So I've had a lot of thoughts lately in my mind, but I haven't been able to get my thoughts down. But I think I am able to now, so here's a few things that have been on my mind lately.


1. GRACE
First, last week I got to go to this women's retreat thing. It was awesome. Getting this opportunity to go, was amazing. During that I really felt grace. Like I didn't deserve this awesome opportunity, but I was given it anyways. I didn't do anything special, but I still got it. I think just the chance to go, helped to realize the Grace God has for me all the time. I don't deserve His grace but He gives it to me. Everyday I mess up, but He still gives me grace.

2. It's going to be hard.
During the retreat I got to talk to one of the best jr high women youth pastor. She is full of so much knowledge. (her last jr. high youth group had 500 kids in it!) Well I got to sit down and talk to her, and I asked: "What's the hardest thing about being a woman youth pastor?" Her reply: "Being a woman youth pastor." Wow what a wake up call. She basically said you need to be sure you are called to this, because if your not willing to endure,less of everything.. Money, respect..ect.. then you shouldn't do it. It was a wake up to me because I knew it was going to be hard, but I thing for the first time I really realized how hard. This was going to be a fight. But I know what God is calling me to, so I will endure it.

3. Get a routine!
I need a routine in my life. If I don't have one then I am not able to effectively complete the tasks I have. I need to get into gear, wake up, go to the gym, have quiet time, go to work, get things done I need to get done, and go to bed. I think sometimes we think routines or rituals are bad, but the more you do something the less you think about doing it, and the more you just do it. I need to have more stability in my life.

4. Dream Big
After I got back from the womens retreat, a day and a half later, I went on the Alive winter retreat. (No time for rest! haha) The Alive winter retreat was all about dreaming Big, listening to God's dreams for your life, and going after them. It was awesome. I had some time to think about what God's dreams for me, and what He wants me to do. I don't think I have it all figured out but I know somethings.
a. Be a youth pastor
b. Get married and have a family (I want 10 kids.. 5 adopted)
c. Sometime I want to spend a while in Africa.. I'm not sure how long or when
d. Love big
Those are some of the things I know I have in my heart. And I know I want to go do them!
5. Just give a rip about them!
At the womens retreat Jeanne was talking about students today, and how they are so jacked up and no one cares about them, so if you just give a rip about them, then you can make a difference in their lives. I saw this on Monday. One of my girls was really upset after fuel so I talk to her. She confessed that she hasn't been living for God lately, and my talk really convicted her. I just sat there speaking grace over her. (what a privileged!) I continually told her I loved her and I didn't look down on her and that grace covered her. I gave a rip about her. I love her and the rest of "my girls". I hope they know that. I love them all so much, I tell them all the time, so I hope they know. I want them one day to look back and know that I cared about them, because God cares about them.


I know there are so many things, but that's all I can think about right now. So I leave you with those thoughts...

Romans 8:37-39
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Uncomfortable

Do you live an uncomfortable life? I want to...
It's uncomfortable to spend time with God everyday
It's uncomfortable to not spend your money on whatever you want.
It's uncomfortable to be the only Christian in your house
It's uncomfortable to live below your means so you can give beyond your means
It's uncomfortable to follow God's will in your life
It's uncomfortable to take a path into the unknown
It's uncomfortable to for go earthly things for heavenly ones
It's uncomfortable to not date when the rest of the world is
It's uncomfortable to only be understood by the One no one understands

How can you be uncomfortable?

What do I wanr for Christmas?

Well, Christmas is in three days. All I've been asked lately is what do I want for Christmas? Really...nothing. I am content with what I have. I could use a new phone, but my brother is supposed to be getting me that. Besides that I really don't need anything. But I decided to put on here a list of things I wish I could have...

1. An Apartment
2. A round trip ticket to Colorado
3. A tall black dresser
4. My parents to come to church
5. No fights at Christmas


That's what I want for Christmas

Flexibility

When I was in DLA we always had to be flexible. Everything was always changing, we never really knew what was going to happen. I think that helped me a lot. It helped me to learn to take directions without really knowing the reason. A lot of people say the number one rule on missions is flexibility. I learned this again this week.(I believe I am on mission always.. His mission, it might not be overseas, but its still a mission) With news that Adam and Katie will not be back til next week, it was a time to be flexible. We just had to work out a few details and now everything is all ready. Flexibility is so important in ministry. There have been so many times that I have had everything all planned out and something happened and I had to drop everything to deal with it. A student called who needed something, a friend needing someone to talk to, something in Alive and Fuel needing to be changed. But now I don't really get upset. I know God is in control of my day and I will get done what He wants me to. I remember reading a book, where the author was talking about interruptions in his day. Someone coming to his office needing to talk, at first he was upset by the interruptions, but then God laid it on his heart that they were there for a purpose. Now when he has someone come to him, during his busy day, he just says: God must have sent you, lets find out why your here. What an awesome way to think about a change in plans. Things in life are always changing. It not about weather we change or not, its about how we cope with the change. I always want to be open and flexible for whatever God might have come my way.

Corinthians 9:19-21 (New International Version)

19Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law.

Even Paul was flexible... depending on who he was with!

Happy Turkey Day???

So I walk into my grandma's house yesterday and there was a sign "Happy Turkey Day" made by my little cousin who is 10.. now I understand she is only 10 and may not understand the importance of Thanksgiving...but where do you think she learned that from . I see it all around in stores, on school signs, on tv and radio... we are losing the meaning of holidays. I think it is so sad, that we have lost the real meaning of Thanksgiving, and have turned it into a day where we eat and watch football. I think it is ridiculous that we sit down for 45 min, say negative things about how the food tastes and then its over. I was listening to the radio the other day and they were selling pre-made Thanksgiving dinners, advertising "Don't bother with the hassle of making Thanksgiving dinner...." The hassle... is that all this holiday is anymore is a hassle. I want to sit and appreciate my family. Enjoy conversation, enjoy each other. Take our time eating... and be Thankful for what I have. Many people around the world didn't even eat yesterday... and we are so selfish we can't even appreciate what we do have on a Holiday that calls for Thanks giving... the giving of thanks for what we have. But who am I kidding anymore... America has turned this Holiday from Thanksgiving... into Turkey day....

Adam, Katie, Levi and Judah Dorband

Well today was the baby celebration for Adam and Katie. It was wonderful! In January God started to move Adam and Katie's heart towards adoption, specifically in a little country called Rwanda. (I found out today that is 1/6 the size of Michigan). So they began the journey to adopt (not one but 2 babies). They have finally almost come to the end of this long and hard process. So today we wanted to celebrate with them on their 2 adorable baby boys. I think adoption is such a wonderful thing. Ever since I've heard of them wanting to adopt I was so excited, because my heart is totally for adoption (many people know I want to adopt when I am older). Adoption is such a beautiful picture of what Christ does with us. He adopts us into His family, call us His own. How awesome is that! I have known Adam and Katie since they moved to Michigan about 5 1/2 years ago. The number one thing that is so amazing about them is that they are fully in love with Jesus, and they have given their lives to help teenagers do the same. They are seriously wonderful. I can honestly say that I would not be the person I am today, if Adam and Katie hadn't decided to come to Michigan, and work at Metro. I don't think I can even put into words how much they have done for me, and so many other because of their willingness to love and serve the downriver, because of the love of God that is in them. Today I was just so blessed to serve, and bless them, how they have blessed my life. Thats what made the baby celebration so wonderful, because we are honoring such a wonderful couple who have done so much for so many. Thank you Adam and Katie!

A More Beautiful You