Planning meeting with leaders about Purity Retreat: 2 hours
Total: 2 hours
Personal Reflection:
This week was not full of much ministry for me because of thanksgiving. I was home for most of the week and was going to come back Sunday night to help decorate the church and annex for Christmas but was sick and decided to stay home. However we did have a planning meeting for the Purity Retreat we are planning for in February. I am very excited because this retreat isn't going to be about how to find a husband/wife, nor will it be directly about sex. We are taking the concepts of Who God is, how He loves us, what he intended for us to be, and his design for us, for marriage, and for the family. Our youth group is a wide variety of kids who come from many different backgrounds. Therefore, instead of either introducing new things to the kids (some probably have very little understanding or knowledge of sex), and instead of scarying the students or making sex an "evil/bad/horrible" thing, we are going to talk about how God created us and what he intended for us. I am so excited for this. This is something I wish I would have received in high school. To know that God created me uniquely and special, to understand He has a plan for me and He loves me more than I can comprehend, I think that would have changed the way I looked at myself in high school. We will also through in the concept of respecting ourselves and others. We will also probably break out into small groups and go a little further with these conversations. I'd like to talk to Kyle about me talking at the purity retreat either with the high school girls or to everyone. I would want to talk about God's intent for the family because I have come from a family where sex destroyed our family (my dad cheated on my mom for years and left us for another woman...we had no knowledge of any of this until he decided to leave). I hope I'd be able to. We also talked about sending a letter to the parents letting them know what we will be talking about and making some suggestions as to what they can be talking with their children about. I thought this was a good idea, as long as we can word it right. I am excited for this retreat and I pray it goes over well.
Spiritual Reflection:
Things are going well still. I am realizing more and more just how much God loves me and I'm working at my relationship with Him. My intent this week and the rest of the semester is to dive in in my personal time with God. I'm really excited about the devotionals we got in Chapel yesterday and I think this will be a great contribution to that time with God for me. I look forward to seeing what God has in store for me to finish out 2009.
I'm also thinking about the future as graduation is only 6 months away for me. I really am talking with God about what direction He really wants me to go in the Ministry, as well as where he was me to go live. I'm excited and scared all at the same time. All I can do is pray and listen. I can't wait to see where I'm at this time next semester!
So this is my last blog this semester! Thanks for going with me through all of this. Thanks for the comments and the prayers! They were and are greatly appreciated! Many blessings to you! God Bless!
Kristi:
ReplyDeleteThe Purity retreat sounds like such a good idea!! What a wonderful way to bring people together and have them grow as a group. I think the letters to the parents are a great idea. Any time you address something like this, it is a good idea to get the word out to let people know what is going on.
I am also excited for gradutation. It is so hard to know that God has everything in his control and we need to simply be patient to figure out what he wants. It is encouraging, however, to be surrounded by so many people that are going through the same thing, and yet have so much faith.
I hope you have had an amazing semester!
Kristi:
ReplyDeleteI am commenting because Ian and I had alternating weeks or something. Your purity retreat sounds pretty cool and I hope that it leads to more unity as a group. I really hope that it goes over well and you all have an awesome time!!
Can you believe that we have been at this run for almost 4 years? It is crazy! Just like you, I can't wait to see what God has in store in the coming months. See you around!!
JON
I like where you say, "I am very excited because this retreat isn't going to be about how to find a husband/wife, nor will it be directly about sex. We are taking the concepts of Who God is, how He loves us, what he intended for us to be, and his design for us, for marriage, and for the family."
ReplyDeleteI think it is amazing to hear that you are going to be doing a retreat that takes a fresh look at purity, instead of talking about all the things we cannot do. I like that you are going to look at the beautiful things about God. The beautiful freedom and power we can from understanding God and living His way.
Have a good day.