<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'>"The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God stands forever."
Isaiah 40:8</span>
WOW! How amazing is that??? I just thought that verse was amazing.
Well, in case you can't tell, I'm on a bit of a spiritual high. I just got back from a week long retreat in Jekyll Island, Georgia and it was incredibly incredible! I can't even begin to describe it to you but God has put so many things on my heart that I don't know whether or not I can handle it all. This retreat, called
Fun in the Son [F.I.T.S.], happens every summer where Presbyterian youth groups gather together to fellowship, worship, and learn. And boy did I do just that.
I got to know my youth group better than I know my own family-extended family, atleast. I am so blessed to have the youth group that I have around me. We truly are like one big huge family. The guys pick on my like I'm their little sister (even those who are younger than me...I'm just smaller than everyone). The girls...well...we get emotional and frustrated with each other just like sisters, but we always find a way to be friends again, most likely because we have God as our center foundation.
The worship. You guys, I cannot even begin ot describe to you my worship experience. It has been unlike anything I have ever known. Todd Fields led it, morning and evening and I have never seen anything like it. The authenticity of this guy is amazing. He is so real, and his love for Jesus is so true. But the songs we sang...at one point, I prayed to God that He would give me that experience of it just being me and God in the room. No one else. And He did the whole week. I think from now on it will always be between just us. It was something I had always struggled with. I loved worship, but I loved it more because of my love for music and not my love for the Lord. It's not that way now. It has everything to do with my love for the Lord and his extravagant love for me. I encourage each and everyone of you to ask God for your worship experience to be between you and Him, because it will change your life. There is nothing like feeling as if your in a room with you and your savior. It is the most exhilarating thing in the whole entire universe. Well, second, after being in a room filled with new believers. My friend who I didn't really know until this trip, committed his life to Christ while he was there. Matt has been through hell. And I mean that literally. Satan had him in his grasp so tightly Matt couldn't have gotten out. But, he did. Matt drank, Matt did drugs, Matt smoke...in fact, he was chewing nicorette the whole time he was there. He takes medicine because he's bipolar. And I looked at him and told him I could not imagine going through what he had gone through and still being able to look anyone-especially God-in the eye. But he did. And, when he looked at me and asked me to go with him to talk to Kenn, the speaker, I started crying. You see, Kenn had said that if there were new Christians they could join him in a room because he wanted to pray for them, "And you're welcome to bring a brother or sister," he added. Matt asked me to go with him and I was ecstatic. His sister was there as well, and I have never seen her so happy. But, let me tell you. Being in that room full of new family members, I could hear the angels rejoicing. I could see God smiling. When we were done praying, we went back into the Worship service and, WOW, I have never ever ever in my life felt so much joy. And my friends will tell you that I am a very happy person. I'm very rarely upset or angry and I amost always have a smile on my face. But the joy I felt when I went back into that room was something I had never felt before. It washed over me like the buckets of water the guys dumped on us from the top floor. It covered me, and it is still with me today. For the first time, I felt the joy of my heavenly Father. I understood what it's like to be filled with God's joy. And I realized that my whole life, even after I accepted Christ in fifth grade, I had been missing the joy that Jesus wanted me to have. Sure, I had been happy. But I hadn't been joyful. I had been missing out on the happiest thing of all. My life will never be the same.
The sermons. Well, I don't even want to call them sermons. Teachings? Lessons?
Speeches? Whatever you want to call it, they were done by Kenn Kington. If you've never heard of him, you have now, and don't forget his name. He is amazing. He is a stand up comedian, but he's clean, clear and under control.
He's a Christian and a very proud one at that. This guy had the ability to have everyone laughing so hard they were crying one moment and the next everyone was silent because he had said something so profound. Actually, from the very first moment he started talking, I knew I had heard him before. By the end of the week I knew that he had spoken at my school, and I ran into him and his family during dinner so I stopped to say hi and just thank him for being there. He's an incredibly nice guy, his wife is so sweet and his 3 children (Graham-6, Cole-5 and Kennedy Grace-10 1/2 months) are beautiful. Anyway, you guys should google him and find out if he's coming to a place near you anytime soon. Believe me, it's worth it. Oh, he actually has a show on Comedy Central if any of you watch that...I don't, so, yeah. ^_^
Well, I have so much to say but it's really hard to type it all out. lol. But, I just wanted to share my week with you all.
Bridget, I want you to know that I have been praying for you, and for Tim's depression. Stay strong and don't let him forget that Jesus is the ONLY way. That's what Kenn "preached" on. The verse that says "I am the
way, the
truth and the
life. No one come to the Father except through me." No one can be truly healed except through Him either. Don't let him forget that. :hugs: I love you!
I love everyone. God bless.
<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'>
Psalm 61:4 "I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings."</span>