Cancer sucks

Another heavy heart. This time for a few friends fighting cancer. Tomorrow, my friend Bret has his stem cell transplant (see the hoechemo blog on my blog list). Some college friends, Molly & Kendrick just had a feeding tube put down their 4 year old daughters nose/throat in preparation for more chemo, a stem cell harvest & eventual stem cell transplant (see the izzystory blog on my blog list).

Praying for both of them & their families. Would love it if you joined in praying!

Heavy

My heart has been burdened since SERVE has ended. Throughout the week, various issues came to light with different students that were there: A student had recently been raped, there were siblings living with a relative after their dad died & their mom wasn't in a healthy place to take care of them, a few kids who were in foster care - more parental deaths involved there, many kids who weren't sure what they believed about Jesus and their own salvation, spiritual apathy, and I'm pretty positive there were several students dealing with sexual sin.

Leading up the the trip, I found myself praying for those students who were carrying heavy loads - especially sexual sin- and I'm not sure why. I felt led to. I felt determined to. And then Wednesday night, our speaker invited kids up to nail their sins to the cross.

Now, to be honest, I have issues with this exercise/practice. I fear that kids will understand confession and repentance only in the context of a more emotional, dimly lit room on a youth group trip when they are physically exhausted and naturally more emotional. I fear that kids won't engage in daily repentance because of this. I fear that we're setting them up for unhealthy expectations of future trips they may go on. I fear the unintended consequenes of this experience will have a more negative effect on the kids than intended.

BUT, I also believe the Lord can work through those experiences. I believe that sometimes kids (well, people of all ages) hold on to their sin so tightly that they sometimes need a more intentional push into laying it in Jesus lap. I believe that the Lord can offer forgiveness, healing and restoration when there is a genuine moment of confession and repentence.

And I am convinced that some of the kids that I watched eagerly moving up front to write their sins & nailing them to the cross were set free from sexual sin. I believe that my prayers were answered for at least one.

I am now praying for this freedom and forgiveness they have experienced to remain with them - for the lies of the enemy to not cause them to doubt the work the LORD has done in their lives. I'm praying for them to have reminders of God's grace and promises for them. I'm praying that they will be encouraged and continually pointed towards the cross.

Praise GOD for his mercy is never-ending and his faithfulness is evident all around us.

Fall Planning

With our Plan B trip (instead of Colorado) and SERVE now completed, I have a lot to be thankful for, and a lot to look forward to! I'm starting to think fall already, and one of my main items on my to-do list is get meals planned for Sept/Oct. I have a TON of recipes to go from, but I'd love to hear any that you guys have as a go-to meal!

SERVE 2012 - Day 1 & 2

Our SERVE groups arrived yesterday afternoon - 65 students & leaders from Minnesota, Michigan & Ontario, Cananda. So far, the host team has observed that this is a very willing & ready group. There is always someone around if you say, "hey, can anyone give me a hand?" or "is someone willing to...". They're great listeners & they're starting to interact with our speaker, Ryan, a bit more when he's asking for some interaction. We've had two times of worship & small groups, which have already gone splendidly. Some of the leaders have already mentioned some pretty heavy things that students are coming from - please pray for these students. If you would stereotype the typical CRC high school student, most of them would fit the mold. Dig a little deeper & we're seeing some of the fears, desires, brokenness and apathy of these students.

Please pray for us tomorrow (Monday) on the work sites for our first day!

SERVE

A week from now SERVE will be in full swing! Want to help? We've still got spaces to fill to help with the kitchen/food, help with some basic cleaning, setting up and cleaning up. Let me know if you're willing to help in any way! :)

"When the Dream Never Dies"

When The Dream Never Dies

(Michael Omartian & Stormie Omartian)

Deep in my heart was an ember of longing

Kept warm by the flame of desire

A dream held in secret I yearned to hold openly

Fanned by my hope into fire

It burned to such heat I could touch it no more

So I put it away and then closed up the door

Forever extinguishing all that would keep it alive

But the dream never died

The Lord has done this for me

He has looked on me kindly

He has heard all my cries

He has given me back what I laid at His feet

It must be God

When the dream never dies

Isn't it just like the Lord to invite me

To put all my dreams in His hands

Forever releasing the grip that once held them

Forever surrending my plans

And then when He's certain it's not born of men

He calls for the fire to rekindle again

And He asks me to know in my heart

What's not seen with my eyes

So the dream never dies

The Lord has done this for me

He has looked on me kindly

He has heard all my cries

He has given me back what I laid at his feet

It must be God

When the dream never dies

It must be God

When the dream never dies

 

 

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