I'm Going to Have Some Scars

We had our annual Youth Alive meeting last week at Victory Tabernacle.  Pastor Randy Hammer was our guest speaker and he was outstanding.  Bro. Hammer brought his wife and youngest son with him.  His son is currently sporting casts on both arms due to an accident on a four-wheeler.

Les and I were chatting with Bro. Hammer's son (I can't remember his name!) on Sunday morning.  I teased him about never riding again because anytime Les has a bike crash I hear, "When are you going to tell him to stop riding?"  This young boy said, "No way!  I'll ride as soon as I can!"  Les then told him his philosophy:

I am in 100% agreement with this!  I don't want to stop him from riding.  He has such a great time, he stays healthy most of the time, and he's had some fun adventures.  I like it best when he doesn't crash, but none of us are going to get through life without some scars.

I thought about this when it comes to emotions. My heart has some scars. There have been times when I have helped someone, given my time and care, and they've taken and walked away without a backward glance or word of thanks. They've left a scar. I've been hurt, taken advantage of, and treated poorly, but I can't let that stop me from trying to help someone else.

Just as Les does NOT have a crash every time he rides his bike, many people are appreciative of the time and care given. On Friday night of Youth Alive Les and I were talking to a young man who was a Bible Quizzer in the 90s when Les was the district coordinator. He told us how much he appreciated us and the time we had given to him personally as a young person.  Of course the greatest reward is seeing him still living for God all these years later.

Pretty sure I'll have some scars, but I'm not going to live life on the couch or keep my heart in bubble wrap.

Time Not Wasted

Another weekend has come and gone.   Did you wake up a little tired from your efforts?  We had a great service last night, the praise team poured out and helped usher in the presence of the Lord.  Pastor McGriffin preached about God using nothing.  I know our church family in Burbank is exhausted - Youth Alive took place! 

Perhaps your work took place behind the scenes.  I know a bunch of ladies in Burbank who cooked, served, and cleaned.  Maybe you taught a Sunday school class in the back of the building.  Or you ran the sound system and no one noticed because you did your job perfectly (the sound is usually only noticed when something goes wrong.)  You held a child so her parents could pray.  You were the first in pre-service prayer.

Did anybody say thank you?  Or did you go home exhausted and drained, wondering if you made a difference in the kingdom?  Your answer is found in First Corinthians 15:58, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."

Paul says, your labor is not in vain.  It doesn't matter what type of labor, whatever your work in the kingdom is, it is not in vain!  

I like God's Word Translation:

So, then, brothers and sisters, don’t let anyone move you off the foundation of your faith. Always excel in the work you do for the Lord. You know that the hard work you do for the Lord is not pointless.

And the Amplified Version:

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm (steadfast), immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord [always being superior, excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord], knowing and being continually aware that your labor in the Lord is not futile [it is never wasted or to no purpose]. 

Thank you for your work!  It's not in vain.  Your time in the kingdom is not wasted.  Now catch your breath, Sunday is coming!

Youth Alive 2012

Youth Alive is more than just a time for young people to meet and hang out.  Two power packed services, with anointed singing and preaching, and life altering altar services are the real highlight of this meeting.  I know God touched many, many lives in those two nights.

Friday night Bro. Jones preached "No More Excuses." We can all come up with excuses for why we don't live right.  But that's all they are.  Excuses.  The blood of Calvary is strong enough to conquer any obstacle!  We just have to quit making excuses, move away from the past, and learn to live in victory.

I love taking pictures while on vacation, but I never take them at conferences!  The two shown here were shamelessly stolen from Anali's blog.  I believe the group shot is on several other blogs as well, so I don't know who gets the credit for it. The few I took on Friday night were taken in the auditorium, the lights were dim so they didn't turn out at all.  But I have lots of friends who took pictures and wrote about Youth Alive!  Check them all out here: Jen, Michelle, Anali, Elias, Kendra, and Carisa. Did I miss anyone??  Oh yeah!  Mary wrote about not being at Youth Alive!

I love all these ladies, but do you see my sweetheart in the background?  Probably not, but I do!  Just to left of Jen's head.

How to Give Stellar Treatment to Your Guests

Another Youth Alive has come and gone.  It was a great one!  I'll do a full post in the next day or so.  When I'm a little less brain dead...
 

Last week we were privileged to have Jen and Michelle stay with us.  They are just as sweet as can be. We gave them the "guest suite" which is a bedroom with twin beds and a full bath.   I made pumpkin muffins and told them to make themselves at home.

On Thursday evening, I made dinner for all of us.  Baked Ziti Pasta with Meatballs.  Just as we were sitting down to eat, me trying to be the hostess with the mostess, putting out a yummy meal.  And the chair Jen sat in COLLAPSED!  The entire thing absolutely fell apart and sweet Jen landed on the floor!  The look on her face.  PRICELESS!  She was so stunned and I was so embarrassed!!  Les told her that it was rigged.  But it really wasn't!  We couldn't have pulled this off if we tried.  This is what you call a Classic Mary Moment!  But it happened to us instead!

