It goes like this: I move to Waco, Texas in October. I start attending Antioch church. I meet a lot of people. I start making friends. I hear these friends talk about a dicipleship training school called Elevate. I learn that while in Elevate, you are asked not to drink alcohol, smoke tobacco products or watch rated R movies. I tell myself I will never go to this school.
Today is my first day of Elevate. How did this happen? I don't know, but it's happening none the less.
Elevate is a dicipleship training school at Antioch that helps students deepen their walk with Jesus, equiping them to live a life abandoned to Him. This school is an experience built around knowing the person of God and his purposes for your life. Yes, I have been asked not to drink, smoke, or watch rated R movies. I will have to fast once a week. I will have A LOT of scripture to memorize. I will go out sharing the gospel, approaching strangers to share Jesus with them and pray for them. Am I excited about all of these things? Not escpecially, but this is suppose to be a year set apart. I will take the next 11 months and persue the things of God. I want to love others well. I want to understand how my Heavenly father feels about me, learn my identity in Him. There are apparently 42 other people who have a similar desire, and I will be meeting them tonight for our first day of class.
I remember driving to Waco, not knowing anything, totally terrified. I had no idea where I was going to live or if I could get a job. I had never even been to Texas. I remember crying so hard I almost had to pull over because I couldn't see enough to drive. I remember saying, out loud, "Just turn around. Go back. This is crazy." And I wanted to, I really did. But I just kept driving. Kept going. Through Missouri, then Oklahoma. Right into Texas. Now, 10 months later, I have that same thought. I know this is crazy. I know it will be hard. But I'm holding on. I'm just going to keep going.
Plus, it's only for a year. You can do anything for a year, right? Right??
I have no words. Well, ok...I have words, but too many to express at the moment. You are my hero.
ReplyDeleteYay! I'm so excited to walk with you through this fun God-led journey. Know that I'm always available to pray for you or quiz you on scripture, etc. You will do great!!
ReplyDeleteOur God is greater than anything you'll come up against, remember:
"If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
'For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.'
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:31-39
"Our God" by Chris Tomlin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SAtWjBDFeM
SJ, you rock! Thank you so much. I'm going to need a lot of prayer and support, which I know I can get from you. Aaaand I may take you up on that offer to quiz me. ;)
ReplyDeleteSounds great! I bet I'd learn a lot too!
ReplyDelete