A bunch of people have asked me what I am doing for new years. It's my birthday you know. So I should be doing something exciting. I guess people equate that with a big party.
I'm spending my time with the kids from our Youth Group... about 60 teens will be on the Unite Retreat, about 15 leaders give or take a few. One real beauty, you may have heard me talk about her, Phyllis is her name.
I'm excited! It may not sound like the greatest way to spend 3 days, but I really can't think of a better way to begin the new year than to spend it with "my kids". Love all of them, even though they get on my nerves sometimes.
New Years always comes with resolutions... the same one, I want to lose weight, that's always first, but not this year. It's in the top ten, but I think of anything, I would like to connect with God more. Be more open to what He has in store for me, get on my knees a little more (out of love, not desperation). More about Him, and way less about me. I think, ok, I know, the rest will fall into place. I look back on the last year, more ups than downs. And the UPS were way up and the downs, didn't seem to be too far down. A lot of letting go, and a lot of holding on. A lot more time on my knees, literally and figuratively than ever before (some desperation, sometimes out of love). Learning more about who I am in God, and less of who I am without Him, because that doesn't really matter anyway. A lot more tears spent because of joy than in sadness.
I'm looking forward to 2008, I think it's going to be great! HA! God has moved some big fat mountains this year in my life so that my view was better than ever, I can't wait to see what He has in store for me in 2008!
Be Encouraged
Be Blessed
And...
Be a Blessing!!
You are loved!
Here's one of my favorites:
Romans 8:18-39
18I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
22We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I'm spending my time with the kids from our Youth Group... about 60 teens will be on the Unite Retreat, about 15 leaders give or take a few. One real beauty, you may have heard me talk about her, Phyllis is her name.
I'm excited! It may not sound like the greatest way to spend 3 days, but I really can't think of a better way to begin the new year than to spend it with "my kids". Love all of them, even though they get on my nerves sometimes.
New Years always comes with resolutions... the same one, I want to lose weight, that's always first, but not this year. It's in the top ten, but I think of anything, I would like to connect with God more. Be more open to what He has in store for me, get on my knees a little more (out of love, not desperation). More about Him, and way less about me. I think, ok, I know, the rest will fall into place. I look back on the last year, more ups than downs. And the UPS were way up and the downs, didn't seem to be too far down. A lot of letting go, and a lot of holding on. A lot more time on my knees, literally and figuratively than ever before (some desperation, sometimes out of love). Learning more about who I am in God, and less of who I am without Him, because that doesn't really matter anyway. A lot more tears spent because of joy than in sadness.
I'm looking forward to 2008, I think it's going to be great! HA! God has moved some big fat mountains this year in my life so that my view was better than ever, I can't wait to see what He has in store for me in 2008!
Be Encouraged
Be Blessed
And...
Be a Blessing!!
You are loved!
Here's one of my favorites:
Romans 8:18-39
18I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
22We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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