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