOW is Awaken. My prayer for this weekend is that God will completely awake our souls and create a passion in our hearts to seek Him out in our lives. A lot can change over a few days when we let God move... and I can't wait to see what God does in these high schoolers, my girls, and even myself. I'm expecting some big things from my big God. :)
So God, move in us this weekend. Set our hearts on FIRE for you. Don't let this be just another weekend... change our lives forever. We may be going into this weekend with heavy hearts, Lord... myself included. Break our chains, give us peace, give us You. Let Hannah, Samantha, Megan, Vanessa, Emily, Chloe, Anna and I bond this weekend and become friends that can trust each other and help each other run to you. Rock our worlds, God! Awaken our hearts! You're all that we want!
--
"Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light!"
-Ephesians 5:14
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Blessed
I am blessed.
I was going to blog a few days ago about how I didn't know what God wanted for my future, but I for some reason felt like I should wait (Holy Spirit FTW?!) before writing. I was troubled with questions like "Where am I going to work next semester?" "Am I really supposed to be a part of the youth leadership team at West Rome? Why hasn't that happened yet?" "What about the summer? Should I volunteer at the hospital or not?" "What? Why? Where? BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH"
I was kiiiiiiind of freaking out a little even though God was clearly telling me to chill out and wait for Him- He's got this.
I finally was like..... ok. I surrender to you. Do your work.
BAM.
Monday, I was introduced to Summer Beach Project. It's 10 weeks in Destin, FL over the summer of working and soaking up Jesus. I'm almost 94.3% sure God wants me there over the summer. (Check.)
Tuesday, I get a job offer for next semester. It's in the same department, but with a different supervisor who loves Jesus and actually enjoys laughter and sweatpants. (Check.)
Wednesday, I accept the job offer. (Check.)
And today, I had an interview with the main high school leader at West Rome. I start leading next Wednesday. I get to pour into the lives of high schoolers (specifically, 11th grade girls) every week and watch God work in their lives. Needless to say, I'm STOKED. (Check.)
Matthew 6:30-33, THE MESSAGE:
I was going to blog a few days ago about how I didn't know what God wanted for my future, but I for some reason felt like I should wait (Holy Spirit FTW?!) before writing. I was troubled with questions like "Where am I going to work next semester?" "Am I really supposed to be a part of the youth leadership team at West Rome? Why hasn't that happened yet?" "What about the summer? Should I volunteer at the hospital or not?" "What? Why? Where? BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH"
I was kiiiiiiind of freaking out a little even though God was clearly telling me to chill out and wait for Him- He's got this.
I finally was like..... ok. I surrender to you. Do your work.
BAM.
Monday, I was introduced to Summer Beach Project. It's 10 weeks in Destin, FL over the summer of working and soaking up Jesus. I'm almost 94.3% sure God wants me there over the summer. (Check.)
Tuesday, I get a job offer for next semester. It's in the same department, but with a different supervisor who loves Jesus and actually enjoys laughter and sweatpants. (Check.)
Wednesday, I accept the job offer. (Check.)
And today, I had an interview with the main high school leader at West Rome. I start leading next Wednesday. I get to pour into the lives of high schoolers (specifically, 11th grade girls) every week and watch God work in their lives. Needless to say, I'm STOKED. (Check.)
Matthew 6:30-33, THE MESSAGE:
"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met."
God is the ultimate Provider. Waiting on Him ALWAYS works out for our good, and He still gets all the glory. He is worth it.
:)
God is the ultimate Provider. Waiting on Him ALWAYS works out for our good, and He still gets all the glory. He is worth it.
:)
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Jesus Makes All Things New
Today, ten people got baptized at Connect Rome. Ten people publicly professed their love for Jesus and took that next step in getting to know Him better.
HOW. COOL.
I grew up in a traditional Presbyterian church where a 'baptism' was a preacher sprinkling a few drops of water on someone's head. Quite frankly, they were kind of boring. But as I grow in Christ and experience new ways of glorifying Him, I'm realizing that baptism is not just this insignificant "ceremony" that people do just to say they've done it. Baptism is a way of expressing surrender to God. It's not about "being perfect"... it's about recognizing that we're broken and that we NEED a Savior.
Seeing people being fully immersed in water really paints a picture of becoming a new person in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" This is a BIG DEAL. At Connect Rome, when those 10 people broke the surface of the water, we CELEBRATED. Their lives will be forever changed. God's going to use these people for His glory... and I just think that is incredible!
