Leaders Living Out LOUD

Once again my heart overflows to our Father this morning of the many incredible young people God is entrusting us with on Wed nights. I truly long to know each one of them.

As I was reflecting on them by name and what I could see in each of them last night, I was thanking God for how HE has brought together our leadership team. I cannot express to you how grateful I am to God for this dynamic group of young adults, so talented and gifted in diverse ways that are truly not only my friends but a family. We meet every Wed before youth at 5pm to pray, really pray. To specifically rely 100% on God. It is Him that does the working through us and we can do nothing on our own. Then we break bread as a team reminding our flesh that we are not only proclaiming His death until He comes, and walking in obedience as He commanded us to do, but that we might walk by the power of His Spirit in all we do for it is He that lives in us. It is this witness of Him through us that the youth will be drawn to. For it is He that is love.

Stephanie, Christian, Mike, Melissa, Jenn, Alysha, Ron, Jody, Ron, Alex, Hannah, Roger and recent additions of Laura and Ashleigh... names of my brothers and sisters to which I have the privilege of building God's kingdom with. I count it a privilege as I mention your name personally and specifically, in frequent exchanges to our Father. I cry out so often to Him for each of you.

I want to thank everyone of you... so much... for refreshing my Spirit each time we serve together. How we roll with whatever God is doing in our midst, we trust each other, we guard each others backs, we help each other, we inspire each other and we remind each other that there is one purpose and one goal in this life... that we would glorify God in everything. We are learning to humble ourselves to each other and what it means to truly love one another with His selfless love. We realize that this is so much more than being a "Youth Leader" but rather a "CALLING" to make disciples. TRUE FOLLOWERS of Christ. That's not a light call. It's not a "Raise your hand if you wanna go to heaven" it's a sold out commitment to not only share our lives with one another but these precious young people. It's a call to week by week do "LIFE" by living as an example to them and opening and sharing ours. It's a high calling; a noble task, Paul reminds us. We all make many mistakes, but grace abounds first to us from God and then is given freely to one another. But we together have made a choice to raise the bar to give God our utmost. Our utmost for HIS HIGHEST. He is worthy... He is so worthy. Our Hero has conquered death and we are running full out, reaching and encouraging our youth to run with us. For you are fulfilling 1 Timothy 4:12 and my heart so rejoices in God for what He is doing through each of you. May we continue to lead in LIFE, SPEECH, LOVE, FAITH and PURITY by the power of His Spirit that no one would look down on us that we are young, but that they would be inspired to know if God can use a crazy bunch like us... wow... He can use anyone. :)

As I thank Him this morning He reveals a song to me that I haven't heard for almost a year and yet the lyrics are the very song of our heart to Him and to others. I've listened to it over and over again... I believe it's OUR song for our youth. Listen to it. Really listen and tell me the Spirit within you doesn't ache with the weight of every word sung??

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jYE42Pb3uI&ob=av2e

Jeremy Camp's - Speaking Louder Than Before

This song reminds me of exactly our hearts and a very specific call to the time we are in. The Spirit arises in me when I hear it that we must continue to take our stand boldly for this next generation... it is in desperation. I think it's part of the enemy's deception and disguise to feel as if it's not urgent. IT IS!!!!!! We need to RISE and REACH to them... raising our voices not giving up or in. I BELIEVE WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS LAND... BY SHOWING THEM THE LOVE THAT WE'VE RECEIVED.

Let's run in this, Together for the PRIZE

The "Well Done" that will come from the mouth of our Hero, the one who conquered death,

My heart says to me that to hear Him say those words to me when we meet face to face will far surpass all the riches of this current world. May we stay focused on things that matter for eternity!!

I love you FEARLESS leaders. Really love you.

Humbled,

C

When Father Speaks

For the last 3 weeks since Youth has started up again I must confess I've been so thankful to God for the incredibly large group of young people He is drawing to us. I really love to get to know them. To look beyond what the human eye sees to understand more of their hearts and who they really are. The reality check comes when I see how harassed by the world they are; how much turmoil they come from whether families, friends, pressures..etc. Their lives are becoming isolated and they are moving in it for they know nothing else, and yet their hearts ache for someone to believe in them, someone to genuinely listen, care, protect, connect with them with their minds undivided. They are fed more knowledge, more freedom, more food and caffeine, more entertainment, luxuries and fun than previous generations... yet in the very depths of their hearts they are longing for love and truth more than they even realize. My heart aches as I witness this, yet I shall not bow to such idols or even release them to them, but rather I shall fight to grab hold of them and speak truth in love, believing in them.

I have begun to witness the change in some already and what joy it fills me with to know their steps are now purposeful, bold, strong, courageous on the straight and narrow running hard for the truth they now believe in.

