Everything

A semester of YL just came to a close.  It's funny how you know if students listen is by what they tweet on Twitter.  After YL Club tonight here are some tweets:
"Most intense Young Life yet.  If you missed this, you missed something truly amazing.  Thank you YL!"
"Leaving YL and wanting more.  I appreciate everything YL has done this semester."
"That was literally the most inspirational thing ever.  So glad I didn't miss it.  YL - God is Good."
And from a new YL leader- "Most amazing YL Club ever hands down amazing job leaders!  Wow, that was so cool, love Jesus!"

So you get the picture... tonight we had a party on a school night where we told truth.  Truth that Jesus Christ is mighty to save and is everything.  We just need to take the step toward Him, He fights for us.
Please watch this video... we performed a version of this tonight for students.  It is what they are all "tweeting" about- intense, and truth.  This is why we have YL... to fight for students to know and choose Christ. 

What is going on? God is moving...

Listen to a letter from a YL student about what God has been doing in her life.

Before I knew Christ, fear ruled my life. Every day I let it control who I was. I was afraid for my family. That divorce, unfaithfulness, alcohol and gambling would show itself to me again. I was afraid for my friends. That out group was falling apart and we wouldn't have each other to lean on anymore. I was most of all scared for myself. I think a lot of us find it easier to look for all the negatives in life. To just call it quits and throw yourself a pitty party. I almost gave up on dance which was my true passion and outlet. But then god showed himself to me when I was at my lowest point. Life had tried to rip me down and it succeeded. But I realized reaching you bottom is when you desire Jesus the most. I was screaming for God. I needed someone to tell me it was gonna be okay. I needed someone to be there for me cause I felt like everyone and everything had left me feeling empty. Though s actions God started showing himself to me though. He was showing me a lot of love and patience. After I went to YL camp for the 2nd time. I learned a very different message then the 1st year I want to camp. My faith in God became so much stronger. I have found myself in him. I pray every day that I can become more like him. I know he has a plan for me even in my days of doubt he is there and will never give up. He's put people in my life who I can walk on my journey with. I'm so blessed and proud to have friends who want to pursue God as badly as I do. He has given me people like Tracee Cobb who give me so much encouragement and who I honestly don't know what I would do without because she has gotten me through so much. I am so in love with god. I am ready to start fresh and live my life fully dedicated to him. Even if I hit a couple speed bumps along the way he's the only one who can completely get me past those and satisfy me. Through my struggles it has made me run to God. I choose to completely surrender myself to the Lord. To know him and be known. I am no longer alone.

Movement

Wow... Lee's Summit!  God is moving.  The invisible God is visible and at work.  There are so many things I could share that God is doing in LS and in the students of LS. 

1.  YL kicked off its first club with 115 students.  So many new faces showed up to have fun, hang out, laugh, sing, and hear TRUTH.  I asked a senior from LSN who had never been to YL before, "What did you think?"  She replied, "I love it here!  I just wished it didn't take me 3 years to come."  

Or second club was strong with 99 students.  One junior from LSW said, "I just don't know why yet, but after leaving YL  I just feel better."  Students are showing up.  YL leaders are pursuing students and earning the right to be heard.  Hearts are being shaped and TRUTH of Jesus is being spoken.  

2.  I just left Fields of Faith- FCA puts in on and all the schools come together to worship, share truth, and hear a message.  Over 300 LS students came.  We sang "How He Loves Us" in the stands at LSN football stadium!  They had a time of open mic and some YL students whom I'm so proud of- got up and shared to the crowd their story of saying yes to Jesus.  It brought me to tears.  Seeing new life in them and other students is inspiring.  One YL student shared that following Christ isn't easy her life didn't just get magically better.  However, she knows that God is not invisible and He will never leave her.  She cannot make it without Him.  Another shared of how giving her life to Christ made her feel loved and finally good enough where as before she was lost and searching for love.  

I texted them as soon as it was over and here are two of their replies:

"I just want to thank you for all that you've done.  Young Life has seriously changed my life.  Jesus is awesome and I love talking about Him and to Him.  Thank you for showing me that!"

"You and all the YL leaders have made a huge change in my life for the better!  I don't know where or who I would be without YL and God."

