DEBUNTZUH

this week was possibly one of the greatest weeks of my life - but let's face it. every spring break in college has been.
Antioch's College Ministry takes a mission trip for spring break every year, most recently to Edinburg, Texas. And yes, the trip is life-changing but all credit goes to God on why it is so. Living out the book of Acts allows God to fall on a city such as Edinburg in a POWERFUL way. So powerful that you can feel it. My favorite stories are from locals saying they can feel a difference in the week we're there...not by any of our own doing...but by God coming and loving on these people in a tangible way through us.

Here are some things I learned this past week.

"What will happen if we left this week with no regrets?" - Jake Griffin
Talk about setting a tone for the week. This statement challenged, me, my time and the whole college ministry to finish strong - live a life with no regrets and immediately broke off my fear of man. What would happen if i lived my LIFE with no regrets?

"What you believe about God in your weakest moment defines what your future will be." - Carl Gulley
GWC (good word Carl). God, what do I believe about you in my weakest moment? Where does my faith go when I'm weakest? The thing is, He's the only consistent thing in this world - never changing, not even for a second. At my weakest, when things aren't the best, He is still the SAME God...So I better start changing my thought life when I'm weak. The lies and tricks of the enemy come back VOID!

"Ask for things specifically and in faith, actually believing I'll give them to you." - God.
I love when God speaks. The first seminar day, He spoke this to me, revealing how I don't usually do this. My faith increased this week, seeing how more of it brings things I never expected to receive. My Father LOVES to give me good gifts! And He loves to hear me ask for them!

"Before God, I'm a royal priesthood. Before man, I'm a servant. And before the powers of darkness, I'm a ruler and will not tolerate ANY of it!" -Laura Seibert/Blair Gulley
My identity rests in what He says about me, not what I feel or what happens to me. I am secure knowing I am royalty. I should act how royalty would act - not with arrogance but with authority and humility.

"When I ask, God gives, whether I feel anything or not. But I keep pursuing until I have a Biblical experience." -Jimmy Seibert
How hungry am I? How faithful is God? When has He ever NOT proved His faithfulness in my life? He is more than an emotional feeling.

"What if you actually acted like Me, the God of the Universe, lived inside of you?" - God
I keep getting this picture of this GINORMOUS God crammed inside of little 5'3" me. What if that's how I actually lived my life out? Knowing that that authority and power was in me. How much more confidence would my life show?

"The road from foolishness to holiness to humility to intimacy/impact will actually cost something." - Jimmy Seibert
If it didn't cost me anything, I'd be missing something.

(Regarding music/movies) "If He wouldn't play it next to the cross, why would you play it in your house?" -Jimmy Seibert
This is when it finally clicked for me. I've heard holiness sermons but this was a powerful image. I want to by holy. So I want to absorb things uplifting. Why would I bother with things that caused me to stumble, think bad about others or myself? Everything I do should be edifying to God.

"A desperate heart is a privileged place." - The Bueschers
This is the place where God comes running. This is the place where intimacy with God is developed. But in our desperation we MUST turn to Him. He's the only one who knows how to fill it. If your heart is empty, it's going to attract the enemy as well. It's important to be aware of the enemy's attempts as well as seek God with everything you have.

God is consistent. I will never be replaced. And I cannot be duplicated.

The Kingdom MUST be known and the body MUST be built up.

"Parents are impressed by faithfulness and humility more than passion and testimony." -Drew Steadman
Amen. I need to live this out IMMEDIATELY.

God's love for me is intoxicating and all-encompassing. It never let's go. It's entirely unique. It's unlike the love He has for anyone else; not better or worse, just completely unique.

"In weak and alone moments, you have to know the treasure is worth more." -Drew Steadman
I cannot express how many times I have had weak and alone moments and haven't been convinced the treasure is worth more. That's how sin cycles start. There's a lot of convincing and "little allowances" that take place instead of focusing my eyes on the end prize and the big picture. But there's one thing I know for sure and this is also how I've changed in college: I'm more than confident that the end prize is worth the price.