Our Favorite Part of Mulberry

I conducted a poll on facebook to find out what everyone's favorite part of Camp Mulberry is, and the results were unanimous. 
Everyone's favorite part of Camp Mulberry is the services. I mean, that was always my favorite part of camp... and still is. There's just something about 200 young people all worshiping the Lord together and all hungry for more of God. I think that is something I really picked up on this year from the young people: their hunger for God. On Monday night there wasn't even preaching. It was like the students had just been waiting for that service all year.

Let me back up just a little. Something that was started last year was splitting the young people into two age groups, 8-11 and 12-19. Each group has their own service. I mentioned in my last entry "Jumpin' Josh," who was the kids evangelist, and did an incredible job, but something that happened last year, happened this year as well. The kids in the junior service really usher in the presence of God, and it's there when the senior service starts. The combination of such a thick presence of God and the students' hunger for God was really great on Monday night and the senior students came right in to the junior altar call and pretty much stayed there... it was very powerful.

However, on Tuesday night, and for the rest of the week, we did get to some preaching, which was really good because Bro. Nathan Thornton really brought the word and we really needed to hear it. Tuesday night, Bro. Thornton addressed some real issues that are attacking our young people today: Lust, insecurity, and unpracticed truth. On Wednesday night, he preached about receiving a greater anointing. His messages were so powerful, and his testimony was great. But what stuck out to me every single night was the theme of consecration and dedication. I was really convicted about my own personal prayer life and about fasting and reading the Word of God. The theme of camp this year was Upside Down and the focus was that the students would go back home and turn their worlds upside down, but we cannot do that without turning our own lives upside down.

I am going to be teaching our youth class at church starting this Sunday and our focus for the month of July is to consecrate our lives to Christ through prayer, fasting, and the reading of scripture. I am so excited!!!

Upside Down 2011

Upside Down 2011

We're back from Camp Mulberry and ready to turn the world upside down! This year was amazing, probably the best camp we've ever had. The theme of Mulberry this year was "Upside Down" and I know that so many lives were turned upside down this week (in the best way possible) I mean, 30 kids were filled with the Holy Ghost!!! Not only that, but all the kids left camp ready to turn their worlds upside down.

My prayer all week, for all of my kids and every student there, really, was that they would become soul winners for Christ. Of course, I am partial to my sisters. I was so amazed by them. I see so much potential in them to win people to the Lord and I cannot wait for it to start. Both Christina and Jessica will be in high school this year and I am so ready for them to turn LCHS upside down. I'm getting excited just thinking about it.

There is so much more I could say about camp. The speakers, Bro. Nathan Thornton and Jumpin' Josh Combs were incredible and inspiring. Bro. Nathan Thornton brought the Word like... oh my goodness. He straight preached all over all of us all week long... that is, starting Tuesday. Worship service was so powerful on Monday night there was no preaching. But thank God there was Tuesday, because he told us some things we really needed to hear. And then there was Jumpin' Josh Combs... he was awesome. His ministry to children is awesome. I learned so much from him and I can't wait to put it into use.

My responsibility at camp this year was the day camp, which is ages seven and under... I'm gonna have to do a blog entry just for day camp... I really loved it so much. And soon I will be blogging about all the great after effects of camp I am sure :)

Sweep Me Away

It was brought to my attention that I have made mention of "someone very special" in my past two posts and not many of you know who I am blogging about... well, that's about to change because since I now know that you want to know, I am more than happy to share. It's my favorite thing to talk/think/blog about.

If you normally follow my blog then you are more than aware of all the youth group stuff I am involved with. I think I blog about youth rallies and camps and the young people I know more than anything else. Well, there are other people involved in this kind of stuff too... hmm... let me just start from the beginning.

If you recall, back in December my home church hosted the "Night in Bethlehem Youth Worship Service." It was the first rally of many that would follow, but we did not know it then. The special speaker that night was Bro. Joseph Hale, the youth leader at Christ Family Church in Nashville, TN. He gave a great message about being used by the Lord and really reached out to the young people when he shared his testimony. I was blown away. I had seen Joseph around at different youth functions and other church conferences and meetings and things, but I knew absolutely nothing about him. When I heard his testimony he changed right there before my eyes... and I wanted to know him more. However, I ignored those feelings and tucked them away in the back of my mind because I was seeing someone else. I was really in for it.

A couple of months passed and the relationship that I was in didn't work out. I knew I was not where the Lord wanted me and after a lot of prayer and just putting it off, I ended it. This was in February. This is also where things start to get a little crazy... Okay, I'm crazy. Lets just put that out there. But when you know you know! You know? I'm getting ahead of myself.

So we had the "Falling In Love with Jesus" rally at our church in February. Before worship we had dinner for the kids and a time of fellowship, I noticed that Jo was sitting with people and talking and just really in his element, and once again... I liked it, so I went and sat by him. Now, keep in mind, between December and February, we had seen a lot of each other, at least every other weekend, if not every weekend. We had been to camp meetings and all kinds of things, and I had my eyes open. I was watching him, because I kind of thought there might be something there. After the service in February, I came home and my sister Rebekah and my cousin Becca Jean were waiting to interrogate me. They both sat on my bed and said, "So, what's going on with you and Joseph?" My response "I think I love him!"

I know its soooo crazy! But I just felt that way! It was unreal!

