Easter Sunday

Lately I have really enjoyed being at church. I worship with alot of really awesome people that are very close to me, so for one I have simply enjoyed fellowship with my family. God has definitely been working in my life these last couple of weeks and I am simply excited to see all that he has in store for me. It has been very easy for me to focus on worshiping him with my life and also during times of praise. Tonight I went to Ethos downtown for their Easter service which was simply amazing. The worship was incredible, I felt so close to God and was not distracted in the slightest, and then Dave Clayton preached about the empty tomb in John 20. He talked alot about Mary Magdeline's perspective, one that I had not previously looked into much. All of this came together during the service and I began to just think about how truly awesome it is that we serve a risen savior. I serve the only God that is actually alive, the only God who gave everything he had for me, the only God who truly loves me, the only God that actually exists. Just the simple knowledge that my God is alive and working is what has me so charged right now.

The Gospel

On Tuesday Lipscomb held a youth minister's conference in which Steve Argue came and talked about different aspects of Youth Ministry. It started with lunch and went for most of the day, he covered a wide array of topics but one thing that he talked about really stuck with me. He showed us a series of simple drawings that represent the story of God's love starting with Adam all the way through the resurrection to God bringing the world that we tore apart back together to be with him. After showing these drawings to us he asked us to describe different themes that are represented in these 18 or so drawings that he drew on a white board. Some that were brought up were, "Joy", "True love", "Hope", "God never gives up", "God fixes our mistakes", and many more very optimistic views of the gospel that scream to be told.

I am not doing a very good job remembering all that was said about the Gospel at the conference because there were so many awesome and exciting things that were coming up. Steve went on to ask why people don't talk about the Gospel like this everyday because it is that powerful and awesome.

I know that I often take for granted what the Gospel really is, the only reason I have hope or joy in my life. Recently Ive been trying to build time in my day just to spend in relationship with my Lord and Savior. Because so often I only pray when I want things or certain situations arise, or right when I wake up or go to sleep. But I have found it so beneficial to set aside a set amount of time each day to spend in communion with God through prayer, meditation, and reading scripture. It has blessed my life beyond belief. It reminds me of my roommate's favorite scripture John 10:10: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." That remind us that we are here to live life worth of Jesus' sacrifice, and not just sit around and wait for salvation.

Singarama

Owns my life right now - literally. I have been staying up super late practicing and working on sets and trying to get as much done in the smallest amount of time before the show. I have been writing papers and studying for tests very late at night sacrificing my sleep and time so that we can have a good show. It is actually still alot of fun, I have developed alot of new relationships with friends and we are making alot of practice it is just so time consuming its crazy. I cannot wait for next week when I will have what seems like so much free time because of the lack of time that I have right now haha.

Psalm 13

¹ How long, O LORD ? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?

² How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and every day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?

³ Look on me and answer, O LORD my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;

⁴ my enemy will say, "I have overcome him,"
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

⁵ But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.

⁶ I will sing to the LORD,
for he has been good to me.

This is one of my favorite Psalms, the first time that I encountered it and truly understood it was through a song that we sang at Sanctuary. The beginning of the Psalm the Psalmist is complaining and feeling as if God has forsaken him, which I have related to in some of the more difficult stages of my life. But throughout the course of the Psalm, he realizes that no matter what happens in his life, he will trust in the Lord because God has never forsaken him and has given him everything that is good in his life. It is something that is hard to realize, because in times that are good it is so easy to worship God, but I am trying to always have the same attitude toward worshiping God. No matter how traditional or contemporary a worship service is, I am trying to focus on what really matters - praising my Lord and Savior because the worship is not for my enjoyment, but for the uplifting of the creator.

Well Intentioned Dragons

In my ministry class this week we read the book Well Intentioned Dragons about problem people in the church. It was an extremely interesting read and at times very discouraging. It was filled with stories and different situations in which Ministers were directly and indirectly attack by various people in their churches. The goal of the book is to prepare ministers on how to react in situations that are similar to the conflicts that are in the book. The purpose of reading this book for our class was to either reaffirms if you are really fit for full time ministry in a church setting or if you were starting to think about doing something else. Well Intentioned Dragons was a great book that I would recommend for anyone to read.

Colossians 3:17

Colossians 3:17 says, "And whatever you do,whether in word or in deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." It is a very common verse that I hear all the time, but I was thinking about it the other day and wondering if I really glorify God with all of my actions? By the way I look at people and treat them, I'm not always glorifying God. I hope that I can focus alot more on glorifying God with every single one of my actions - I know that I will not be perfect but hopefully it is something that I can get alot better at.

Honduras

It is so amazing to see God working in our lives. I have been praying and even worrying (I shouldn't have been worrying though) about raising enough money for my Honduras Mission trip over spring break (we are leaving next Friday!). I had been several hundred dollars short, but I found out tonight that I received several generous donations and am now over the amount required to go on the trip, and will be able to help fund some of the houses that we are building too. As I was attempting to raise money, I should have realized that God had his hand on the entire process.

I say that I trust in God all of the time, but do I really if I am constantly worrying about things ahead of me? God has never let me down, and always knows what is best for me even when I don't initially see his plan, so why do I worry? This is something that I am currently trying as best I can to work on, because I am a big worrier this is not an easy task, but at the same time I am trying as best I can. The only way that I know how to try to better myself is through building a better relationship with God, and also the people that he has placed in my life. I am glad that I serve a God that doesn't require us to be perfect, but a God who wants us to simply try.

As our group is about to leave for Honduras we have been challenged to consciously spend time in prayer just for our group, to get focused and be the best minsters than we possibly can. As we embark on this missionary opportunity I ask that you please start to pray for our trip, to let us be able to have an impact on the peoples lives that we are coming into contact with.

"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” - John 13: 34-35