Merry Christmas and more evangelism thoughts

The last two days I haven't been able to get out there to evangelize and while I miss doing that, God has been teaching me in my quiet times and throughout my day about stuff I need to work on. Evangelism is so important and we need to be doing it no matter where we are. One goal that I shared with my team on the last day is for me to witness to three girls in one of my classes at school on the first day of school. While I'm scared of rejection, I know that God is and will be with me and is preparing me for that day, which is about 2 weeks away.

I'm not wishing you "Happy Holidays" but I do pray that ya'll will have a Merry CHRISTmas!! May you take this season of Christ's birth and tell everyone you meet of Him.

CEBC!!!! ~ Day 2, 3

More about CEBC... On the second day I ended up not being able to open-air preach again even though I wanted to, but God still used me. So, on day two, I mostly just handed out tracks while staying under cover (due to some stuff that happened on day one) but at the very end of the day, I had a really good one-on-one conversation. By this, I mean that I was able to talk to four teens who seemed very open, and I was able to share with them the message of not only God's law leading to repentance, but also of His grace. Most of the time, my teammates had been able to share only the law with someone before the person left or they had to leave but I was able to share both. Another thing is that although we passed out a lot of tracks, when my partner and I walked the trail, we only saw one track that someone had dropped.. Well, there was a second track, but as soon as we had seen it, some kid picked it up and commented to a friend to make sure that the friend hadn't dropped hers. Another thing is that the second day, my partner was one of my team's leaders and it was cool because when I mentioned my friend Shaney and how I had learned about CEBC, my team leader remarked that she had had Shaney on her team last year (By the way Shaney, Rhonda says hi!).

The third and last day was harder than the other days to stay under cover because while we were at the tree, the other teams were throughout the trail and those who were trying to shut us down were watching our teams. Durring this night, I was more afraid than I had been other nights and that fear pretty much shut me down. However, God still used me and got me through that fear by being able to witness to a Mormon girl who was there with her family as well as getting to see a friend who I'm not sure is a Christian. Although I was wanting to open-air again, apparently, God had a different plan because I never did get to. Another thing is I found out that apparently, I'm very good at blending in because although many of my teammates got caught, and were told to move to a certain area, I was never spoken to. Throughout these last two nights God really taught me how fear of man truly isn't logical and how important it is to be well-grounded in my faith.

CEBC!!!! ~ Day 1

The last two days I've been going down to the Austin Trail of Lights with a purpose. This purpose is to witness to people. It's been more fun than I expected although I've been waiting for this weekend for about a year. God has given me a great set of teammates including the same leader that one of my friends (Shaney) had last year. To sum it up, the first night I did open-air preaching as well as passing out tracks while the last night, I had an okay one-on-one conversation with a guy who grew up Christian but because of some of the things that God caused the Israelites to do, he didn't like this God and may become an atheist. My prayer for this night is that God reached into each person's life that received a track and He used me to plant or water a seed. Although I didn't get to reap any fruit, I know that God's word does not return void and am sure that He will use my attempts for His glory. About the open-air preaching... So, at the beginning of the night, I didn't think that I would end up doing any open-air, but apparently God had a different story in the making. That night, my partner had been wanting to do an open-air, but had realized that although she was pretty good at using the law to cause people to see their sin for what it is, she wasn't that good at telling the Good News. The news that although we have all sinned, and even if we break one law even once, we break them all, that God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son that whosoever (that means anyone) believes in Him, shall not parish, but have everlasting life. This good news does not make any sense without the knowledge of the law and of sin. Paul says that the law was the schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. In order for one to be pardoned and have Christ's words "It is finished." a phrase that was used when a debt had been paid to be applied to our lives, we must repent. This means to turn from one's sins and to forsake them. And then we need to follow Christ... anyway, that night my partner was wanting to open-air but wanted someone else to do grace (the part about us being freed from our debt through repentance and faith in Christ), I for some reason, the only reason to be is that it was all God, said that I would do grace. As I was listening to my partner, I was praying and noticed a police officer. We didn't know this at the time but another one of our groups and recently been talked to and had been told to stop. I pointed out the officer to one of my friends and then got up and did my part (although honestly, it was all God) after I got down, a few minutes later, the assistant parks director came over to my group, and told us that we couldn't do this anymore. After this we went to the fire to meet the other groups and because it was about to close, we left.
Day 2 and 3 coming soon!!

