“…He (Christ) existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together… For God in all his fullness, was pleased to live in Christ and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.”
Colossians 1:17,19-20
The thought came to me the other day that I am broken. I am sinful. I have done wrong. I have hurt. I have seen things I wish I hadn’t seen. I’ve done things I wish I hadn’t done. However, in my brokenness Christ has made me new. I am no longer the same person I once was, for Christ lives within me.
“For it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh is now lived by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself up for me.”
Colossians 2:20
“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun.”
2 Corinthians 5:17
I have been thinking about the most beautiful places on earth like the badlands in North Dakota or the beaches of Thailand and how they are all broken too. Yet God has made them so beautiful! So amazing that God would use a broken person like me to help other broken people realize their beauty and worth to God.
“He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of stars and calls them each by name.”
Psalms 147:3-4
“For all creation is waiting eagerly for the future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.”
Romans 8:19-21
Even the beautifully broken creation that the LORD has made will be restored! And how beautiful will it be when God makes everything completely new. I find it crazy how I can’t wait for the day in which I am completely restored and in the same way all creation longs for that day to come too!
So much has happened this last month. Spiritually God continues to reveal Himself in real ways. One story I would love to share with you is this…
This last weekend, I went on a whim with 6 other guys from the ages of 16 to 25 down to Terry Peak, which is in the Black Hills of South Dakota. We made it a quick trip to go ski and come back. On our way down we had a blast full of laughter, dancing, crazy sing along songs, and random conversation. We got there and we had a blast, even with a few bumps and bruises from wipeouts and one collision, nobody got seriously hurt (Praise the LORD). Anyone on the way back, this group of 7 bonded as brothers. Sharing experience like standing up for our faith in certain situations such as schools, understanding the purpose God has given us, and how our faith is never meant to be lived alone and that we need each other. God brought some amazing conversations and I believe it was an inspiration to run after the LORD.
One of the guys from the ski trip sent me this message and I was so encouraged to accept the compliment. It is not out of pride or selfish ambition that I share this, but to encourage you in what God is doing through me and how He is answering your prayers.
“Thank you so much for everything you have done for me. You have literally changed my life since the day I met you. You are such an inspiration to me and my role model…” –Casey
It just goes to show, sometimes when I feel like a small event is useless, God uses it tremendously in someone’s life. I had the privilege of hearing and writing down two students testimonies on how they started their faith walk. Ironically, they both started from small events. Steven came to know Christ through a lock-in, which we traveled to Mayville, ND with only 2 other students. Douglas’ life was changed through a flag football game with only 8 people! It was there Douglas came back to church for the first time in 5 years and where He came to know Christ’s love for him. Both Steven and Douglas will be sharing a video testimony in the congregation in a few weeks. It is amazing how even the smallest most insignificant events can make such an amazing impact on a person’s life.
Here are the answers to the specific prayer requests from last month:
Prayer #1: T-shirt fundraiser continues to go well. I am selling shirts for $20 and for every 75 shirts sold, I will raise $1,000 for my trip.
Answer #1: The T-Shirt Fundraiser went incredibly well. With over 100 T-shirts sold, which made over $1,300 for my trip! Incredible how the Lord provides! Sometimes something as simple as $20 can go a long way.
Prayer #2: For my students and I to continue to have a desire to grow and know God. Specifically pray for Jayce, Dougles, Carter, Ray, Steve, Dominic, Luke, Brandon, and Carson. These guys I meet with weekly to read the Bible and they all have their own battles, but the Lord is doing a work in their lives. Pray for seeds to land on fertile soil that the Lord will allow to grow.
Answer #2: Its amazing the encouragement I have received from those around these young men. Specifically, Dougles is understanding the importance of reading his Bible in the good times as well as the hard times. Steven is recognizing how important it is to reach out to his friends at school. He even developed the “Go-Get-Umm List” which has the names of those He wants to see come to know Christ this year. This list is based off of James 5:19-20. In the midst of being persecuted for being bold and taking a stand for his faith in the school system, he continues to be a bright light for those around him. Ray continues to take steps of faith to pray when no one wants to. He has a great wisdom in understanding the joy that comes from obedience to the Lord. Dominic has taken leaps and bounds. His life has been changing left and right and the other week he said to me, “that was the first time I didn’t want to stop reading the Bible.” From how much difficulty this young man has faced, God is in the process of changing him to be an incredible man! Luke has taken leaps and bounds in his faith. He continues to meet me weekly to read the Bible and is open about what is actually going on in his life. Brandon and Carson meet me on Friday mornings and that has been going really well. Last week I couldn’t meet with them due to a trip to the cities for a wedding, yet Carson still showed up to dive into the word. It is amazing the work the Lord is doing in them and I believe they will be used in tremendous ways for the kingdom in the future!
Prayer #3: For the Red Lodge Ski Trip coming up (February 17-20). That it would be more than a ski trip and that these students would truly understand the goodness of God and a new inspiration to walk with Him.
Answer #3: The Red Lodge Ski Trip was amazing! God put it on my heart to share the book of Philippians with our group over the course of the 4 days we were together. It was the 2nd night that the gospel was clearly explained through an interview of my life. I was able to share how I accepted Christ and started to talk with Him. After that night a couple of these students come to me and let me know that they prayed that prayer. I even had students come up to me afterward and said, “that you may not have noticed but what was said tonight really touched the person next to me.” It is crazy sometimes we see the results and sometimes we don’t but God’s word still goes out and produces all that He intends it to (Isaiah 55:11). As far as new inspiration goes, that next Wednesday pretty much all the students come to youth group. It was like they were all on a spiritual high from the weekend! I believe that each one of them took steps in their faith and it was cool to be able to witness it first hand.
Prayer #4: Lastly, protection over my family and I. The evil one knows what I am about to go do and he knows my weak points. Please pray for health and for angels to protect them as I prepare to go and leave for the race.
Answer #4: My family has been safe. God is good in the midst of this crazy world we live in. Thank you for your prayers and for being a huge part of this ministry that God has called me in.
New Prayer Requests:
- God would continue to change and transform the lives around me. Pray for the others who do not know Him, that they would accept Him as their Lord and Savior.
Specifically pray for…
-Kaden, Isaiah, Kaleb (9th graders who do not know Christ)
-Brett (Jayce’s-one I am discipling- friend who feels guilty and not worthy to come and to senior high or guys night)
-Alex & Ronic (Steven’s- one I am dicipling- friends on his “Go Get Um List***”)
-Carter (One who knows the truth, but isn’t as involved and may be going his own way)
-Caleb (Just went through a breakup and has a very hard life going up. Pray that I would be able to speak into his life and that he would come to know Christ.)
***”Go Get Um List” is a list Steven and Ray came up with of those students they want to see come to know Christ! That is why we say, “Were gonna get um!” It is based off of James 5:19-20, “My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.”
- Going skiing with my family this next week in Salt Lake City, Utah. It should be a blast, but pray for safety and for positive quality time with my brothers and dad.
- Pray for continued financial support to come in. Today I am exactly 52.09% funded. So I am over half way! Pray that the LORD puts it on others hearts to give to help reach the nations with the Good News.
- Lastly, that as I leave for the World Race that God would provide a mentor for these students I am working with. That they may grow even stronger in their relationship with Christ while I am gone. Pray that God would bring the right youth leader(s) to help these students know and grow in Christ while I am gone.
Lastly, I just want to encourage all you who have been praying. God has been answering these requests because they are being asked for. James 4:2 says, “you do not have because you do not ask God for it…” It is amazing how HE provides and works when we ask Him. Thank you for your partnership and willingness to invest in this ministry the LORD has given me.
