Sunday Wrap Up October 7, 2008

Usually I’m good for a Monday entry about what happened on Sunday, but seriously, Sunday was SOOO amazing that I needed to rest a little and let the thoughts percolate in my head before I committed to writing about it.

In the past three days I’m going on about 10 hours of sleep…so forgive me if I don’t make sense.

Sunday morning I wake up to go to sermon at 8:30. My mom came with me. It had been a while since she had come because she had broken her leg and it was too painful to go to Church, stand in line, walk around, worship, stand for the reading if he asked us to, and so on and so forth. Well, her leg is just about all better, so she came with me. It was nice not to have to sit alone.
The sermon was about sex. Not like, skirting around it, really vague, wait until you’re older and we’ll talk about it sex. It was from Song of Songs, the honeymoon part. And it was real sex. And he talked about real sex, anything there was to be covered about sex, he covered it.
Then, he decided that since the entire series was about relationships and healthy marriages, he wanted to jump start all the married couples and sponsored a date night. For every single married couple in the church. They got cards, picked a restaurant, and within the next two weeks you go to that place and get a $30 gift card. And they’ll reimburse childcare. How cool is that?

okay skip to Quest. no lesson plan. And Motion is short quite a few small group leaders, so I head over to Motion to help out. I get second graders, and it was really fun. They learned about behaving, and the Bible verse was Ephesians 5:7-10. I think. We played charades on different things that’s difficult to demonstrate Christ-like behavior, and good choices you can make during the week. We had discussion questions, and, the coolest part to me, prayer cards. Each child received a card to write specific requests and what they were going to commit to during the week according to the Bible lesson. It was really cool.  I grabbed them all up at the end of the day and put them all in my journal. They’re all too sweet and each one made a really good commitment for the week. I’m proud of our church’s next generations of Christ Seekers.

Then, later that night we had a night of worship. We sang lots of songs, and Pastor Furtick shared some really big news with us. We are getting our first permanent facility!!!!!!!!! It’s in the Ashley Furniture strip mall on 74 right off of 485. HOW EXCITING RIGHT?! He said it should be ready next fall. 900 seats. NINE HUNDRED SEATS and the church offices.  WOO! And Of course, we showed our pastor a little love.
October is Pastor appreciation month, so a ton of volunteers and attendees wrote letters of cards of gratitude for all Pastor does for our church. He almost cried when he got the bags full of letters. Larry Hubakta spoke some really heartfelt words of thankfulness and appreciation. About how Pastor has a specific vision for every one, even if they don’t see it them selves. Like a kind of spooky, even if he doesn’t know you kind of premonition way. Then Pastor came on to tell us how much he loves us, really truly loves each and every one of us, and how on Saturday nights when he’s stuck with a not-so-great sermon he’ll think of us, and specific faces he doesn’t even know, and how we respond to him while he preaches. He told us as much as he encourages us, we encourage him with all our support and appreciation.

Then I hit up IHOP with the BaxterBynumSmith clan. Fun stuff. I’m still super excited about the new PERMANENT phase of the life of our church. I’m stoked about the fact that the Butler campus the campus they’re predicting this facility will absorb. I’m excited that I get to be a part of one of the most (if not the most) important movements of God in this day and age. This life just keeps getting more and more exciting. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

My Prince Charming. September 18, 2008

So in Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Steven challenged all us single folk to make a list of all the qualities that we will not compromise when finding that one person to spend forever and ever with. I didn’t really give it too much thought, because I think I have a pretty good idea of what I want in my husband, but tonight at small group we paired up and interviewed someone to find out what their perfect mate would be like. I paired with Erica, and we didn’t really do the activity. Ha ha. We just talked and bounced ideas off of each other. But listening to all the other girls go down their partners list of attributes really got me thinking. I have some serious standards my man needs to live up to. I haven’t put them to paper yet, so I suppose I’ll type them up here for any body and every body to read:

