Post-Justice Conference

If you know me at all, you probably know my reaction to this conference...

IT WAS FREAKIN AWESOME!!!!

The speakers were phenomenal, the message was empowering, the ideas were inspiring...now I must go change the world. 

One of the biggest things that was talked about was not to be overwhelmed by the vastness of justice that is needed in this world. One of the opening quotes that Ken Wytsma, the founder of the Justice Conference, said was first spoken by Dietrich Boenhoffer. 

      "Being a Christ is less about cautiously avoiding sin 

than about courageously and actively doing God's will." 

Uh, YES PLEASE!!! That is all I want to do now. 

Obviously, I went to this conference because I believe in justice for all. That's been my heart ever since I can remember. Seriously, it's a bit ridiculous. But I'm so enthusiastic about it now that I have to know what to do right now. 

Francis Chan opened his talk with, 

"Don't let anyone talk you out of the passion and concern you feel right now!!"

He told us that he had done this on multiple occasions. When you let people dictate how you live and what you're passionate about, you tell God that his ideas and passions are not for you. Why in the WORLD would you do that to God? Yeah, I have NO idea either. 

I don't know what God is going to have me to do, but I know it will have to do with justice. I know that this is what I've been put here to do. Now, it takes the COURAGE to be actively doing God's will. I took so many notes and I want to share them with you, but I need to look back over them and form my thoughts on how to get started. For now, I will be generous with those around me. My money, possessions, thoughts, and feelings are not my own, but Christ's. What would he do with the things he's given me? That is what I will do. For nothing on earth is ours, we just think it is. But we're wrong. Everything that we have is God's. THAT idea has changed my perspective. 

How does it change yours?  

Pre-Justice Conference

So, I'm going to The Justice Conference today and tomorrow in Portland, OR. And here are my thoughts before it actually begins.

Jenna, Marco and I all began our journey to Portland on Wednesday, Feb. 22nd at 11pm. Yes, we drove all through the night and all the next day. We arrived in Portland at 9pm Thursday night. It was freakin insane. We didn't stop too too much, and the longest stop was for lunch with my cousin in Redding. I can't begin to tell you the craziness of that trip. I slept most of it, because I felt sick and the other two wouldn't sleep.

But onto the conference...we registered at 7am this morning then headed to Starbucks straight away. We NEED coffee in the morning. Otherwise, it is not pleasant. I'm SO excited about this conference. When people asked me about it, I never really knew what to say about it. It was a conference about justice. As I walked into the conference hall this morning, it struck me how much my perspective could change after this.

For most of this year (I know it's only been like 2 months), I've felt a stirring in my heart from God that my perspective would be changed in many ways this year. What with going to N. Ireland and Thailand. There are so many ways that he has already shaped me, yet there is always more to be learned.

For my paper in English this semester, I'm writing about the harms of prostitution. As you can see, my heart is very focused on social justice. That is what we have been learning about in college group, which is where this all began. Yeah. I blame my college pastor. Regardless, I know that this is what God is leading me too. Who knows what could happen.

All I'm expecting from this conference is to learn about the justices and injustices happening in this world. And I'm prepared for my mind to be blown. Here we go! Weeeeeeeeeee!

Decision Making

I didn't understand what it meant to make decisions for the rest of my life. But I have a better understanding now. Constant decision making changes the way we think about things. There is no way to fully comprehend how tough each decision will be. Ultimately, it will honor God. He works in every decision, especially when you are seeking him.

For nothing will be impossible with God. 
Luke 1:37

I figured out what was holding me back.

I don't want to disappoint people. 

 Problem? Yes. Because it's not about what other people think. If you know what God is calling you to do, then you should do it without hesitation. So many times, we ignore that and hope that he'll tell us to do something else so we won't have to make the hard decision. I do this. 

Recently, I was reading the book of Judges and the story of Gideon. God told Gideon blatantly what he was supposed to do and Gideon doubted. He questioned God 4 different times.   I am nothing like Gideon. Yet, God spoke and chose to question. It's a reminder of how much of a human being I am. 

On top of not knowing what to do and not wanting to disappoint people, I am sick. It's just a runny nose. But you can tell by my voice and now all I can think about is how I'm going to blow my nose next. 

And in all these things, there is hope. 

Last night was the first night that we had a girls sleepover for my junior high group. There were so many fun moments, conversations, laughs and joyous screams. I can't tell you the amount of love in that room last night. Those girls brightened my week. Because this week has been one of much prayer, seeking the Lord on my behalf and those of my close friends. 

I can do all things through him who gives me strength. 

Philippians 4:13

Today, all I want to do is sleep. I want to go home and just shut the world out and feel better. Instead, I choose to make a difference. Today, I choose to look at others and invest in them. Today, it's not about me and my decisions. It's about listening to others. It's about sharing their burdens. 

Sometimes, 

we have to do things that God calls us to do, 

regardless of what we think or want to do. 

In the end, it's worth it. 

Because you did what God called you to do.

Fear and Love

There are so many things that I used to fear. I didn't realize how much fear I had either. I was one of those people that thought I didn't fear anything except God. Then I looked at my heart...boy, I am so glad that God loves me no matter what. Most of the time, I don't deserve anything that he gives me. Praise God for his grace that he lavishes it on us so freely.

Fear is something that so easily defines us. As I've been preparing for camp this week, the story of Gideon has been read multiple times. Fear has struck me so many times. How prevalent it is in the world, how God tells us not to fear, how we let it dictate our actions. I just don't understand why we allow ourselves to be told how to live because of fear. And yet, I understand completely.