Muckfest-a success of a mess

Muckfest a time to have a food fight, bob for onions, throw oatmeal at each all in the name of fun.
YL had a success of a mess at our annual Muckfest.  Thanks to all who came out to help or participate.  A great way to kick of YL this year.

YL CLUB- Begins Tuesday 9.27.11 @ 7:47pm All Area at Deerbrook (across the street from LSN).

Check out the report on Titan TV's weekly report by clicking Titan TV below.  Great job Aly!


Titan TV

MuckFest is coming!!!!

Muckfest is our annual food fight is going to be Tuesday, Sept. 13th @ 7pm!!!  A time to get messy, have fun, and just go crazy to kick of a semester of YL.

For:  All High School students!!!

Location:
Behind Deerbrook Church- across from LSN @ 7pm Tuesday, Sept. 13th.
Bring a can of whipped cream to get in, and let the games begin!!

-Our first All Area YL club of the semester will be Tuesday, Sept. 27th 7:47pm-9pm at Deerbook Church.
-After that club we will split up by school LSHS & LSN together at Christie Coleman's house Tuesday's at 7:47pm and LSW house TBD at 7:47pm.... Spread the word! 

If you need more info. stay tuned on facebook- friend:  Tracee Mela Cobb- LSN/ LSHS and Paul Moore- LSW :)

Dog Fight

I texted over 35 students what is the hardest thing about following Christ.  Read their honest responses:

-Staying consistent with it and sharing it with others

-I know it was a lot easier to follow Him at camp, then on my own

-Having faith that He exists, w/o Him humanly existing in the present

-Hanging out with people who don’t understand your relationship with God and just being in high school

-Feeling guilty

-Trying to do the right thing when most people don’t

-Being around someone who is being negative which can rub off on me and make me not think of God as much

-Thinking I’m not good enough for him to love me.

-Staying true to it everyday

-Giving Him the times and credit He deserves

-Knowing through the good and bad and knowing that there is a plan through everything

-Constant pressure to sin and do things everyone else does

-Not to be angry at God when something is hard in your life

-Not giving into temptations and distractions we are faced with daily

-Not having time to go deeper with God- busy

-Not understanding why bad things happen, and temptation

-I’m not satisfying Him or doing enough

-It’s hard to live for Him and not myself

YL wants to be alongside students as they discover who they are in Christ and try to follow Him.  

So we use the analogy of a dog fight with students.  Two dogs are fighting-which dog will win? 1. The one of self and the world desires (or)  2.  The one that is your relationship with Christ.  Which ever dog you feed the most wins the fight.  So we are challenging our students to feed the dog that is the relationship with Christ by attending- YL events, small groups- campaigners, attending a local church, talking with God, being honest with friends and staying connected to their YL leader, reading the Bible, etc.   

Are you feeling distant in your relationship with Christ? 
Which dog are you feeding more?

New Life

 We are back from YL Camp- at SharpTop Cove.  We took 66 kids and 10 leaders.  33 kids said yes to following Jesus!  We talk a lot about YL camp- say "it will be the best week of your life."  Our kids all agree it was the best week of their life- the crazy thing is why they think that... they now think that because of the truth that was told to them about Jesus Christ and the relationships they formed with their YL leader and friends.  I believe kids want to know the truth and also be truth-tellers. 

One camper I would like to talk about has been wanting to go to camp for over 3 years.  This year he went and wow did he come back different.  If you were at the parent/camper pool party you heard him speak truth from his heart.  He has been longing for a relationship with Jesus and made that decision to say YES to Him at camp.  He is a leader, he is an inspiration, he is created a new and is a son of the Perfect Heavenly Father.  Last night he teared up saying how much he loves Jesus and there hasn't been a night he has gone to bed without talk with Jesus and reading his Bible.  I literally am in awe of his passion for Christ and to be open about it to others!  God is at work in him and many others.

They shared the story of the Prodigal Son at camp... How we turn our back on our father and take all we want... spend all our money, and end up alone and lost.  How our father (Jesus) is at the door ready for us to walk back into His arms to call us daughter or son... and celebrate our return to Him.  Many kids related to the story and said I'm at the door handle ready to open it, or I'm on the stairs approaching the door, or I want in!!  Well 33 opened the door and are in the arms of their Father.

Listen to what some campers said:

"Before camp and meeting Jesus I felt lost and confused and wanting more...Now I feel found and reminded God is all I need."

