This is the time to focus on the positive things in life and look around at the family and friends that have joined the same road…

We complain about the cross we bear but don’t realize it is preparing us for the dip in the road that God can see and we can’t.

Whatever your cross, whatever your pain,

there will always be sunshine, after the rain….

Perhaps you may stumble, perhaps even fall;

But God’s always ready, to answer your call….

He knows every heartache, sees every tear,

a word from His lips, can calm every fear…

Your sorrows may linger, throughout the night,

But suddenly vanish, dawn’s early light…

The Savior is waiting, somewhere above,

to give you His grace, and send you His love…

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

Until next time…

Heather

I’ll tell you where I’ll be…

parked in front of the Today Show.

Wanna know why?

Besides the fact that I’m a dork?  It’s because NKOTB will be on there…

I have the DVR set, just in case I won’t be able to see it while I’m in Mississippi.

7am.

Today Show.

NKOTB.

This will get me through the week.

Until next time…

Hangin’ Tough Heather

The other most powerful moment for me at Battlecry happened Saturday night.  Ron Luce, who I loved listening to, asked all the Youth Leaders to come down on the floor.

As we made our way down, me from the nosebleed section, he stated that he wanted to pray over us.  I don’t know about you, but I love to be prayed over.  I love to be prayed for, but there’s something about it that just calms me, energies me, excited me, no matter what the prayer.

And here I was, making my way to the floor, for a group of 9,000 people to pray for me and the other youth leaders.

The prayer was so powerful.  He talked about we, the youth leaders, are the generals leading our Armies.

Prior to the prayer, Ron talked about how 98% of the world are culture followers and only 2% are the culture leaders.  He asked us who wanted to be in the 2%.  At the break, we were all given pieces of tinfoil.

After the prayer, he asked the kids who wanted to be a reflection of Christ and be in that 2%.  He told them to raise their tinfoil if they wanted reflect Christ.  At that moment, the lights were flashing and as I looked around the Coliseum, there were flashes of light.

And then he said this…

“Youth Leaders, look around…. this is your Army.”

I looked up in section 234…to the last row of seats and saw MY army, their tin foil in the air and I can’t describe the feeling that came over me.

It was a beautiful sight.  It was bright…it was shiny… it was amazing.

MY ARMY.

I’m ready for battle.

Until next time…

General Heather

Yet… well, I’m not sure how to formulate it into words.

I’m still chewing on much of what happened this weekend… the way God moved; the way he spoke. Much of the time, I felt as if I were the only one in that collesium, and He was speaking directly to me. I’ve not felt that way since I first attended church over a year ago.

I needed to hear every. single. solitary message that was delivered this weekend.

I needed to hear every. single. solitary song that was sung.

I needed to hear that I can start over at any given moment. I needed to hear that seeking forgivness is all I need to do. I needed to hear that there’s a chance that someone might never come to know Jesus because of me. I needed to hear that so many more are affected by my actions than I think. I needed to hear that I make a difference in the lives of others whether I know it or not. I needed to hear that I am a child of God.

I needed to hear it all.

Let me share with you one of the two most powerful moments for me….

At one point, all of the youth leaders left for a break out session. I was able to talk to other youth leaders and brainstorm some of the obstacles that youth workers face in not only growing their ministries, but in building a solid foundation in the kids that they already minister to.

Before we left that session, the leader said this…

I know that you’re tired. I know that you’re frustrated. I know that it’s tough to juggle your vocation, your ministry, your marriages, your own children and families. I know that you’re facing obstacles whether it be your senior pastors, the parents of the kids in youth, or other members of your congregation. I know that you feel unappreciated. But I also know that you can’t give up.

These kids that you’re working with think that their parents are looking out for them, but that’s not always the case. They think their teachers are looking out for them, but that’s not always true either. For many kids you’re it. You’re the only one standing in the gap for them.

They need you. They may not know that they need you. They may not show their appreciation for you. They many NEVER show you or tell you the impact that you have on their lives, but know that you matter in their lives.

Don’t give up. Don’t think that you can’t do it. Don’t think that this isn’t worth it. Never give up. You wouldn’t have received the call into youth ministry if He didn’t know that you couldn’t handle it.

Don’t EVER give up.

I was ready to hit my knees. I’ve been struggling with some thoughts and feelings on my purpose in youth ministry. I know that God wants me there, but in what role? What am I supposed to be doing? Am I really the example that He wants me to be, and a host of other thoughts on the subject. I’ve been struggling for months with this and now I know. This was simply an attack. I am right where I am supposed to be and I’m not supposed to be discouraged by it. I’m to keep my head up and keep going. I’m to stand firm. I’m to do what I do for the glory of God and for no other reason.

And so that’s what I’ll do….

