An Original Masterpiece

This past week I have been at a christian youth camp, with a leadership camp just before that. So I've been at camp for 7 days and I am relieved and saddened by it being over.

Camp can be incredibly energy sucking, mainly because we have to be alert all the time, helping out with campers, some of who are quite young and can be a tad on the irritating side, thought I'm aware that most 10-11 year olds are this way.

I was also the first aider and played in the band, played piano which was fun and also tormented my nerves the whole time, by the end of each set my face would be burning red and hot to touch. 

I am always rejuvenated and my passion for God and His works and people after camps. Being in a community of like minded, christ centred people is an amazing experience. Singing songs of praise and worship, watching young men and women of Christ lifting there hands, with closed eyes, thanking and worshipping a present God that loves them so deeply!

So deeply that He went to hell for me (you), so that He didn't have to be in Heaven without us. Thats His love.

We also watched a short clip by 'the skit guys'. The skits guys are two actors from America who do funny and serious clips that can be used in worships services, to lighten the mood, or set it.

You can find them on youtube, they have videos for all occasions, mother and fathers day, christmas, easter, I highly recommend the easter skits.

The video we watched on camp was called 'Gods chisel'. It's based on Ephesians 2:10

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10.

"Compare yourself to others instead of me - God' 

"When you look in the mirror who do you see" - God
"I see me" 
"Ok, then I need to keep chiselling, because ultimately you and others need to see my Son" -God

"In this relationship, I hold you up - God"

Just a few things that I found spoke to me personally.

Jesus is so important and yet so many people throw his love away. There are so many places in this world that people go to and try and find fulfilment, but it never last, it fades away, like this world will. We are not perfect, but Jesus makes us perfect.

God made us, and God doesn't make junk. We are God's original masterpiece.

Seek Justice, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly With Your God

"People aren't confused by the gospel

They're confused by us

Jesus is the only way to God

But we are not the only way to Jesus

This world doesn't need my tie, or my hoodie

My denomination or my translation of the Bible

They just need Jesus

We can be passionate about what we believe

But we can't strap ourselves to the Gospel

Cause we're slowing it down

Jesus is going to save the world

But maybe the best thing we can do

Is just get out of the way"

Casting Crowns-What this world needs

The title comes from the Casting Crown song, 'Courageous'. 

Casting Crown is a band formed by youth pastor Mark Hall, and consists of seven members now, most who serve as minsters in a Eagles Landing First Baptist Church in Georgia, USA.


Mark Hall performs the lead vocals for the band and his voice is so easy to listen to!

Beautiful tone and the female vocals match so perfectly with his voice and make the songs sound complete.

The main reason I enjoy Casting Crowns, and it's not just because of the amazing music but because of their words.

I've yet to come across a band in which I can connect so deeply and with such understanding the words in which they sing.

They are stories, peoples stories they sing, truth in God's word it's and being able to capture that and provide people in their concerts the ability to sing along and make the words their own, because it's their story to, it's my story and it's my path to Jesus

This song it called East to West and it's so beautiful and speaks so clearly about a pivotal point in Jesus life, his death and resurrection and why he did just those things for me and you.

East to West by CC

Here I am, Lord, and I'm drowning in your sea of forgetfulness

The chains of yesterday surround me

I yearn for peace and rest

I don't want to end up where You found me

And it echoes in my mind, keeps me awake tonight

I know You've cast my sin as far as the east is from the west

And I stand before You now as though I've never sinned

But today I feel like I'm just one mistake away

From You leaving me this way

Jesus, can You show me just how far the east is from the west

'cause I can't bear to see the man I've been come rising up in me again

In the arms of Your mercy I find rest

'cause You know just how far the east is from the west

From one scarred hand to the other

I start the day, the war begins, endless reminding of my sin

Time and time again Your truth is drowned out by the storm I'm in

Today I feel like I'm just one mistake away

From You leaving me this way

Jesus, can You show me just how far the east is from the west

'cause I can't bear to see the man I've been come rising up in me again

In the arms of Your mercy I find rest

'cause You know just how far the east is from the west

From one scarred hand to the other

I know You've washed me white, turned my darkness into light

I need Your peace to get me through, to get me through this night

I can't live by what I feel, but by the truth Your word reveals

I'm not holding on to You, but You're holding on to me

You're holding on to me

Jesus, You know just how far the east is from the west

I don't have to see the man I've been come rising up in me again

In the arms of Your mercy I find rest

'cause You know just how far the east is from the west

From one scarred hand to the other

One scarred hand to the other

From one scarred hand to the other

1st of January 2014

Ok so this post is a little late, but that's ok. 

When I first started this blog I thought it was going to be so cool and I would have so much to talk about, turns out what I have to say is very little and not post worthy, or so I thought.

I didn't make a new years resolution this year, though I never have so its nothing new. Despite this I have decided to be more on top of things, do a little bit of everything everyday. Little bit of reading, little bit of cleaning, little bit of knitting, crocheting or cross-stitching, my new addiction.

This comes from looking back on my year and realising that I pretty only cleaned the house when there were people coming over and that it seemed to overwhelm me when it happened because there was so much to do.

But this year I've decided on one thing, and thats to use this blog more often. And the way I'm going to do that is by using some help from Max Lucado, and his calendar for the year named Fearless.

I'm going to back track from 1st of Jan to now so that'll be fun :)

FEARLESS 

1st January

"Why are you fearful, O you of little faith? Matthew 8:26"

Although it's quite a small verse but it is a great way to start the year and I'll tell you why.

This verse was said by Jesus to his disciples. Disciples who had been with Him for a while now, had seen Him do miracles on strangers, heard Him speak the truth through the wickedness of the religious folk and lived with Him, saw His character and felt His presence, yet, on a ship, in the middle of the sea, they were all scared from the dangerous winds and storm approaching. They had seen how God had protected Jesus, they had seen the miracles Jesus had performed and yet they coward in fear when something as natural as a storm hit.

These men saw the Son of God, they lived with Him, all they had but do was ask "Are you our saviour? Our messiah? Are you the Son of God?" and they would have heard the answer from His lips.

Yet they still feared. This was before Jesus died and defeated death, so they did fear, so how much now, knowing of satan's defeat, should be not be afraid, and yet how much more are we afraid.

I am afraid, I'm not going to pretend I'm not. But when I am afraid, I remember, God is bigger, God is greater, God is more important then the tiny challenges I face everyday. Jesus knows my fear and He takes care of me, He knows I am weak so He is strong.

Why am I fearful? Because I forget God's promise, He loves me, He died for me, and I am forever protected in His arms, as His child, to live a life free from sin, free from condemnations, free from what keeps many hearts captive, free to live a life in Him and with Him.

This is was I take out of this verse, what do you think?