We launched the Bible study!!
Sunday night 05/24/09 was our introductory night for Max Q-- Andy Stanley and Stuart Hall's student journal on becoming a student of influence without being influenced!
7 girls showed up, 15 books are ordered for those interested. We went over the introduction of the book and I got some feedback from the girls who were there, which was encouraging!
Turned out the girls were just as excited about the study as I am, and they seemed satisfied with the text selection. We'll be revisiting 1 Tim 4 several times throughout the study also.
*******
We took a break on 05/31 because the high schoolers took a mission trip, and we re-convened on 06/07 for our first week of the study. We took a look at having lost friends -- why we do, why we don't, and why we should!!
We're picking back up next week with week 2 of the study -- why it's worth it to face persecution in order to be a student of influence for Christ!
Friday, May 29, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
My Personal Theme Song
I would just like to thank Emily for pointing me in the direction of this lyrical genius. It is by far the theme to both her life and my own.
A little musical snack to prove to you that Christian comedy can be funny too :-)
Click here to watch the video.... and if you know how to post a youtube video on here where you can play it without navigating away from the page, that would be much cooler, so educate me please :-)
A little musical snack to prove to you that Christian comedy can be funny too :-)
Click here to watch the video.... and if you know how to post a youtube video on here where you can play it without navigating away from the page, that would be much cooler, so educate me please :-)
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Next Endeavor
God has recently called me to lead a Bible study over the summer for our church's rising high school juniors and seniors. I told the idea to two people and... BAM! the class dates, time, and room were approved before I even had time to think about it.
Excited? Yes!
Nervous? I am now!!
How do I know it was God's plan and not my own? God didn't give me the chance to even think about saying no. I'll take that as a direct order from my Lord, and do my best to serve Him.
So I'm searching for books on student leadership, and seeking Godly counsel on which study I should pursue. The girls I'll be studying with are grounded and mature in their faith, and I feel that God is leading me to seize the opportunity to direct them to be confident and strong Christian leaders as they step into the world, their schools, and stand up among their youth group as well.
If you have any suggestions for applicable studies, please give me your input! And I'll gratefully accept your prayers. I want to take on this endeavor with humility and wisdom, and I'll more than need the Holy Spirit's guidance as I lead these young Christians into the leadership roles God has for them.
1 Timothy 4:11-13
11Command and teach these things. 12Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 13Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.
Excited? Yes!
Nervous? I am now!!
How do I know it was God's plan and not my own? God didn't give me the chance to even think about saying no. I'll take that as a direct order from my Lord, and do my best to serve Him.
So I'm searching for books on student leadership, and seeking Godly counsel on which study I should pursue. The girls I'll be studying with are grounded and mature in their faith, and I feel that God is leading me to seize the opportunity to direct them to be confident and strong Christian leaders as they step into the world, their schools, and stand up among their youth group as well.
If you have any suggestions for applicable studies, please give me your input! And I'll gratefully accept your prayers. I want to take on this endeavor with humility and wisdom, and I'll more than need the Holy Spirit's guidance as I lead these young Christians into the leadership roles God has for them.
1 Timothy 4:11-13
11Command and teach these things. 12Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 13Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Do this in remembrance...
Have you ever faced taking the Lord's Supper when you know your heart isn't right? I'll just be honest, very few things in life scare me more than this. I put it right up there with standing in the middle of a busy highway intersection. Here's why. I'm gonna go ahead and pass on "eating and drinking judgment" on myself.
I found myself in this position a few weeks ago, facing this fear, or conviction, standing in a long line of people facing the front of the church and waiting to take communion, heart racing, and feeling a little like Ananias.
I had the choice to examine myself, confess, and give Jesus my whole heart. Or to be like Ananias and hold back the portion I wasn't ready to commit to Him, lying to God and coming to Him in an unworthy manner.
I give glory to God in saying that I made the right choice. (Making the right choice doesn't seem so hard when you're looking at following the example of someone who was immediately struck dead for withholding from God!)
My heart examined, I knew there was something holding me back from Him. I was hanging onto something. It was creating a gap in my life. It had become a stronghold, and I didn't even realize it. I just knew what I had to do -- and I did it that night. Words... they were just words... I had said them to God before, and all I had to do was repeat them out loud to the right person. I had no idea that in doing so, I would be letting go of such a heavy chain. I dropped a burden that night which I was unaware I was even carrying.
God knew my heart. He knew I was hanging onto unnecessary baggage, and He wanted me to be free. He called me to do His will, and when I was obedient, He lifted my burden and made me feel more complete. I don't know anyone else who can do this.
1Kings 8:23 ..."O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way.