"Before camp and meeting Jesus I felt distant, alone, and fake...Now I feel known and loved by Jesus!"

I had my birthday on the day 33 kids from LS stood up at camp and said yes to following Christ.  What a gift to see new life happen. 

2 Corn. 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!


If you have any ?'s about what YL is or what we are about please contact me:
Tracee Cobb 816 728 2024 or traceecobb@gmail.com

I'd love to share with you our vision and have your support in impacting the city of LS.

Mountain Top

We are here Day 6... New life is happening!  We have climbed a literal mountain, biked, blobbed, zip lined, cried, listened, and loved.  I want you to know that LS campers are huddling around each other and becoming family.  They have heard the truth of Christ and seen how it changes lives.
I am assured that every camper has been moved at some point so far in camp by a truth telling message, by a story of how a leader blamed herself for her dad's suicide and Christ lead her to forgiveness of herself and freedom, to amazing music, to adventure and trusting others.  God is working.  Thank you for your prayers.

Today is my favorite day when campers have heard the story of Christ its truth and its impact and are invited to say yes to following Him.   Pray for hearts to be open and know this YL leaders and myself love these students regardless of their decision.  Whether they say yes, maybe, or not yet.... we will continue to be 1 of the 5 life mentors high school students need.  We will continue to love, pursue, and go where they go.  Camp has been incredible.  We are blessed and these students have encouraged, inspired, and blessed us.  

I want to share with you a short kid story:

A camper from LSN came to me on Day 2...and thanked me for helping him get to camp (he received a scholarship).  He had tears in his eyes and said he will never be the same.  He said my favorite thing about this place is not the ropes course, the zip line, or being in this beauty it is club and cabin time.
I've been waiting to open up forever and cabin time is everything I have wanted.  I'm going home different.  Today day 6 he cried while I hugged him and wants Jesus.  He is giving his pain over to Christ and finding the perfect heavenly Father in Him.

We are here!!!

My apologizes for not blogging sooner and not having video clips of the day... the video is not working.
I do want to say thank you for your prayers and for sending 66 students and 10 leaders from the Lee's Summit Area YL with us.  We are having the best week of our lives.  God is at work!  3 things are happening that thrill me:  1.  Kids and leaders are experiencing high adventure (like I'm talking about jumping off a telephone pole and ringing a bell- off course harnessed in).  2.  Building or healing relationships- kids are bonding with their leaders and leaders are earning the right to be trusted and heard, kids are bonding with one another in their time together.  3.  My favorite- kids are hearing the TRUTH.
They are hearing the story of Christ... and becoming truth-tellers themselves.

I have been amazed by kids choosing to be honest and vulnerable in their "cabin times," sharing their hearts, hurts, burdens and seeking Christ.  Truly, truly a gift. 

Thank you for everything.  God is good and we are blessed.  Be praying for the rest of the week.
Rest for the leaders- we are old and it's hard to operate on little sleep but forever worth it.  Pray for the kids to continue to pursue truth, relationships, and adventure and to come back lighter, more free, and more connected to their YL leader, friends, and above all Christ- if they so choose.

YL Camp!!!!

66 High school students and 10 YL leaders depart  for YL Camp tonight at 10:30pm for the best week of our lives!  Pray that students encounter God in this adventure and come back a new way!  Stay tuned on the blog for video postings of the day.  Thanks for supporting YL of Lee's Summit...God is good!

Joplin

 

I've been leading two Bible Studies with LSW and LSN girls this summer.  These girls have blessed me and serve because the love of Christ compels them.   We planned a trip to Joplin to serve the community in the midst of their devastation.  We came back a new way.  We came back different.  We came back blessed, hearts wide open, and with a desire to serve more.  We came back worshiping the resurrected God, and Oh How He loves us!  We came back living in praise of the cross.  Often we live in a Good Friday world but the resurrection has happened.  On one of the job sites we found 8 small wooden crosses ready to wear around our neck or put on our rear view mirrors... all in remembrance of the cross and the crazy love God has for us.  They all want to go back and serve.  We came back exhausted but filled.  God is good.  

At dinner one night and on other occasions we stood out.  One table at dinner asked us, "Who are you all and how come you are having so much fun?"  We explained we are with YL of LS and here to serve Joplin bc we felt lead to do so.  He thanked us and wanted to know more about YL.  I can't help but think that this family saw the light in us. 

