As I mentioned last week, this past weekend was our annual D-Now for our county churches. All the sessions were great. I got to pour into 7 11th and 12th grade girls and get to know some other adult ladies better.
:)
Like...the only pictures I got over a 36 hour period. I don't know what my problem was.
The theme was 'Consuming Fire' and the curriculum was on what it means to be authentic in our worship. It explored what worship is, what we worship (sadly, it usually isn't just God), aspects of personal and corporate worship and how the students (and us!) can be authentic and true worshippers.
It also dealt with what it means to be a living sacrifice as described in Romans 12:1-2. We talked about what it means when we're conformed to the world (as too many 'Christians' are), how to renew your mind practically (through the study/meditation/obedience of God's word) and a whole bunch of other stuff. It seriously was awesome and the corporate session with about 450 students from 11 different churches all over the county were great.
Preparing for this weekend was such a ridiculously huge blessing to me. I taught two of the sessions (on renewing your mind practically and the corporate worship session) and it really made me examine how I operate. Was I practicing what I was 'preaching'? I prayed that my words wouldn't just be something I was saying but rather, something that was true. Something that I was actually doing in my own life. Thankfully, it was. But there was some definite stepping on toes (all mine) as I was reading over the lessons in preparation. It's not enough just to be 'doing' these practices, but rather, doing them faithfully.
One of the many funny things that happened over the weekend came as I was teaching the last lesson on corporate worship late Saturday night. I'm sitting in the corner of my living room right beside the window and I hear leaves crunching outside the window. I knew that it was the 9th and 10th grade boys. They were staying in the parsonage which is right down the road and a lot of those boys like me for whatever reason. SO...I told the girls, okay, someone's out in the yard. Do NOT be surprised when they bang on the windows or doors. Sure enough, 5 minutes later BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM! Banging on the door. I go to the door and check but they've run away. Well, 20 or so minutes later we hear them again and Tina (the other adult) set her car alarm off and all of a sudden you hear a ton of boys scream and start running. That was quite funny. Just in case they were still around, all of the girls that had cars went and set their car alarms off. I'm sure the neighbors down the road were thinking WHAT is going on?! The next morning I walk out to this.
I think they did quite a good job. And people kept asking me at church yesterday if I was upset. I personally take it as a sign of love. My dad always says he wouldn't give me a hard time unless he loved me. So that's the way I think of it.
Also, the 9th and 10th grade girls went on some kind of upgrade scavenger hunt where they start with one item and they go around to places and try to find something bigger/better/worth more than what they have. And you don't get whatever you give them back.
So, I have 5 teenagers bust up in the house asking if I had something better than this.
.JPG)
In case you can't tell...that's a 2 1/2 inch tall rooster with fruit surrounding it. I don't get it. And it makes me wonder WHERE in the world they got this from?
So...I gave them this. That may not be the actual lamp, but it's very similar. I got two of them for like $5 each at Wal-Mart last year. And that one wasn't being used so it's all good. :) Evidently my lamp got another lamp and that's it. But the group that came and saw me 'cheated' because they weren't supposed to go to people's houses that they knew. Oh well! I know they had fun :)
One of the other teams managed to get a brand new sewing machine that was valued at $99 and a huge MS State umbrella.
Is that not crazy???
Tomorrow is my one-year anniversary at CDF! Is that not crazy too?? Crazy. I told my co-workers in staff meeting this morning that it has seriously been the best year of my working adult life :) So so so blessed to be there and do what we do and to get to work with such awesome people.
Lastly, this scripture has been on my mind for the past week and a half or so, just had to share. I love the way The Message puts it -
"But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for Him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference He made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted. Friends, this world is not your home, so don't make yourselves cozy in it. Don't indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they'll be won over to God's side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives."
- 1 Peter 2:9-12
:)
Like...the only pictures I got over a 36 hour period. I don't know what my problem was.
The theme was 'Consuming Fire' and the curriculum was on what it means to be authentic in our worship. It explored what worship is, what we worship (sadly, it usually isn't just God), aspects of personal and corporate worship and how the students (and us!) can be authentic and true worshippers.