I found myself in this position a few weeks ago, facing this fear, or conviction, standing in a long line of people facing the front of the church and waiting to take communion, heart racing, and feeling a little like Ananias.
I had the choice to examine myself, confess, and give Jesus my whole heart. Or to be like Ananias and hold back the portion I wasn't ready to commit to Him, lying to God and coming to Him in an unworthy manner.
I give glory to God in saying that I made the right choice. (Making the right choice doesn't seem so hard when you're looking at following the example of someone who was immediately struck dead for withholding from God!)
My heart examined, I knew there was something holding me back from Him. I was hanging onto something. It was creating a gap in my life. It had become a stronghold, and I didn't even realize it. I just knew what I had to do -- and I did it that night. Words... they were just words... I had said them to God before, and all I had to do was repeat them out loud to the right person. I had no idea that in doing so, I would be letting go of such a heavy chain. I dropped a burden that night which I was unaware I was even carrying.
God knew my heart. He knew I was hanging onto unnecessary baggage, and He wanted me to be free. He called me to do His will, and when I was obedient, He lifted my burden and made me feel more complete. I don't know anyone else who can do this.
1Kings 8:23 ..."O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
What's Next?
I left off with my last blog, asking myself this question.
As you know, if you read my previous blogging experience, I am and have been and continue to be in a period of waiting. I'm content with waiting, but I'm not content with being content. I know God has me where I am for a purpose -- far beyond what my earthly mind can conceive. And that was the idea behind my last blog, to conceive of even a portion of God's purpose and to perceive things the way He does during this time of my life.
Now I continue to struggle with the call to ministry and what should I do/where would God have me go next in order to serve Him? As my friend Meggan so gently put it, ever since she has known me I have constantly been seeking the next step from God. I don't think there is anything wrong with seeking, as long as I remain patient and wait for God's timing. As I said, I am satisfied with waiting and being patient. But I feel that God has a different long-term purpose for my life than what I face now, and that is what I intend to seek and find. You may have to help me with this whole patience thing ;-) Yes, that means I am asking you yet again (and since you were so helpful the first go-round!) to be my accountability partner. I'm not sure where exactly I'm going with this one, and it's probably not going to be a daily thing, but I do want to record my thoughts and experiences with God -- So be prepared to read a lot of confused ramblings of a heart that is struggling to be patient and faithful, yet earnestly seeking to find and respond to the call of God on her life.
So what's next? I don't know. But these verses are my life verses during this time of seeking(you'll probably recognize them as general themes from my last blog attempt), and I pray that God will not let my spirit sleep nor neglect His word and His call...
Acts 26:16
Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you.
Ephesians 6:13
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
I'm standing up. I'll attempt patience, but I'm not waiting. I'm going to pursue God -- this is my commitment. And when I have done everything I can do to seek His will and purpose for me, then I will continue to wait on Him, and to stand, strong and in His power.
And my plan of action, simple (but not so much as it seems):
Psalm 119:15-16
I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.
I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.
As you know, if you read my previous blogging experience, I am and have been and continue to be in a period of waiting. I'm content with waiting, but I'm not content with being content. I know God has me where I am for a purpose -- far beyond what my earthly mind can conceive. And that was the idea behind my last blog, to conceive of even a portion of God's purpose and to perceive things the way He does during this time of my life.
Now I continue to struggle with the call to ministry and what should I do/where would God have me go next in order to serve Him? As my friend Meggan so gently put it, ever since she has known me I have constantly been seeking the next step from God. I don't think there is anything wrong with seeking, as long as I remain patient and wait for God's timing. As I said, I am satisfied with waiting and being patient. But I feel that God has a different long-term purpose for my life than what I face now, and that is what I intend to seek and find. You may have to help me with this whole patience thing ;-) Yes, that means I am asking you yet again (and since you were so helpful the first go-round!) to be my accountability partner. I'm not sure where exactly I'm going with this one, and it's probably not going to be a daily thing, but I do want to record my thoughts and experiences with God -- So be prepared to read a lot of confused ramblings of a heart that is struggling to be patient and faithful, yet earnestly seeking to find and respond to the call of God on her life.
So what's next? I don't know. But these verses are my life verses during this time of seeking(you'll probably recognize them as general themes from my last blog attempt), and I pray that God will not let my spirit sleep nor neglect His word and His call...
Acts 26:16
Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you.
Ephesians 6:13
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
I'm standing up. I'll attempt patience, but I'm not waiting. I'm going to pursue God -- this is my commitment. And when I have done everything I can do to seek His will and purpose for me, then I will continue to wait on Him, and to stand, strong and in His power.
And my plan of action, simple (but not so much as it seems):
Psalm 119:15-16
I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.
I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.
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