I'm home from an amazing time doing the 30 hour famine! I love the 30 hour famine for many reasons- it makes the youth get a new perspective of their lives and the lives of people all over the world, it gets them out of their comfort zone and helps them experience things they have never experienced before, it helps them find new ways to get closer to God and each other, and helps them realize they can do amazing things! I mean, how can anything be more awesome than that? The famine is also a reminder of my call to ministry.
Although I had felt a call a few years earlier, people filled my head with doubts and I believed them. But, when the opportunity came to lead a 30 hour famine, I knew it was something I was supposed to do. Originally, it started because I was "being a mom." My son had gotten sick just before the famine the previous year and was so sad he missed it. The next year, nobody had volunteered to do it and so it wasn't going to happen. I couldn't let that him miss it again and so I volunteered to do it, having no idea what God was about to do! But He knew! So, by the time the famine actually came, I had been asked to lead the youth and was officially starting a few weeks later. But, that event was the beginning of it all! And so, each year as I do the famine, I consider it my anniversary of following God's call for me. And, I am grateful that He continues calling me to new challenges, continues speaking to me and teaching me, and continues blessing me. I just have to listen and watch...and be aware!
This year was a little different as the famine time was approaching. It wasn't that I wasn't excited about it, but I hadn't spent every waking moment planning every minute detail for weeks and months. I knew something was going to be different..I knew it was going to be a totally different event. I just didn't know what it was. The weeks got closer and I still didn't have my plan. I'm a spreadsheet and list person. I plan everything, knowing God might change it, but it's all planned with backup plans when needed. But, I had no lists or spreadsheets. And I didn't understand why.
Driving one day, I was thinking and praying about it and I finally got my answer. This year was to be totally different! Although it was to be a 30 Hour Famine, I was to focus on the Holy Spirit! It was as clear to me right then as if God was sitting next to me in the car talking to me (which I believe He was). I can't tell you why I knew it wasn't something I planned- why I can tell when God gives me an idea. I just know that sometimes I do things that on my own I never would think of. Then it seems the thoughts just keep coming and it all falls into place.
The thoughts just rolled out and I realized why He took so long to tell me. I had a lot less planning to do...a lot more praying and a lot more trusting...but not so many lists and spreadsheets. Why? Because I wasn't planning every minute of the 30 hours. I was trusting Him for 30 Hours.
With a focus on the Holy Spirit, we talked about our spiritual gifts and the group took spiritual gift surveys to help them realize their gifts and how they could use them. Then, we discussed spiritual disciplines and focused on 12 of them. The youth then divided into 3 groups and each group was given spiritual disciplines to plan and lead experiences throughout the famine. Each spiritual discipline was focused on for an hour, except fasting which we got to focus on the whole time! The youth did an amazing job using their gifts to share with the other groups and lead experiences that helped them all realize how the spiritual disciplines could help them get a better relationship with God! They thought of things I never would have thought of! Our worship this morning was awesome! Our prayer stations were inspiring! Our service projects were beautiful and they were so excited to be doing them! The mural turned out to be a great presentation of everything the weekend was about, and the video where they shared their thoughts about the famine made it clear that the Holy Spirit was working in and through them!
I have to admit as much as I try to always trust in Him, it was a little scary! But, as the start of the famine approached, I knew I just had to trust that He had this one. I joked with several people beforehand and said this would either be amazing or go horribly wrong. But, knowing He had given me the inspiration for it all, I was counting on amazing! I am grateful that He didn't let me down! It was amazing!
So, where was God today? He was in every moment that went into the 30 Hour famine, and I believe He is working in the lives of all that participated in the event and I feel blessed to have experienced it.
Blessings,
Jennifer
Although I had felt a call a few years earlier, people filled my head with doubts and I believed them. But, when the opportunity came to lead a 30 hour famine, I knew it was something I was supposed to do. Originally, it started because I was "being a mom." My son had gotten sick just before the famine the previous year and was so sad he missed it. The next year, nobody had volunteered to do it and so it wasn't going to happen. I couldn't let that him miss it again and so I volunteered to do it, having no idea what God was about to do! But He knew! So, by the time the famine actually came, I had been asked to lead the youth and was officially starting a few weeks later. But, that event was the beginning of it all! And so, each year as I do the famine, I consider it my anniversary of following God's call for me. And, I am grateful that He continues calling me to new challenges, continues speaking to me and teaching me, and continues blessing me. I just have to listen and watch...and be aware!
This year was a little different as the famine time was approaching. It wasn't that I wasn't excited about it, but I hadn't spent every waking moment planning every minute detail for weeks and months. I knew something was going to be different..I knew it was going to be a totally different event. I just didn't know what it was. The weeks got closer and I still didn't have my plan. I'm a spreadsheet and list person. I plan everything, knowing God might change it, but it's all planned with backup plans when needed. But, I had no lists or spreadsheets. And I didn't understand why.
Driving one day, I was thinking and praying about it and I finally got my answer. This year was to be totally different! Although it was to be a 30 Hour Famine, I was to focus on the Holy Spirit! It was as clear to me right then as if God was sitting next to me in the car talking to me (which I believe He was). I can't tell you why I knew it wasn't something I planned- why I can tell when God gives me an idea. I just know that sometimes I do things that on my own I never would think of. Then it seems the thoughts just keep coming and it all falls into place.
The thoughts just rolled out and I realized why He took so long to tell me. I had a lot less planning to do...a lot more praying and a lot more trusting...but not so many lists and spreadsheets. Why? Because I wasn't planning every minute of the 30 hours. I was trusting Him for 30 Hours.
With a focus on the Holy Spirit, we talked about our spiritual gifts and the group took spiritual gift surveys to help them realize their gifts and how they could use them. Then, we discussed spiritual disciplines and focused on 12 of them. The youth then divided into 3 groups and each group was given spiritual disciplines to plan and lead experiences throughout the famine. Each spiritual discipline was focused on for an hour, except fasting which we got to focus on the whole time! The youth did an amazing job using their gifts to share with the other groups and lead experiences that helped them all realize how the spiritual disciplines could help them get a better relationship with God! They thought of things I never would have thought of! Our worship this morning was awesome! Our prayer stations were inspiring! Our service projects were beautiful and they were so excited to be doing them! The mural turned out to be a great presentation of everything the weekend was about, and the video where they shared their thoughts about the famine made it clear that the Holy Spirit was working in and through them!
I have to admit as much as I try to always trust in Him, it was a little scary! But, as the start of the famine approached, I knew I just had to trust that He had this one. I joked with several people beforehand and said this would either be amazing or go horribly wrong. But, knowing He had given me the inspiration for it all, I was counting on amazing! I am grateful that He didn't let me down! It was amazing!
So, where was God today? He was in every moment that went into the 30 Hour famine, and I believe He is working in the lives of all that participated in the event and I feel blessed to have experienced it.
Blessings,
Jennifer