• First and foremost: He must be a Man of God. He’s got to be just as excited about God’s mission and plan as I am, if not more excited. He’s got be able to lead me spiritually and lift me up in my relationship with Jesus. He’s got to understand my commitment to the Lord and have the same amount of passion that I do. He doesn’t have to be a fellow Elevator, but it’d be a really great foundation. That’s what’s most important to me. If he can’t impact my relationship with God and lead me, he’s not the person I’m meant to spend all eternity with.
• He’s got to be good with kids. I want a big family, and he’s got to be down with that. Also, I’m very involved with the children’s ministry at Elevation, and it’d be amazing for him to share that joy with me. And if he doesn’t love kids, it ain’t gonna work.
• He’s got to be able to make me smile, all the time. Whether it’s making me laugh by being a huge dork or doing little somethings sweet that make me smile. If I’m sad or upset or stressed, I want him to be able to make me smile just by being him.
• Intelligence is very important. I don’t want to run out of things to talk about when we’re 97. If he’s dumb, the list of subjects he can talk about are very short. I intend to live a while, and I like to talk. And he’ll like it.
• He needs to have energy. I’m fast paced and I do a lot of things. He needs to be a little crazy. He needs to be rambunctious. I want him to be able to keep up with me. Jumping around from place to place, lifting other people up with his energy. That’s just very attractive to me.
• He has to have good eyes and strong hands. I’m going to look into those eyes for the rest of my life, and they don’t change with age. Eyes I can get lost in. And hands that know hard work. Hands that can fix broken things around the house. Hands that I love lace my fingers through.
• He’s got be in it for the long haul. Loyal. Committed. Willing to do whatever it takes and fix things when the break in our relationship. Honest and open. If you can’t address the problem, you can’t fix it.
• Last and certainly not least: He’s got to love me. At the end of day, I’m the girl he’s wants to look at and sleep next to every night.

I don’t think that’s an unreasonable list. I believe that there is a perfect match for every single person out there. There’s little things here and there that are preferences…taller than me, dark hair, attractive, close-ish to my age, strong, able to comfortably support me financially. If he’s not wealthy, it’s okay. And as long as he’s not over 25, we’re good to go. If he’s skinny and has blond hair, I have hair dye and a Bowflex. Ha ha. I’m not tall, so most guys are taller than me, I don’t think I have to worry about the short thing, but if I do, I can handle it.

Those eight things are all that really matter. That’s my prince charming.

Redefine Your Life August 23, 2008

Okay, so I have twenty minutes before I have to leave for work, and I really want to write about how AMAZING Student Awakening was last night.

Pastor Furtick was ONE FIRE last night. It was a middle and high school event, and he started the night off saying that he wasn’t going to treat us like kids, but like men and women, because that’s how he thought of us and that’s how much he respected us. Good Start. He preached a really deep sermon. The verses were Acts 20:17-24. He broke it down verse by verse. He hasn’t had Diet Coke since Sunday, so I was very surprised how fired up he was. Haha.

Basically, He told us that this year was THE year. That we didn’t have to conform to the ways that we had been. That he wanted each and every one of us to walk the walk, not just talk the talk. The first verse is Paul saying that every one knew how he lived. Pastor wanted us to be able to say, You Know How I Live, I Live in Jesus Christ My Lord and Savior. With out any doubt, every one who knows us should know that about us.

He brought up his High School reunion and how all the “popular” guys that he would’ve given anything to be like were complete deadbeats only ten years later. And how glad he was that he saw through the games of high school and stuck to His Word. There was A LOT more to the sermon. It was empowering, but not so full of “fluffy” stuff. It had the nitty gritty real stuff too. I’m not even going back to school on Monday and I’m ready for a new start.

Pastor Furtick gave a call to receive Christ as Lord and Savior last night. I snuck a peak to see how many people raised their hands. I didn’t think it’d be a lot because it was a Christian Student event, and of course it’d be mostly Christians there who loved Jesus already. WRONG. Over half of the auditorium gave their lives to Christ last night. Really truly an AMAZING move of God. Gives me goosebumps. If even just half of those kids stay true to their promise, Charlotte’s student campuses will be forever changed for His Glory.

 

Okay, times up. Work time.

Uptown is Alive July 7, 2008

So last night Elevation had a sneak peak look at what service at Uptown at McGlohon Theatre is going to be like. Here’s basically what went down:
-All three worship leaders were there
-Pastor Furtick gave a little motivational sermon
-We worshipped our little hearts out
-McGlohon was packed 40 people over capacity
-At least 20 new people went to church at Elevation
-And the CMPD got called for us greeting “too hard”

It’s going to be AMAZING. Charlotte has no idea what’s coming for them, but I have a strong feeling that this campus is going to bring Uptown Alive in Christ. I think that it’s location is great for drawing people off the streets who have never experienced church before. Really truly filling peoples lives with Christ who are so far from God.

I went with my small group leader Erica, her hubby Chris and her three kids Dallas, Austin and Maddie. Maddie is the yougest, 5th grade. And she’s going through her first break up. But it’s not your typical break up. She doesn’t really want to be in a relationship anymore, but doesn’t want to hurt her boyfriend. But he already knows she’s going to dump him, so he’s really upset, and seeing him upset really hurt her. She’s such a sweetheart, she doesn’t like to see any one hurting. Well, we had a little girl talk last night. Her mom is amazing, but she’s still her mom. So I went in to talk to her girl to girl. I left her my cell phone number and told her to call me if she ever needed to talk about anything or needed me for anything. Her mom thought it was amazing. Really, it’s the least I could do. She’s the go to non-mom person for me, so how could i pass up the chance to be that for her daughter? 

