So, let's start from the beginning. Sunday night I had a wonderfully needed Bible Study with three lovely ladies named Kayce Simmons, Meri Sue Ramsey, and Kelly Beaty. These girls challenge me SO much every time we meet. The way they talk about their relationships with the Lord make me strive to look more like Christ. They are so kind and loving to me and everyone around them. Honestly, if we could all be as kind as Kelly Beaty the world would be a beautiful place. This girl is SO in tune with God that it spills out of her. I want that. And that's the point of our Bible Study. Growing together to be more like Christ. I am so very thankful for you ladies! Anywho, at the end of our BS (Yeah, that's what we call it. Get over it.) Sue had the idea for us to each have an accountability parter. Which pretty much equals a person to encourage you/crack the whip on you reading your Bible, praying, and living for the Lord at all times. Well after a little confusion in drawing names "out of a hat," I was paired with the marvelous Kayce Simmons. Rock on, Lord. That's exactly who I was hoping to be my partner. Not that I didn't want to be with Sue or Kelly, but God had just laid a huge burden for Kayce on my heart and I wanted to have a reason to talk to her all the time. :) When Kayce prayed that night, she thanked God that He had made me her accountability partner because she had already been wanting to talk to me about some things. I literally smiled while she was praying because I knew all of it was SO OF GOD. And that's the most joyous realization ever!
God's movement = life being wonderful.
Sooooo, after skipping economics and rescuing Peeps (No, not people. The delicious little yellow marshmallows in the shape of baby chicks.) from the digestive system, Kayce and I are officially better friends because of God's movement. Which I love. Every day we talk about what the Lord is doing through what we've read that day, and we're encouraging each other in our prayer lives. Also, we're doing our best at memorizing Ephesian 6:18-20! Which is our BS verse for the week.
Here it is:
"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the Gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly as I should."
So, because of this wonderful lady and our wonderful BS, it has been an awesome week in the Lord so far. And it's only Wednesday!
Speaking of Wednesday! YOUTH WAS FANTASTIC.
Literally so full of the Lord. Our wonderful youth pastor, Josh Lewis spoke again on the parable of the Prodigal Son. Luke 15. He talked about the older brother and how he was lost, yet it was in a very sneaky way. His lostness was defined by duty, anger, and superiority.I find that I struggle with the last one. Superiority. No, I'm not lost. I am a saved, born again Christian, but I still struggle with thinking I'm better than others. I admit that.
This was our first week at youth to break into small groups. HOLLER.
In my lovely small group of God-fearing friends, we had two questions to answer. One about the older brother's actions in the parable, and one about our actions in our lives. The second went something like this:
2. What can you do in your life to invite the lost to salvation, not prevent them from coming to it?
The answer for myself: Stop looking down my nose at people. Stop acting superior. Because I'm not. Sin is sin. I've done it. They've done it. I'm not any better than them. God loves them just as much as He loves me.
When I was thinking about all of these things I wrote this in my journal, "If God looks at sinners and only sees His perfect Son, why do I only see their sin?" That hurts. God is punching me in the stomach. I need to be welcoming people to salvation with love and grace and mercy. All of the things God showed me.
Then, after all of that awesomeness we sang Declaration.
It's basically my life anthem.
Here's a clip of it from CAMP STINKIN 220!
In conclusion, God is good.