God's Rockin' Awesomeness!

I haven't been a Christ follower very long (about 3 years) but usually by now, even young Christians have lead someone to Christ. I mean, I have been a youth leader for almost as long as I have been saved, but the only times I have lead someone in the sinner's prayer was after someone else had done the leg work. I know some reading this may think..."You did do your part, someone else planted a seed and you helped it flower." But God has just been challenging me lately to share the gospel and salvation. So, last night during the service @ Student Ministry, God just starting working in my heart telling me what I was supposed to talk about during small groups. He showed me that I was supposed to define sin, explain what a life without Jesus was like, have some of my girls share their testimony. Then he lowered the boom and told me exactly WHO was going to get saved. I wanted to weep and I wanted to shout. It was the craziest feeling ever. Then on the way to small groups God told me that the girl that was going to get saved didn't have a Bible, so I picked up one on the way. So I got to small groups, made a little small talk and then God just starting doing his thing. I just stepped back and hid behind the cross for a while. It was SO amazing how he spoke so much truth through me--I was blown away. Then, he showed me to have the girls close their eyes and raise their hand if they wanted to accept Christ. Not only did the girl that he showed me accept him, but a girl from the school that I teach at that has been coming to church with me for the past few weeks also accepted Christ. When they opened their eyes I told them that a prayer doesn't save them, but the grace of Jesus and the desire in their heart to know him and accept him as the savior of their life does. So I lead them in the prayer. When we finished I looked at one of the girls and said, "You don't have a Bible, do you?" After she had told me two weeks ago that she did. She looked at me with big puppy dog eyes and shook her head. It was the most AWESOME spiritual experience I have ever had in my ENTIRE! life. For the first time ever, God allowed me to lead two people to Christ. WOW! Pray for those girls. Pray that God would teach them who he is and that they would learn how to be true disciples of Jesus. Pray that because of their lives, others would be saved. God rocks my world! Has he rocked yours lately? Tell me about it! I love to hear about God's rocking awesomeness!

Where are you going?

"You cant lead people to where you aren’t going..."

From time to time I tend to find a blog worth stalking and I drain every drop of wisdom from it that I can. My current "stalkee" if you will is Brad Cooper, one of NewSpring Student Ministry's pastors. He just rolls with wisdom constantly and today when I read the line quoted at the opening of my blog, it took me aback. This is something that I inherently knew, but to hear it put into those words just really challenged me.

"You cant lead people to where you aren’t going..."

Where are you going, and who is following?

Who are you playing for?

As a soon to be English teacher, I love it when God demonstrates elements of literature! (Forgive me for my corniness, it's early and I haven't had any coffee yet) God is ironic. How is God ironic you might ask...well, last night I was talking to Will and out of the blue he asked me who my favorite athlete of all time was. That was def. a tough questions, but I quickly thought of the Atlanta Braves I watched growing up, with my late grandpa. Those athletes brought back memories that I will always cherish, besides that John Smoltz and Greg Maddux are pretty baller!
So this morning I started surfing some blogs that always seem to spur me spiritually. I started at Perry's blog because he just seems to see God everywhere and it blows me away, the ways that he hears and sees God even in the monotony of the day most take for granted. So Perry's last blog had a funny comment about Brad Cooper which lead me to Brad's blog. Ok...here comes the ironic part. I was reading through some of Brad's blogs when I came upon this video of John Smoltz.


Dude...I didn't even know he was Christian! So, while it was cool to find out that my fav. athlete of all time loves Jesus, it aso challenged me. The way he uses his talent in every capacity and plays for an audience of one really made me stop and think...who am I playing for?

Me?

Do you ever look up at God and say, "Who, me?!" Lately, I've had quite a few of those moments, but tonight probably had to be my biggest. My loving, awesomely incredible fiance informed me, with full confidence, of God's calling on his life. I'm not going to share it just yet because I'm not sure he's ready for the world to know, but please be praying that God gives him wisdom and clarity as he pursues this calling. Pray that God gives me a faith-filled heart. Pray that God will change my heart and make me worthy of the calling. Thanks!

Wow

So, yet again, it has been a while since I've posted, but student teaching and wedding planning has caused life to blow by at break neck speeds. I really don't even have time to be doing this right now, but something so outrageously awesome happened in my life tonight that I could not, ABSOLUTELY could not pass up the chance to share it tonight.

Our service at Student Ministry tonight was about the book of Revelation, three things we should learn from it. One of the things was that Jesus is coming back, I know--something, I've always known, but presented and made real to me in a way that I hadn't considered in a LONG time. Brad Cooper, one of our youth pastors shared the truth of heaven and hell in such a powerful way that I was completely overwhelmed for the souls of those who were lost. He described those who don't know Christ as lost in a burning building while we know the way out. I realized in that moment that I am just standing on the curb watching people that I love burn. I am standing by and, quite honestly, telling them to go to hell while I rest on my blessed assurance and bask in my salvation. I know that is a lot to chew on, but this is not where the heart wrenching conviction really struck me.
While I was washed in the truth and inspired by the message during the time that I was still in the building, it wasn't until my drive home that God poured some frapping amazing knowledge on my heart. I was praying for my students at Palmetto and began to weep for their souls. I cried out to God and asked him if I could take their place. I wept and begged God to make me the lowest servant I could be, to give me patience and the capacity to love them despite how they try me...and then it hit me. What I was feeling at that moment was not even a fraction of what Christ felt before he went to the cross. I don't say what I prayed to bring glory to myself, but to show the depth of the love that Christ showed for each one of us. I didn't even realize the depth of what I was saying, but I knew that what I was praying was the outcry of my heart. Hearing God speak to my heart and show me why I was feeling what I was feeling was completely astonishing. The clarity and peace I felt at that moment was phenomenal. While I want to show my kids that love of Christ each day and attempt to SHOW them the gospel, I want to boldy proclaim Christ's death and resurrection without the fear of being fired or losing the job I've been promised for next year. So, if you're reading this and your pray, pray for me to be bold and share the gospel (with wisdom and respect). Losing your job is such a small sacrifice compared to handing naked on a cross. God will provide. Don't lose heart.