Mirror, Mirror

I think it's safe to say that a lot of us avoid mirrors. When we wake up in the morning and walk into the bathroom, the first thought that comes to our minds is not, "Wow, God sure did bless me in the good looks department." And if it's not our looks we are focused on, it could be our emotional scars that we see every time we look at ourselves. Mirrors are not forgiving, they are honest whether we like what we see or not. Most of us have been to a fair or a funhouse and have looked into one of those mirrors that distort how you look, whether it makes you look short and fat or tall and lanky. Thankfully, these mirrors are not an accurate picture of who we are. And, thankfully, the mirrors in our bathrooms are also not an accurate portrayal of who we are. So if the reflection we see of ourselves in a mirror are not accurate portrayals of who we are, then who are we? Where do we look to find that accurate picture of ourselves?

Most of us run to people to identify who we are. While sometimes people that know us the best can give us a picture of who they think we are, we often times let those who know us the least define us the most. When we let others define who we are, we become their slaves. In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, you learn that God paid a high price for you, therefore we shouldn't be enslaved by the world. God created us with only a need He can meet. We've all been to that place where we've put the thoughts and opinions of others about the Lord's. We've allowed the expectations and criticism of others to wreck us.

Here's the good news about yourself that the Lord wants you to know...

You are good enough through Christ (Romans 5:1)

You are called (Romans 8:30)

You are God's child (John 1:12)

You have been bought with a price, and you belong to God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

You have been chosen by God and adopted as His child (Ephesians 1:3-8)

You are assured that God works for your good in all circumstances (Romans 8:28)

You have been established, anointed, and sealed by God (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)

You are confident that God will complete the good work He started in you (Philippians 1:6)

You are a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20)

You are God's workmanship (Ephesians 2:10)

You can do all things through Christ, who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13)

When you look into the mirror, this is what God sees. When you look into the mirror, you should see Christ in yourself if He lives in you. You should see God's definition of you, as His child, not you as other people would define you. You're worth never decreases like that of your cell phone, your house, your car, etc. Your worth is of such great value that God was willing to pay for it in full and then promises to never take it back. You're worth way more than just "a life". You're worth God's sacrifice and never ending love.

Pursuit,
Don't forget to "Go Fish" and invite someone to Pursuit next week!
**First 10 people to text Hux or comment "Go Fish" on Facebook will receive a free item from the Cafe on Wednesday!

Miss you guys!
Huxs 

Get in the Boat

At Pursuit last night, we kicked off a new series, "Gone Fishin'". This series, I believe, will top them all. The similarities of fishing for fish and fishing for people has a way of coming alive like nothing else! We are ALL called by God to fish. A lot of people like to say, "God hasn't called me to missions." Well, he has. He's called us all to be fishers of men whether that's to the person sitting beside you in class or in another country and all the while, Satan tries to get us not to cast our nets. "If we don't fish, the people will perish. Our friends will perish. Our family will perish."

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Mark 1:16-18 

• Jesus's FIRST command to them was, "Follow me." Who are you following? You're either following God...or Satan.
• Andrew and Simon left their nets. What do we keep picking up that Jesus has called us to put down in order to follow Him?
• When Jesus said, "Follow me", He didn't mean just on Wednesdays & Sundays. Following Jesus is a lifetime commitment. 
• Jesus called them PUBLICLY. It's a PUBLIC call that requires a PUBLIC lifestyle of following Jesus.
• He wants us to come as we are but not stay as we are! Andrew and Simon were average fishermen but Jesus wanted to turn them into fishers of MEN! Is Jesus making something out of your life??
• Jesus wanted faithful people who wanted to change the world with Him!
• After His commandment to "come", He commissioned them to "GO". Jesus CAME to us, we must GO to people! We can't wait for them to come to us!
• Are we going where the fish are? If we aren't fishing for people, we're just cruisin' by people!
• Can we call ourselves fishermen if we've never fished before?

Jesus says, "YOU catch them, I'LL clean them". Jesus' specialty is CHANGING people -- not ours!

Let's go fishin' so we can say, "Gone Fishin'"!

Pursuit Celebration

Pursuit 2014 is off and rolling! We wanted to really celebrate 2013 because what God did in 2013 I think really blew everyone's minds, mine included. So, what better way to celebrate than throw a party? We had punch and cupcakes, balloons, banners, free t-shirts and lanyards, balloon animals, and upbeat music! This is what we were celebrating...along with close to 200 NEW faces throughout 2013!

