Schoolies!

Schoolies is a week set aside for teens who have just graduated high school to go and party. In the state of Queensland here in Australia there are only three locations that cater this event and Airlie Beach is one of them. So, instead of sitting in class listening to a speaker and taking lots of notes, we set up a big white tent and prepared to give out free chai tea for 8pm - 1am.

Another DTS came up from Brisbane (roughly 15 hours drive away) to help us out and we had a great time getting to know one another, sharing our stories, and talking to others about our God. We had teams set up which rotated every day for: night security (making sure no one stole anything or tried to take the tent down), day security (ditto), lunch prep (no mere task for 60+ people), lunch cleanup, afternoon activities (tie-dying, slip and slide, volleyball, etc.), and then dinner, worship, prayer, and opening up the tent to teenagers who wanted to sit down while drinking chai tea.

I had a great week making friends, talking to fellow teens about high school and their plans for the future, hearing their ideas of who God is and telling them mine, and hearing the testimonies of my friends and the conversations they had. God was moving and even though I didn't lead any one to Jesus, I got to watch others do it. I had the privilege of learning and being constantly reminded that the night wasn't about me and God, it was about them and God. Seeds were planted that week, and some seeds also took root and began to push up through the dirt.

Please pray that God would continue to teach me that it's not about what I can do, it's about what He can do. May He always receive the glory!

Missions

     What is missions? It is a strategic and intentional effort to share the Gospel and see people come into a place where they desire to worship God. It is not a once in a lifetime event for a few days, weeks, or months. Missions is meant to be a lifestyle.

    For someone who grew up on the mission field you think I would understand my role by now. But, I still struggled with what my anointing (what I am set apart for) was and now I know the answer, it's been staring me straight in the face for my whole life. What is my anointing? Well, it's the same as yours if you think about it and it's found in Mark 16:15 - "And then he told them, 'Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone." I am anointed for what lots of us like to call the Great Commission. So is everyone else on this planet, but each one of us has a different calling within this anointing.

    Some are called to be pastors, counselors, teachers, or people who go out and tell others about Jesus whom they may have not heard of before. I'm still trying to figure out my calling, but I know I don't need "all my ducks in a row" before I can be available to God and what He is wanting to do. All I have to do is surrender completely to God (all my plans, dreams, and wishes), and allow Him to move. Believe me that can be a lot harder than it sounds, but more on that in Lordship week. I just need to stop focusing on me, and start focusing on God. (Can I get an "Amen?" hahaha). I do know part of my calling, or at least the areas of the world for which God has given me a heart. I have been given a heart for the people: in North America, Oceania, and Europe, along with those who have never heard about God.

    What am I going to do when I am there? I want to follow in Abraham's footsteps in leaving wells of water behind for the people who come after me. I want to leave behind wells of blessing, so that when others go there they will see a difference even generations later. So I'd like to ask you to join me in this challenge: do you know what you are leaving behind? In your workplace, in your relationships with friends and family, at your church (if you go to one), with your loved ones (spouses and children), what impact are you having in/on their lives? Do you and I believe that the message that we have heard is true? If so, are we willing to encourage others and lovingly show them when they do something wrong (Titus 1:9)?

    Thank you for reading and for your prayers as I continue to learn and seek God. He is a great God!

If you would like to support me let me know and I will email you information!

He is Worthy!

Week 3 we went camping for a week on one of the islands. It was beautiful and a great place to learn about the importance of worship and prayer.

How do you define worship? To me it was always about singing along with a song or going to church like a good girl, but now I have a better definition. Worship is about your heart attitude. You see, worship shouldn't be a once a week or once a day routine it should be something we do continually throughout the day. How? Why? When? Let me explain.

Worship doesn't just have to be about singing a song, though that is one of my personal favourites, it can be anything you do throughout the day minus sin. Confused? Worship is about what we think, how we feel, and what we do/how we express ourselves. It's our heart attitude! If you we are scrubbing the toilet, vacuuming, repairing a household item, or cooking a meal and doing it for God it's worship. It's pretty simple really. I'm not saying you should make a plate of food and then let bugs run all over it, but how different would your attitude be if you were doing your chores because you knew that obeying your parents was pleasing to God, rather than the fact that your mom would stop yelling at you and you might be able to keep your video game privileges for the week?

But why should I worship? Isn't once a week enough? Well, really in all honesty you don't need to worship at all. God doesn't demand that you worship him, he'd appreciate it though. I don't mind if you comment on my blog, but I like it when people do because at least they are expressing how they are feeling. Don't put on a show, be yourself and express how you are feeling.
When Jesus was on the Earth he was constantly pointing everyone who wanted to glorify him to God. He wanted them to praise and give honour to God. He was showing people through his actions how great his Father was/is and wanted us to know him in and worship him in the same way.

The idea that God is worthy of my praise has become a constant reminder for me when my attitude begins to get rotten or I'm standing around a bunch of other people who are worshipping him and I'm feeling nothing. He is worthy of my worship no matter my circumstances or how I feel, because he cares so much for me. Just the other day I was standing in a crowd of people worshipping God, and they were raising their hands and dancing and glorifying God while I stood there. Then the thought went through my mind, just a whisper "He is worthy". I took a breath and decided that I would worship Him even though I didn't really want to. By the time the next song was halfway done my attitude had completely changed and I was enjoying myself giving praise and honour to my Daddy and my King.

What is your heart attitude toward worship? You don't have to sing, or dance, or lift your hands, just thanking Him for the little things is worship and you can do it every second of the day.