Will Reap a Harvest

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"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially the body of believers." Galatians 6:9-10

Today's world is more demanding that ever. There are just way too many things pulling our time, energy, and attention in too many directions all at once. It's no wonder that we are all so stressed out and worn down. We can all fall guilty to being consumed by the world. It's part of being human. We lose sight of the simple things that matter most. We get so caught up in doing that we miss out on being. As life has really worn me down at times over the past year, getting back to the root of life is what fills me and helps me keep going. No matter where I am or what I am doing, there is purpose in it. I can find a way to serve God in any situation. He is in control and has us wherever we may be for a reason. We are in a spot that no one else is, and that is where we are to serve. While it may not be where you would put yourself, the goal is the same no matter what or where. Do good. Be that light of the Lord; bloom where you're planted. His blessings will come when we stop striving for more and are satisfied with where we are. His timing may not be when we would ask, but it is always best. Patience is hard, but it is worth it for his prize.

Yesterday evening after a draining week and especially draining day at work, all I wanted to do was sit down and rest. Seeing this first little bud of my plant filled my heart with some kind of simple pleasure. It reminded me of what I've been telling myself when I am worn down. I am here to serve the Lord. He will take care of me and give me the energy to do what He calls me to do. Today's devotion was on the passage in Luke 12, one verse saying that if God provides for the grasses to grow, how much more will He provide for us? We don't have to worry, but only trust Him. Everything else will come.

So when you feel drained or discouraged, remember that God knows your problems, your heart, your intentions; He loves and appreciates you even if it feels like no one else notices or cares. He rewards in ways that no one or thing on earth can, and that makes all the difference.

Learning to Live THE Life

It's been a while since I have written any new blogs with the hectic pressures of school this year, but we've had a week and a half of snow days now, and I am full of things to share!  God has just been teaching me so much lately, and my heart is just busting to let others know of these beautiful things, too.  I am so thankful for all this time that we have had away from school; it has done wonders for my soul.  I've taken time to relax, clean, organize, cook, create, run for fun, study, try to catch up on school work, and actually do some things that I want to do.  Did I mention relax a little?  That was previously a foreign word not in my vocabulary.

 

Last night after my little Bible study in Galatians, I wrote down that my goal for today was to share some of these things that God has shown to me.
"Anyone who receives instruction in The Word must share all good things..."  Galatians 6:6
I mean, really, what good is all this if I keep it to myself?  I love having things, material and otherwise, to enjoy, but I also think of the quote I have kept in mind ever since I heard Mark Hall say it at a Casting Crowns concert last spring.  "We're not blessed so we can have, we're blessed so we can give."
  I'm not sure where to start, so I'll start with something broad...life.  That could go anywhere!

 

LIFE

Something we all strive for.  Obviously we all have life.  We're here.  Not dead.  But not just any life.  We want a good life, full, satisfying, exciting, joyful life.  We may work and work every day to do everything to make life all that we want it to be, but is it really working? 
There is this cycle that I get a picture of from Psalm 37:4
"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."

The more I make it a point to find joy in pleasing the Lord, the more joyful I become.  Then I want to do more for Him.  The more time I spend in His Word, the more I want to read and learn from it. 
LIFE is one of those things that is a deep desire of my heart.  I just want to enjoy my life!  I love it!  This led me to use the little directory thingy in the back of my Bible to look up verses about life.  I found some really encouraging verses that motivated me to change the focus of my life and to just uplift my heart in general.  After going through all those, I chose my favorites to redecorate my dry erase board in my room.

Aside from these, here are some other things that the Bible says about life:

 

-If you want to love life and have a lot of good times, what should you do? >>>Watch your mouth.  Turn from evil, but not only turn from it, but instead turn to good and go after peace. (Psalm 34:12-14)

 

-Think time goes by fast?  God will show you that it does.  Our lives are passing so quickly each day. (Psalm 39:4-5)  This reminds me to consider what I put my time into.