• When something that is lost is then FOUND, we go crazy!
• The world should never out-celebrate the church!
• Jesus is not afraid of your past!

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. Luke 15:1-7

• The great shepherd is pursuing after you!!
• When the sheep was found, it was CELEBRATED -- not scolded!
• Jesus isn't going to punish you -- He already took the punishment for you!
• Where there's SALVATION, there's CELEBRATION!
• When life-change stops, it's time to refocus!

Celebrate with us, last night we saw 13 new faces, 2 salvations, and 4 rededications! 

 

                                 

Grinchless...Farewell 2013!

We concluded Pursuit last night for the year of 2013! What a crazy year 2013 was! I'll be sharing some huge numbers with you that we saw throughout the year come January when we kick off 2014 with a celebration service but until then, here's what happened last night!

• God didn't wait for you to start loving Him before He started loving you!
• God's love is active not passive!
• We shouldn't wait for others to ask us about a relationship with Jesus but instead we should pursue others with the same passion that God pursued us with!

"She will give birth to a son , and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins...The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel - which means, "God with us." Matthew 1:21, 23 (NIV)

• He not only came to save us but he came to walk with us. He not only saves you - he stays with you.
• There's no distance He won't go to show His love for you.
• What (Jesus) was up had to come down so that what was down (us) could go up.
• God's not afraid of your mess. Jesus came in the flesh to bring you out of your mess!
• When we were at our worst, God gave us his best. Do we celebrate this gift at Christmas? Or do we celebrate ourselves and all our gifts at Christmas?

"When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.  Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:6-9 (NLT)

• Jesus is the only gift that never gets old & will always leave us satisfied!
• Santa's gifts are for the "nice". .Jesus' gift is for the bad- the sinners. Us.

Last night, we wrapped up 2013 with 146 students, 10 new guests, 4 salvations, and 1 rededication!!

Ginch-less wk. 1

We only have ONE more Pursuit in the year 2013! So, last night we started our two-week Christmas series centering around the unselfishness of Jesus and how we all tend to have a little "grinch" in us. Here's some things we covered!

• God has called us to be selfless - not selfish

"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and give His life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:45

• The way UP in life is DOWN (humility)
• In order to be focused on others, we have to have the right mindset regarding ourselves -- it's not about US!
• In order to add to someone's life, we have to subtract from ours!

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." Philippians 2:3-5

• Jesus could have easily worn a crown and said, "Kiss my feet". Instead, He bent down & washed others' feet.
• Jesus wasn't FULL of himself, instead he emptied himself.

So, what does serving others cost you? Serving others cost Jesus His life. The next time you have the opportunity to do something for someone else, and not just during the Christmas season, think of how little of a sacrifice you are making compared to the sacrifice that Jesus made for you!

Wage War 4

We wrapped up our Wage War series last night and it was nothing short of amazing! Here's a recap if you missed out!

"For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins NO MORE." Hebrews 8:12

• Man meant for the cross to be a form of humiliation. God used the cross as a form of life transformation.
• There wasn't any length God wasn't willing to go to to prove His love.
• The cross is the ultimate definition of love.
• When we're found guilty, there's a punishment. Someone had to pay our debt in order to bail us out. Jesus paid it all.
• Some of us carry around our sins and baggage everywhere we go. God has already/will take it all off our backs and nail it to the cross.
• Nothing you could ever do could make God love you any less.
• God didn't come into the world to punish you. He came to save you.

"For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.

For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.

I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord, and you forgave the iniquity of my sin."

Psalm 32:3-5

"...having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away nailing it to the cross."

Colossians 2:14

Last night was proof that the simple word of the gospel still saves. God is still in the business of saving His children through the work He accomplished on the cross. 

*Last night we saw 187 students, 10 new guests, 3 salvations, and 3 rededications!*

Wage War wk 3

I have loved this series at Pursuit! It ranks pretty high up there on my favorites list! It's been all about practical reasons to live in Victory over sin and satan. Last night, Hux taught on the significance of the mind and how our thoughts dictate everything! Satan cannot have our hearts so he tries to control our minds! Here's a catch-up if you missed it.