It also dealt with what it means to be a living sacrifice as described in Romans 12:1-2. We talked about what it means when we're conformed to the world (as too many 'Christians' are), how to renew your mind practically (through the study/meditation/obedience of God's word) and a whole bunch of other stuff. It seriously was awesome and the corporate session with about 450 students from 11 different churches all over the county were great.
Preparing for this weekend was such a ridiculously huge blessing to me. I taught two of the sessions (on renewing your mind practically and the corporate worship session) and it really made me examine how I operate. Was I practicing what I was 'preaching'? I prayed that my words wouldn't just be something I was saying but rather, something that was true. Something that I was actually doing in my own life. Thankfully, it was. But there was some definite stepping on toes (all mine) as I was reading over the lessons in preparation. It's not enough just to be 'doing' these practices, but rather, doing them faithfully.
One of the many funny things that happened over the weekend came as I was teaching the last lesson on corporate worship late Saturday night. I'm sitting in the corner of my living room right beside the window and I hear leaves crunching outside the window. I knew that it was the 9th and 10th grade boys. They were staying in the parsonage which is right down the road and a lot of those boys like me for whatever reason. SO...I told the girls, okay, someone's out in the yard. Do NOT be surprised when they bang on the windows or doors. Sure enough, 5 minutes later BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM! Banging on the door. I go to the door and check but they've run away. Well, 20 or so minutes later we hear them again and Tina (the other adult) set her car alarm off and all of a sudden you hear a ton of boys scream and start running. That was quite funny. Just in case they were still around, all of the girls that had cars went and set their car alarms off. I'm sure the neighbors down the road were thinking WHAT is going on?! The next morning I walk out to this.
I think they did quite a good job. And people kept asking me at church yesterday if I was upset. I personally take it as a sign of love. My dad always says he wouldn't give me a hard time unless he loved me. So that's the way I think of it.
Also, the 9th and 10th grade girls went on some kind of upgrade scavenger hunt where they start with one item and they go around to places and try to find something bigger/better/worth more than what they have. And you don't get whatever you give them back.
So, I have 5 teenagers bust up in the house asking if I had something better than this.
.JPG)
In case you can't tell...that's a 2 1/2 inch tall rooster with fruit surrounding it. I don't get it. And it makes me wonder WHERE in the world they got this from?
So...I gave them this. That may not be the actual lamp, but it's very similar. I got two of them for like $5 each at Wal-Mart last year. And that one wasn't being used so it's all good. :) Evidently my lamp got another lamp and that's it. But the group that came and saw me 'cheated' because they weren't supposed to go to people's houses that they knew. Oh well! I know they had fun :)
One of the other teams managed to get a brand new sewing machine that was valued at $99 and a huge MS State umbrella.
Is that not crazy???
Tomorrow is my one-year anniversary at CDF! Is that not crazy too?? Crazy. I told my co-workers in staff meeting this morning that it has seriously been the best year of my working adult life :) So so so blessed to be there and do what we do and to get to work with such awesome people.
Lastly, this scripture has been on my mind for the past week and a half or so, just had to share. I love the way The Message puts it -
"But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for Him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference He made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted. Friends, this world is not your home, so don't make yourselves cozy in it. Don't indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they'll be won over to God's side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives."
- 1 Peter 2:9-12
Are we living exemplary lives so that others will see our actions and whatever the negative things they think about Christians will be overturned? Are we living holy and set-apart lives? Lives that don't look like the world's? Just a thought.
Pst, just wanted to drop by and say how much I appreciate seeing your footprint trail all over (in)courage -sharing such compassionate encouragement to so many in the comments.
ReplyDeleteWhat a generous blessing to give.
Thank you!!
Lisa-Jo
Your post title is so appropriate! Sounds like such a fun weekend! :) I love the ideas :) Hmmm...maybe I'll try some of them with my youth group!
ReplyDelete