And that's how you give stellar treatment to guests!

Hang On To Your Hats and Glasses!

One of the events Hannah and I came up with in our "Olympics" was "Float Bucking."  Jump on a float while it is being thrashed around by the other person and see how long you can stay on.  This was one of the funner events!  As Hannah was trying to stay on, I did my best impersonation of an amusement park ride operator.  "Hang on to your hats and glasses, folks, this ride's about to get crazy!"

Well, I just looked at the calendar and realized it's almost that time of the year called the holidays.  For me, I feel like they start in September ~ our annual Youth Alive seems to kick off a season that is busier than any other.  2012 is no exception:

September 6-7 - Youth Alive in Burbank
September 21 - Wedding of Craig Gwin and Danielle Long in Nashville
October 6 - Ladies Day in Fresno/Grizzly Century Ride in Northfork
October 20 - Mens Day in  Fresno/Susan G. Komen for the Cure 5K in Fresno
November 7-9 - West Coast Conference in Fresno
November 10 - Santa Barbara Marathon
November 11 - Pastoral Anniversary Service in Burbank
November 22 - Thanksgiving
December - I don't know the exact dates but we have the following events:
End of Year Banquet
Toys for Tots
Music Recital
December 25 - Christmas

Whew!  Hang onto your hats and glasses, folks!

What about you?  When is your busiest season?

Youth Alive 2011

Another great Youth Alive has come and gone. Both services were outstanding! Bro. Jason Calhoun preached anointed messages both nights. Young people worshiping during song service and flooding the altars at the conclusion of preaching is a sight that never grows old!

Both messages were somewhat connected. Thursday night was about the Brook Kidron ~ where the people of Judah would take their false gods. The brook would then wash the false gods away into the Dead Sea ~ buried and forgotten. That's how God views our repented of sins.

Friday night was about choosing what lives and what dies. Best of all, one of the boys from our church got the Holy Ghost that night! I think Ricky is about 10. He's been praying earnestly and it was with great joy that our church learned about him receiving the Holy Ghost.

My one and only picture is of the wonderful Sis. Mary Ginty! If you haven't read her blog ~ you need to! (Sis. Meagan Rowell, you were just a minute too late, I didn't get you with my camera!)

Great Times Ahead!

Youth Alive starts tonight! Once again, it's going to be so exciting to see our church packed with young people who love God. I'm sure God is looking forward to hearing praise coming from your lips. Come expecting something from God and you won't leave disappointed!

While all you young ladies are getting ready, making sure your hair and clothes are just right, here's a memory verse to work on:

"Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men."
Luke 5:10

These are the words of Jesus ~ it worked for me!

Almost Wordless Wednesday - Coming Soon - Youth Alive 2011!

For more info, go here: Victory Tabernacle Youth

Youth Alive 2010

Another Youth Alive is in the books! And I'm still trying to recover from an extremely busy four days!

It all started Thursday night at our church. I didn't get a single picture because I was on the platform. Friday night we moved to a rented building - our church cannot seat all the young people that come to this event! Pastor Ben Weeks from Lake Park, Georgia was the speaker this year. His preaching blessed us in every service, along with his wife and daughter singing. This picture is from Sunday night - they were singing a song that his daughter wrote!


The Friday night crowd. Full to the balcony! (Hi, Mary!)


This truck carried all the sound equipment from the service to Knott's Berry Farm Friday night. This is a HUGE job!


Just like last year, Les assisted the sound technician - which meant we didn't ride a single ride! We did sneak out and have some chicken at the Chicken Dinner Restaurant. The food was delicious!


I loved reading all the history of the Knott family and how America's first theme park came to be. I remember coming here as a kid in the 60s!


I snapped a few shots of the park on our way back to the theater.


The roller coaster I didn't get to ride...


I tried to enlist some help, but these guys wouldn't budge...


And these ladies weren't dressed appropriately for Alive at the Park!


At about 3:00, the singers and musicians started gathering as the sound men were doing their final checks. The platform was ready...


The doors opened at 4:00...


At 4:30 we started our program, on 9/11, with four marines...


We'll never forget!


This was the only "action" shot I got! I was running from one end of the back stage to the other! (Hi, Josh! Thanks for your help!)


Thanks to everyone who came, helped, sang, played, and worshiped! It was a great time!

Youth Alive Service Times

Thursday night at 7:30 p.m.

Friday night at 7:00 p.m.
Hall of Liberty
Hollywood Hills Forest Lawn
6300 Forest Lawn Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90068
(Mass Choir practice at 5:00 p.m.)

Saturday at 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Taking a Break

Youth Alive starts tomorrow night!!! With that being said, I probably will not post again until Monday or Tuesday...



I've got a lot to do, but I'm looking forward to a great time with the entire gang! Hope to see you there!