What are the Youth in YOUR COMMUNITY DOING?

What an amazing testimony to the Power of Jesus Christ and the lives that can and will be totally transformed for His Good and His Glory!

This link came through a rather unusal source... on a page not MEANT for it's content but meant for it's LOGO.

I love Jacob Cass from http://justcreativedesign.com/.   I wonder if he realizes that sharing this "LOGO" also just shared the message of the Youth Venture ? ( I have a sneaky feeling... he does!)  =)

Take a moment and watch the video. Check out the page  http://logooftheday.com/2010-11-15-youth-venture/ and get to know what people ARE doing to Change the Youth of Today in the most God like kind of way!

The world seems overwhelming and anyone that has run up against one of the youths of today that suffer the pains and afflictions portrayed in these testimonies has probably once or twice thought "what is this world coming to? How do we save these young people?"  Well, One at a time! And it CAN be done.

It's time that Christians get out of their comfort zone and DO SOMETHING! Stop talking about how bad it is and get involved. Open centers like this. Offer love and support and give these kids somewhere safe to go to. BE good role models and stop blaming the world.

I say this because I myself was not ALWAYS the best mom or the best role model for my own kids. I suffered and they suffered. It is taking me having to  throw it all in and asking God to mold me and make me a better mom and influence and role model for not only my kids, but their friends and their children. They are our FUTURE! If they do not know how to live how are we to expect them to lead our country and our future?

I hope this video has stirred in you a least a little of what it has awakened in me! A desire and a passion to locate, start, join... whatever I need to do. So that the youth of MY area can have a place just like the Youth Venture on the East Coast.

If you know of current programs in YOUR city, please feel free to post them here and share this with others to spread this message and start a change right where you live and love!!

~CrazyFantastic... saying God speed to all!! ~

The Holy Alphabet

I got this from a friend this morning in the mail! I thought it was worth posting cuz it is so original and cool! I do not know the original author!

The Holy Alphabet . . ..

 

Whoever came up with this one must have had some Divine guidance!

Although things are not perfect Because of trial or pain Continue in thanksgiving Do not begin to blame Even when the times are hard Fierce winds are bound to blow God is forever able Hold on to what you know Imagine life without His love J oy would cease to be Keep thanking Him for all the things Love imparts to thee Move out of "Camp Complaining" No weapon that is known On earth can yield the power Praise can do alone Quit looking at the future Redeem the time at hand Start every day with worship To "thank" is a command Until we see Him coming Victorious in the sky We'll run the race with gratitude X alting God most high Y es, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but... Z ion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!
"I AM Too blessed to be stressed!" The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor. The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything. Love and peace be with you forever, Amen.
 

Why must we surrender?

This morning our Pastor, Travis Zachary (The Refuge) spoke on "Surrendering" with a power that moved me to my core!

As I sat listening to him share a very intense, very vivid dream .... tears rolled down my face. I did nothing to stop them or to hide them. God was speaking directly through Pastor Travis in a way that to some, might seem off the scale... but to me, a new member of this congregation... it was just perfect!





You see... I am what some people might view on the outside as "normal". I certainly can clean up well... was raised in a God fearing and was surrounded by very loving, devoted parents. I have had a "business" career in a totally "acceptable" field and raised 2 great kids. I'm a student, a mom, a nana, a daughter, and a sister!

 I don't have piercings and only have 3 small tattoos. Mild by comparison... I haven't been to prison (although some of my husbands/ long term boyfriends certainly have) ... I don't steal or cheat people... and I am a friend to all in need!

However, INSIDE... I was a wreck! (Still healing.. still growing... still learning)! You see...  I am a Recovering Addict. Meth head, as society calls us. I lost so much, including a husband I adored and was devoted to with everything that I am! Homes... cars... friends... all the furnishings and mementos of a time so far away, it seems... baby pictures and those of my late husband. I live with my grown son... in HIS home, because I have none of my own.

Why do I tell you these things? For the simple fact that I only want you to understand that I have been where some of you are even if I do not appear to be on the outside. I know the thoughts and the struggles and the pain. I know the self-loathing and the degrading acts desperation for love and approval can drive one to. I know the worthlessness and the confusion felt when love is taken away so easily by those that claim to love you the most.

I have fought and fought to "fix" this addiction in me... I have won temporary battles but continually kept losing the war!

