Shift High School Action Retreat

so we just got back from our high school retreat. the thing is with this particular retreat, we didn't go anywhere in the mountains like a normal winter retreat. we stayed local. very local. only about a 10 minute drive from CCV. this was out high school action retreat, where a group of high school students went out and served the community that they are living in. and quite honestly, it was amazing!

we had two teams, one team went to a recreation center to do a re-model/re-paint of the entire place and the second team went to a house of a single mother of our church who desperately needed repairs to her house. i had the privilege to be at the house with a group of leaders and a group of students.

on friday night, we got there and did some pre-work, we filled up a GIGANTIC dumpster about half way just that night and started to see what we needed the next day because it was supposed to rain ALL day. and it did.

it was hard/long/exhausting/wet/cold. but it was well worth it. i have to say i was unbelievably impressed with all of the students. they worked their butts off, when when it was pouring down rain like no other, and at one point it was even hailing!

some girls did a huge cleaning and re-do of the kitchen, a new stove top was put in because the family was cooking on hot plates. their laundry was done for them. they got 2 brand new doors put in their house because the old doors had huge holes in them and cold wind would blow through. we put in a brand new window in their living room because their old one had a whole and creatures would crawl through. we mowed their lawn, pulled weeds, and re-did their entire back yard. it didn't look like the same yard when we were done. THE STUDENTS DID AN AMAZING JOB, WORKING AND SACRIFICING THEIR TIME TO HELP THIS FAMILY IN NEED.

this whole weekend was about serving. one of the passages that we wanted to look at for this weekend and have it be our main focus is Phil. 2:1-11. about how we should be like Christ in the aspect of service, to humble ourselves. we also looked at John 13:1-17 when Jesus washed the disciples feet. it was so moving. no matter how much Satan tried to make us stop working with the weather, we kept working.

one of the best examples of service was not from us serving the family, but the family, being so greaful, where serving us all day day. the were taking our wet jackets and socks and putting them in the dryer for us, the kids there were helping do yard work in the back. at one point, they even brought us McDonalds and started to hand us burgers in the pouring rain so we can have something warm to eat. it honestly was so touching. it was awesome. a true example of service.

overall, this weekend was great. today, after the rain, we went to a family's house who goes tot the church and they let us use their outstanding house and backyard to hang out all day and have a BBQ and pool party. which was so cool because we got to just hang out and play with everyone. it was not a "normal" winter retreat, but it has beat any other winter retreat i have ever done. God is good.

Stressed

Philippians 4:6-7
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (NLT)

i have not been on here in a while. it has been sort of crazy. i apologize. over the last few months i have been doing a lot. doing school full time, being an intern, and working at islands part time. i dont have a lot of time to do anything it feels like and i have been stressing out. i feel so spread thin that i am not producing what i would like to. i mean, i am getting everything i need to get done, done. but it is half as good as i would like it to be. at church and at school. and thats not what i am about. i like to produce things that are 100% to my ability. thats how i have been raised i guess.

funny how i read this verse today. you ever feel that something is going on in your life and you feel that the church service or anything anyone is talking about is that one thing that you are struggling with? like it was directed just for you? yes, thats how i felt when i read this verse today.

"dont worry about anything" paul says. HA! when do we do that? "pray about everything". ok. i have time to do that. right. ... those are my first reactions to that. then you read on. tell God what i need and thank him for what he has done. i feel i am always telling God what i need and not always thanking Him for what he has done. and if i was God i would be pissed. He has done so much for me, and i have been a spoiled brat. thinking about that today broke my heart.

i really need to start living out this set of verses. anything that i am stressed about, God is bigger. anything that i am worried about. God is bigger. something i heard at the CIY Believe conference for jr. higher last week was "God's idea of better is better than yours." its so true.

WORRY ACCOMPLISHES ABSOLUTELY NOTHING

i just sit and worry about all of the things i have to do and then sit and worry even more cause i wasted time worrying about it. it does make any sense.

WORRYING IS NOT GOOD FOR YOU

mentally im shot. not only is my mind racing and you get a headache, but for me, it gets me physically sick. stomach pains and just anxiety.

WORRYING IS THE OPPOSITE OF TRUSTING GOD

the energy that we spend worrying can be put to much better use in prayer. Here's a little formula to remember: Worry replaced by Prayer equals Trust.

Matthew 6:30
And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? (NLT)

WORRYING PUTS YOUR FOCUS IN THE WRONG DIRECTION

When we keep our eyes focused on God, we remember his love for us and we realize we truly have nothing to worry about. God has a wonderful plan for our lives, and part of that plan includes taking care of us. Even in the difficult times, when it seems like God doesn't care, we can put our trust in the Lord and focus on his kingdom. God will take care of our every need.

I NEED TO DO THIS! THEN I WILL BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THIS PEACE PAUL IS TALKING ABOUT!