Awakening

I just got back from Passion 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. Our DSU Wesely Foundation took 32 college students. I have a lot more appreciation for my old youth leaders and college ministers now that I know what it is like to be on the other side of an event as a leader. It was a great experience though..

You know how sometimes when you attend a conference you come back on a spiritual high? Well, I've been talking with a lot of students and we really do not feel like this was one of those conferences and we we're really glad about that. Those mountain high experiences are really great, but they create such a high hope, but then we are greatly let down when reality strikes back. Rather than a mountain top experience, several students have shared with me that they feel like they gained a deeper knowledge of the Lord, a desire to tremble with fear at the Word of God, and just a closer look to grace.

I really felt like a theme that the Lord kept pointing out to me while I was there is that every situation we go through is for God's glory. Louie Giglio made this point when he was speaking of the story of Lazarus in John chapter 11. Jesus knew his friend he loved was sick, but chose to wait 3 days until he died to go to him. Everyone around him did not understand, but Jesus knew that God would be more glorified through the death of his friend then to heal him while he was alive. Beth Moore spoke from: Hebrews 13: 20-21. She said that God equips us with anything good during his will. God has a will and a particular will for your life and the plan is how He fulfills his will and there are certain ways he will equip us in His will...(if that makes since). She makes 4 points:

1. God equips us by preparing us. (Eph. 2:10, 2 Tim. 1: 5-7)
--If it is PERMITTED than God has a reason or he would have said no...like when tragedy happens in our life

2. God equips us by adjusting us.
--He systematically placed people in our lives that we as humans can't stand so that our character will reflect Him
--"Until you are around the people who bring out the worst in you, God can not bring out the best"

3. God equips us by repairing us (Gal. 6:1, Heb. 4: 16)

4. God equips us by filling us

In Francis Chan's breakout session, he asked the question: Have you ever felt anquished? or have you not felt it when you should?

Verses about suffering he gave us:
1 Peter 4: 12
Matt 10: 34-35
Mark 8: 34
Luke 6: 32
John 15: 18
Acts 50: 41
Rom 8: 16
1 Cor. 4: 12
2 Cor. 1: 5
Gal. 6
Eph. 6: 11-12
Phil. 1: 29
Col. 1: 24
1 Thes. 3: 4
2 Thes. 1: 5
2 Tim. 1, 2, 3, 4
Heb. 12: 12-13

"Why do you need a comforter if you are comfortable?"--FC

So my question to all of us is why do we complain, get upset, hurt, question, and not understand when something bad happens to us? I was very challenged by this..

You will be able to listen to the main session talks online at: 268generation.com

Check it out!!