We've also been taking questions from students during this series and been answering them before the message. Last night, we answered. "Why do bad things happen to good people?" Here was the answer:

http://www.truthproject.cc/videos/if-god-exists-why-do-bad-things-happen

"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds." 2 Corinthians 10:3-4

• We can have victory if we think right!
• Your mind is not a trash can. Don't let people throw garbage in it. What goes in WILL come out!
• What you think determines how you feel which determines how you act! 
• We are so focused on the size of our problems that we lose sight of the size of our God!
• God wants our minds to be fixated on things that matter, and PEOPLE matter!

"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

• Change occurs when we take control of our thoughts!

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Philippians 4:8

• Pure thinking leads to pure living!
• When you a sew a thought, you reap an action. When you sew a habit, you'll reap a destiny.  

"You keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you." Isaiah 26:3

 Last night, Pursuit saw 175 students, 9 new guests, and 1 rededication!! Celebrate!

Wage War

Last week we began a new series at Pursuit, Wage War. This series is all about how to declare war against satan and sin and live our lives in victory! Last week was also busy so I wasn't able to post so I'll combine weeks 1 & 2 today :)

We kicked off week 1 discussing WHO we need to wage war against -- being satan. He's real but he isn't all-powerful, all-knowing, or everyone at once. 

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." 

Ephesians 6:12

• Christianity isn't a playground -- it's a battleground! 
• You're either on God's team or on satan's team. You can't play both teams. It's one or the other!
• We can be overtaken by temptation because we flirt too often with the enemy!
• God doesn't send anyone to hell. We send ourselves there!
• If God loves you, the enemy hates you.
• Satan HAS to have permission from God for everything he does!
• The enemy lost when Jesus rose from the grave!!
• If you're lost, satan will try everything to keep you that way!
• God has given us the ultimate authority over satan! ("I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you." Luke 10:19)
• Heaven isn't for people that are scared of hell -- it's for people who LOVE JESUS!

Last week we saw 182 students, 17 new guests, & 3 REDEDICATIONS!

Week 2 we were challenged to not only dress our outsides but our insides! It's more important to dress our hearts (spiritually) before leaving the house every day than worrying so much about our outward appearances!

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God,so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."

Ephesians 6:10-13

• We set ourselves up for defeat when God & I don't meet!
• God's word is for direction AND protection.
• If we want to walk in victory, we have to spend time with the one who won the victory!
• God's more interested in WHO you're becoming than what you look like.
• Some of us dress our outsides but never dress our insides. Dress your heart!
• We have to combat the devil's LIES with God's TRUTHS (Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7)
• God's word (the sword) wasn't meant to cut people down, but set people free!
• It's hard to stand before men without first kneeling before God.
• When you're inconsistent, He will seem distant.
• The enemy likes to make strong men weak. God likes to make weak men strong!
• It's not the amount of our strength, but the source of our strength that makes a difference! We can't battle satan in our own strength but only in God's strength!
• If the enemy doesn't take a day off...why would we?
• We can't go to war without our battle equipment or our armor!

Last night We saw 197 students, 18 new guests, & 1 SALVATION! Celebrate!

Offbeat Finale

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Hebrews 4:13

We wrapped up "Offbeat" last night. It was a heavy night. In order to live offbeat for Him, we have to confess the things that we think we are hiding from others and the Lord. We think that because others don't see our hurt and our pain, God doesn't see it either - that He is busy tending to other peoples' needs or cares. But He sees it all. We also think that if we advertise a person who has it all together, than people will see us as a person who has it all together. But, "It's not what you advertise that counts, but what you're made out of." Last night, we saw 165 students, 11 new guests, 2 salvations, 3 rededications, and TONS of freedom for many students!!

We all think we're expert hiders!

God wants to change us from the inside out but, first, we have to let the inside out. 

There's nothing you can confess that will make God love you any less.

You may be an expert at hiding things from other people but you're a rookie when it comes to hiding things from God.

We don't expect God to love us as we are! It's okay to not be okay!

It's comforting to know He sees our every move because we know that nothing catches Him by surprise!

It's not what you advertise that counts but what you're made out of!

No matter the scars, don't hide them! Use them for His glory! Our story for His glory!

God knew the real you -- and still died for you!

Lastly, we got to hear from one of our own seniors as he courageously shared his story of pain that later turned into a story of freedom! Thank you, Parks, for being used for His glory!

Here's to the next series!!

