Just to be clear :-)

I've heard that some of you were concerned with Pastor Jim's comment Wednesday night about he and I not editing the blog....

I know there were a number of comments that would show up as "comment deleted" - but we didn't delete them! Whoever wrote the comment went back in and deleted it.

So - Pastor Jim's not a liar :-) We want to honor what you guys have to say...and well, we can't help it when the Holy Spirit convicts someone that their words may not be appropriate :-)

Happy Friday!!

The Words of El Shaddai

Something God's been laying on my heart....Love you guys!

Everyone longs to give himself completely to someone, to have a deep soul relationship with another, to be loved thoroughly and exclusively. But God to a Christian says, "No, not until you are satisfied, fulfilled, and content with being loved by Me alone, with giving yourself totally and unreservedly to Me; having an intense personal and unique relationship with Me alone, discovering that only in Me your satisfaction is to be what I have planned for you. You will never be united with another until you are united with Me, exclusive of any other desires or longings. I want you to stop planning and allow Me to bring it to you. Just keep watching Me, expecting the greatest thing. Keep experiencing the satisfaction that I AM. Keep listening and learning the things I tell you. Just wait, that's all.

Don't be anxious. Don't look at the things you want. Just keep looking off and away up to Me, or you'll miss what I want to show you. And then, when you're ready, I'll surprise you with a love far more wonderful than you would dream of. You see, until you are ready (I am working this moment to have both of you ready at the same time), until you're both satisfied exclusively with Me and the life I have prepared for you, you will not be able to experience the love that exemplifies your relationship with Me, and thus the perfect love. Dear One, I want for you to have this most wonderful love. I want you to see in the flesh a picture of your relationship with Me; and to enjoy materially and correctly the everlasting union of beauty, perfection, and love that I offer you with myself. Know that I love you utterly. I am El Shaddai, the God Almighty. Believe it and be satisfied."

Alicia Coon....Carolyn Siovaila....and Stephanie Porter

So to continue on with Pastor Jim's challenge to encourage one another....I'd like to present three incredible young women:

Alicia Coon - This girl can pray the house down! God has sooo given you a heart to reach out to others and show them why they are valued and loved. You easily and cheerfully step up to the plate to help lead things...and you are particularly awesome with some of the younger (i.e., junior high) girls. I love to see you reaching out to new people when they come in on Wednesday nights!! Keep seeking guidance from Him and opportunities to lead both in the youth ministry and at school!

Carolyn Sioviola - Whenever I see you, you have a smile on your face and you're ready to help out in any way that you can! I LOVE hearing you talk about the relationship you have with your mom, I wish I had the wisdom to understand how amazing my mother is when I was your age! You are such an encouragement to others, and always have meaningful things to say in our group discussions. I really appreciate your willingness to help out and serve others!

Stephanie Porter - I know you've been busy lately with the play, but can I tell you how exciting it was to see you again last night?! Your enthusiasm and free-spirit are refreshing in our youth group! I love the heart you have for others - I think it's incredible how, when faced with a problem, your first thought is to take it to the cross! Thanks for setting that example for all of us! I love watching you and Beth interact as sisters - having 2 incredible sisters myself, I often see us in the two of you. Keep pushing each other closer to Christ!! As you face crazy decisions this year, keep looking to Him for guidance!

We as leaders really appreciate your faithfulness to our youth group and your willingness to step out of your comfort zone to get to know the Lord better! I love to see you each loving the Lord so much! I pray that God will provide for each of you, situations where you can use the gifts He has given you to bring glory to His name!

He's Calling Us!

Hey guys! I get this daily prayer thing on email from my sister's church back home....thought I would share today because it's pretty relevant to what we talked about last night!! Enjoyed worshipping with you all - have a great day!!

“For you shall go out [from the spiritual exile caused by sin and evil into the homeland] with joy and be led forth [by your Leader, the Lord Himself, and His Word] with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” Isaiah 55:12 (AMP)

Lord, there is no beauty and joy in the desolate places of separation from you. Yet so many of us have found ourselves there, broken and alone, seeking to find something or someone to lead us out. Perhaps we found temporary joy or solace in people, activities, or even substances, but those joys always vanished like mirages in the vast desert wasteland where we lived. But it was there we found you. When there was nothing else left, we heard you calling us from the hills above us. As we stepped cautiously toward you, like a glorious moment of reunion, the hills suddenly broke forth into singing and the trees applauded and cheered! We had found our way home!May we never forget Lord, the glorious day you led us forth from our places of exile and into the promised land of eternity with you. And on those days when we are weak or discouraged and look back, may your Word and your presence shift our eyes to the hills once more. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

“I lift up my eyes to the hills--where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2 (NIV)