AMP'D UP !!!!!!!

Wow what can I say... if you went to Amplified this weekend you know what the "WOW" is about...3 Days of Chad Daniels, the next generation, and The Holy Spirit. Do I need to say much more??? What an amazing combination... kinda like a hamburger, french fries, and a coke... It just goes together!!

It's so funny, how God will take a weekend like this one and teach us( the adults) a great lesson also. Even though, I was always looking for ministry moments and oppotunities for the students, God was also gently whispering in my ear the things that he wanted me to learn also. This was what most of this weekend was about...hearing the voice of God, if even a whisper.

I think the greatest thing that God spoke to me this weekend is how powerful our words are, and how he uses those words for his glory . You see, so often we may not even realize when God is using the words we say to impact others or how words that are being said to us may have a lasting impact on our lives also. For example, Chad talked about how he received an email from Gabby Reimayer( who is a teenager with her family who are missionaries in Africa) asking did he remember speaking this over her at an "amplified" and at first, he couln't recall exactly. But after seeing, he did recall that actual service. And I just thought wow, you never know how what you're saying to someone can affect them and God's plan for their life. I also thought what a privledge, and even a responsibility, it is to serve God this way. Because if he gives us a word for someone, it can be an everlasting word that affects the rest of their lives.

So in the saturday service as I looked up in worship, I noticed Tammy Bourg worshipping with all of the youth and it hit me, how significant my words had been a year ago. I began telling her how much the youth of the generation needed her and what a jewel she'd be to the refuge staff. There was some resistance because she loved LIFE U, and she had friends there also. And this was understandable... it was what she was comfortable with and used to. But after seeing a video of blake on the big screen at church , she felt it was confirmation of where God wanted her to be. After much prayer and seeking God Tammy came to refuge. But, I thought, suppose I had not said anything to her,( and no glory to me, ONLY HIM) she would be missing serving the youth, and refuge would not have such a woman of God to impact these young people.

To emphasize again the power behind every word we say, I had a really cool thing happen a couple of weeks ago that I would love to share. Just in case you don't know, much of my testimony pertains to my divorce and its effect on the people around you. So in my work, if given the opportunity, I share my testimony with others who are going through similar situations. I had a man come into my office, and I as looked at him, I knew there was something that I should remember. So I said to him, "Aren't you a single parent raising your little girl?" And I was completely shaken by his answer and immediately began to wonder what exactly I had said to him before. He said, "Well not anymore. Thanks to you six months ago talking to me, I realized what I had and I went back to my wife. We have been doing very well and it's because of all that you shared with me." I couldn't believe what I was hearing. And again no glory to me, only him. But, I thought if this is the only life that was changed by my testimony, it is all worth it. Wow, again, how powerful are our words? Funny thing is I can't remember exactly what was said, but God knew what I needed to say and annointed it for his glory to save this family.

I just love seeing this next generation get crazy for God and that's exactly what we saw and were a part of this weekend. It seems that I can never get enough of all the energy, as well as the innocense they bring to this dead and dying world. Oh how we must continue to see this world thru the eyes of a child and remain in awe of his wonder and his power. It's so awesome because these young people don't have all these jumled-up life experiences to tell them that they can't do something or that they are not qualified. They believe in his power and I want to continue see the world as they do and be moved by his presence.

His presence was so thick for all these young people. They were not afraid to reach out and grab what God has for them. We heard story after story of all that God spoke to them and how he moved in their hearts.

So reach up and out to God and grab onto the dream that he's place in your heart. Listen to the words that are spoken over your life... take hold of them... and above all...BELEIVE!!!!!