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