I’m going to stand in the gap and I’m NEVER going to give up. I believe in those kids…each and every one of them. I know that God has wonderful things in store for them; things that even they can’t imagine. And I pray that I can make a difference in their lives the way that they make a difference in mine.

Until next time…

Standing in the Gap…. Heather

Ezekiel 22:30

  “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it . . . “ 

Tonight was the first rally at Battlecry.  Truth be told, I didn’t really want to come.  It was odd for me… I love hanging out with the teens.  I love road trips.  I love seeing what the Lord has in store.

But for whatever reason, I just didn’t want to come.

But I did.  Like the Women’s Retreat, I knew there was a reason that I needed to be here.

Honestly, I loved the worship music, but when Ron Luce started to talk, I kinda tuned him out.  But then he caught my attention.

And by the time he was done, I knew why I was supposed to be here.  That message was for me.

When I get back, I’ll be sure to elaborate, but right now, we have 13 minutes until lights out and I have a few more kids to take down in Guitar Hero…

Until next time..

Heather

Roller skating was fun… but my feet are sore… my legs and back are sore… and then i get to drive to North Carolina with the teens for Battlecry.

I’m looking forward to it.

I’m also looking forward to the kids coming home and my mom coming to stay with me for a night.

And I’m looking forward to sleep…which for whatever reason is not coming easy.  Last night I was wide awake until 5:30am.  And now?  Well, it’s 1:32am and I’m still awake and I made sure to have no caffeine tonight.

I think I need to learn how to turn my brain off.

Until next time…

Heather

PS.  Thanks to Lisa who fixed my blog… again… she’s wonderful…

Just trying out some new plugins and trouble shooting…

So, I mentioned Matthew’s Book awhile back…still no word on where it is in the competition… but Samara has now entered the writing ranks.

She’s been learning about Fairy Tales in school and was assigned to write one of her own.  She told me that she wrote one, but it wasn’t until it came home graded that I actually got to read it.

Here goes… (and I’ve corrected the grammar for you… you can thank me later)

Once upon a time there was a girl named Heather and a Prince - Prince Chris.  Heather’s Dad married an evil woman.  Her girls were Meg and Sam.  One day a knock on the door came.  They were invited to Hawaii.  Everyone went except Heather.  She had chores and she cried.  A magical mermaid came.  “Do not cry” with a slap of a wave a car and a swim suit and flip flops appeared.  The magical mermaid warned her at the stroke of one a.m. everything would change back.  The Prince met her and they danced till the clock struck one a.m.  Heather left a flip flop.  He made everybody try it on.  If fit nobody.  Heather tried it on and it fit.  Prince Chris married Princess Heather and they lived happily ever after.   THE END.

Wonder if she’s on to something?

Until next time…

Heather

So, I’m playing… not bad for a first attempt… and I didn’t break it, Lisa!

(Although there are a few things not working right, that I must contact you to see why…)

I’m going to keep playing until I get it right…

Until next time..

H

It’s been interesting not having kids this week…I’ve gotten alot done, but not near what I’ve wanted to get done. As usual, I knew that I had alot of free time and I’ve overbooked.

It’s been nice to be fed by friends and I’ve not had to make my own meals. It’s also been nice to not have to spends lots at the grocery store. Half of my money was returned today, so I went and bought some new shoes. They always make me happy… and I figured it was okay, since I didn’t have to spend any money at the grocery store this week.

I’m very excited about warmer temps coming so that I can break out all my summer shoes. I actually cleaned my room and drawers this week and got rid of a bunch of stuff and got my summer shoes all ready to go. Now I just need a pedicure and a little color to my pale legs and I’ll be ready to go.

Tomorrow night, I’m going roller skating with the teens. I’m very excited about it. I love roller skating, almost as much as bowling, and I’ve missed the teens. With the Easter holidays and my traveling, I’ve not gotten to spend alot of time with them.

The last time there was a cute boy that I liked at the roller skating rink, I was in the 5th grade. He broke my heart at the end of the school year, but he was my first “boyfriend”… now that I think about it, that’s Matthew’s age… ok, I don’t want to think about it.

This weekend we’re headed to North Carolina for Battlecry. 14 teens, no showers, so I pray that they they not only bring their deoderant, but that they use it as well. Otherwise, it’s going to be a stinky ride home Saturday night.

The kids are obviously having a good time without me… I’ve not heard from them unless I call. The last I heard, they wanted to know what would happen if they left an egg in dye for 6 days. I’ll let you know how that all turns out. I’m assuming Mom’s having a good time with them too.

I’m tired but I’m not. I don’t want to sleep because there are so many things that I can be doing with all this quiet time. But I should probably sleep.

I think I’m going to shut up now. I’m out of random things to discuss.

Until next time…

Heather