Nashville - YouthWorks - June 2012

Nashville...wow....what a week! What a range of emotions were felt in less than six whole days. The excitement of meeting new friends. The remarkable ability to accept and be accepted by these people as if you have known each other much longer than a few days. The tiresome physical work accomplished at food banks and thrift stores. The rewarding service performed at community centers and homeless shelters. The entertaining free time and evening activities. The uplifting worship songs and enriching Biblical messages shared. The encouraging church time of sharing as a family. The realization of what a difference very different people can make with a singular goal. The magnificent work of the Holy Spirit inside of hearts awakening desires and shifting priorities. The bittersweet goodbyes shared with others that have encountered the power of a living Christ in person by your side. The return to normal routines surrounded by people without the same experience. The slow slide back into habits that brought about feelings of guilt and shame not long ago. The desire to feel the mountaintop of being in Tennessee. The deep need to be rescued from the darkness that surrounds.

If we were to attempt to prolong the "mountaintop" by sleeping on the same hard floors and deflating air mattresses, eating the same Eggos and sandwiches, and accomplishing the same mission jobs, eventually the "high" would run out and we would have to find something new to fill the void.

BUT, there is hope! Following Christ is not about sticking to a bunch of rules that tell us what we cannot do. Being a follower of Christ is freedom from having to "fill the void". Jesus fills the void for us. He takes away our personal desires that we can never seem to find a permanent satisfaction for.

I can do all things through Christ who strengths me. - Philippians 4:13

Being able to do all things does not equal winning the sporting event, passing the academic test, or pleasing that guy/girl that means so much to us. Being able to do all things through Jesus Christ allows us to no longer HAVE to win the sporting event, pass the academic test, or please that guy/girl that means so much to us in order to fill our hearts. Christ frees us from the need/desire/craving/yearning find a satisfactory acceptance by the world around us.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. - Romans 12:2

Through a heart hidden in Christ, YOU are a new creation. You no longer have to endlessly search for the next thing to make you "happy".

Jesus, YOU are my joy!

My prayer for you: Father, pour out Your grace and love in a way that has never been experienced before in their life. Take away the personal image they hold of themselves. Destroy the way they believe others see them as well. Place inside their heart the way You see them. Let them see the beautiful, masterpiece that You created only for them. Allow them to see the peace that only You provide. Lead them to others to encourage, as well as, be encouraged by. Above all else, I pray that they look back on Nashville 2012 as the point in their life that eternally altered their course along this journey.

Here for you.

In His love,

Rand

Before, during, and after all the emotion of such an impactful week, one thing remains the same.

One Thing Remains by Jesus Culture  (<<<------ Check out the link!)

Perspective

After a spiritual weekend, such as Ekklesia, we often come back to the “real world” and notice how unpleasing the sounds are that hit our ears. From friends’ conversations and comments to the music we adored last week, it all the sudden sets off alarm bells in our heart and hurts to listen to. It’s not that the friends’ conversations or the music has changed, it is that WE have changed.

Our hearts have changed to revolve around something much greater than a musician, a sport, or even a friend. Our hearts have been opened fully and laid out bare to experience the redemptive love that can only come from a divine source. We get discouraged by the actions of others around us and quickly fear that we will once again become entrapped within the exact behavior we now detest. Like Peter walking on water towards Jesus, we begin to become distracted by the wind and the waves. Before long we attempt to carry the burden of our cross, an instrument of destruction, on our own. Just like Peter we start to sink under the pressure and cry out to Jesus to save us.

Then we are reminded of YAWEH’s promise in Joshua 1:9 – “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Our feet have been planted. On God our solid foundation our faith now stands, a foundation so strong that it cannot be shaken no matter what comes against it. All we can bring to the table is faith, but God has already set the table with His love, His righteousness, His kindness, and His mercy.

We begin to ask YAWEH to burn His image of us into our hearts. No longer will we settle for what we have always seen ourselves as. We now look in the mirror and behold God’s masterpiece. His mercy is great enough to cover any self-doubt, need for acceptance, or self-pride. We slip and fall flat on our face but are comforted and empowered by the words of Romans 5:20 – “where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

This past weekend was not about what a great speaker, what a great band, what a great weekend, but rather it was about what a great and mighty Savior! There will be times we fall away. There will be times when we feel completely lost and alone, but no matter what emotion we encounter, we will put our faith in You. We will trust in the Kings of kings, Lord of lords, Prince of peace, Redeemer, Savior, Rescuer, Alpha & Omega, Beginning & End, and YAWEH!