Your Grace Still Amazes Me: June 2010

Things God showed/reminded me on this year's youth trip to Springfield, IL.

-Thank the Lord daily for things you take for granted.
examples: Family, a mattress (air mattresses do not count), schools without bullet holes in their windows, Roofs that not only do not leak but ones that do not pour in water.

I am one of the youth leaders at my church in Lincolnton. We have quite a large youth group for the size of our church. We brought 75 people with us to WC ( World Changers) and three youth accepted Christ as their Savior on this trip!

We shared lots of "God- moments" each night with one another and some of the stories were just amazing. One of which was a buddist teen accepting Christ as her Savior. Praise the Lord!:) Another testimony talked about planting several seeds to a Jehovah's Witness. We're still praying for her but the holy spirit was definitely knocking.

The people in Springfield seem so hopeless and alone. I'm not sure if I've ever seen neighborhoods quite like it.

It reminded me of my trip to the Ninth Ward in college. Broken and stripped of joy.

As a Christian, the only true joy is found in Christ Jesus and it clearly was not very bright in the city of Springfield, at least the parts we visited.

As much as I would like to think "Springfield" type areas aren't nearby, I know that's just not true.

This trip has opened my eyes even more to the areas in need locally. I'm frustrated though on how to make my convictions become action. My biggest excuse on not evangelizing and serving more is that I don't want to do it alone.

In Texas, I had friends that would go out to random places with me to talk about Jesus. In fact it was somewhat of a game (a good one ofcourse). Our goal/challenge was to see how we could incorporate Christ into an everyday conversation with someone. Often times we were challeneged with our own theology and grew from it. I miss those moments and challenges. I like not knowing all the answers but knowing the ONE who does :). It's nice to know I dont have it all together but that I can put my trust and hope in the ONE who does.

My prayer if I can be transparent for a minute is to seek Christ out in every direction to see how I can further His Kingdom. I want to be blazingly bright for Him without fear. As a pretty petite woman, I feel like that's one thing that often hinders my journey to telling others about Him. Maybe I'm too paranoid and scared of "what ifs". With news stories today of murders and such, I have a hard time thinking how smart it is to go out alone and talk to random strangers. Maybe I'm overreacting. In some cases I know I am. In those cases, I pray to be more bold. To make the time to take the time to tell others about my awesome Father in Heaven.

Well, lots on my mind.. it's late.. thanks for reading.

Prayers:

Springfield, IL

New Christians

Youth and Youth leaders to use the knowledge given to grow in Christ

My Focus- To seek Christ out with His plan in my life.

Romans 10:14

My Friend Chris- in Iraq-US Air Force

Rachel- Honduras Trip

Simi and Andrew- Honduras- Relocating

Praise/Thankfulness:

My Brother made it back into the states from East Asia (for 6 weeks)

A great job ,knowing so many who are unemployed.

Parents who aren't drunkards or drug users. Ones who care when I am home and where I am. Knowing many parents could care less where their children are.