DNOW: After!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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!

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