Matthew 5: 14-16

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Stop and Think

2 Corn. 5- The Message:
Christ's love compels us. His love has the first and last word in everything we do. 

Does His love compel you?  Does God's love have the first and last word in everything you do?  

I'm honored to hear the stories of how YL kids are compelled by God's love.  Tonight at book club- hearing that God created over 100 types of bananas, 3,000 species of trees within one square mile of the jungle, and He is Holy, Eternal, All-Knowing, and All-Powerful.  We are wanting out of our routine to experience this Crazy Love and be compelled by it.  Do you think about whom you are praying to?  The creator of all things?  The Holy One.  Tonight I stand in awe as I think about the greatness of God.

Watch Stop and Think:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRi4VwcrYmA

#followjesus

So I'm new to Twitter... I've learned that # is proceeded by a phrase that sums up your tweet (message), that @is how you tag or mention someone in your tweet, and you follow people on Twitter and also you have followers that follow you.  A timeline is a list of tweets from people you follow.  Twitter 101.

Tonight at YL.  I showed this video called Follow.  I talked about if Jesus had Twitter back in Biblical times... this would be His timeline, these would be His followers, this would be His story. 

Please watch the video:
http://vimeo.com/22305133?ab

We focused on Peter... good ole' Peter.  The one whom Christ loved, who denies Christ 3 times when times get tough, when his life is on the line.  Then in John 21- Peter gets a second chance to follow the risen Christ.  Jesus asks him 3 times if he loves him and to follow Him.  I love Peter and how Jesus did too.  Aren't we all a bit like Peter? 

God showed up at YL club tonight.  50ish high school students from LSHS, LSN, LSW, and Blue Springs South too.  :)  After talking I let kids share thoughts about following Jesus.  I stood amazed.  Audrey, Nick, and Laura... all sharing how their lives are somewhat like Peter.
Nick- how his best friend is Jesus, how YL camp showed him that, how you can be complimented by others but not completed by anyone but Christ.  Audrey- how doubt is okay and Jesus is so real.  Laura- how YL showed her Jesus and camp changed her life.  These words don't give their words justice... they spoke their heart and it was felt and God showed up.  Thank you!!!

If Jesus had a Twitter account would you follow Him?  Are you following Jesus in real life?  Are you denying Him?  #followjesus life will be beautifully messy, but so worth it. 

Thank you for supporting YL.  God is at work in hearts of students and in hearts of leaders. 

Reminded

Funny how a former YL kid who is now a married adult living a life following Christ can come back in your life and remind you of who you are.  Sarah was one of my YL kids 7 years ago... Sarah is in town for a couple of days and I had the honor of being one of whom she spent some time with.  We were discussing her job in helping girls with eating disorders and the complexity of their problems.  I was sharing of the complexity of issues teens are facing all so very deep and so real.  Sometimes it just feels overwhelming and she reminded me that the Gospel is simple.  Christ is it.  He came for us, died for us, and wants life for us.

Our goal is to trust Him with all the complexity we face and those around us face.  Not to carry their load or the burden but to trust it to Him.  Thanks Sarah... for your wisdom and what you do.  You are a constant reminder of this calling.  Love.

cool video- gospel

A moment...

this song... i can't get enough of it Sweet Disposition.  "a moment, a love, a dream, a laugh... won't stop till it's over."  it makes me think of so many things:  my friend sarah's wedding, special moments that were priceless.  the diet coke commercial that stole this song.  i think of moments that i feel the love of Christ around me and through others (YL club last night- thank you Whitney for sharing your heart), i think of moments i am thanked in a text or by a smile, a laugh, or today a good ole' punch in the arm (thank you kiersten).  also today someone took a moment to write me a note for some reason it connects me back to this song that's been on repeat in my mind.  probably because the person who wrote the note captured what i do and feel called to do.  she is a parent of a yl student that i see Christ in and love dearly and am honored to have many moments with.

(watch and listen to this song)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-ENipUB8NI

here is a glimpse of the note:

"My idea of effective discipleship is "life rubbing off on life," where you share your faith in an authentic way.   You went above and beyond that by taking her skiing.  She had a fantastic time and you created a memory for her that she will always have.  We are so grateful to you for sharing your life and heart with her and so many others."

a moment, a love, a dream, a laugh... won't stop till it's over.

