Remember

I am a horrible person at remembering. The other day I was reading a friend of mines blog And I was encouraged to write a blog about things I want to remember. So here it is. I encourage you (the 2 of you that read my blog haha) to do the same. :)

These are the most memorable moments of my life so far:

1. I got baptized in the Gibsons pool in front of my metro family
2. My first day as a fuel leader
3. I was in many JROTC competitions in HS and I won many awards for it
4. I went to Thailand
5. While in Thailand I visited a temple made completely out of bottles
6. I went to Cornerstone festival and caught rides all week on golf carts
7. I spent a week at the alive festival and got completely covered in mud each day :)
8. I spent a summer of my life with 3 amazing people, we listened to the same 3 cds all summer...
9. I got bit by a Millipede while painting a wall the second time in Thailand
10. Ive been on trips to cedar point, kings island, camping trip and canoeing trips.
11. My first REAL LIFE Retreat
12. I left my home and went to colorado for 8 months
13. the first time I saw the mountains
14. I climbed a mountain.. or 3 Including Pikes Peak! (14,000 ft)
15. I conquered the incline
16. I dug a hole for a latrine in Honduras
17. I climbed the great sand dunes
18. I went on tour with the desperation band and prayed with random people
19. I helped put on the desperation conference, where a year before my life was changed by it... then I got to see many lives changed again :)
20. Ive been white water rafting
21. Ive repelled on the side of a mountian
22. Got the honor of baptizing several girls
23. watched hundreds of people give their lives to Christ ever week!


My life is full.. my life is exciting... my life is so much more!

I could go on and on and on. God is good, God is great

Grace

I've had a lot of thoughts lately. Yesterday was the good friday service. It was so awesome. For the first time I got to be in it. I was actually REALLY nervous, but it turned out great:) But anyways, I've been thinking a lot about grace, because the good friday service was about grace. It's crazy how much we screw up in our lives, and how God gives us grace. Grace upon grace upon grace. I have seen the grace of God transform many lives lately. I have seen people who were far from Him come closer, and others who were growing close, make choices for Him that were tough.. Oh the grace we get. Us sinners, dirty, messed up, broken sinners... I am so thankful for grace in my life. the grace that changed me, but since then has been taking me on a crazy journey. Living life for Him is wayyyyyy more exciting then living life without Him. It's not about rules, its about a relationship that will take you to the ends of the earth and back, or maybe just to the end of your rope... then you can take hold of His.

His GRACE has brought me safe this far and His GRACE will lead me home

John 1:16 (English Standard Version)

And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

Different

So I had dinner with a friend tonight. We've been friends for probably 3 or 4 years. I met her when she started working at petsmart. She is not a Christian, she says she is Catholic, but she usually just likes to go to church. But that's not really an issue. She is my friend and I love her no matter what. But talking to her tonight made me realize how different my life is to the rest of the world. Jesus said to be in the world, but not of the world. I often think that I am both, because I am human and I fall short of God's glory. But then nights like tonight I realize how much I am not of the world. We had differing views on dating, sex, marriage. And I am not condemning her for any way she lives. She is my friend, I don't need to judge her I just need to love her. It was just so interesting to be reminded of what the cost that is to bear His name. My life is different. I don't drink, I don't have sex, I don't smoke, I don't listen to bad music, or watch bad movies. Hear me on this I'm not trying to say look at me I'm the good Christian, because I know I am the biggest sinner in the world. But I say this because my life is different. Jesus says to live different. But are we living differently or the same as everyone else?

Counting the cost

So Wednesday at life groups I talked about Counting the cost of following Jesus. And how it will cost us A LOT to follow Him. I was inspired by (yet again) Katie Davis click here to read the blog post that inspired me. I am so inspired and excited to move into action when I read her blogs! But the reason I am writing this is, am I ready to count the cost. Jesus requires EVERYTHING of us, and for awhile, I think I have only been giving Him part. Part of my time, Part of my money, Part affections, Part of my heart, Part of my emotions, Part of me. I cannot only give Him part of me. JESUS WANTS ALL OF ME. But truthfully, my comfort gets the best of me. I want to give Him all, but I want my comfort. But I no longer want that. I want to have all of Him. I don't care about myself, I want Him. Oh the battle in my head and my heart. It's like that verse that says I don't do what I should do, but I do what I shouldn't... or something along that lines. But God gives me grace every minute. So I will use it! Well, I hope this inspires you to count the cost of following Jesus... He said DENY yourself and pick up your cross... refuse your desires and get ready to die... I am ready to die to myself for Him...

Just kidding.. hear me out

Well in the last post I wrote about how I was not going to go to Colombia, and how I felt like I was supposed to go to Uganda instead. I still want to go to Uganda, but now God has changed things and I am able to go to Colombia too. God is really funny, because I totally was sure He didn't want me to go, but I still said, well if it's your will then you'll make it happen. And He did. I'm not going to get into all the details, but I can tell you He changed a lot so I would be able to go. So now I'm going to Colombia, and I'll go to Uganda/Kenya/Rwanda in august 2011:)

Columbia... I mean Uganda

A few months ago, we found out that Alive/Metro is going to Columbia this summer. They went last year and it was great, God changed many peoples lives down there. Well for awhile now, I've been thinking and praying about going to Columbia. In my head I really wanted to go. I wanna go be a part of what Alive and Metro will be doing their this summer. I love mission trips, I love going to other countries and helping them and serving. I also really love seeing students getting their lives changed on mission trips and this year several of my girls are going. So why wouldn't I go... So I talked to my parents, who were not supportive of the idea, because of my brothers and my sisters wedding this year. So I was like okay, I'm not going. But then again I was like maybe I could. So I thought and planned and wanted to again. But I just know in my heart (not my head) I'm not supposed to go. A few months ago, I heard about this girl named Katie Davis... read about her here She is an amazing young woman who abandoned a normal life, for what God had called her to do. She is 21 and has adopted 14 children from Uganda. She and her children live there, and she feeds over 300 other children each day. I think that is so amazing. Ever since I've heard about her I have been just captivated by her story. I don't think a day goes by that I don't think about her and what she is doing in Uganda! So I've just been hearing God whisper.. go. Very softly and gently. Go. So I e-mailed the organization, but they said they are equipped to take in anyone to do a short term mission trip. But the whisper hasn't stopped... go.. go. So now I am going to be looking into other ways to go, but I am hoping and praying to go to Africa in August of 2011. Which seems a long way off, but I need to get some other things in order here first. I am excited, because I know that seems far away but it isn't really. So I am excited for God to move. So please start praying for me, even though this journey is far away, pray that I would be lead to the right person/ organization to go with.

His servant,

Megan

Rest

The last week has been crazy! I either worked or had something for ministry everyday from beginning to end. It was busy. But I love it. I have joy for my assignment. I love where God has put me. I love the kids, I love the other leaders I love everything about it... even the crazy weeks. On Friday we left for the winter retreat. It was an awesome weekend. God showed up big time for my girls. I am telling you that I got to see one of my girls grow so much in just 3 days. She is learning so much. I see God working in her, its a long journey, but I know she will make it. But its not always easy. Having a busy week, means that I am tired, drained, and short on joy. I love it, but I am usually exhausted. So today, I rested. I am just resting. I took a nap and just chilled. I am just trying to relax, rest in Him. I know His joy is my strength. I am often reminded why I do youth ministry. It seems like when I am most tired, emptied, hurt and down.. God reminds me. Man what a awesome God I serve. I am greatful