Quiz...

So, if you've been reading Shaney's post, you know that there's a bit of rearranging to be done with the quiz teams and for me this is having an impact in my studying. Because I studied, I've been doing well at practice and have a chance of being on our top team. Now this team would have five people, and one pair would have to sub out. Currently, I may be part of the pair rotating in that team. However, its not likely that I'll be on this team (in fact, it depends on if another girl goes to Summit or not). If I'm not on the top team, I'll be on the other team, which still has a chance at being really good and I won't be subbing in. This other team might get on my nerves a little, but only if they don't study. I'm going to do my best no matter which team I'm on.
Do I care which team I'm on? Not really. Although I would prefer being on the top team, I know that I don't have seniority and so it's not to likely. I know that I can still do my best, and people will see my ability in quiz if I'm on the second team more than if I'm on the top team. Overall, I know that whatever happens, I want to glorify God with my reaction and lead my team how ever much I can, even if it's just studying.

School's almost out! and this post is so random...

I can't believe that it's almost Christmas. Although this may have little to do with Summit (except that I'll have more time to be studying) I want to get out of school so badly. I don't want to complain, but public school isn't the best choice for everyone. On another note, I'll be getting my license as well as a passport soon. It may have seemed from my last post, that I don't care about games, but that isn't true. I enjoy games but I'm not very athletic and although I was planning on doing my best and wanted to be on the Summit games team, I wasn't counting on making it.

so today, I found out that what I already knew was true. I didn't make the games team. Instead of getting depressed (yeah I'm definitely dissapointed) I'm going to focus on what I'm strong in. Quiz and Fine Arts, as well as encourage those who are doing games.

try-outs...

Today before AWANA we had try-outs for games. For girls, this meant that we were competing for a spot on the Grace Covenant Games team, and so it was a big deal. But for guys it was different, they already all have spots. Anyway, so tonight, not only did I almost forget about them (and so missed half of it), but I was exhausted and although I think I gave it all I could, I wasn't thinking and didn't to good at all. I know that all I can do is trust that God will do what's best (as I know He will) and pray that the team leaders will make wise decisions. I know I really wanted a spot and probably didn't make the team.

I'm just going to trust God with the outcome and I hope to be able to encourage and cheer on everyone who is on the team (even if I'm not on the team).

It's been a while...

I know that I haven't posted anything in the last few weeks, but a lot has been going on (as you can probably tell by reading Shaney's blog). I've started really studying for quiz, and although I really want to be on our top team, I can understand why I might not be. I enjoy quiz a lot and I've heard of both Shaney's sophomore year, and I saw how good Rachel (a girl on our quiz team) was her sophomore year and I really want to be good. I've never actually studied much for quiz, but I'm ready to commit to it. I want the rest of my team to study so I won't have to be the only one leading our way. There's many hopes that I have for this year, and I know that they probably won't all be fulfilled (one includes being on the Grace Summit games team and doing really well). I didn't really have any goals when we started planing for summit, but now my goals are increasing. One big goal this year is for me to grow a lot in my relationship with God (especially trusting Him in everything) throughout this whole trip.

This past weekend, I went to a prayer retreat with Grace, and although I know I shouldn't have, I stayed up until about 2 AM talking to friends. Now I'm exhausted, and that is going to cause me to trust God to give me strength that goes beyond my own strength tomorrow when we have tryouts. I think my own physical weakness, will also allow me to see whatever energy I have coming from God. I want to do my best, and that means giving everything that I have and more during tryouts. We'll just have to wait and see what happens.