Gavin just posted this on twitter and it really spoke to my soul.

Lord, You have always given
bread for the coming day;
and though I am poor,
today I believe.

Lord, You have always given
strength for the coming day;
and though I am weak,
today I believe.

Lord, You have always given
peace for the coming day;
and though of anxious heart,
today I believe.

Lord, You have always kept
me safe in trials;
and now, tried as I am,
today I believe.

Lord, You have always marked
the road for the coming day;
and though it may be hidden,
today I believe.

Lord, You have always lightened
this darkness of mine;
and though the night is here,
today I believe.

This is a video we showed at our church for Children’s Day. So much fun!!

I’m so thankful for the opportunity to be a witness to God’s work.   I have seen too many wonderful things during my time in ministry to even begin to list them here.

This past weekend, Nick was baptized.  There have been 3 students from our Rec program baptized in the past year. Being a part of these important days has been my biggest honor and most humbling experience in ministry so far.

We met Nick through our Rec program at the school. He was actually there before I was. He’s been coming since he was a middle school student.   (He’s begins his junior year next week)

We have been honored to watch Nick except Christ, we’ve been privilaged to have him join our JUSTIFIED crew and get plugged into a small group and we are blessed to have him on the drums during our morning worship services. He is a remarkable young man and we are all blessed to know him.  We all (our church family) love him. About 30 people showed up at the lake at 8:00 on a chilly morning.  7 went into the water.  Nick couldn’t believe so many people were there to support him. There’s no doubt that WE were the ones who were blessed.

God does amazing things in our midst every day. And those of us in youth ministry get to be front and center for so many of those things.   I can’t imagine doing anything else with my life.

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from Sunday.

Congratulations, Nick. We are all SO proud of you and feel honored to call you a part of our family.

Ok, so things are still crazy. I have no idea what’s going to happen with my job and my apartment is in shambles. Tim moved out of his apartment over the weekend. He’s staying with friends until the wedding and all of his stuff is piled up in my apartment. Once we sort it and get it organized/put away it won’t be so bad but right now I can’t get to my stove and I have to move boxes to sleep in my bed. Insanity. I CAN still get to my coffeepot so all is not lost.

So yes, on the surface, it looks like things are absolutely out of control. But because God is so good to me, I’m feeling much better. I know we’ll get a handle on the chaos in the apartment and I know that whatever happens at work, God will see me through.

So I’ve picked this out as my theme song for the week

Here are the lyrics:

“Pressing On”

I think we’re going somewhere.
We’re on to something good here.
Out of mind, out of state.
Trying to keep my head on straight.
I think we’re going somewhere.
We’re on to something good here.
There’s only one thing left to do.
Drop all I have and go with you.

[Chorus:]
Somewhere back there I left my worries all behind.
My problems fell out of the back of my mind.
We’re going and I’m never knowing (never knowing) where we’re going.
To go back to where I was would just be wrong.
I’m pressing on.
Pressing on, all my distress is going, going, gone. (pressing on, pressing on)
And I won’t sit back, and take this anymore.
‘Cause I’m done with that, I’ve got one foot out the door.
And to go back where I was would just be wrong
I’m pressing on.

I think we’re going somewhere.
We’re on to something good here.
Out of mind, out of state.
Trying to keep my head on straight.
I think we’re going somewhere.
We’re on to something good here.
Adversity, we get around it.
Searched for joy, in you I found it.

You look down on me, but you don’t look down on me at all.
You smile and laugh, and I feel the love you have for me.
I think we’re going somewhere.
We’re on to something good here, and we’re gonna make it after all.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK EVERYONE!!

I just wanted to take a moment to reflect on this awesome time in my life.  It’s been almost 2 months since Tim proposed to me. We are really enjoying being engaged. I’m realizing more and more that we’re one of those irritating couples that can’t stop staring at each other and smile all the time.  It’s disgusting.

We’ve spent these last two months planning our wedding and dreaming about our life together.

Next week we get to start celebrating with our families and friends. It starts with a trip to Albany for a bridal shower hosted by Tim’s mom and a party with a bunch of his friends. The following weekend is a girls night with a bunch of friends including one who’s also getting married this fall.  Then comes the shower hosted by my mom. Before we know it, it will be November and we’ll be standing in front of God and our families, promising to be faithful to each other forever.

