I am amazed at the difference that God makes when you simply step out and allow him to do his work. I know it's hard to believe that I am already working towards summer camp, but I am. I am trying something different this year with fund-raising. I am working on sponsorship packages for students to start sending out to people I know and for my leaders to give out. So I sent out this message today asking a few students to answer a few questions.
Favorite Bible Verse:
How has God impacted your life this year?:
What is your favorite thing about Church?:
What callin do you believe God has called you to?
Favorite Activities?:
Why do you want to attend camp?:
Write a brief description of where you are at with your relationship with God. PLEASE be honest, no Sunday school answers.
The two responses I have received so far has been humbling in many ways.
1st Response
My favorite verse is in 2nd corinthians. Remember how you put it in my letter?
God has actually opened my eyes and I think I'm more aware of all the blessings and now I actually thank him for everything that happens and keep in mind everything is his plan and on his time.
My fav. Thing is small groups and talking about everything and asking questions and also the fellowship and wingstop!
I think he's called me to share in sufferings with all people in any and every way I can.
My favorite activities are spending time with friends and my girlfriend.
I wanna go to camp because it helps me regain anything lost with God. All these people come together for one purpose, its truely inspirational and it actually impacted me last year.
2nd Response
•Ephesians 6:11-17
•He has given me the most amazing ppl and thinks i could ever ask for
•Hereing the work of god and seeing everyone here his word
•To be in law in forcement
•Football,softball, all sports,and hang with friends
•Every year could be a good experience and it would be fun.
•My relationship in god is good I feel like I'm close to god and I live my life by the way god what's me to.
By the way I didn't change any of the grammar or spelling, left it just the way I received it for you. The reason this was humbling to me is because it was God's way of showing me that we are on the right track. My prayer was that it could become less about a program and more about lives being transformed.
The Message 2 Corinthians 4
1-2Since God has so generously let us in on what he is doing, we're not about to throw up our hands and walk off the job just because we run into occasional hard times. We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don't maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes. And we don't twist God's Word to suit ourselves. Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God.
3-4If our Message is obscure to anyone, it's not because we're holding back in any way. No, it's because these other people are looking or going the wrong way and refuse to give it serious attention. All they have eyes for is the fashionable god of darkness. They think he can give them what they want, and that they won't have to bother believing a Truth they can't see. They're stone-blind to the dayspring brightness of the Message that shines with Christ, who gives us the best picture of God we'll ever get.
5-6Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we're proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you. It started when God said, "Light up the darkness!" and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful.
7-12If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us. As it is, there's not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we're not much to look at. We've been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we're not demoralized; we're not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we've been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn't left our side; we've been thrown down, but we haven't broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus' sake, which makes Jesus' life all the more evident in us. While we're going through the worst, you're getting in on the best!
13-15We're not keeping this quiet, not on your life. Just like the psalmist who wrote, "I believed it, so I said it," we say what we believe. And what we believe is that the One who raised up the Master Jesus will just as certainly raise us up with you, alive. Every detail works to your advantage and to God's glory: more and more grace, more and more people, more and more praise!
16-18So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever.
That was the verse I sent to that young man...okay it was a chapter. The difference is that now I am seeing lives transformed and not just a change here and now. Listen to me allot of our students are still raw and we still a work in progress. Which is why every Wednesday before we go into small groups I always say the following.
This should be a time and place for you to come and ask any question and struggle with anything that has to do with the Lord. Leader's your teaching should always point back to the cross and the salvation that the blood of Christ bought for us. I don't care if there are 10 of them here today or three it is God's plan.
It has been that message from my leaders and the relationships built that has brought change. It's kind of funny when you beg students to bring there friends to church, they won't. When you point them to scripture about their calling and responsibility it seems to click. When you tell them....
if you have no interest in praying for your friends and reaching out but you will bring them for a prize or to be recognized for doing something good...that is not how God fly attended it to be and that will not fly with us either. You keep coming, you are welcome and if your friend decides to come they are more than welcome to come, but we need to partner together in reaching people. So please do this because you care deeply about their salvation.
It has been because of that we have been able to see God come in and take care of his children. We have to work at allowing God to be the change not us. Going to God in prayer and begging for someones soul.
2If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us.
God please help me to get out of the way and your will to be done. I want to hear so bad "Well done Good and Faithful Servant."
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