Okey dokey, I know that everyone has to deal with these people. Judgers (or people who judge if you are an English grammar freak :D). Anyway, judgers annoy me to no end. Seriously. I cannot stand it when I am with someone and they say things like "wow that girl is really fat" or "that guy is super ugly". It annoys me, and yet I judge all the time. Why is that we do the things that annoy us the most? I have been getting better at not judging. I sit there and tell myself, "who am I to judge?" Besides, I do not want people judging me (and I know they do). So, my question for ya'll is, what do ya'll do when you find yourself judging someone? And, are there any bible verses for this? LET ME KNOW!!!!
I love you all and miss you so very much!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
James
I have been reading through james since i got home and it turns out you can really aply it to your life. in chapter 2 it talks about not judging people because of thier outward appearance or the ammount of money they have. if your looking for a book to read i HIGHLY suggest James.
-Austin C. Mann
-Austin C. Mann
Finding encouragement in Philippians
Last night I was pretty discouraged. It is so awesome to have so many of the Quest kids back at camp but it is hard for me when they tell me how difficult it was for them this past year with their faith. I care about you guys so much and I wish I could just walk through life with each of you. But then I got to thinking that it doesn't matter how hard I try to encourage you guys, equip you guys, or blog with you guys.... even with the best motives, it is not enough. God has to capture the hearts of his sons and daughters and move in their lives.
I was sitting down by the fire and felt hopeless, it didn't matter how awesome of a week the Quest kids have, it is completely in God's hands after you leave camp (don't get me wrong I know that it is 100% Christ in me that can do anything here at camp, I know that it is not me, trust me, if it was, Quest would be nothing). But it is the fact that I can't do anymore than a week and blog you know? I was broken last night.
I woke up this morning not very motivated to read my Bible but decided that I would look into Philippians. In the first chapter, Paul talks about how much he misses those he loved dearly that he had to leave.
"For God is my witness how I long for each of you with the affection of Christ Jesus." Php 1:8
That caught my eye because I feel really similarly about you guys. I kept reading and a couple of verses before that last one it said:
"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion."
Paul was devastated to leave these people but he was confident in the Lord who is the one who does the work inside of them.
Then Paul talks about how earnestly he prays for them. I was so encouraged through this and realized that prayer is really all I can do. We serve a God who is so big and loves each of you more than I ever could imagine. Of course he will complete the work he started in you and carry you into completion.
I am praying for you guys harder than ever, and more humbled than ever. May Christ continue to capture your hearts
I was sitting down by the fire and felt hopeless, it didn't matter how awesome of a week the Quest kids have, it is completely in God's hands after you leave camp (don't get me wrong I know that it is 100% Christ in me that can do anything here at camp, I know that it is not me, trust me, if it was, Quest would be nothing). But it is the fact that I can't do anymore than a week and blog you know? I was broken last night.
I woke up this morning not very motivated to read my Bible but decided that I would look into Philippians. In the first chapter, Paul talks about how much he misses those he loved dearly that he had to leave.
"For God is my witness how I long for each of you with the affection of Christ Jesus." Php 1:8
That caught my eye because I feel really similarly about you guys. I kept reading and a couple of verses before that last one it said:
"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion."
Paul was devastated to leave these people but he was confident in the Lord who is the one who does the work inside of them.
Then Paul talks about how earnestly he prays for them. I was so encouraged through this and realized that prayer is really all I can do. We serve a God who is so big and loves each of you more than I ever could imagine. Of course he will complete the work he started in you and carry you into completion.
I am praying for you guys harder than ever, and more humbled than ever. May Christ continue to capture your hearts
Monday, June 28, 2010
heys guys! so questers going back this year get ready for some fun. I just got back from visiting my awesome sister, and wow. God can seriously work through little things to refresh you on your faith. Last year when i came back from camp i was on such a spiritual high and ready to learn new things about the Lord. Once school came around as well as soccer i found it hard to keep that high up.. and those should never be excuses? I have been luke warm for the past couple months and only opened my bible when i got bored..and im sure some of you out there feel the same as me? When i got to camp i immedietly felt that stillness and comfort in the Lord even when i was having a blast! Sarah B and Cam i consider you guys my brother and sister. You are such role models for how Christians need to live their life--and all the fun and talks we had helped me get back on track. I have my bible with me right now opened next to me.. and i can tell you that it would not have happened if i hadnt come back to camp. I am ready to grow in the Lord!
sam
sam
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Not just a camp high
First, I just want to say just how happy I am to see everyone posting on here again! Thanks cameron! I'm going to Quest next week, july 4th-july 10th, and I'm so excited to see what God has in store for me.
I was just reading what some of you said about how amazing Sky Ranch was for you these past few weeks. God always teaches me so much at Sky Ranch. Camp always brings me so much closer to Him than I ever thought possible. But it always feels like I'm super "holy" only a few weeks after camp...then pretty soon after, I return to the same person I was before camp. So here's your challenge: don't make this just a "camp high!" Hold on to everything you learned. Remember these joyful feelings you're experiencing right now, immediately after camp, and never, ever let them go.
Trust me, it gets hard. I'm sure you all know about the struggles that come along with being a Christian today. Stay strong! And I think the best possible thing you can do, in the future, when you feel like you're not the same joyful person you are right now, right after camp, is pray. Pray to God for strength when you feel the need to. He's always there.
