We have fun here at YWAM

So when we're not in class or on outreach we're usually either baking, going on road trips, taking pictures, or going to walmart. These may not seem like fun things to do but anything can be fun when you're with friends! So this post is just for fun since I like pictures and I love my friends!

This was taken way back in March when we drove down to Texas for our School of Evangelism (SOE.) This is Meghan and Sarah by the way. I'm the one in the middle with with an unusually happy expression (in case you couldn't tell)

Kaitlin and I go to El Paso (her home town) for the weekend. It took 12 hours to get there. I was very stir crazy by the end of it.

Esther, Kaitlin, and I taking pictures at the park in 100 degree weather. Thankfully you can't tell that it's that hot. =P

AND HERE'S SOME PIZZA WE MADE!! Quite delicious I must say ;)

Keep My Eyes On Jesus!

        

Yesterday at our Sunday night meeting our speaker, Rick Allegretto, spoke about how important our attitude is. He said statistics show that

                15% of success is determined by knowledge of your job whereas…

                85% of success is determined by your attitude

This goes for more than just your job but life in general. Knowledge is important, don’t get me wrong, but when it comes down to it, our attitude and approach to life is way more important. When we keep our eyes on Jesus and allow Him to be our source of strength and joy, then no matter what circumstances come our way we will stand firmly on the Rock of our Salvation, Jesus Christ. It’s not about whether we are having a good day or bad day; God calls us to live according to truth- His truth, not our emotions that fluctuate so often. “Regardless of public opinion we are accountable to what the truth is.” Whether we worry too much, get discouraged, or just try to do things on our own; we need to look at the truth of God’s Word. All of these things happen when we take our eyes off of Jesus and look at our circumstances.

“Never doubt in the dark what God has told you in the light.” –Rick Warren

When Peter stepped out of the boat to walk on the water towards Jesus, he was doing great until he looked at the storm and took his eyes off of Jesus. When Satan was tempting Jesus in the desert, Jesus didn’t depend on how hungry he was feeling or any other thoughts, He depended solely on the Word of God. He understood that truth was the only thing that He could fight with. 

This is such a simple truth but it’s so relevant: Have an attitude like Jesus did. Keep the main thing the main thing. When Jesus is our Lord- the center or our lives- then we won’t get distracted and caught up with meaningless things. The cares of this world won’t seem like giants anymore. This takes laying down our will and surrendering to the will of God. This is not something that we can just make happen. Taking our hands off and laying down our selfishness is a process that we need the Lord’s help in. He is more than willing to help us. We just have to be willing. “Jesus, keep my eyes on You!”

“For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” -2 Corinthians 4:17

Love God With All Your Mind

I thought I would write a little update about my life since I haven’t in awhile… Now where do I start?! Well these last few weeks we’ve been learning a lot of theology which has been really stretching. I grew up believing a lot of these things because I was taught it in church and at home. This past month I have started to understand a little bit of what “loving God with all your mind” means. It’s asking Him the hard questions; it’s wrestling with God about my beliefs. I used to think that questioning my beliefs was the opposite of faith and that it would make my relationship with Jesus distant. Why would you question God?

I’ve come to realize that if your heart is to know God more then struggling with God in these areas is not a sign of weakness but a sign of hunger for God to grow closer in intimacy with Him. I used to live off of emotional highs in worship and think that that in itself was love for God. We aren’t meant to stay “baby Christians” though. God says in His word that we are to be able to give an answer to why we believe what we believe. How are we supposed to get to that place unless we’ve studied for ourselves and talked to God about it?

“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”

                                                                                                                1 Peter 3:15