Anyone who’s frustrated by being single will want to punch me square in the mouth for saying this (I know because I was one of you a year ago) … but this man, the one God designed to be my mate … was absolutely, positively worth the wait.

And I can’t wait to be his bride.

Things in my life have been way too serious lately.

So here you go. Enjoy!

This has been a difficult week. I’ve been faced with the news that the church I work for and love is in the middle of a serious financial crisis. One of the possible effects of this crisis is that my position may be cut.  Anyone who follows this blog knows how much I truly love the people I serve. It breaks my heart that this is even a discussion … but it is.

There’s a hope that things will turn around so that I can stay but that will need to happen very quickly and dramatically.

I am doing my best to trust in God during this time. Tim and I are talking through what the future might look like if my position is cut and we truly believe that if that’s God’s will, He has something else waiting for me.  Something awesome.

This situation has reminded me of something I had forgotten. This ministry is not mine. These students aren’t mine. They belong to God. He loves them way more than I am even capable of.  It has been a privilege to be a part of their lives these last several years and I’m sure I’ll be blessed by them in the years to come if I’m able to stay.

But either way, God will still be God.

I posted this piece of scripture as my facebook status this morning:
“I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”- Psalm 16:8

My cousin, who has a lot of questions about faith and church, left this comment: Does this mean that if you are falling you put your hands out and they go before you to break your fall???

I’ve never thought of that scripture in exactly that way but her interpretation is exactly what I needed to see in that verse today. I do feel like I’m kind of like I’m in a free fall with everything that’s going on right now. There is great comfort in knowing that God is reaching out ahead of me to break my fall.

Do you ever wonder if your familiarity with scripture is getting in the way of God speaking to you through it?  I quoted that verse this morning knowing 100% that it’s true … but it took someone who isn’t familiar with it to give me the reassurance I really needed to hear.

This is your invitation to Journey with us,

As we approach this weekend please be in prayer about ONE WEEK, our Wayne County mission service camp for grades 6-12. This year’s theme is “Journey”.  This is our third year and each year has brought great challenges.  When there are big challenges, God does His part.  Please pray for us over the next week (August 9-14) as we Serve, Grow and Build .

Pray:
-That students will follow Jesus more closely
-For continued strength in the partnership of churches in Wayne County serving kids
-For safety driving and safety at the work sites and good health
-For the dozens of adult volunteers as they serve
-That crews can serve effectively and with a humble spirit
-That work site recipients will clearly see Jesus
-For our Thursday night dinner as we build relationships with the community and give witness to what God has done
-For our times of worship and learning

We are so grateful for how God has moved people to lay the foundation of this ministry by serving before hand those who will serve by contributing countless resources (and cookies).

ONE WEEK Service Camp is a partnership of several Wayne County area churches, Scarlet Thread Ministries and Youth Impact.
We are grateful for your partnership as we serve kids, Wayne County and Jesus.

The Leadership Team,
Don, Mike, Sara, Steve

I’ve been working hard to get my fall planning done this week. Here are my series topics.

CHAOS (Middle School)

September: “Mythbusters” … things that WON’T get you into heaven
All the things that go along with being a Christian but aren’t worth anything without a relationship with Jesus… being nice, going to church, helping people, etc.

October:  “How to Be A …”   based on the youtube videos on how to be a ninja, etc. We’ll film our own with students.
Now that we’ve busted through the myths and found out the basis of our faith (Jesus Christ), we’ll look at how that faith needs to be lived out in our lives.

November: “Are You Insane?!!”  A look at some of the crazy things God called people to do throughout the bible.

JUSTIFIED (High School)

September/October: Stripped Clean, Down to Nothing But the Cross using this resource

November: “I Am Second” … a few weeks of watching/discussing videos from www.iamsecond.com , a few weeks of guest speakers from within the church and then a week of student testimonies.

In December both groups will go through a series called “Extras” … a look at some of the lesser known people in the Christmas story and why they’re important.