Offbeat week 3

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction;whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."     Galatians 6:7-9

We make about 5,000 decisions every day ranging from "Will I get out of bed?" and "What will I wear?" all the way to "Will I give in to the world in this area of my life?" When answering these questions we have one of two ways to respond: the narrow way or the wide gate. The narrow way leading to eternal life or the wide gate leading to destruction. After concluding week 3 of "Offbeat", hopefully you and I both will remember, "Direction not Intention determines your destination." (Andy Stanley)

Here's a catch-up from last night:

"When we choose to sin, we choose to suffer!" We reap what we sow! Jesus came to free us from sin; He didn't come for us to live in it, still.

"We are as close to God as we choose to be." 

Living offbeat can be on of the loneliest places. DON'T GIVE UP! We will reap a harvest!

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17

If someone was to mimic you, would they be mimicking Jesus? 

Is your twitter account imitating Jesus? Would He sign His name beside your tweets?

"We have to live for God's APPROVAL not man's APPLAUSE!"

"Jesus wants a full-time commitment not a part-time follower!" 

"Is heaven or hell celebrating your decisions?"

Your friends play a huge role in where to go in life. Where are you going?

 

Offbeat week 1

"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received."

Eph. 4:1

As we kick off a new series at Pursuit, emotions are at an all time high for students and leaders! Emotions that are those of anxious excitement! We had another record-high attendance Wednesday as we saw 178 STUDENTS, 25 NEW guests, 3 SALVATIONS, and 15 REDEDICATIONS. They continue to be fired up and rally together to get all their friends there! They are buying in to the GOSPEL and buying into seeing them MEET JESUS! Here's what all went down on Wednesday:

"If you all yourself a Christian, God has called you to live for Jesus."

"Jesus may live on the inside but He's to be portrayed on the OUTSIDE!"

"Our lifestyle should reflect our identity, so who are YOU?"

"If we're saved, we can't live like we're lost!"

"What we've received cost Jesus His LIFE while we were still considered His enemy!"

"Live like who are you ARE not who you've BEEN!" 

"The only time we should look down on people is to help pick them up!"

"Our LIPS & our LIFE HAVE to add up!"

"People aren't going to always read the bible. They're going to read YOU!"

"Be a world CHANGER not a world CHASER!"

The challenge for this series is to not "go with the flow", not live for the world, but live on a different level than the world. Live OFFBEAT! Our hearts should beat at a different level than the world's does!

To see more of what's happened in the student ministry, check this out!

...and this :)

 Be OFFBEAT!

  

God Takeover

¹³ Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. ¹⁴ As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.¹⁵ While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. ¹⁶ When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
¹⁷ On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:13-17

I'm writing this post for two reasons: 1. being that my husband told asked me to and 2. being that its too good not to write about. But let's be honest, I'm a lazy blogger 95% of the time and it takes a little nagging encouraging from my husband to do it. So, lets go.

As we begin to wrap up our Pursuit series, God Takeover, he's truly taking over. He's taking over the lives of His students at Team Church as well as taking over the seats in the building. Like I've said before, Hux and I are numbers people for several reasons that I've talked about before. If we don't continue to see growth in attendance and growth in the hearts of our students then we aren't doing our jobs! But our students are on fire and bringing carloads of friends with them as we have gone from 105 students to 154 students in the past 3 weeks! Praise The Lord! 

Our faith in God grows with every salvation we see come through Pursuit. Last night 10 students chose Jesus for the first time and 6 students decided to follow Him closer and rededicate their lives. I love seeing the students party, jump, and scream as students stand to receive Jesus! It's like no other. 

If you missed last night...

"When someone is spiritually sick, so we run to help or do we flee the scene?"
"We have to go into the mess to bring people out of mess!"
"Jesus went after the people we run from!"
"Jesus didn't wait for someone to come to Him, He went to them!"
"Sin makes us sick! It's so serious that Jesus died for it!"
"Jesus isn't MAD at you He's MADLY in love with YOU!"

Keep praying for the next generation!

They're going to CHANGE the WORLD!

God Takeover

 Sometimes I think, "last night was something definitely worth letting the world blog-world know about." Then I think, "what could I possibly say that could iterate well enough what really happened." And then I get discouraged and go on with my day because although writing is something I'd always rather do, as opposed to speaking or taking tests in school, sometimes words can't serve the purpose you need them to. But, I'm-a-gonna-try.