I say all of this as today I read the verse we've heard many times, right after Jesus first is revealed to people at the age of 30 and is baptised, the heavens open and His Father speaks and affirms him. It's so beautiful. "This is MY SON, WHOM I LOVE, with him I am WELL PLEASED" (Matt 3:17)

He's honoring, cherishing and loving His Son, not only to him, but in front of others. Wow. The power and love that was bonded in that very moment. The affirmation that every child longs for from their parents, especially a Father.

For many years of my life I never had this, nor did Brea. But as we walked in obedience with God and relied on him truly as a husband and Father He began to affirm us and declare His love in countless ways. We were both so smitten. And now God has brought us both Roger, in whom is one of the most affirming, loving, encouraging male influences I have known to date. I see how all 3 of our children are going strong in the Lord by this love and encouragement from him and myself.

And now I look at the young people that know not this human or heavenly love and affirmation, and yet Roger and I (and 10 other God fearing young adults) are committed to truly believing in these that He brings us. They are God's ... He is simply asking that we do our best to love them the way He asks us to.

Not an easy task, but a rewarding one as we see these young lives take on a new boldness for the sake of the true love and pleasure that God has for each of them. Boldness in a belief that is worth dying for. The same boldness that affirms Jesus again on the Mount of transfiguration inspiring him of his Father's love despite the death He would soon face.

KNOW HIS love and deep pleasure for you. REALLY KNOW IT. For when you do... your heart begins to ache to be united with Him one day soon. He is my Daddy, in whom I love, with Him I am beyond pleased... let's try "passionately intoxicated with". :)



p.s. For those of you that have been asking for a recent audio of my speaking, here you go:
http://www.trinitybaptist.net/media.php?pageID=7 (You won't be able to tell with the audio only, but the passage I spoke on I recited from memory to hit home the emphasis of the theme "Thy Word have I Hidden in my Heart.")

With love.

My Favorite Jeans for HIS Favorite Genes

I get asked a lot what I think about dating... but I like to go to the deeper motive behind the dating which really lends itself to "Who will I marry?" This obviously seems to be more prominent in the minds of our young women. Yes... that is true. Guys think about it ... but I find in my experience, later on in life. Is this wrong?... no... I believe God's created women to long for that connection even at a young age, hence dolls, barbies, house,etc. Remember Eve's curse was dependency for her husband. And again Paul reminds us women are the glory of men. So rather than dismissing the question... I applaud it. It's a reality. BUT I also want to share and encourage young women and men with the truth. If God is your primary relationship... He will bring into your life, in the exact perfect time, the man/woman He has created just for you. JUST FOR YOU. Imagine that! They exist right now somewhere on this world and God has them on reserve for you. If you continue to walk with God He will walk with you. He will ONLY GIVE YOU the BEST!!!! Do you believe that! I sure did, and NOW I am witness to it. After 8 years of not even dating but trusting if God wanted me married He would bring me the man... and voila... He sure did. Roger is everything I desired and wrote in my journal to God requesting... BUT even more than that He surpasses every desire by so much more!!!! It really leaves me in awe. People would tell me, "You couldn't marry a strong leader like you..it would never work." And yet in my heart I so desired a leader.. that we would lead together as a couple. Plus I wanted to be inspired by his integrity, relationship with God, knowledge of Scripture, and his "lover" mentality to me and to everyone. Plus His good looks to boot... ahhh shucks.... I'm gushing right now.... how I love him. He's so perfect for me, for us. For Brea too! They both have such a special relationship. So why do I say all of this... God knew the timing in which it would be right....trust Him. And quite frankly I wanted a man that reserved himself physically for me. You know I didn't kiss a man, or offer my body in any way... trusting it would be my greatest wedding gift to my future husband. Was it easy???!!!! COME ON.... you gotta be kidding! I really started to wonder if such a guy existed. BUT it wasn't going to let me change my desire before God to honor Him first, with body, soul and spirit.

I watched the Sisterhood of Travelling Pants and I pondered how it's so true everyone has one pair of jeans that are their favorites, that look good just on them. And I realized that it's much like the guy/gal God has for us. They are like your favourite jeans. If you could only chose one pair you'd chose them. Almost as if they were made for your body specifically. No matter what anyone else thinks of them, or how warn or different they may be... they are YOUR favourite jeans. Almost as if they were made to fit just you. So is the guy/girl God has in store for you. They make you look good, fit exactly for your body, you feel good with them, comfortable, proud, excited, sassy, etc...etc...

WAIT... TRUST and WAIT... I don't say this lightly I speak it with everything I know and have including my favorite jeans. HE/SHE is made for you. They exist right now. Why don't you pray that God protects them, inspires them in their relationship with Him and keeps them on His reserve until... the unveiling time shall come to pass.

He won't disappoint. He's GOD. Remember that LOVE thing... yeah... He created it. ;)