I was just reading what some of you said about how amazing Sky Ranch was for you these past few weeks. God always teaches me so much at Sky Ranch. Camp always brings me so much closer to Him than I ever thought possible. But it always feels like I'm super "holy" only a few weeks after camp...then pretty soon after, I return to the same person I was before camp. So here's your challenge: don't make this just a "camp high!" Hold on to everything you learned. Remember these joyful feelings you're experiencing right now, immediately after camp, and never, ever let them go.
Trust me, it gets hard. I'm sure you all know about the struggles that come along with being a Christian today. Stay strong! And I think the best possible thing you can do, in the future, when you feel like you're not the same joyful person you are right now, right after camp, is pray. Pray to God for strength when you feel the need to. He's always there.
WOW
Wow. I do not know what else to say. Seriously. I used to be this super depressed, my life sucks, there is no reason to live person and now...I have not been able to stop smiling. Sky Ranch was the best thing that has ever happened to me. God sent me there for a reason and I realize now that the reason He sent me there was so I could rededicate my life to Him. I am happy again. I am filled this unquenchable joy and everyone around has noticed it. The light has finally been brought to the darkness. Thank you to everyone in Quest. And thank you God for helping me through this. I love you all.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Home!
I had an awesome week at Sky Ranch. It feels so weird not being with my new found brothers. I can't wait to take what I learned this week and put it into my regular life! Thanks Cameron for being so amazing, and helping me on my journey towards christ!
P.S. Say hey to Taylor, Will, and Jake for me!
P.S. Say hey to Taylor, Will, and Jake for me!
Let us not forget...
Last night campfire was so good!!! It was really hard for me at the same time because of all the brokeness in the room. I grow so attatched to the people that come through Quest and when they express fears about returning home it rips me apart. It reminds me of the dark and cruel world that we live it. It is getting harder and harder to live our faith out in America. I wish that we could all walk through life together, supporting one another. But that is not what called has called us to do.
The Lord gave me a beautiful picture in my mind last night in the midst of my brokeness. I saw a group of young people, those who came to Quest, walking out into the darkness with some firewood and matches in their hand. As they walked off in separate directions from camp the picture panned out into a map where you could see all across dallas and texas and the united states and then all the way to europe. Little lights started to flicker like little specks all across the map as the Quest kids began to stoke their fires. As I continued to watch, the little specks began to grow and burn brighter and brighter. More specks formed around the bright specks and God began to move in mighty ways across the country.
All from a small group of high school kids God chose to bear his light into the darkness. Then I began to be comforted. Quest, we are supposed to go back home.
I was reading in James 1 this morning because we have been getting so much out of it in our inductives and this verse really stuck out:
"For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his face in the mirror. For he looks at himself in the mirror and immediately walks away and forget what he looks like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be bless in his doing." James 1:25
Let us not forget what the Lord taught us, but may we shine like stars reflecting Jesus Christ in a dark world.
The Lord gave me a beautiful picture in my mind last night in the midst of my brokeness. I saw a group of young people, those who came to Quest, walking out into the darkness with some firewood and matches in their hand. As they walked off in separate directions from camp the picture panned out into a map where you could see all across dallas and texas and the united states and then all the way to europe. Little lights started to flicker like little specks all across the map as the Quest kids began to stoke their fires. As I continued to watch, the little specks began to grow and burn brighter and brighter. More specks formed around the bright specks and God began to move in mighty ways across the country.
All from a small group of high school kids God chose to bear his light into the darkness. Then I began to be comforted. Quest, we are supposed to go back home.
I was reading in James 1 this morning because we have been getting so much out of it in our inductives and this verse really stuck out:
"For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his face in the mirror. For he looks at himself in the mirror and immediately walks away and forget what he looks like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be bless in his doing." James 1:25
Let us not forget what the Lord taught us, but may we shine like stars reflecting Jesus Christ in a dark world.
Friday, June 25, 2010
blogging about our blog
Today I'm going to blog about this blog and my thoughts on if I should continue it into next year.
Something that is so hard about camp is that on Saturday, you all have to go back home to the same lives that you left before camp. You changed but no one else back home did. It's rough. This blog was created to help that transition. It is a way to continue to encourage each other as a body, planted throughout Texas and the U.S. and even France.
I don't know any better use of my time than to blog with the next generation of God's chosen leaders. It is a lofty commitment, I only lasted through December last year, but I feel the Lord tugging at my heart to do this again with you guys. I love ya'll more than you know, and I pray that the Lord gives me strength to be faithful.
This blog is centered around the living, breathing, active, and infallible word of God. We post what we learn, we post our questions, and we encourage each other to pursue Christ harder than anything else in this life.
Today I'm making the commitment to you. Let's do that trash.
Something that is so hard about camp is that on Saturday, you all have to go back home to the same lives that you left before camp. You changed but no one else back home did. It's rough. This blog was created to help that transition. It is a way to continue to encourage each other as a body, planted throughout Texas and the U.S. and even France.
I don't know any better use of my time than to blog with the next generation of God's chosen leaders. It is a lofty commitment, I only lasted through December last year, but I feel the Lord tugging at my heart to do this again with you guys. I love ya'll more than you know, and I pray that the Lord gives me strength to be faithful.
This blog is centered around the living, breathing, active, and infallible word of God. We post what we learn, we post our questions, and we encourage each other to pursue Christ harder than anything else in this life.
Today I'm making the commitment to you. Let's do that trash.
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