We have been doing Pursuit all summer long. Most things in the summer shut down, but it's so hard to get the momentum back when Fall rolls around and we thought why not keep the students fired up coming off of their camp experiences. I was shocked at how many students we had over the summer. They weren't laying off so we couldn't either. Summer rocked. But last night was our Fall Kick-off and let's just say this, more than just our socks got rocked off. We had the highest number Pursuit has ever seen! And people can say all day that "numbers don't matter" but they do (even Jesus emphasized numbers:)). Numbers also show us that the students CARE about the lives of their friends and want them to MEET Jesus! If our "numbers" never grew, we might be making disciples but what is making disciples if they never reach others for Jesus? Isn't that what a disciple is, anyways? What about the rest of the world that will spend eternity in hell? Someone HAS to do something about reaching those people! So, we have pushed and instilled in them all summer that they have to be responsible for their friends! And so to us, the numbers matter!!

Two students (who by the way, were invited to Pursuit by two of our Seniors...enough said) stood on their feet at the end in front of 154 of their peers to proclaim Jesus for the first time! So, even though we had run-through banners, a balloon drop, t-shirt ropes that the students "helicopter-ed" around their heads as we played Sandstorm, and a "mild" (I said mild) firework display from the stage, the worship team brought their A-game and my husband gave a simple yet in-your-face realization of the power (dynamite) each one of them has living inside of them. And the Lord didn't stop there as he continued to work in the lives of students during their small group time following the service. We had a middle school girl rededicate her life and another middle school girl text later in the night confessing that she was not saved and needed to be. So, Jesus showed out last night, but we didn't expect anything less! You can look at Twitter (#Godtakeover) to read more stories!

Way to go, Pursuit...we love you and your hearts for bringing your friends to meet Jesus. It would all be pointless without your passion for your friends. Keep seeing the need and stay FIRED UP!

"When you realize the POWER inside you - you won't care about what's going on outside of you!"

"The face of our schools and our families would be drastically different if we talked about Jesus as much as Miley Cyrus has been talked about lately."

When we're passionate about something - we suffer for it. Can we suffer a little for Jesus?!?"

 

We're takin' over,

 

Here's to you, Seniors!

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Phil. 1:6

The time has come to celebrate our 17 seniors that we have graduating out of the student ministry. 17. That's a lot. That's a lot of disciples that God is going to use on their college campuses next year! To be honest, this is the time of year where Husband and I get all sappy-like and feel like proud parents as we see our God's "kids" begin to own their own faith and begin to mentor the younger ones as they begin to make decisions that they have journeyed through making thus far. Last night we heard from four of our student band members. We heard about their spiritual journeys and their personal journeys and how God has used both to shape them into who they've become up to this point. I'd like to share some of their profound statements that they made last night. I'm telling you, these kids (I call them kids because they are Husband and I's "kids") are wise. Wise beyond their young years. I may be biased but the world needs a lot more of their kind! Anyways, on to their words!

"I want you to know Christ. Not just know Christ. But know Christ."... "Not everything remains solid & firm, but Christ does."..."Christ died to set you free, not for you to struggle in sin."..."I worship not because of fame but because Christ has given us the greatest gift."..."I want what God wants for you."..."His plan is much greater than anything we an dream up for ourselves." -Caleb Crosby

"Sticks and stones may break your bones but words will never hurt, isn't really true."...I was angry and moody but God pulled me out."..."Music is my outlet"..."Here I am feeling worthless, then I realize I have a purpose."..."There's nowhere you can go from God." -Nathan Russell

"I was the kid that thought I was holier than thou because I wasn't "bad"..."I thought I could do it on my own and only needed God on Wednesdays and Sundays."..."I was hypocritical."..."Please, don't wait until your sophomore year to really follow Christ, He will come when you least expect it, Be ready!"..."I hate it took me so long to realize that God's opinion is the only one that matters."... "God will replace your "friends" with friends." -Elizabeth Elliot

"My life has been a roller coaster."... "What are you doing with all of your time?"... "You measure what you love the most based on where your time and money goes."... "It's not about what we've done but about what God has done."..."Christ died for YOU!" -Logan Oakley

Thank you Seniors for what you have meant to Hux and I and for your encouragement to us and your friends last night! God has big things in store for you and I can't wait to see what He does with your lives! Your leadership and presence will be GREATLY missed at Pursuit! Love you all :)

Class of '13,

Identity Theft 2 -- Finding Freedom

This has been one of my most favorite series that we have ever done in student ministry! Why? Because I have seen first hand the fruit that has been produced through it. I've witnessed the "light switch" being turned on in students' hearts as they come to the realization that they truly are God's masterpiece. Last night's service easily fell into the top 3 services I've ever been apart of in student ministry. ever. A friend of Husband and I's from Greenville came and shared his story of how God has set him free from being labeled as "gay". As a young student, because of this label and the comments made to him and about him, he started on a path believing that he was in fact, gay. If you missed last night, you can read a more in-depth account of his story here and how God has put him on a journey to freedom.

