Back To School Bash @ DRM (Pictures)

This past Saturday was our youth group's Back to School event. The event was hosted by Damascus Road Ministries. DRM is a ministry to those struggling with addiction and is located in downtown Monroe, NC.

There were 3 or 4 youth groups represented and a total of around 45 people in attendance for the pizza eating, couch sitting, and Jesus worshipping event.

One part of the event was an open mic for any student who wanted to share. To my amazement, several students got up to the microphone to sing and encourage the other students.

After all the pizza and worship, we headed over to a local ice cream place called the Bus Stop Soda Shop. It was good, and I highly recommend the strawberry milk shake.

It was fun to see God move among the students, and it was a huge faith-booster for me to see this thing come together. I'm super thankful to work with the students that I do, and to have ministry friends like those at DRM!

ALL ABOUT JESUS!!!

 

You Are Not Alone...

I struggle with constant worry. I worry about everything. I ask way to many questions out of fear that something will go wrong. I'm all about having a plan.

It may seem odd to you that I deal with fear and worry yet constantly post about evangelism, stepping out in faith, and being "on mission" with Jesus.

Well, since I'm in the confessing mood, those things do not come easy to me. Most of my posts are usually pointed more at myself than at anyone else. I, like many, constantly struggle to get out of my bubble and do things that just don't come natural to normal people.

So, am I just writing this to tell you that I'm a jacked up person. No, you already knew that. What I want to do is give those who are struggling with worry or who are fearful of being all in and all about Jesus a little bit of encouragement that the Word has given me lately.





"Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matt 28:19-20 (NLT)

With one of the greatest commands Christ ever gave He also gave a promise! Christ tells us that WE ARE NOT ALONE! He has called us to live a life that comes with challenges and opposition, but He let's us know that we don't have to live this life alone.

If you are a true follower of Jesus, whatever you're facing, or whatever you feel God's leading you towards, remember that He is with you. You are not alone.

Spent.

Spent:

Adjective

Having been used and unable to be used again.       18 When they arrived he declared, “You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now19 I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews.20 I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes.21 I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.22 “And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me,23 except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead.24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. Acts 20:18-24 (NLT)     When Paul said goodbye to the Ephesians, he could honestly say that he had done everything that he could do to make sure that the Ephesians knew Jesus. He was SPENT for the cause of Christ. He was spent so that this community would know Life and have life.   When we die and stand before a holy God, who knows the truth of our hearts and efforts, will we be able to speak the words of Paul in Acts 20? Will we be able to honestly say that our time was spent doing "the Lord's work"? Will we be able to say we put others first and spent tears for our people? Will we be able to say that Christ was our message and we spent our lives not shrinking back from making Him known?   What are we pouring our lives into? One day the last drop will drip. Was it spent well?   But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. Acts 20:24

Painting The Youth Room

This weekend was one of the highlights of Taylor and I's time with the youth at Harmony Community. We painted the youth room!

With 6 adults and about 10 or 12 youth, we got the room painted in 3 days. Thanks to all who came out and put some time in! It was awesome to get to spend some time together, and to work together to see a project be completed. I hope that this will help us see it as OUR youth room, and that it will be somewhere the students are excited to come and bring friends!

 

Here are some pictures of us working and the finished product!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Your Best Friend

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:  If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!"

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

 

It seems that friends are important. Everyone wants at least one friend. Someone that they can call their best friend. Someone that they have fun with, count on, and talk to. The bible is clear, and teaches that two are better than one and that we will need help from a friend in this life. But, what are some other things that the bible teaches about friends?

 

 

 

"He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm."-Proverbs 13:20

 

"Better is open rebuke than hidden love.  Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses." -Proverbs 27:5-6

 

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."-Proverbs 27:17

 

"A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." -Proverbs 18:24

 

4 Things to Remember When Picking Friends

1. Be Careful. Everything that we allow into our lives influences us in one way. Friends are one of these influences. Surround yourself with people that you can look up to.

 

2. True friends will be honest with you. Surround yourself with people who love you enough to tell you the truth. A good friend is someone who will tell you what you need to hear even when you don't want to hear it. Be careful of those who only say good things about you. We need friends who will encourage us, but also correct us.

 

3. Ask yourself, "Do they complement or complicate my relationship with Jesus?" Good friends are those who want the best for us. The best for us is to be in close relationship with Jesus. Surround yourself with people who bring you closer to Christ, not pull you farther away. We need friends who are partnering with us in our mission with Jesus. This is also a great question to ask when considering dating or courting.

 

4. Jesus is best friend material. You've heard the Christian cliché, "Christianity isn't a religion but a relationship." Well, it's true. Many believe that the friend that will stick closer than a brother mentioned in Prov. 18:24 is actually Jesus. Jesus wants a relationship with us, and though we will fail, He will not. Allow Jesus to be your best friend, and the greatest influence on your life.