New Life

I had the opportunity to be an assistant coach of girls CC at LSN this past fall.  Totally God showing up and giving me a foot in the door at LSN.  I met 35 great girls and began to form a relationship with them... earning the right to be heard.  Many of the girls knew I was the AD of YL and began coming to YL club and even campaigners.  One in particular came week after week.  Sticking to the sidelines and and taking it all in week after week.  Well last night she said yes to a relationship with Christ.  After hearing one of our new leaders Dillon share her story she told me that she wanted a relationship with Christ.  I praised her for being bold and asking for help in how to do that... her response, "I'm not bold I've been wanting to do this for 5 months!"  So new life begins!! 

AMEN

Full Circle

Ahhhhhhh Spring Break.  I just got back from taking 6 YL girls to Winter Park for a ski trip.
What I am learning is the more we take kids (they hate when I call them that so...) YL friends out of
their element, remove them from distraction, and create a space for adventure and great conversation God works.  I'm not waiting for YL camp for God to move.  I want Him to move now and that He is.
At camp we have a set day where we have one-on-one times with YL friends that are in our cabin.  YL leaders meet with them, ask them how they are doing, listen, listen, and listen... and see what they need and where they are at with their desire to follow Christ and what concerns/questions they have about life.  They open up their hearts and share and those moments we stand on Holy Ground.
Well, I'm not waiting for camp for those moments.  So I wanted that for the ski trip.  I wanted to pull them out of their life, their worries, sports, and struggles and have an adventure and great conversation.  I wanted to find out what they fear, where they stand with Christ, their concerns/questions, how I can be there, how I can pray over them... how we can trust Christ together.  So amongst dance car parties, crazy skiing days, 14 hr drives, laughter, the beautiful mountains... that happened.  God showed up.  He showed me each girls' beautiful heart.  They opened their hearts to one another and to me one on one.  I was on Holy Ground.  I am so thankful for each of them and desire to create more opportunities to have YL leaders and myself meet kids on that level. 

Secondly... back when was a volunteer leader about 7 years ago Sarah was one of my YL girls.
She was the kid at camp that questioned everything, on our one-on-one meeting she said, "If this was a Buddhist camp, you'd want me to be Buddhist.  I'm just not sure about all of this."  I was actually really surprised because I was sure she was ready to make the decision to follow Christ.  I respected where she was at and left it at that.  Well later that year she did decide to follow Christ.  She rocked it and became a leader of her school, attended all YL clubs and campaigners and pressed into Christ.  We became really close and when she graduated she went to Drury and ended up being a volunteer YL leader in Springfield, MO.  She is now married to an amazing man- Chris and they live in Denver.  She found out via Facebook I was in town with YL girls.  She had wanted to make the drive to Winter Park to have dinner with us and be with the girls and I, but a snow storm stopped her.  So she met us for brunch and loved on us and me.

See our text exchange after seeing each other again.

Me:  So good to see you.  It amazes me how God works and how I never dreamed I'd be talking to you about marriage and be at a table as Area Director of YL with my new YL girls.  A full circle.  Makes me smile and thank God for you.  You remind me of why I do this.  :)  Love.

Sarah:  Love you too.  You mean so much to me.  I really mean that.  God brought you into my life at the right time, with the right purpose.  God used you to influence my faith in big ways, and I can hear angels rejoicing that you are back in YL.  So He can use you again and again.  So cool I got to meet your girls.  I'd love to be praying for them, and specifically praying for you.


(Sarah and I at brunch)

God is generous and gracious.  He provides life and opportunity and Holy Ground.  I'm thankful for all these precious moments He provides.  All to Him.  I'm thankful for how YL comes full circle and how YL kids come full circle and leave a legacy.

Love you ski trip girls and Sarah!!!

Melody for the Broken

So in life we get chances to use our talents to bless others, to show our hearts, to share burdens, and stories.  That just happened.  Taylor one of my YL girls wrote a song and played it at club tonight.  She wanted to share her story, who she is, where she is been, and where she is going.  It took my breath away, it made me cry, it inspired me, and showed me her courage and how great God is at shaping hearts.  These are her words on how God will help the broken.  Thank you Taylor!!!

