Back to the Basics

So I just returned from a powerful packed weekend! I'm still stirred! This past weekend we took 40 youth to Acquire the Fire, an annual youth rally filled with worship, drama, concerts and the anionted Word of God. This year's theme was "Let Your Voice Be Heard".

I've been going to ATF since I was 12 years old, in fact I got truly saved at an Acquire the Fire, I remember that night clearly. Responding to the altar call, crying my eyes out and the faces that were around me that cared and loved me! What an amazing experience, I've been going ever since.

Now I go as a youth leader and watch other teenagers get touched by the power of God and surrender. I've been going as a youth leader for the past 4 years and I gotta say that in all of the years going as a leader, this year was different, ATF was different, it was not your normal youth rally that I expected. Normally the rally is directed to middle and High school students, so when leaders go, it's not as impacting as to a middle school or high schooler. This year I was challenged, I was inspired, I was encouraged, I was Impacted!

It was the end of the morning session, we were worshipping, and Joel (the main speaker) was having the alter call, it was a real moment, a serious moment, you can sense it in the atmosphere. In fact it brought me back to the moment I faced God face to face and made the decision to serve him. As I saw many teenagers stand and make that decision, tears poured from my eyes, I looked around and saw the teenager who stood in front of me cry as he stood up boldly yet humble but fearfully wanting to change, wanting to live this life for Jesus.

God spoke to my heart the importance of being a leader, the importance of events like ATF and not just ATF but Wednesday nights and every opportunity a teenager gets to make a decision to serve Jesus. Most people think ATF is just a sleepless weekend where we can all hang out and just fool around and prank or a show put on to sign-up students for programs and mission trips, but ATF has been more then that this past weekend, something shifted and lives were impacted.

Maybe nothing has changed, maybe God just simply opened up my eyes to see that people ARE getting saved and making a life decision just like I did 8 years ago. OR maybe God was bringing me back to the basics of loving him and getting to know him all over again! To feel the rawness of him once again and experience the restoring, loving power!

So, my expectancy for Wednesday night is high and I can't wait for the moment once again for a young person to meet God face to face!

Never take moments for granted, you never know what it's doing for the other person!

I LOVE JESUS!!!! YEAH!...

Oh and by the way, the worship was extremely phenominal! Unhindered led worship and the songs they sang hit the very core of my soul!!!!