Still, a couple more months went by before anything happened. He was dating someone else and they broke up and we were both really busy: I was in school, we are both really involved in ministry, etc. Then our mutual friend, Robby, who is also a youth pastor in Hopkinsville, KY asked Joseph to come preach at a youth rally and he asked my sisters and I to come lead praise and worship. Well, while I was talking to Robby about this, he asked me if Joseph and I were "talking." So I responded honestly: No. But somehow or another Robby figured out that I was interested in Joseph. Then he told Jo that I was interested in "somebody." Long story short, Joseph and I had started talking to each other more, we were seeing a lot more of each other and Joseph brought up one night what Robby had said... then he asked me who it was that I was interested in. I couldn't lie.

The rest is pretty much history. Joseph came up to Bowling Green one night to help out with the youth. We were going door to door inviting people to church and He is really good at stuff like that so he came down to help us out. He took me to dinner beforehand. It was really nice... but then he took me home after church. I still can't really believe what happened. We were sitting in the driveway and he kissed me!!! So, being the person that I am, I told him he should ask me to be his girlfriend. So he did, and I said yes. Then he told me he was in love with me. Which is okay, because I already knew I loved him too! I'm telling you, its crazy. So we have officially been dating for three weeks, four tomorrow.

And, as I have mentioned before, I know its right because I can see the Lord working through us. We have the same Spirit and the same vision. I can't wait to see what God is going to do!

What the Lord has been doing lately...

Today is June 14th and I am counting it as my second real day of summer break. Classes are finally over, it's hot enough to wake up at 8 a.m. and spend the whole day in the pool, and Camp Mulberry is only five days away. I am feeling extremely blessed.

So, what has the Lord been doing in my life lately? Ahhhh.... Where do I even start?

I can literally see God moving in my life. As I finished up my two may-term classes, the stress began to pour on. I had shingles, which I guess is odd for a twenty-year-old girl, but nonetheless I had them... guess I should have been doing more blogging (stress-relief). Still I had a lot of work to do and the Lord gave me the energy and focus to do it! I am almost completely recovered now (and just in time for camp!!!) PLUS I ended my two classes with one A and one B, which is definitely by the grace of God because they were stinking hard classes. Just in the one day that I have been out of class I have been able to finish the next issue of the Our Herald, I washed my truck (which hasn't been washed in a year... literally) and I started packing for camp and organizing my lessons for the kiddies. Through all of that, I still had time to spend with my Bowling Green family, which was great since I will not get to see them much through the summer, and I still had time to spend with Joseph, which is just as great, even though I hope to see him a lot this summer. :)

But that's just what God is doing for me, personally, and there is so much more. However, when I look around I can see God moving in the lives of people around me and that really excites me. Whenever I left Bowling Green for the summer I was worried about the young people and who would take over, then just at the very last moment God raised up a leader, my friend Chaley, who is going to do great with the youth. She has already started an extra weekly Bible study for them and everything. I know God is going to do great things and use her in ministry... and isn't is just like God to let us worry until the last minute, as if to say "I told you I would take care of it, trust me!!!"
Also, as Camp Mulberry draws nearer (did I mention its almost here?) I can see God preparing hearts. Last Thursday night, a young man from Bowling Green was really seeking the Holy Ghost; I know he will get it at camp. Also, my sister Christina had invited a friend to come with us who really needs a revelation of the truth and we found out on Sunday night that he's coming! I know that his life is going to be changed next week... I hope he's ready for it!!! And there are so many more young people who are going to camp for the first time and I can see God moving in their lives already.

At Hope, we are just ready for revival. Bro. Josh preached and amazingly anointed message on Sunday night about being "shaken, not stirred." And that has been my prayer since then, that this community, our church, our families, and every individual would be shaken. The truth is, Jesus is coming back soon. The fields are ready for harvest, but the laborers are few. I want to be a laborer. I want to see a harvest of souls, and I know that as the Lord prepares more and more hearts, people will begin to turn to him and they will need a loving church family when they do. We will be here waiting!

Just call me Joshua... or Caleb.

I am fully aware of the fact that I have epically failed as a blogger the past few weeks, and for that I am very sorry. However, God has been doing some seriously crazy stuff and between the youth movement, my summer class, living with the Hudson's, and loving Joseph.... I just haven't had time to blog, until now and here I am.

I entitle this blog, "Just call me Joshua... or Caleb" because today as I was on my way back to the Hudson's from class I started thinking about Joshua and Caleb and how they got a sneak peak into the promised land. Now, if you don't know this Bible story, let me recap it for you. God had used a man named Moses to deliver the Israelites out of the hands of Pharoah. He was to take the Israelites to the "Promise Land." After several years, Moses sent twelve spies into the promised land to scope it out. Ten of them came back and reported that  pretty much the promised land wasn't all it cracked up to be. They said the enemy was too great and that they would never make it. HOWEVER, Joshua and Caleb, two of the youngest spies thought differently. They said the promised land was a land that flowed with milk and honey and they trusted God that he would deliver them from their enemies.

Long story short, God did not allow those who had no faith into the promised land. However, Joshua and Caleb, and those who believed their report were allowed inside, and God provided for them and took care of them.

I tell this story because I know I have seen the promised land. The past few weeks I have seen God do great and mighty things not only in the young people (though that's where my heart is) but in people of all ages and all walks of life. Now, I want to tell everyone about the great things God is doing and I want them to come with me.

Here are a few of the awesome things God had been doing:

1. He moved in a mighty way at the BG youth rally and two people were filled with the Holy Ghost
2. He delivered my best friend from a bad relationship
3. He kept His hand on my family and me during a tornado
4. He has opened up door after door for the youth movement (up next: Leitchfield!!!)
5. He has inspired me with new ideas.... more to come!
6. He has given me a very, very special guy to not only love me, but work beside me in the ministry
7. He is preparing the fields for harvest!!!

I'm just so excited. So excited. I have no more words but those. I am SO EXCITED.