I've been humbled over the past two weeks from hearing stories of students that have been set free from eating disorders, set free from looking to others for approval or disproval, set free from homosexuality, and set free from carrying labels that others have given them. Let me tell you, it's a cruel world out there and labels stick. The more that we can instill in teenagers (especially) that the Lord is the only one allowed to label them, the more they will start to seek the Lord for their identity and not seek ways to take their own lives and dispose of their identity. Here are some lessons learned from last night.

• Every person on the planet has their own unique fingerprint. God didn't create you to be someone else.
• We are trying so hard to be someone that God has not called us to be.
• In order to understand who we are we have to understand whose we are.
• We let others that know us the least define us the most.
• The only person allowed to label you is the One who created you.
• Your value and worth does not vanish because you've been through stuff.
• Jesus was tempted by ALL things! All means ALL! (Heb. 4) But He never sinned because he patterned His life after the Father.

"Words bring life or death." 

"Always speak words of LIFE over someone's life. Not death.

You never know what they're going through."

Thanks, Caleb, for your transparency and your authentic testimony last night. Your words spurred LIFE into our students and a hope for freedom! Keep patterning your life after the Father!

There's freedom in Him,

Identity Theft 1

"But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."

2 Corinthians 3:16-18

Last night was the beginning of our new series, "Identity Theft". Normally this post would be an easy one for me because I get to just repeat all the good stuff my husband said from the night before. This week was a little different. As you may see I haven't posted anything on here since last Wednesday night because I've been hunkered down preparing for this week's message...that's right, I had "got" to speak last night! If you know anything about me, you'll know that speaking just isn't my thing. I'd rather write than speak any day but I knew that God had placed in me things that people really needed to hear concerning their Identity in Christ and the insecurities that they face daily. So, if you missed last night, here are some things I tried to hammer home and hopefully they'll stick :)

We showed this video that has gone viral and came to the conclusion that the way we see ourselves is not they way that God sees us!

And just for fun, check out the guy versions on YouTube, they're pretty histarical!

• When we look at ourselves, often times, we see a mistake while God sees a masterpiece.
• A lot of our insecurities stem from the fact that so many of us are focused on the way that others approve or disprove of us.
• We all have veils of insecurity that we walk around with that cloud our vision of God and who He says that we are.
• It scares me that Christians are some of the most insecure people. God doesn't see us as insecure or inadequate.
• We tend to stare in the mirror long enough to start hating what we see.
• We need to lay down our worldly self-image and replace it with God's view of us.
• God's truth about you is way more powerful than other's opinions about you! 
• God will take the pain of your insecurities and use that to accomplish His purpose for your life.
• We can't find freedom from our insecurities in our culture but in the only unchanging factor of our lives, Christ.
• We are co-heirs with Christ. Just as we have inherited very specific traits from our parents, we have inherited very specific traits from our heavenly Father. When we criticize ourselves and wish that God had made us differently, we are insulting His work. 
• God has given you everything you need in order to fulfill His purpose for which He created you for.
• We need to focus less on ME ME ME and more on HE!
• We will continue to struggle with insecurities until we become more inwardly focused on Christ and less outwardly focused on ourselves.
• God will often times take our insecurities and write a story that portrays His glory. His power is made perfect in our weaknesses!
• God died for your insecurities, we continue to carry them, and He's asking for them back! Let Him carry them and use them.
• Guys, I beg of you to be careful how you talk to and about girls. Your words carry a powerful weight on the way that a girl looks and thinks about herself. Talk to them how you would want your sister or your future daughter to be talked to. After all, she is the daughter of your King.
• Girls, we all want to be told we're beautiful and treated as though we're the only person on this earth. But if a guy never tells you those things you want to here, we have to be okay with that! Guys don't want nor do they need the pressure of keeping you propped up all the time. We have to look to Christ for affirmations about ourselves and let the words that people say about us not make or break our day.
• God doesn't make mistakes, He doesn't make junk, and He didn't screw up when He created you.
• You are not who others say you are, you are who the King says you are!

'Til next time,