Pastor Travis has no idea of the vessel he was today to bring deep to my very being... the one thing I have needed the most, but never totally understood. Surrender! Plain and simple... surrendering to God. Everything I have, everything I am.... surrendering completely and honestly to my Father in Heaven who took His most loved, most precious Son... and heaped ALL the sins of every man, woman and child ... long before we were even born... and took His Glory AWAY from HIS own child FOR US!! I cannot image how painful and wretched that would be for either of them at that moment on the Cross. To know infinite and unexplainable love and beauty and perfection and having it ripped away in a moment because of all the SIN that was heaped upon the Cross and washed with Christs very own blood.

If God could do all that FOR ME and FOR YOU... Why then, do we fight Him or deny Him even one minute thing when He asks us to simply trust Him and FOLLOW Him... to LOVE Him ... to simply ALLOW HIM TO LEAD US AND FILL US AND LOVE US AND GIVE US SO MANY THINGS EVEN OUR GREATEST HEARTS DESIRES CANNOT FATHOM?

I AM HIS CHILD for goodness sake! Just as I would NEVER want my children to hurt or be without... He doesn't either! He want only the best for me and like a baby to a parent... I have to just trust and believe and take His hand... knowing... that HE WILL NEVER LET ME DOWN!!

Thank you Pastor Travis... for the message you brought out of your very personal, very raw ... REAL EXPERIENCE with God this past week. I do not put the glory on you, please do not think so... I KNOW where the message came from and I know that we are only mere vessels God uses. But, Man o Man! I get you! And I thank you!

Praise GOD!

Surrendering my all to my God that has only good things in store for me is the only choice that makes any sense in a world that makes none at all!

Image by http://www.andry122deviantart.com/

For those in the Lubbock Area... Come visit. Come see that no matter what we look like on the outside.... no matter where we have been or what we have done... no matter where you are right now.....  there IS a REFUGE waiting for us all! It's in the arms of God. The following link is to my church.

(http://www.seektherefuge.com/)

Have a wonderful week!

~CrazyFantastic~

A cool link on Surrendering... it's worth the time!

http://whatsthislifefor.org/2009/01/we-surrender-all/

Bon Jovi - It's My Life... or is it?

I was just watching Bon Jovi's "It's my Life" on Youtube and I have to wonder.... after yesterday's church serman... is this really true?

Yes and No!

Yes, God gives us the "free will" to choose HOW we live our lives... but in the end ...

NO! ... for if we live it the way most of us CHOOSE to live it... oh my! We are not gonna like the consequences!

So to surrender to His will and turn our lives over to Him, even though doing is not easy or "fun" at times... sure will give us the rewards in eternity! I choose to follow this path instead!

Pastor Travis from The Refuge, Lubbock Tx spoke yesterday of fighting The Good Fight. ( II Timothy 4: 1-17 (from THE MESSAGE version). ... strong words in a world that chases fads and likes to believe whatever "feels better" to them is the "truth".

As Pastor Travis said, " Being a Christian comes with costs!" Costs hurt! Plain and simple. To walk with God REQUIRES discipline and often it is OURSELVES that become our biggest enemy when choosing truth over lies. Discipline is never "fun' but it is out of LOVE that God disciplines us. He only wants to direct our steps now for the eternity He PROMISED US!!

Going to the scriptures for guidence and truth is the only way we can be sure that we are obeying our Lord! Being prepared for what is sure to arrise by choosing HOW we will react ahead of time allows us to not let the circumstances ( which we all need to realize now ... are only TEMPORARY) take away God's promise.... that is ETERNITY!

So ... it is really My LIFE ? Sure it is.

Do I want to run it myself? NO! I can't even begin to know that things that God has in my future and quite frankly... I would probably live in constant fear knowing. So I choose, no matter how hectic and crazy my circumstances are right now or in the future... to embrace the trust and faith I am daily attaining IN CHRIST ... to handle those "temporary circumstances" with peace and a quiet spirit. He will carry me through WHATEVER comes along!

Pastor Travis likes to say "HOLD FAST"... I like to say  "BE STILL... and KNOW THAT I AM GOD!" ( Psalms 46:10 KJV)

 

"Be Still" in the Bible: Psalm 46:10
There are times to speak up and take action--but sometimes it's important to just humbly sit back and silently reflect on God's presence. This psalm encourages us to take time to meditate quietly in the assurance that God is in control.

I have to trust that God is ALWAYS in control! Not me! .... and what peace we have when we can be believe HIS WORD and HIS PROMISES  and just let Him handle all the temporaries in our lives!!

 

Have a Crazy FANTASTIC week!! =)