Belated New Year's Resolution

    Let me be completely clear: I NEVER make new year's resolutions. Why? There's no super good reason. It's simply the fact that I know I'll never commit to it the entire year so there's really no point in making any. 

    The same went to this year too until I went to Reality Weekend...it's like a D-Now Conference...with my home church as a college leader. I listened to worship services by Kristian Stanfill (insert middle school girl scream here!) (you can't deny that the band is awesome...not to mention passionate about following Christ!) and messages given by Ed Newton (if you haven't heard him, you should. He's a great communicator especially to students!). Every service they both would quote scripture from memory. No, not just John 3:16 or Romans 3:23 like we did in KiDS church. Like long passages. 

    Last year in preparation for the Macedonian mission trip, I along with others memorized scripture. It was difficult at first because it required a lot of dedication. It wasn't something I could look over right before our mission team meeting and expect to remember the verses from memory when I walked in. I was extremely proud of myself and thankful that God had given me the ability to memorize His Word. 

    Needless to say, that was almost a year ago and after the trip I wasn't challenged to commit any scripture to memory by anyone so I just didn't do it. Well after seeing how well Kristian and Ed know the Bible by memory, I am naming that my 2012 New Year's Resolution. Memorizing God's Word little by little. After all, when I have the Word in my heart, it will be easier to fight off temptation, recognize God's beauty, share the gospel to others, and praise the Creator of the universe. 

    I can't wait to see how much I grow spiritually throughout this year! Much encouragement to all of you who made new year's resolution. Keep with it!  

Advantages Of Being A Leader

    This past weekend I was asked to be a leader of a group of girls from my home church. I immediately said "yes." I love working with students! It may be because I don't want to grow up...don't tell anyone! I prayed all week for God to move in their lives. I prayed they would experience something radical. I prayed they will open up to each other in small group time and just live life together. Little did I know, God was going to work in my life.
    Being a leader for a retreat is different than just being a student. Not in a bad way. All weekend, I got to pour into students' lives and let them know they are loved not only by me, but by the God of the universe too. During our small group time the girls were quiet until it was over. They began to open up to Alyx (the other college leader) and I. We shared tears, hugged, prayed, and simply loved on the girls. This life is hard. That is why there are people who are willing to go through life with you. I am so blessed for the students to accept me into their group and feel comfortable enough to share their secrets with me.
    I got to see first hand what it feels like to be a leader and to be so proud of the students. At this retreat there were 1,000 students from churches across the county who met in one location to proclaim the name of God. On Saturday afternoon, everyone was given FOUR hours to raise money for Compassion International and for the local ministries of the county. Our goal was $20,000! My group of girls started calling people they knew asking for donations. People were willing and we just met them to pick up the money! Part of the group helped clean up yards while the other half spoke between Upward games at the church asking for donations. Our group alone raised over $800. They were so excited and I was amazed at what God allowed to happen. The students from our youth group raised $1200!! As the service was ending one of the leaders went on stage to announce the amount of money we as a community raised. The crowd was anxiously awaiting the good news. Not only did we meet the goal, with God we raised $28,000! Incredible.
    The last session was honestly the best session of the weekend, not just because of the money we raised, but because of how God worked in every student's life. As I looked around the church during worship and with tears filling my eyes, I saw hands lifted high in surrender to the Lord Almighty. I could not be more in awe. I got to sit back and watch these students give all their cares to the foot of the cross.
    I was blessed to work with these students all weekend. They LOVE God. They LOVE others. They are willing to SURRENDER..something that many of us have problems with because we want to be in control. This generation is the future...not in a couple of years, but RIGHT. NOW.

Following God's Plan

    As I wrote about in previous posts, in the late fall of 2011 I felt God's called to a different university. That university turned out to be in Fayetteville. This was a few more hours away from home, but I knew this is what God wanted. As I packed mine and my parent's car with all my "stuff" on that early Saturday morning, I prayed that this wasn't a selfish endeavor. I prayed that I truly was seeking God's will for my life at this moment. 

    During one of our stops, my parents asked me if I was sure this is what I was supposed to do or even wanted to do. The past few months were spent dreaming of how awesome the U of A would be. I think they wanted to make sure that I didn't get wrapped up in it. I immediately told them no, but then questioned myself inside. Was this selfish? I sure hoped not.

    Saturday night my family spent the night in my apartment because it was the first night in the place I'd be living by myself. I've never done anything like this. Honestly, them staying the night made me feel so much more comfortable about the situation. Sunday morning we went to CrossChurch Fayetteville. We heard many good things from friends so we wanted to check it out. As we walked in, we all noticed how small the building which was a definite change from my home church in Bryant. Come to find out, this church has three campuses. It started in Springdale and branched out to Fayetteville and Pinnacle Hills because they felt they weren't reaching all of northwest Arkansas with the one campus. CrossChurch Fayetteville was celebrating their one year of being a church. Let me just share with you what God has done at this church in one year.

340 Professions of Faith           263 Baptisms                                 

                584 New Members            1,411 Avg. Attendance

    If that is NOT the work of God, WHAT IS?? When I saw these numbers, I was in awe. Then I wondered how 1,411 people fit in that small building. Well, so many people want to come that they have FOUR church services on Sundays. Three in the morning and one at night. THAT is what I call some loving servants of the church.

    As worship began, tears filled my eyes. I had no idea why I was crying. I was overwhelmed. This was such a tender surreal experience like nothing I've ever had before. I felt the God of the universe wrap his arms around me and assure me this was his plan. HOW COOL IS THAT? I'm still speechless. No words can ever describe the feeling I had in that moment. 

    I was worried about finding a church in Fayetteville. It wasn't hard to find a church in Conway so I just assumed that I wouldn't 'get off' that easy here. Boy, was I wrong?! I knew, in that moment, that CrossChurch is the church I am supposed to serve in. How awesome is our God? 

In each experience I try to find some sort of take away and it's pretty obvious to me this time. 

    Who am I to think God won't take care of me in every situation? 

    When did God ever do anything half-way? 

    I cannot do anything without Him.