 

-In this dark and doomed world, is there hope to find the right things to do?  >>YES.  The Word lights up the darkness and shows us how to correct our wrongs and live a right life. (Proverbs 6:23)

 

-For a long time, I have always loved the part of the Sermon on the Mount about not worrying.  I am a worry-wart, that's why.  I usually go to the passage in Matthew 6, but this time I studied the account in Luke 12.  I could write an entire book just on this passage and how it has related to and changed my life at different points throughout my years.  I won't make you read through all that!  (Think to yourself, "Shew, thank goodness")  Originally, I had just noted verse 22 "I tell you, do not worry about your life..."  but when you find a good verse, it is usually a good idea to read around it, and you may find words even better than what you first saw!  One thing that messes me , up is that I think too much.  I want to have things "under control" but that is dumb.  Thinking of myself too much takes away from God's plans.  I get too set on my own plans and can't see what He has placed right in front of me!  If God daily makes the earth, sun, night and day, repeat perfectly to let all the earth work and animals thrive, why do I worry about myself getting a living?  If He takes so much care into these things we so often overlook, why do I doubt that my own life, the life of His dear child (1 John 3:1), would come full circle?  Jesus specifically says "DO NOT WORRY ABOUT YOUR LIFE."  My mental effort should be put toward the things that He is working for His glory.  (Philippians 4:8)  Not only is that pleasing to Him, but it refreshes my mind as well.  You can also infer from this passage that the less you set your heart and mind on material things, the less likely you are to be disappointed.  Things in the world can be taken away, but heavenly treasures will never disappear.  That's what eternal means.  If we are living in worry and chasing after our own pleasures, we are living the exact same way as those who do not know God at all.  Worry and worldly pursuits don't set an example for unbelievers. 

 

-Are you letting Satan win in your life?>>>You may think, "No!  What a terrible thing!  Of course I'm not letting Satan win in my life!" but you may want to reconsider.  Do you ever feel depressed, unmotivated, pessimistic, stressed, torn down, hateful, vengeful, angry, and just disgusted with life or a situation, or anything similar to this?  That's Satan.  God doesn't want us to feel that way.  Satan wants these negative emotions in our lives to produce negative actions.  God has come so that we can make every moment, no matter what the circumstances, a moment of opportunity.  (John 10:10)

 

-This is one of the verses from my board, but it just makes my heart happy. "...a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life." (1 Timothy 6:17-19) This is something that can't really be explained.  True life and feelings that come from God are indescribable.  That's how He works.  But when you experience it, you know.  This passage addresses "the rich in this present world," but I believe that it doesn't just mean wealthy as in money.  We can all be rich in our own rights.  Whether that be talent, family, friends, a job, awards, creativity, intelligence, beauty, peace, or anything really, we can't put our hope in these riches.  Only God's riches are the ones that can sustain us through until we meet Him in heaven.  By being rich in the things of Christ, we will be prepared for whatever the world throws at us.  We will have what we need stored up in our hearts so that we can have this true life at all times.

 

God has given us so much in this world that we can use for His glory, so many things that He gives for our enjoyment!  All it takes is our dedication to having this attitude.

Camp Your Face Off 2013

This past weekend consisting of the Bristol Cross race and then my church's fall youth retreat, Camp Your Face Off, was one of the best weekends I've ever had!

Sorry that some of these pictures have instagram labels on them.  They are cropped out on my phone and laptop, but for some reason, they still appear on this blog and I cannot get them off!  If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know!

This is Jay preaching the Word of God to all these students and leaders!

 

Jay preached on Galatians 1:1-9, 10-24 on Friday and Saturday morning.  My favorite verse from this section (although I wasn't there for this session) is verse 1:10. "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God?  Or am I trying to please men?  If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."  As I am such a competitive person, this really applies to my life.  I am so motivated right now to serve The Lord, but I am also so determined to perform well.  Many times not just well, but the best.  If I truly want to be a servant for Christ, I have to put my own desires behind me to fully do His work.  I must not worry about what others think of me.  God knows my heart.  He is eternal!  Life here on earth is not worth my worry.  One day I will have the ultimate reward in heaven. 

