Day 3 - PandaMania

Today's lesson was about how God watches over you, and during Party Time Sing & Play (Worship) I challenged the kids to be on the look out for God Sightings. For those that may remember Alaska, it's similar to our God Markers.

Anyways, after worship, when everyone else shuffled to their different stations, I ended up having a really good conversation with a friend of mine, just about life and I guess the things going on, past stuff, future life, etc. Not only was it nice just to be able to sit down and have a convo with this friend, but as we were talking, I was just reminded of all the things that God has done for me. How throughout my life, throughout my time in college, God has been watching over me. And as he watched over me, he has done so much in my life, and also in the relationships I have with those dearest to me. I realized that God has taught me a lot, but he is still putting things in place for me that I might not realize now, but will see later. So I guess my "God Sighting" was not only a remembrance of all that God has done for me and changed me, but also getting to share the joys of hearing about how God has been working in and changing my friend. A very unexpected blessing, but today all I could think about was how much I want to say "Thank you God!"

Thanks for tuning in...

--xtinee

Day 2 - PandaMania

Sometimes I feel like I'm wasting more time than actually doing something. I guess that's part of the frustration with just doing worship, and even when helping with games, sometimes I really question if anything is making a difference. Come to think of it...I didn't pray before we started today. Look at me getting all cocky. Thinking I can make a difference, or lead worship, and get kids excited all on my own, and yet leaving feeling like something just wasn't right (and I'm not just referring to my attitude). I think it's important when doing God's work, to turn to God first. It's not about how well I can jam to these songs, but ultimately everything I do should be pointing to God. If I expect these kids to be excited about God, then I need to get on the same page.

Silly Christine....

Well tomorrow...erm today is another day. Maybe I'll stop being stupid and actually turn to God.

Thanks for tuning in. Please keep praying for Friday + Saturday.

--xtinee

Day One - PandaMania

Today was really good. Still not sure, how much of an impact I'm having, but it went surprisingly well. Since we started a little late, we only got to sing one song, but even with the mishaps, it was really encouraging to see all the kids get into the movements and the lessons. I guess being an adult, you forget what it's like to be a kid, and how innocent they are to find excitement in what now seems childish and corny.

I guess this is what it means when Jesus says : "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." -- Matthew 18: 3-4. As adults we seem to complicate our spiritual lives with all the muss and fuss of daily living which is really just a product of "growing up". But children have this way of looking at the world that is unhindered by all this nonsense, because they are still relatively innocent. I think it's not so much what I can teach these kids, but also learning from them, what it means to praise God with excitement and joy. To scream "Thank you God!" at the top of my lungs, or to listen to God's word with awe and amazement. To have a humble heart and to not question with my logic, or compose myself to protect my pride. I guess I want to learn what it means to come before God without any interference and to just take him all in.

Now to get ready for Day two! Thanks for tuning in!

--xtinee

Vacation Bible School

So this summer, I'm not going anywhere. Not going to Alaska, not going on any other missions trip. Just staying in Pittsburgh. To be honest, at first I was bummed, because after last year in Alaska, I just felt so encouraged to see how God worked in the kids' hearts, not only the natives, but also with the ones on the team. It made me feel that much more drawn to youth/college ministry and I wanted nothing more than to go back and continue the work we had done in the previous year. Well God had other plans, and with a messed up schedule among other things, here I am in Pittsburgh preparing for Vacation Bible School.

It's not like I'm a stranger to VBS. Having grown up in the church, I am somewhat of a "product" of VBS's and Bible Camps and the like, but at the same time, there is a strange unsettling feeling at the bottom of my stomach (which might also be because I'm hungry....) from this anxiousness that I might not be ready. I get it a lot because I doubt my abilities as a leader, as a anything. But I feel like that's also showing me my lack of faith in God. I've realized that like before, I need to trust in God to work through me, not because of me. I've also realized that while these kids aren't little natives dealing with drug, alcohol, and sexual abuse. And maybe they're relatively well off....they still need Christ regardless. God's love knows no bounds. It's not just for the rich or for the poor, it's for everyone. And in that, VBS is like a mini-missions trip. There are still seeds to be planted. Hearts to be touched. Lives to be changed. I pray that God will do great things in these next 4 days, and that he will use me despite my flaws to help lead these kids in worship and prepare them for the day.

Please pray for the VBS at PCC. Pray for the children who are attending, for those that do and don't know Christ. Pray for the volunteers, that God will work through each of them, and that we can share God's love in all that we do. Pray for me, as I lead worship...it's been a long long time for me...so yeah.

I guess I'll blog about each day (teehee) Thanks for tuning in.

--xtinee