Melody for the Broken
V1:
its okay to be broken
you know im always here to fix you
dont turn away i can feel your pain
together we will put the light
back in your eyes
regaining your sight
taking back your life
are you ready for the fight
its not going to be easy
your dreams the come with a price

chorus:
Its your turn to declare who you are
find your own song and sing it loud
its your turn to find your voice
be who you are and change the world

V2:
where are you going?
there's no light at the end of that tunnel
i will guide you now
just take my hand i understand
its not easy to breathe on your own
youve got to find your tune
your melody

 chorus:
Its your turn to declare who you are
find your own song and sing it loud
its your turn to find your voice
be who you are and change the world

All I Do is Blob!!! Come to Camp!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGaXw_Qg_X4
Sharp Top Cove Baby!!!

July 30-Aug 7th
Best week of your life.

The Cave

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4UwnYyUrKA

This song... watch and listen.  It screams Psalm 116.  It also says God will not let you choke, and will help you hope.  He answers.  He listens.  He rescues.  He wants us to come out of the cave of our darkness and meet our maker.  He knows your name and calls it.  This was the message tonight at YL.  What an honor to share my story it's dark parts and hard parts in hope others will find hope.  In hope that others will see God rescues, He listens, and He answers.

Psalm 116

 ¹ I love the LORD, for he heard my voice;
   he heard my cry for mercy.
² Because he turned his ear to me,
   I will call on him as long as I live.  ³ The cords of death entangled me,
   the anguish of the grave came over me;
   I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
⁴ Then I called on the name of the LORD:
   “LORD, save me!”
 ⁵ The LORD is gracious and righteous;
   our God is full of compassion.
⁶ The LORD protects the unwary;
   when I was brought low, he saved me.
 ⁷ Return to your rest, my soul,
   for the LORD has been good to you.
 ⁸ For you, LORD, have delivered me from death,
   my eyes from tears,
   my feet from stumbling,
⁹ that I may walk before the LORD
   in the land of the living.
 

Fun

There are many highlights to this job.   First and foremost it is earning the right to be heard and sharing Jesus Christ to adolescents.  Second, it is the odd, creative, and freeing way we earn that right.
Last night after the BB game- Go Bronco's... I had kicked my husband out and had 10 YL girls spend the night.  Here is what happens at 2 am and in the name of earning the right to be heard.  :)  By the way I give all credit to Katie Allen for teaching me how to clog in 8 min., she actually knows what she is doing.  I as you will see don't.  God is good and that was fun!  Love you girls and all that couldn't make it too :)

Nobody

A prayer... passed on to me.

Jesus,
I wanna be a nobody.  You came and you could of been a somebody and you chose to be a nobody and serve and love us.  I wanna be a nobody for you.  Help me with my struggle to wanna be a somebody.
I wanna be a nobody. 

Servant Discipleship- was an annointed, blessed, and breath taking.  It is awesome to see God work in the hearts of kids and others.  I'm so proud of you all....
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; the old is gone, the new is here.
2 Corn 5:17
I had the honor of actually seeing this verse come to life.  I am blessed.  I wanna be a nobody and serve you Jesus, always.

God never Fails!!!

I had the pleasure of taking YL kids interested in growing in their faith and possibly doing Work Crew ( serving at a YL camp for 1 month this summer) to Servant Discipleship.  Thsese kids missed courtwarming, cleared their schedules to pursue Jesus.  We have been meeting the past 2 Sundays and this past weekend had a service project overnight... where we served at the local homeless shelter and also attended Friendship Baptist Church.  Dang... lives and hearts were touched.  These kids inspire me, encourage me, and remind me God never Fails!  Thank you Brooke, Christie, Kaitlin, Audrey, Nicole, Michael, Megan, Brian.  God is using and calling you deeper!  Check out the video from Frienship Baptist- God never Fails.  "I think this what heaven must feel like."  Brooke

Hope grows the rope

How long can you hang in there?  How long is your rope before you come to the end?  How long can you wait for prayers to be answered?  Well I can say I thought I was at the end of my rope many, many times... but amazingly hope grows the rope.  I have hope in Jesus Christ to be our provision.  We've been waiting for Billy to find a job since our return from Thailand.  We are still waiting.  My rope has gotten longer because of hope in Christ... in time with Him through prayer, in tears of asking God for help, in encouragement from community, and through the wisdom of His word.  He is our provision.  He will never leave us or forsake us.
He loves us and I will trust Him. 

