Just Being Honest...

Some pics from a great week so far...

2008-08-14T13:03:00.000-07:00

Setting up

Jon's Corner

My corner

Jon looks pretty happy :D

Sound check

Still sound checking....

This is the Rising

Transcending

Mark Teaching

DAY 3

2008-08-13T19:46:00.000-07:00

Ok, sorry to start this on day three... I'll do the first two days later. Here's the run down on how VBC is going... absolutely awesome.

Tonight started out as it always does... dinner. Baked ziti. I actually got to eat some tonight, and Mrs. Rodriguez was an angel and made some for me WITHOUT CHEESE. It was delicious. I can't have cheese because I get congested... long story.

We had set up a little different tonight. We made three huge tables, at which people would sit for the dinner and the teaching time. Mr. Rabe was the speaker tonight. He did an excellent job talking about the family, and how Christianity starts with the family, since after all, the family is a picture of Christ's relationship to us. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Around lunch time today, I found out that Craig wasn't feeling good, and so it was up in the air if he was going to play with us. This was rather alarming because he was going to lead worship. After we got the the property, we heard that he was definitely not going to be there. Of course, I was not at ease, but deep down, I had a feeling that God was going to do a great work through this. Pray for Craig.

We ran into some trouble with Jon's guitar... which was actually Kristin's guitar. For some reason, the battery decided to quit. We ended up borrowing Craig's guitar, which worked out great. Jonathan had to quickly learn the music for the worship set... which he did a great job doing. He's amazing. And after the sound check was over and we prayed as a group, we headed into my dad's office, where we normally hang out to chill before we play. We like to call it "the green room." I was a nervous wreck. I was all out of sorts because I didn't know how this was going to go. When Craig's not there, it feels like we're missing half of the band. Jon and I ran through What to do with Youth a couple more times, and I managed to smear mascara all over my eye in the process. Shame on me for freaking out, because the night before we were learning about having true security in Christ. I have been reminded to transcend above my fear and nervousness. But then, it was time to start...

We got up there, had an AMAZING time of worship... at least I did. It was a time to let go of all my anxiety. I ended up doing two of the songs from memory, which freed me up a bit. It was great. Our last song: My Chains are gone, was just perfect for what I was going through. After we finished, we were getting off of the stage and Kristin came up to me and said something along the lines of, "Hey, your chains are gone, you're free." She was right.

Mr. Rabe hit so many things right on the head. I think it was recorded, which is good because there's no way I could do justice repeating what he said. But he really brought out the importance of having family worship. One thing I had never thought about that he mentioned tonight was how at church, the family should be experiencing the worship time together. Not spread all over the congregation. So many other points, but I'm running out of time.

At the end was the time to sing What to do with Youth. I was still a bit nervous, but I was feeling a lot more confident. Mark introduced the song and invited everyone to sing along. They all stood, and the song began. I felt free. I was able to enjoy it and share a song that God has given me. I was able to share what we should do with youth.

"It's time to rise above. You gotta keep looking up. Let your strength be renewed; change your point of view, in knowing what to do with youth."

Well, I will say that my strength has been renewed this week. If you haven't gotten to come, there's two more days. Hope to see you there
Grace

Oh, I forgot to mention the game. We played neucome, but the net was a wall, so we couldn't see where the ball was coming from. Then after a few tosses of the regular volley ball, Mark brought in the 8' beach ball. That was fun... but not near as fun as when he brought on round three: octopus. That's right... I stayed out of the way.

VBC

2008-08-03T18:36:00.000-07:00

Hi.
It hit me today that I have an amazing privilege. I've been thinking a lot about What to do with Youth, which is coming up in a week (PANIC!). I feel that God has placed a burden on my heart for youth. Specifically, seeing Christian youth take their teen years and run with them. I think so many kids my age have this mindset where they think this is their time to have fun before they're tied down, but these years that we have (before we're tied down) are crucial, and should be spent furthering the Kingdom. It seems, however, that youth these days have been driven into a low standard, and it's sad. Everywhere I look, I see kids trying to fit in, and doing whatever it takes. And in order to "fit in" nowadays, you gotta do some pretty stupid stuff. Stupid, because it goes against the life God has called us to live. And even Christians fall into this trap. Youth want acceptance, and so they'll do whatever it takes. What's even more sad is that they're wasting their time trying to gain acceptance because if they are in Christ, they are already accepted.
Now, here's where I was going with my privilege. First of all, as hard as it is to be a teen, I have heard the truth. And there is great freedom in the truth. And this year at Vacation Bible College I get to be a part of sharing the truth with the kids that come. That's an amazing privilege. It doesn't make me better than anyone else... in fact, I've fallen into those mediocre traps myself, but by God's grace, He has given me a desire to not be like that. I get excited when I think about sharing a passion for rising above. This is big because God's behind it. And I believe He's behind it, because He's commanded us to "Set our minds on the things above" and that's what I want to get out.
And that's what's coming up at VBC... wow. I can't sleep I'm so excited!
Hope you can make it out.
Grace

Did I mention I'm blessed?

2008-08-01T16:17:00.000-07:00

I was reminded the other day how great of a life I have. I don't want to sound prideful, but just wanted to count my blessings... (just a second... I just coughed up a piece of watermelon... ok. I'm back.) I was trying to be serious. sorry.

1) I absolutely have the most Godly parents who have trained me to love Jesus
2) I have a sister who is worth the 11 years that I had to wait for her
3) My grandparents are some of the most devoted Christians that I know
4) My friends... well, let's just say there's no way I can how much of a blessing they are
5) God has chosen to give me a passion for music, which a gift in and of itself
6) I get to worship Almighty God in a free country at the most amazing church every Sunday
7) I get to be a part of the team that leads in worship every Sunday
8) My dad happens to be the pastor of our church, so I have Godly counsel right at my fingertips
9) My mom is my best friend
10) I've gotten to go to Tanzania four times and share the Good News of Jesus Christ, and have my life changed in the process.
11) I have a full refrigerator
12) I got to go to London for my 16th birthday... thank you pops!
13) I am the one sent, not the one waiting to hear the Gospel.
14) I live in a nice neighborhood
15) My youth pastor and his wife are some of the greatest leaders I have ever met
16) I got to visit my cousins in France when I was 14... and got to see Paris while at it
17) I am close to my family
18) I was born in Tenn. Yes, I consider that a blessing
19) I live 20 minutes away from the ocean
20) I get to go on vacation down in the keys rather frequently
21) I have red hair.
22) My piano teacher is simply the best and she's taught me things about myself that I didn't know.
23) I'm homeschooled... and that accompanies a million blessings
24) I am loved by the people around me
25) Jesus Christ has saved my life and has given me a reason to live

I can't begin to say how grateful I am to God for blessing me in so many ways. I will never doubt His goodness. And even if I did, I would read my list again.
Grace

first words

2008-08-01T16:08:00.001-07:00

First blog. and there it is.