Today we leave for our annual PCON Youth Fall Retreat in Kalkaska- 40 teenagers, 10 youth leaders, a 6-member band, and 1 speaker preaching on being SOLD OUT for Christ.

I need to get my “medical bag” packed – oh the Tylenol, Motrin, and Band-Aids that get used!

I need to get bathroom supplies and road trip snacks!

(I wish it was

 but it definitely looks more like

!!!)

Frankly, I need to shower.

However, my mind is a whirl with thoughts that I figured I best put down before I move on with my

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few years ago, three to be exact, at the time of our Fall Retreat my husband was unemployed because he lost his job unexpectedly due to “down-sizing”. We had no idea what our future held and what was going to happen next.

That year, the title of our retreat was called “The Call”.

I received a “call” from the Lord to go into ministry that weekend- knowing in my heart to be true, that God had a plan for our lives that went far beyond where our next pay check would come from. The ridiculousness of this timing was that furthering my education was a key component into stepping further into a ministerial role.

Go back to college while my husband is unemployed?? Yeah, that  makes sense financially.

Go back to college for education about something that has nothing to do with my nursing profession (and therefore secure me with a degree that would keep me employable as the world shifts into BSN degree nurses being most optimal)?

I should go back to school when he is the one without employment?

None of this was logical!

But that is how God works best! The world says “do this and you will succeed” but God says “do this and you will be blessed beyond what the world can give you”.

So, in 2015, I enrolled at Nazarene Bible College to begin a Ministry Preparation Program.

 

The next year, two years ago, at the time of Fall Retreat my father in law became ill and abruptly died. It would have been our oldest son’s first time going but there was no way we could leave for a weekend while so freshly into our grief.

Last year, we went to our Fall Retreat-taking our son with us. It felt wonderful to reconnect with the place and the teens who attended…but much had changed and that change was palpable.

The youth group was different.

We were different as leaders.

I was different as a person.

This has been a growing year. There has been much stripped away in order for the metamorphosis to occur that God has in store.

This year, we have a record number of teens going and a few new youth leader faces joining us! We have a large amount of junior high age kiddos-which always means

But, we are pros and got this, right?

Leading up to this weekend, however, many events have occurred that provokes a wide range of a thought process.

On the one hand, we have : oh my goodness, how will they ever be able to focus ? Will they physically be able to lean into what God wants to say to them? Will they continue to shut Him out? Will they stay closed off to any emotional process?

The “what if scenarios” are endless.

On the other hand…if we dare to be bold and lean forward into what we cannot see nor understand but believe to be true…

God has something so miraculous in store for these teens and adults who are attending that the devil can’t help but throw his arrows of distraction, hurts, family discord, and insecurities at any and all who will be there to try to stop the presence of Christ from shining into their lives.

THAT makes me feel powerful.

THAT makes me feel excited.

THAT makes me feel like I am on the Victor’s side and no weapon shall prevail against me!

1 Chronicles tells the story of David and his son Solomon. It is David who was a man after God’s own heart, but it was his son who was given the responsibility to build the Temple that would house the Ark of the Covenant.

David was the king who needed to pass on his knowledge to the one who was to succeed him- and would ultimately receive more monetary glory than David ever did.

Reading this verse today made me think of what lies before me… a huge task to live a transparent, vulnerable life in front of these teens while loving them through their significant angst and also their self-imposed issues. It is my role, given to me by God, to show them how to live for Christ by my own life-example.

How can I do this when I am emotionally invested in some of their circumstances or frustrated by their other situations?

The key wording is “until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished”.

Our bodies, as believer’s in Christ, are the “temple” for it is within us that Jesus resides.

To me, the temple mentioned in the Old Testament here, is transformed to New Testament meaning.

I am not to be afraid (fear over their future and fate) or discouraged (because, the reality they can drive me crazy) because God will not leave me or forsake me until the work He is doing – through me and other leaders- in the temple (which is HIS PEOPLE) is completed.

Therefore, BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS….and do the work.