Home

I've been away for YL New Staff Training and Regional training for what seems like months.  I'm home!!  It feels so good to come home.  Home to my own bed, my church, my community and home to Lee's Summit North.  I went up after school and hung out in the events lobby and it felt good to be tackled with hugs and high fives, to be texted and texted by YL kids!  It feels good to be home and hang out and have great conversations with my YL girls.  It feels good to be home and go to a basketball game with my YL girls and Buffalo Wild Wings.  I love this job!  But most of all it feels good to be home and know that I have grown spiritually and LOVE Jesus more than when I left.  My hope, my love, and my home comes from Him.

Word

Do you know the Word... do you hide in your heart and claim it's truth when lies invade?  I'm challenging myself to know more of it and use it in my life. 
Psalms 63:1-8

O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thrists for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.

I have seen you in in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.
Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisified as with the richest of foods,
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the night.
Because you are my help I sing in the shadow of your wings.
My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

Sneeze

Hearing Martin Luther King Jr's  last speech "I've Been to the Mountain Top,"... I was moved to tears.

Here is a part that moved me...  We are the body.  If we are adopted sons and daughters of Jesus Christ than we are one and unity is in order.  We are to LOVE one another. 

I've Been to the Mountain Top

You know, several years ago, I was in New York City autographing the first book that I had written. And while sitting there autographing books, a demented black woman came up. The only question I heard from her was, "Are you Martin Luther King?" And I was looking down writing, and I said, "Yes." And the next minute I felt something beating on my chest. Before I knew it I had been stabbed by this demented woman. I was rushed to Harlem Hospital. It was a dark Saturday afternoon. And that blade had gone through, and the X-rays revealed that the tip of the blade was on the edge of my aorta, the main artery. And once that's punctured, your drowned in your own blood -- that's the end of you.

It came out in the New York Times the next morning, that if I had merely sneezed, I would have died. Well, about four days later, they allowed me, after the operation, after my chest had been opened, and the blade had been taken out, to move around in the wheel chair in the hospital. They allowed me to read some of the mail that came in, and from all over the states and the world, kind letters came in. I read a few, but one of them I will never forget. I had received one from the President and the Vice-President. I've forgotten what those telegrams said. I'd received a visit and a letter from the Governor of New York, but I've forgotten what that letter said. But there was another letter that came from a little girl, a young girl who was a student at the White Plains High School. And I looked at that letter, and I'll never forget it. It said simply,

Dear Dr. King,

I am a ninth-grade student at the White Plains High School."

And she said,

While it should not matter, I would like to mention that I'm a white girl. I read in the paper of your misfortune, and of your suffering. And I read that if you had sneezed, you would have died. And I'm simply writing you to say that I'm so happy that you didn't sneeze.

And I want to say tonight -- I want to say tonight that I too am happy that I didn't sneeze. Because if I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been around here in 1960, when students all over the South started sitting-in at lunch counters. And I knew that as they were sitting in, they were really standing up for the best in the American dream, and taking the whole nation back to those great wells of democracy which were dug deep by the Founding Fathers in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been around here in 1961, when we decided to take a ride for freedom and ended segregation in inter-state travel.

If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been around here in 1962, when Negroes in Albany, Georgia, decided to straighten their backs up. And whenever men and women straighten their backs up, they are going somewhere, because a man can't ride your back unless it is bent.

If I had sneezed -- If I had sneezed I wouldn't have been here in 1963, when the black people of Birmingham, Alabama, aroused the conscience of this nation, and brought into being the Civil Rights Bill.

If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have had a chance later that year, in August, to try to tell America about a dream that I had had.

If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been down in Selma, Alabama, to see the great Movement there.

If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been in Memphis to see a community rally around those brothers and sisters who are suffering.

I'm so happy that I didn't sneeze.

Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land!

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkivebeentothemountaintop2.htm

NST

Hey I'm honored to be at New Staff Training for YL.  I love YL's desire to train their staff annually and prepare us for the call upon us.  Check this out the vision... and mission.  Blessings!

Our Vision
Every adolescent will have the
opportunity to meet Jesus Christ 
and follow Him.

Our Mission
Introducing adolescents to 
Jesus Christ and helping them 
grow in their faith.

AMEN