Not my will, but YOURS be done! (Luke 22:42)

Soo... Its been awhile. Yeah, I know, I'm doing a terrible job at updating... ; )

But. Okay. Here are just some verses and thoughts from our mission training for the Hale County 2010 trip!

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a cloud of witnesses, let us throw off all that hinders and the evil that so easily entangles, and let us run with PERSEVERANCE the race marked out for us." ~Hebrews 12:1

I think its significant here that we are to run with perseverance. God doesn't just call us to run, but to run without giving up. To stand out and be different. To Persevere.

"Let the message of Christ COMPLETELY fill your lives, while you use ALL your wisdom to teach and instruct each OTHER. With thankful hearts, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And WHATEVER you do, whether in word or deed, do it ALL through the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to him to God the Father." ~Colossians 3:16-17

Ohmygosh. I love this! (Even though I didn't exactly memorize it like I was supposed to...) Clearly, we are supposed to give God 100%. Completely, whatever, all. Those words mean not just half way, but all the way. For God. To HIS glory. Serving others. Not once does God's word say 'Use ALL your wisdom to serve YOURSELF'. Or 'Use some of your wisdom to serve others'. No, He tells us, no try commands, us to give him our all! To give thanks to Him as we serve others. Yeah, thats kinda not what our world operates on is it? Nope. Thats why its GOD'S word. Because God is different... an EXCELLENT kind of different! We are called to stand out by serving others while giving thanks to God. I pray that for myself as well as our whole entire team of students going on the mission trips. That not only would we serve God with willing hearts, but that as we work for others that we would THANK him for such an amazing opportunity to be salt and light to the world!

"The grass withers and flowers fall, but the word of God stand forever." ~Isaiah 40:8

This one is simple, but still amazing. Things on earth, including us, are temporary and don't last forever. But the WORD OF GOD lasts FOREVER. For all of eternity!

"All scripture is GOD-BREATHED and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be THOROUGHLY equipped for EVERY GOOD work." ~2 Timothy 3:16-17

This verse just shows me how useful the Bible is. I mean, duh, God wrote it for a purpose, but I love the specifics of this verse. Scripture has God's breath on it! How amazing! It helps us be COMPLETELY prepared for anything!! Don't you just love God? He makes things so easy for us, giving us his word as a guide, yet we ignore the Bible and make everything so difficult!

"Do not be anxious about ANYTHING, but in EVERYTHING, through prayer and petition, let your requests be made known to God. And, let the PEACE of God, which surpasses ALL understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." ~Philippians 4:6-7

Again, notice the anything, everything, and all. God isn't a half-hearted God, He does everything full out and wants us to do the same! Also, peace is so amazing! We rarely let Christ's peace fully soak in us, but when it does, it can help us accomplish amazing things! Let God's peace GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS!!!

Oh, and I almost forgot the whole title of my post... haha. Okay, well my favorite favorite verse from mission training so far is "But please, not my will, but yours be done." ~Luke 22:42

Such a great reminder to focus on God's plan for our lives instead of dwelling on what we want!