-25 Below
Church was great today! It is funny, all the kids are so different. A girl came into class before it started to find me working on the lesson and getting it all touched up neatly. She was trying to find an escape to cry :L We talked for a bit and realized I was in the same situation when I was her age. I got to talk a bit but there were some things where I could only say, "I don't know".
My pastor taught me that it's OK to say that. I am thankful for his advice. It woke up a couple things within myself talking to her.
When all the kids came in I made them squish their faces on the printer so I can make some art work out of it for the room which was a pretty funny way to start the morning. I talked to them for a while about doing some fun things this summer and what I want to see happen this year with us. I am happy b/c I'm at the point where I am completely comfortable with them. I told them the honest truth about things (Biblically and from experience and best to my knowledge) and try to see things from their perspective, which isn't as scary as it sounds haha... our liking each other has never been a problem. It's more like I really want them to be challenged, but not that I have expectations for them, but I want them to challenge themselves. I threw out a few ideas and I think we're gonna have a night that we just hang out and relax and talk about God or worship or pray or just converse with each other about life and what's going on with us. I talked about forgiveness and judging others a little today. It's hard to find the fine line of judging someone and learning from their/my mistakes. I always use myself as an example and sometimes people I am close to or family that I know what they went through in different circumstances. They seemed to really catch on the message. I am pretty proud they put personal feelings aside to learn more about what I'm saying. Like for instance today I mentioned a few girls I grew up with, the same church and background and family friends and how they chose different things in life and how if you looked at all of us standing together you'd be shocked to find out we were the same people once, even if only within the past 5 years. Not that any is better then the other but hearing their story of why they chose meth or the bad boyfriends, well, I just told the kids the decisions they make now WILL eventually have a result later down the road. Ofcourse they knew I wasn't trying to scare them but to be aware of our decisions? They were pretty wide eyed! I told them the sooner you can catch onto forgiveness the less bitter they will be in life. That's the truth!!!
A wise man learns from others mistakes. Hell, I have my own I lay out there. But I know that God is opening my eyes to things that are hard for others to understand. Sometimes I am Kasi and go about it in a human way. I know God loves using me, skeptics can't claim Christians throw out their own personality and become mindless robots for God, b/c frankly, I doubt God would go about things half as crazy as I do. But he uses me as a tool and that is awesome. I also learn from my own mistakes and realize I am not perfect. But I am confident. I know I'm a very strong girl and can be or do anything within reason. I feel so capable of everything b/c all my strength is in Him.There are a couple personal revelations I want to be known this year.
1. My search in God's ways and not my own. I never want to twist His ways with what I think is right. I am all about the truth, and it hurts so much sometimes, but at least it's not unhealthy or deceiving to my character
2. To stop judging others and myself, but to take the plank from my own eye and continue to counsel people w/ Godly wisdom and the Holy Spirit guidance
3. To quit worrying about the world's views and respecting unGodly things and letting the world walk over my beliefs. Sure there is a level of tolerance, I am not a hater or picketer or gay bashing person... I know who I am. And to stand in the grace and mercy of God and everything else will wash away. My problems with the world to become miniscule next to His glory.
4. To never be unavailable to those in need. This one freaks me out b/c I don't ever want to be too busy or lazy for others in need. but also to take it easy when people don't want anything but a listener or a hugger :)
5. To help my youth group and the people around me grow. Whether it's shelling out books or prayer. I want to always remember to pray first and counsel after. Prayer is one I really want to grow in. Sure I rely and live in the Holy Spirit, but I DO trail off in Kasi land and forget to realize how big God is and how much he loves me. Prayer keeps me straight from leading into my own ideas and being all New Age-y about God. Or politcally correct. I don't care about all that stuff. I just want to make sure my mind is into my love for the Lord, not just my heart and soul. My mind is a toughy sometimes.
6. Not to be to hard on myself. Grace for others comes easy for me now, but for myself? My God friends are quick to remind me when I make a mistake.. not that I am human or Kasi is sometimes a clutz, but they always say, "But Kasi, where was your heart?" And I am instantly immersed in God's love and knowing YES usually my heart is always in the right place. My own reality check being a good report but going about it without the guidance of the Holy Spirit can make you feel like an idiot :S but I am not an idiot, I am a daughter with power behind grace called love.
*sigh* These are all things God has put on my heart today. I am feeling new everyday. His joy is creeping and shaking my faith. It is weird that joy can shake your faith, and love can shake your faith... for most people it's fear or worrries or bad situations. If I let joy shake my faith to wake up and be blessed how different will I be by the end of the year? Hmm....
