From a journal entry dated October 10, 2007:

We all worshiped You tonight. I broke into tears and You captured my heart again. You’re grabbing for more of my heart and it hurts – I love that pain of growth. You want me enough to bring me here now. I am not worthless. You take away the lies. I cried out for more and more of You and danced in Your presence and was told to keep dancing. I wept and wept for You, for Your Kingdom…Your Kingdom! We’re to bring Your Kingdom to earth. You chose me, You chose all of us. You’re calling our generation and I pray for more of a desire and brokenness to wake up my generation. I’m sorry for my selfishness. I’m sorry for putting things above You. I’m sorry for hating when I was “wrong.” I’m sorry for being stubborn. I’m sorry for allowing my faith to get dull and boring. Thank You for the excitement and abandonment of new believers. [Chad, Heather, Sarah] Give me a heart to see souls saved. I’m seeing that You brought me here to make me more real – not happy words, not on my own, not religion – but LOVE. You love me – thank You for that promise.

Every so often I turn back in my journals to see what was happening a year ago. The excitement that came to me as I reread of God’s faithful moving hand in my life brought me a stimulating peace towards a lot of unknowns. I read this entry the night before I attended the Catalyst Conference last Friday. Again, God’s faithfulness was moving: A friend from Indiana had a group coming down from her church. One of the guys was unable to make it so I received the free ticket to a conference that was only 15 miles from my house. Let’s go, God!
 
 

Aside from the extreme culture shock and sensory overload I was experiencing it turn out to be an amazing day! It was His from the moment I woke up so God took all I had to offer – it was an amazing one-on-one time with the Lord. I’d love to tell you about how I laughed at some of the speakers, how God keeps pushing me to love unconditionally, how I met a friend’s sister’s college roommate, or how they made a kids choir from Kenya sing Sweet Home Alabama as they introduced Jeff Foxworthy to the stage…I want to keep it to the two things that excited me the most.


*I get to change the world simply by being with my Savior.  *God is forever and always the Mighty One who saves!

One of the last speakers I listened to shared about culture. Basically, he covered how Christians tend to either condemn, criticize, copy, or consume the culture around them. In each instance we don’t make a lasting impression and leave the world pretty ineffective for the cause of Christ. Instead we are to cultivate and create in order to see effective change. And to do this it usually begins within a “Creative Circle” of three. (I don’t need to figure this out on my own? So…I could think of a couple people I could get creative with all for the purpose of furthering the Kingdom…)
 
The desire to see a new generation stand again before their King rose within me. A vision to see young people wake up from apathy and fight for the poor, widowed, and orphaned was once again re-ignited. It’s a vision God gave me on the Race and a vision I get to share with others. A vision where the Body works together to be light in a darkened generation.

There were many BIG things I saw last Friday at this conference. Lots of colors and TV screens and videos and show. We have a lot to distract us from God’s voice and solid truth. Yet even with a small idea and no direction but Him we need to remember that He still wants to call the shots. He’s in control. It’s His Kingdom. And it’s for His glory.


Everyone needs compassion,


Love that’s never failing;


Let mercy fall on me.




Everyone needs forgiveness,


The kindness of a Savior;


The Hope of nations.




Savior, He can move the mountains,


My God is Mighty to save,


He is Mighty to save.




Forever, Author of salvation,


He rose and conquered the grave,


Jesus conquered the grave.
 
Seeking the impossible with my Lord…