Comparison is a thief of joy

I was challenged and encouraged by Sundays sermon at Rock Harbor church.
This isn't my home church, but If I lived closer i would definitely be a regular attender.
The message came from Acts 8.
It's the story where Philip meets the Ethiopian man on the road and shares the hope of Jesus and then baptizes the man.
What I find to be encouraging was the fact that Philip was not extraordinarily gifted.
He was not one of the 12 disciples.
He most likely never even met Jesus.
So I already can relate.
The Holy Spirit prompts him to talk to the man, who is in a chariot, so Philip is running beside the chariot. Talk about a crazy man. ( seems much easier to strike up a convo with the student net to me)
"God speaks. man obeys. Something beautiful happens."
Isn't that the truth!
Now I don't know how loudly God spoke to Philip, but the passage shares nothing about flames, loud noises or huge displays. I have a feeling Jesus whispered to Philip, like he whispers to me and you. Philip just had more courage than me.
As a Christian, Jesus gives us access to all of him
So why am I not also obeying every nudging of my heart.
I often make excuses:
I am shy
I am not a good speaker
I have school
I am not smart enough
But what does that matter if all of Jesus is in me?
The truth is God doesn't need anyone to do his work, not the most famous Christians and not the ordinary ones like me.
But God uses us anyways.
& when we listen to him
Life is beautiful.

#younglifeleader

I found this list on Twitter and the irony made me laugh.

#youknowyourayounglifeleaderwhen ...

here are my favorites

@Sjemiolo

#youmigtbeayounglifeleader if you regularly schedule things at random times besides club and campaigners- Dinner @ 5:42pm?

@jaquinnmarie

You might be a @YoungLifeLeader if you hear a funny story and say, "that would be great for a talk!"

@priscilla_chap

If you're 23 and you catch yourself using highschool lingo in everyday conversation, you might be a @YoungLifeLeader.

@Ashley_thebeast

If you're blowing all your money on coffee dates with highschoolers, you might be a @YoungLifeLeader

I love how I can meet a random leader in any city in the country and we can laugh about the same little things - because we all experience them.

When I signed up for leadership training three years ago I had no idea what I was getting my self into.

I joined to have an impact in the lives of others, but as it normally works out I am the one being changed every day through these students.

They challenge my faith. 

&& Encourage my heart.

My Monday nights are filled with capture the flag, eating contests and lots of chick-fil-a

My Thursdays- full of homemade food, worship and small group discussions

I cant think of a better way to do life than with the community I have found here. 

Thats whats on my heart today.

Feeling especially blessed. 

because Your love is sweeter than life.

I've heard that verse a lot in my life.

Growing up your stereotypical Christian family, I know a lot of verses in my head.

But when I heard it in church yesterday, I finally grasped it in my heart.

Christ loves me (and YOU) unmeasurably.

Forever, and loves us as we are.

He redeems us.

Renews us.

His love is truly sweeter than life. 

Why?

It's simply really.

Because what is life without his love?

I would be literally nothing. 

No soul.

No Joy.

No purpose.

Because everything good comes from God. (James 1:17)

Its moments like this where I am getting totally stoked on life and on Christ and want to get everyone around me excited. I am a YoungLife leader and find myself in these circumstances often.

We will be reading a passage and here i am shaking the book and practically jumping out my seat trying to get these girls stoked, on Jesus. I get 5 blank stares back at me, they think i'm crazy- whats new? What i have been realizing is that what i have known and heard my whole life actually is the best new ever. I am finding myself finally grasping a small, minuscule percentage of the greatness. 

& I am stoked on it. 

...

Kingdom Moments are everywhere.

Especially in the ordinary. 

thats all.

but really just a small part.

(Ps.63)

on a side note.

"Photography to me is catching a moment which is passing, and which is true." - Jaques-Henti Lartique

I've always thought that pictures illustrate life in a way words never could.

Clearly

Lively

&

Lovely

With the technology of today I find myself capturing the silliest of memories, the least important moments to many, but to me, that is life. 

Life is simply a large strung out collage of little moments that define us. 

Each one unique.

I could tell you about my run on sunset cliffs - with the calm deep blue ocean and the orange, pink and yellow sky combining into one larger than life painting - or I could show you. 

While my pictures can not express all my feelings- they tend to do a better job than my words. 

Words get mixed up. 

Lost in translation. 

Taken the wrong way.

A picture is what it is. 

By looking through my hundreds of photos, you get a pretty get snapshot of me. 

I may be 500 miles away from them, but my family means the world to me. 

My friends? Bring out the best in me.

&& my life?

well it would be completely pointless without a Perfect God.

I think you get the picture. 

Following

I attended a number of seminars today at a leadership conference.
One was on following.
At a LEADERship conference.
I realize that this concept is largely ignored.

I spent two summers working at a camp.
We were encouraged to find our roles, and be leaders, but most of all follow.
Our director would often call us out when we were getting too leader-y.
"Too many Chiefs, not enough indians!"
That's a common theme in the classroom...in the workplace...in life.
Standing up for what you believe in is crucial, and having integrity- undeniably important.

Dont get me wrong, I'm all about leadership.

But there is something to be said about empowering other to lead, and then following them.
There is so much unreached potential in our communities.
Today I am inspired to be a leader by following others, learning from their great ideas
&
Most of all,
Celebrating who they are.