 

Saturday night was on Galatians 5:1, 16-25.  Something I learned in this section (although I had heard the Fruits of the Spirit many times before) was that it is singular-fruit of the Spirit.  They all go together.  This is also the main message I refferred to in my previous blog about a sleepless morning and blessings.  I love hearing this part:  "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.  For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit was is contrary to the sinful nature.  They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want." (verses 16-17)  "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desire.  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (verse 24).  I am a daughter of Christ!  His Holy Spirit is within me!  By living by His Word and trusting in Him, I have power to stand up agaist sinful desires.  My conscience keeps me accountable; I can feel when there is something I should do.  God is always walking with me; all I have to do is completely trust Him.  He gives us freedom from our sins!

Brooks Gray, the contemporary worship leader at FBC Morristown, leading worship in the building at Harrell Park.

One of our just graduated guys DJ Gibson has amazing photography skills!  Instagram @darnellgibson

 

Sunday morning's session was where all the leaders shared what they had been learning.

Erin is our intern in the youth ministry at church, along with attending college.  She always has challenging and encouraging things to share!  I like how she said that our sanctification is an ongoing thing; we grow in our faith continually.  She also read the verse Ecclesiastes 3:11.  "He has made everything beautiful in its time.  He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end."  This passage is headed A Time for Everything.  God works in us daily to teach us more from His Word.  Whenever we are convicted, we have to use it to draw us to repentence, not condemnation.  We are given freedom!  But we must be sure to not fall back into slavery, but to use this freedom to walk by the Spirit.

The first challenge of Sunday afternoon's amazing race:  eat a jar of baby food fed to a member of the team by 2 other teammates, while wearing panty host over his or her head.  But wait, there's more!  This person also has to wear a diaper the entire race to keep up with all the "trash" from the events!

A gorgeous moment captured by another member of our youth group.

Meet Rob.  He invents all this crazy stuff.  A kid at heart, here he is joining in on "thrickball," leading his team to victory Saturday afternoon.  We couldn't ask for a better youth pastor.

Friday night's bonfire

Some plain and chocolate chip pancakes flippin' on the giant skillet!  Nothing better than fresh-prepared, over the fire pancakes to wake up to after the first night of camping!  All thanks to our dedicated adults.

Poor Lindsey, Rob's wife, is such a trooper hauling their little girls to all these events.

Can't be outside with the guys of our youth group without a little football.

 

What Tyler shared on was a great way to think about Galatians 1:10.  It says that if "I was still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."  That made me think, well, that means when I am trying to please people, it makes me unable to serve Christ.  Christ or people.  I must choose.

 

 

My tentmates!  Tori is our college leader, then there was Julia, Roxanna, and me.   This was taken right after we woke up!

 

Tori's soon to be husband was also a leader.  Logan used an analagy with their relationship.  At first they were all focused on "well you can do this and you can't do that," and it just frustrated them.  However, they realized as the love between them grew, they weren't doing things to please each other because it was a rule, but because they love each other and want to make each other happy.  This is also how our relationship with God should be.  We should please Him becuase we love Him, not because we have to.  "It's not about the rules, it's about the relationship."

Girls gotta have their Enos.  I've never been in one, but from this angle, it looks quite relaxing.

The most beautiful place to have breakfast and quiet time.  Overlooking the lake.

 

After I got myself together from being so stressed in the tent this early morning, we got ready for breadfast.  Sitting here I found even more great verses and how they could apply to my life.  In Equip we had been doing book studies a chapter a week, and the next week was Hebrews 4.  It is titled A Sabbath-Rest for the People of God.  How convienient considering this was a Sunday, the "traditional" Sabbath day.  Yes, I was here at Camp Your Face Off, totally different from any day.  (I am a big routine person, and this was not routine!)  This was an opportunity God gave me to rest and grow.  Once I got home, I found that God also gave me plenty of time to do the things I needed to do at home, too.