Read Judges 6

God used Gideon despite his fear. He questioned God 3 different times. And God freaking called him a MIGHTY WARRIOR!!! Dude, if God called ME a mighty warrior, I would do ANYTHING he told me to do. Seriously, I can't believe how ridiculous he was!! All of that was fear. Everyone talks about how kewl (yes, I spell it that way) the fleece story is and how they love seeing God move and blah, blah, blah. But really, God showed Gideon not once, or twice but three times because of his fear. What a patient God. When people need confirmation three times from me, I get very irritated and frustrated because once or twice wasn't good enough. How great is our God?! He chooses to acknowledge that we are fearful and overwhelm us with his love.

This month, junior high is doing a series on love. This week we talked about 1 John 4:7-21.

Dear friends, let us love on another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love; not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives hin him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever live sin love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgement, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The on who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar.For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

I hope you see it. Perfect love drives out fear. The God we serves is love. If we have God in us, we have perfect love. And we are loved perfectly by him. That God we serve, who lives in us, drives out our fear by just being God.

WHAT THAT WHAT??!?!?!

We fear because we think that if we screw up there will be some sort of punishment. But there is no punishment when we do what God has told us to do. Because he said it. We aren't supposed to fear things of this world because it doesn't matter. We have perfect love in us. 

You heard me. God is love. Perfect love drives out fear. God is perfect love. Therefore, he drives out our fear. The fear we hold on to is unmerited fear. We serve a big God.

Don't let yourself live in fear.
But live in God's perfect love. 

He has that love to drive out all of you fears.

Does it Matter?

Our topic in college group has been social justice. We've talked about the poor, poverty, abortion, and slavery. Honestly, it is utterly overwhelming. I feel bogged down by the vastness of things that need to be done to combat the injustice happening around the world. I feel like a little ant on the ground that can't do anything. Fortunately, I know that as an individual, I can stand up and others will stand with me. We can make a difference.

Worry, anxiety, frustration, anger, bitterness and so many more, threaten our livelihood. I catch myself throughout the day worrying about something or planning ahead. What does it matter? There are children who haven't eaten today.

The plan didn't work out. I'm frustrated. What does it matter? Slaves are being worked to the bone today.

I don't know the right answer. I have no words to say. It doesn't matter. Some homeless people didn't get lunch today.

When you are dealing with stuff, ask yourself if it really matters. Cause most likely, it doesn't. We live a rich life in comparison to most. Whenever I start worrying, I remind myself that it doesn't matter. It simply doesn't matter.

What matters is ridding this world of injustice.
How did you do that today?



Perspective changes everything.

Spending Time

Sit and listen.
Be still and know that He is God.
Surrender your heart, your mind, your thoughts.
Let Him be.
Let Him fill you.


It hits me sometimes, just how broken I am. How much I need the Father. I'm in a funk. And I can't figure it out. I'm so frustrated on so many levels. But on the same note, I know that God is here. He is with me.

The funny thing is that there have tremendous things happening lately.
God has finally given me vision for this year.
He is allowing me to go to N. Ireland and Thailand.
He has given me time to get all of my school work done.
He has provided opportunity for jobs, house sitting, baby sitting, and other things.
He's given me random amounts of money at times that I never expected it.

So, what do I need to do?

Simply spend more time with Jesus. I need to set aside time to do that. He's my first relationship. He takes precedence over everyone else.

Do you need to do the same?

Salt and Light

There are moments that the kids around me simply amaze me. One of those moments was Sunday. I was speaking that day to the kids about being Salt and Light. You know that passage right?

Matthew 5:13-16
¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
   ¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

I got the passage about a week before I was speaking on it, so I started looking at it. I'm 21. It's been a few years since I was in 5th or 6th grade. But I thought back about how I would've understood it best when I was younger.

As I started speaking to the kids about it, they became quiet. They listened. They understood. At 10 or 11, these kids could understand what it means to be salt and light to the world. It wasn't due to me at all, it was all Jesus. One of the leaders after small group told me that he girls got it. They knew what it meant. It doesn't mean their always going to do it, but at least they get it. (To listen to my whole talk, go to http://my.ekklesia360.com/Clients/player/videoplayer.php?sid=2091&url=http://www.thegroveaz.org/mediafiles/kaos-1-29-12.mp3&mediaBID=1335561&template=http://my.ekklesia360.com/Clients/player/videoplayer.php&type=sound&CMSCODE=EKK&CMS_LINK=http://my.ekklesia360.com&width=400&height=300&autostart=true&playlist=false&target=MediaPlayer)


God didn't intend for us to struggle with the concepts, he knew we would get it. If kids at 4 and 5 years old know what it means to accept Jesus in their heart, then salt and light is an easy concept. 


What gets me is the fact that we don't expect kids to do great things. They understand better what faith is. They are children. They are not jaded by this world. But we choose to expect them to do nothing of importance. I read about a kid the other day who had a passion, and he went door to door collecting money. He was collecting money to put a well in an African village that only drank dirty water. He was not any older than 12. He raised the money. All by himself. He went door to door making a difference. 


How much more could we, as young people do? This world does revolve around us and our problems. Oh no, we are simply here for Jesus. We are here to live differently, to change lives, and change the world. 

How are you living differently?

How are you changing lives?

How are you changing the world?