So here's what God reminded me of today:
HOW. COOL.
I grew up in a traditional Presbyterian church where a 'baptism' was a preacher sprinkling a few drops of water on someone's head. Quite frankly, they were kind of boring. But as I grow in Christ and experience new ways of glorifying Him, I'm realizing that baptism is not just this insignificant "ceremony" that people do just to say they've done it. Baptism is a way of expressing surrender to God. It's not about "being perfect"... it's about recognizing that we're broken and that we NEED a Savior.
Seeing people being fully immersed in water really paints a picture of becoming a new person in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" This is a BIG DEAL. At Connect Rome, when those 10 people broke the surface of the water, we CELEBRATED. Their lives will be forever changed. God's going to use these people for His glory... and I just think that is incredible!
So here's what God reminded me of today:
- I can be a total mess and still be blessed.
- I'm NOT perfect. I screw up. A lot. But that's ok. I serve a God who is merciful and gracious. I NEED him.
- Without Him I am NOTHING.
- This world will never satisfy me completely. Only God can do that.
My desire is to have a God-lens on my eyes so I can see the world as He sees it. Matthew 5:8 says "You're blessed when you get your inside world-- your mind and heart-- put right. Then you can see God in the outside world." I WANT that. Like those ten amazing people who declared Jesus as their Lord today, I want to do something incredible and bold for God's kingdom.
So that's my goal for the week.... I hope you have a good, God-glorifying day and remember He came through for you right in the nick of time. :)
--
Glory to God
Glory to God
Glory to God, FOREVER!
--
PS- Sorry this is so scatterbrained. This is how my brain works. :)
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Chains
I don't know how to write a blog. I'm not even sure why I'm writing one; I can't write well to save my life. But, I'm working on talking out what God is doing with me, so I guess this is a cool way to do it.
A few weeks ago at West Rome AND at Connect Rome God wanted to remind me that only He has the power to break chains in my life, and to praise Him for the numerous chains he has broken recently.
Before I went to Passion over the break, I was a MASSIVE mess. I'm not at a point where I can explain all the details to people yet, but trust me.
It was bad.
I had wrapped so many chains around my neck that I couldn't even function anymore. I thought I was fine doing my own thing and making my own decisions, but I was suffocating myself with the world instead of filling myself up with Christ. Eventually, I crashed and hit rock bottom. I knew in the back of my mind that God was the only one who could heal me and turn my life around, but I turned to people and things instead. I was done.
Then Passion.
From the get go I knew it was going to be an experience. I had no clue, however, that God would completely FREE me from my past, put my feet back on solid ground and begin shaping me into the person He wants me to be. I'm learning more and more about God's grace and His unconditional love for me. No matter where I've been or what I've done... I am loved. I am forgiven.
This is where the title for this blog comes from. My chains have been BROKEN. I am FREE. But, because we live in an imperfect world, I understand that I have to deal with new chains (and even the scars of the old ones) everyday. This blog- this life- is about giving up my chains to Jesus: One Link At A Time.
--
My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God My Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, AMAZING grace
A few weeks ago at West Rome AND at Connect Rome God wanted to remind me that only He has the power to break chains in my life, and to praise Him for the numerous chains he has broken recently.
Before I went to Passion over the break, I was a MASSIVE mess. I'm not at a point where I can explain all the details to people yet, but trust me.
It was bad.
I had wrapped so many chains around my neck that I couldn't even function anymore. I thought I was fine doing my own thing and making my own decisions, but I was suffocating myself with the world instead of filling myself up with Christ. Eventually, I crashed and hit rock bottom. I knew in the back of my mind that God was the only one who could heal me and turn my life around, but I turned to people and things instead. I was done.
Then Passion.
From the get go I knew it was going to be an experience. I had no clue, however, that God would completely FREE me from my past, put my feet back on solid ground and begin shaping me into the person He wants me to be. I'm learning more and more about God's grace and His unconditional love for me. No matter where I've been or what I've done... I am loved. I am forgiven.
This is where the title for this blog comes from. My chains have been BROKEN. I am FREE. But, because we live in an imperfect world, I understand that I have to deal with new chains (and even the scars of the old ones) everyday. This blog- this life- is about giving up my chains to Jesus: One Link At A Time.
--
My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God My Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, AMAZING grace
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