My Sunday School teacher Patty has to bring her little puppies with her to enjoy the fun, too!

All the fun just makes us want to dance.

Left: Tessa  Middle:  me   Right:  Kristen

Tessa is such a creative girl!  She works at a little art place and takes amazing pictures.  She even designed this year's fall retreat logo!  Visit her blog!

http://tessachaseyourdreams.blogspot.com/

Another Amazing Race Challenge:  "Capture that jump"

This was my team!

I was also the one to wear the pumpkin helmet through the entire race.  This is comical though, because I absolutely love pumpkins!  This was carved using only ink pens.

Our final meal was burgers grilled on those big skillets that were shown earlier.  They were amazing!  The adults got super crafty and even homemade French fries too!

I don't have a photo, but Saturday night they made fajitas or taco salad with chicken or steak and sautéed veggies!  I am so thankful that we have such hardworking leaders and adults to help us have such great weekends like this!

This was my first of 3 chunky brownie and ice cream sundaes.  Yes, I splurged.

 

A final thing that I heard this weekend that I want to share was from a leader in our youth group I don't know too well, but she is so sweet!  This goes along with the singular Fruit of the Spirit.  When she said this, I totally thought that I do this exact thing.  We can't pick apart the Fruit.  Often times, we desire the individual qualities of the Fruit according to our own success.  My motivation for the Fruit should be my longing to please God, not so that I can be successful.  I should be motivated because I am greatful and thankful for the love He has for me.

 

Why am I/are you pursuing Jesus?

 

 

Sleepless Morning=Blessing in Disguise

I was discouraged when I woke up this morning from a great night's sleep despite the fact that I was in a tent, because I still had 3 hours before we had to be awake.

It is the Sunday morning of Camp Your Face Off, my church's fall youth retreat.  I didn't get there until around 6:00 Saturday evening because of a cross country meet in Bristol.  I was upset because I had to miss all the fun on Friday night and then the service on Saturday morning, so laying there with all kinds of thoughts was not good.  I now feel bad for taking the service the night before for granted, but after being awake for an hour, it hit me.  God convicted me big time.  I was being so selfish right then.  I felt like I was wasting my time.  All these scriptures and notes I looked back at opened my eyes to see the sin I had inside me at that very moment.  To be honest, I felt so stupid.  God humbled me this morning.  On a beautiful morning, I had some time to myself to be humbled before anyone was awake.  Almost in tears, I pulled out my Bible and my notes from the previous night.  The speaker, Jay, read from Galations 5:1, 16-25.  I was feeling that war that he spoke of inside me like crazy.  Those conflicting thoughts are evidence of Christ in me.  "For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.  They are in conflict with one another, so that you do not do what you want." (vs 17)  I then found a verse falling out of a page I had written on a notesheet.  It was 1 John 2:15-17, "Do not love the world or anything in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For everything in the world-the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does-comes not from the Father but from the world.  The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever."  Holy cow, that's no coincidence.  This is exactly what I was doing.  I was upset for one thing because one of my guy friends didn't ask me about how the cross country meet went.  The reason I wanted him to ask was so he could hear how "great" I did.  Selfish.  I also wanted to do the fun things at CYFO that I wanted to do.  It's not about me!  It's about fellowship and learning about and praising God!  I just had the best day and was planning on the weekend just getting better, and there I was miserable.  I needed a renewed spirit.  God woke me up this morning to open my eyes to things I needed to change.  This weekend was still a blessing, and He had things for me to learn. After some praying and reading in Galatians where we had been this weekend, Hebrews where we were in our regular study, and looking up verses I still want to look into, I found a new light to the day.  Next week's chapter in Hebrews was titled A Sabbath-Rest for the People of God.  Again...whoa.  God's word never fails.