Oh and at service yesterday Wade Joye got a chance to share his situation with our congregation. Pastor lead us in prayer for his babygirls and then gave an alter call for any one else who needed a “Sun Stand Still” prayer in their life. It was amazing. You should so check out the sermon here. Also continue to pray for them and read their progress in both Wade and Ferris Joye’s blogs. Oh, also, every single cent that was raised in CD sales yesterday went to Wade and Ferris. It was the release date and they sold like hotcakes. (did i really just say that?) $17,000 went to the Joye family to help cover the medical expenses not fully covered by their insurence. What an amazing generous church i belong to.

I don’t think i left anything out. it was a big day. If you’re a regualr reader, plese pray for my room facilitator Teri, her grandmother is very sick and she could use our prayers to help her get through this emotionally.  Love!

I Got Nothin’ July 3, 2008

Seriously. Haha. I just got out of the bathtub because I’ve been sore all dare from working out last night. And I’m still sore. Mark asked me how sore i was, and i said “decently sore. don’t worry.” So he decided that he’s gonna go harder on me on Saturday. I might be absent from workout on Saturday. I probably won’t be up for it yet.

Today was my Dad’s birthday. He’s forty. We went to Sam’s Club to buy food for The Fourth. And to the dollar store hoping to find some patriotic stuff. Nothin. Rite Aid did have flags, though. My dad went a little flag crazy. He put a big one on the house, four medium ones all around the front yard, and four little ones in the back yard. Haha.

Tomorrow should be good fun. Lots of food at the BBQ my neighbors orchestrated, then fireworks with my bests. Saturday I hope to rest in the am, help my mom set up for my dad’s party (that he has no idea about) and then work. I’m hoping I get cut early so i can make it home in time for some festivities. And cake of course. =]

Sunday is very exciting. Pastor comes back and Meet me at McGlohan! Can’t wait.

Hmmm.. July 1, 2008

Sorry it’s been a few days. I’ve been all sorts of busy lately with life and everything. New job is still going good. I’m actually working by my self now, no training. nothin’! Haha. As soon as they take off my table limitations it’ll really pick up and I’ll enjoy it more. Three tables at a time just isn’t enough to keep me busy.

I love meeting new people. And I love leaving my Elevation Church pens in my books so people ask me about my church when they go to sign their credit card slips. Hehe. Usually it’s just light, oh I’ve heard good things from Elevation, how long have you been going there, blah blah blah. But one of the girls I work with actually asked me in depth about the church.

I don’t know a lot about her, but from what I picked up some one in her life lost theirs for her. And that tragedy caused her to lose her faith in God. Well, I started to witness like no other. I told her about how messed up my life used to be. I told her how my parents ripped me from my home in Jersey and moved us down here for no reason at all, how my family went through a really rough time, how i fell into a really bad crowd. Everything about how far i was from Jesus when I was dragged to Elevation Church for the first time. How i feel that the real reason my parents moved down here was a work of God, because how else can you explain moving to Charlotte, North Carolina, the same exact time that Elevation started worship a block down the street from my apartment, then moved to the high school a month after i started attending class there. It’s Like God was Screaming In my face “HELLOOOO I’M RIGHT HERE!” And I just chose to ignore Him for a while.

And you know what, I actually broke through to her. I could see in her face how badly she wanted to reconnect with her faith. She told me that she had heard that Elevation was a cult. I’ve learned to take that assumption very well and this is what i told her “It’s very easy to think that about Elevation as a person on the outside looking into our congregation. I feel that a lot of people say that because we are changing people so drastically that it must be a bad thing. But in all reality, Elevation doesn’t just make people want to go to church, it makes people want to walk every day in their faith and grow as a full Christian, including having a very close relationship with Jesus.”

She seemed very surprised to hear me say that and not be completely defensive. I’ve become very accustomed to being accused of being a member of a crazy cult. One of my best friends thinks we’re a cult. But I assure you, we’re not. I am absolutely convinced that Elevation is like what a real church is supposed to be like, and people just haven’t seen a real church in a very long time. You should walk out of church feeling lifted up. You should walk out of church wanting more. You should look forward to Sundays, and walk the six days in between as a Christian. In Love. In Faith.

Gosh I love my church. I have Elevation’s worship band playing in the background right now. The remixes are AMAZING. My pastor comes back this weekend from a three week break. I’m very excited. VERY VERY EXCITED. And I’m not even half as excited as he is to be back and preach. What an amazing man of God.