prayer & power

this weekend, i was on our regional leadership retreat.
500 + leaders from southern california in one camp, learning, praying & playing.

normally the weekend is super YL focused, makes sense right?
i leave with new thoughts about my club or about getting students to camp, or about being a leader.

this time, it was different, and it was SO good.

our speaker talked to us about following Jesus, and praying big things, and focusing on who we are in Christ rather than who we are in YL. because people, the goal is so much bigger than club, and camp, and campaigners, as good as those things are. the goal is Christ && getting students in front of HIM.

some of my favorite tidbits.

"what if prayer doesnt just prepare you for the great work, what if prayer IS the great work"

so often we see prayer as something that we do in order to do more. it equips us to go and live, but it isnt really the end product. what if we started looking at prayer as the main goal, the biggest and most powerful thing we have on earth, the greatest thing we can do for our friends, coworkers and families.  >>> this isnt to say you never have to leave your house any more and actually do some work, but if you look at prayer as the great work, perhaps prayer will be come a bigger priority. <<<

another quote i liked, restated in a more understable wordige:

 "dont start talking to your friends about Jesus until you have talked to Jesus about your friends"

praying before acting.  lastly, we were asked,

"if everything you are praying for now, happened, what would happen?"

this got me thinking, am i praying for things that will make a difference in my community, my city, & my people's lives? would any one notice if all my prayers were answered? or am i praying for small unnoticeable things, to scared to submit my big requests to God. lets pray for big things, lets pray for noticable things (and the small things too!) because we have a God  "who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine" [Eph. 3:20]

heres a picture my friend jess took, in the sweetest tiny chapel we stumbled upon. the door was wide open, inviting us to look around. wish there more a these in the city!

until next time, or my next YL weekend.. jk