I'll start with this thought...God is so amazing!!!!!

I haven't really posted much at all about "Closer", and I don't know why because it is an awesome group of young people as well as leaders. I love doin life with these people. They are all soooo... COOL!!!. This past week Reverend OG spoke on "forgiveness" and wow, was it amazing! God really used him to speak to our 33 kids. We talked about how it is a choice to forgive and who all gets hurt when you don't forgive. Not only do the people around you suffer but also you suffer. He did a very cool illustration that showed if you can't forgive, you harbor hatred, bitterness, strife, anger, envy, jealousy and many more mixed emotions. And we carry all these emotions around all day with us, which stops us from getting to Jesus and then we can't be used. At the end we had prayer time and it was so amazing to see and hear some of our students call out to God for their indiviual needs as well as their friends and family. I trully believe that Thursday night was the beginning of healing for many.
Through this study on forvgiveness, I can't help but realize that forgiveness is LOVE. How much more could he have loved us than to have been beaten beyond recognition and die on a cross for us . What a love this is! Thank you oh God that you continue to teach me to love this way. I want to see the world the way he sees them. I want to look beyond the faults and disappointments of man and see only the image of God. Sometimes I have patients at work that look really different, act different,and some that really get under my skin. But God gently quickens my spirit and reminds me that no matter what I see or feeltowards them, he loves them and sees their potential in CHRIST. Oh how I always want to be reminded that he created us to love this way and if we are in Christ, it shouldn't be hard to do. I thank God that on the cross he openned his arms and not pointed a finger. What a LOVING and FORGIVING GOD!
I've been seeking God and asking for a deeper passion for him and a deeper understanding of his love. And of course , he has come through again and again. And this is just another one of those times that I only needed faith the size of a mustard seed for him to show himself again. I am also so inspired by Jordan and Ashlyn's passion for Christ and this is another way that he is showing me how to love and understand more about him. I want to pocess this kind of "childlike faith" in everything he calls me to do.!!!!

Serving One by loving ALL
Paula