My pastor taught me that it's OK to say that. I am thankful for his advice. It woke up a couple things within myself talking to her.
When all the kids came in I made them squish their faces on the printer so I can make some art work out of it for the room which was a pretty funny way to start the morning. I talked to them for a while about doing some fun things this summer and what I want to see happen this year with us. I am happy b/c I'm at the point where I am completely comfortable with them. I told them the honest truth about things (Biblically and from experience and best to my knowledge) and try to see things from their perspective, which isn't as scary as it sounds haha... our liking each other has never been a problem. It's more like I really want them to be challenged, but not that I have expectations for them, but I want them to challenge themselves. I threw out a few ideas and I think we're gonna have a night that we just hang out and relax and talk about God or worship or pray or just converse with each other about life and what's going on with us. I talked about forgiveness and judging others a little today. It's hard to find the fine line of judging someone and learning from their/my mistakes. I always use myself as an example and sometimes people I am close to or family that I know what they went through in different circumstances. They seemed to really catch on the message. I am pretty proud they put personal feelings aside to learn more about what I'm saying. Like for instance today I mentioned a few girls I grew up with, the same church and background and family friends and how they chose different things in life and how if you looked at all of us standing together you'd be shocked to find out we were the same people once, even if only within the past 5 years. Not that any is better then the other but hearing their story of why they chose meth or the bad boyfriends, well, I just told the kids the decisions they make now WILL eventually have a result later down the road. Ofcourse they knew I wasn't trying to scare them but to be aware of our decisions? They were pretty wide eyed! I told them the sooner you can catch onto forgiveness the less bitter they will be in life. That's the truth!!!
A wise man learns from others mistakes. Hell, I have my own I lay out there. But I know that God is opening my eyes to things that are hard for others to understand. Sometimes I am Kasi and go about it in a human way. I know God loves using me, skeptics can't claim Christians throw out their own personality and become mindless robots for God, b/c frankly, I doubt God would go about things half as crazy as I do. But he uses me as a tool and that is awesome. I also learn from my own mistakes and realize I am not perfect. But I am confident. I know I'm a very strong girl and can be or do anything within reason. I feel so capable of everything b/c all my strength is in Him.There are a couple personal revelations I want to be known this year.
1. My search in God's ways and not my own. I never want to twist His ways with what I think is right. I am all about the truth, and it hurts so much sometimes, but at least it's not unhealthy or deceiving to my character
2. To stop judging others and myself, but to take the plank from my own eye and continue to counsel people w/ Godly wisdom and the Holy Spirit guidance
3. To quit worrying about the world's views and respecting unGodly things and letting the world walk over my beliefs. Sure there is a level of tolerance, I am not a hater or picketer or gay bashing person... I know who I am. And to stand in the grace and mercy of God and everything else will wash away. My problems with the world to become miniscule next to His glory.
4. To never be unavailable to those in need. This one freaks me out b/c I don't ever want to be too busy or lazy for others in need. but also to take it easy when people don't want anything but a listener or a hugger :)
5. To help my youth group and the people around me grow. Whether it's shelling out books or prayer. I want to always remember to pray first and counsel after. Prayer is one I really want to grow in. Sure I rely and live in the Holy Spirit, but I DO trail off in Kasi land and forget to realize how big God is and how much he loves me. Prayer keeps me straight from leading into my own ideas and being all New Age-y about God. Or politcally correct. I don't care about all that stuff. I just want to make sure my mind is into my love for the Lord, not just my heart and soul. My mind is a toughy sometimes.
6. Not to be to hard on myself. Grace for others comes easy for me now, but for myself? My God friends are quick to remind me when I make a mistake.. not that I am human or Kasi is sometimes a clutz, but they always say, "But Kasi, where was your heart?" And I am instantly immersed in God's love and knowing YES usually my heart is always in the right place. My own reality check being a good report but going about it without the guidance of the Holy Spirit can make you feel like an idiot :S but I am not an idiot, I am a daughter with power behind grace called love.
*sigh* These are all things God has put on my heart today. I am feeling new everyday. His joy is creeping and shaking my faith. It is weird that joy can shake your faith, and love can shake your faith... for most people it's fear or worrries or bad situations. If I let joy shake my faith to wake up and be blessed how different will I be by the end of the year? Hmm....