Enough.

Wow. I haven't updated in a while and I have a ton to write. So, get prepared, cause this is gonna be long :P

First of all, this morning in City Gates (our Sunday morning youth stuff at MBCC), Mark talked about encouragement. This week has been crazy and I've hurt a lot of people's feelings, just as they've hurt mine. Encouragement. Okay, for real, this whole week, I don't think I thought ONCE about how I could encourage someone. Just one person. It shouldn't have been that hard. But, I was frustrated and I chose to get angry and because of my anger, I sinned. God says its okay to get angry as long as we don't sin. As long as we still encourage one another. As long as we are still doing the best we can do to benefit HIS kingdom. But, I totally did not do that this week. I am so sorry to the Lord and to the people I have hurt and I hope they forgive me.

Second of all, my huddle group is going to be going through Acts in the second semester which I'm really really excited about!! We read chapters one and two today, and I already learned so much! One neat fact I learned is the difference in the meaning of disciple and apostle. Disciple means someone who is learning, like a follower or an apprentice. Apostle means a messenger or a missionary. Jesus calls us to be his witnesses "even to the ends of the earth". What a challenge to be such an example for him. His followers certainly were! They brought about 3000 people to Christ in ONE DAY. The Bible says there were about 120 Christians there at the time, which Alison told us, makes each person to have brought 25 people to Christ in one day!! Amazing. The Holy Spirit can use us in such amazing ways, if we just allow him to work in us. They were gathered together constantly in prayer (1:14). What an amazing example. I pray that I will be more like that.

Also, tonight, we talked about being "in the world and not of it" (John 17:3). Mark talked several verses relating to this one. The first one is 1 John 2:15.

"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."

This verse doesn't mean you can't love people on earth, friends or family, or you can't like where you live. Nothing like that. It just means that God should still be most important. We can't be under the influence of the world. God is our everlasting Father and we should follow his ways, walk in his footsteps, and daily try to be more and more Christ-like. The next verse reminds us that our true home is not on this earth, but in heaven with the Lord. (Philippians 3:20) It encourages us to store up our treasures in heaven, because "where your treasure is, there will be your heart also (Luke 12:34)." 1 Peter 1:1, reminds us that we are aliens or strangers in this world. Once again, our true home is in heaven. Mark told us three things to do to keep the mindset of looking forward to heaven:

1. Pray regularly for Jesus to come back. (1 Corinthians 16:22)
2. Keep watch over your accumulation. (Matthew 6:20)
3. Accept suffering and hardship as God's way of separating you from the earth.

So, all of this goes to say, this has been a hard week, but today the Lord has shown me so so much and I am ready to humble myself before him. I love you, Jesus, with all my heart.

All of you is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You is more than enough