Friends the idea of "wishing I knew then what I know now," lays heavy on my heart daily. I think that statement is what drew me to youth ministry. I often note that I wish I would have been as devoted to God and church then as I am now. I am inspired daily by the youngins in my life who wake up each day to seek and glorify God the way so many of them do.
Had I put in half the time and energy I do now Morgan Kennedy Millers life would look a lot different today. What's cool though is even when I didn't want God, God wanted me. He put me through seasons of doubt, frustration, and hurt to get to the season I stand in today. I had started this post and hit a road block diving into Gods word and seeking the words I prayed trying to make sure the words that came out were intentional and God inspired. It was this weekend though that really brought it home to me that I'm exactly where God wants me to be right now.
This past weekend I spent it with 180 of my brothers and sister in Christ ranging from all age groups we came together from Friday to Sunday worshiping God, listening to purposeful driven sermons, and having the opportunity to grow closer with God and with one another.
I was blessed the opportunity to serve and lead an awesome group of sixth and seventh grade girl. When I think back to my time in middle school I cringe at the thought of who I was. I was your typical snobby and privileged preteen girl. I was on the dance team I had my group of friends and I thought I was all that. I claimed to be a Christian yet I didn't make it a priority!
This weekend though as I lead bible studies and spent time with these middle school girls I was encouraged and motivated by them. Pre-teens themselves coming off of a very heavy week of school for one reason or another yet yearning to learn more about God. Listening to the pastors message this weekend about trials and taking those sermons and applying them to their lives. As adults many of us have a hard time doing just that some times. For the longest times I listened to sermons but fought with myself upset that I hadn't been devoted since day one. What I didn't know though was God loved me since day one devoted or not. He knew me and had His plan for me ever before I had a grasp of what I was doing.
These young girls gave me peace this weekend. I may not have done it right when I was their age but now I have the opportunity to pour into them and help in the process of discipling and equipping them for their journey. God gives us the right words, the right moments, and the right people just when we need them most. At times we get blinded from seeing what's coming but that's because we have to have faith in Gods promises. God tells us He will fight for us, protect us, and that He loves us. We must have faith in those promises. (Which faith is a whole other topic we can get into but not today!) I'm thankful for those girls and I'm thankful for the leadership of my church's youth group and that I'm given the opportunity to be a part of such a wonderful group. I'm thankful that they entrust me with groups to lead and that they allot me the opportunities to grow the relationships with these young kids and not only pour into them but have them pour into me their knowledge and wisdom.
Exodus 14:14
••The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still ••
Sometimes when we close our mouths and listen instead of speak we have the ability to see Gods work. I still battle with many different insecurities about what I'm doing and where I'm at. This weekend though was an encouraging step in this seasons journey. I was able to end it with another car wash moment today and I'm challenging myself in this coming week:
// I'm challenging myself to listen more than I speak this week. I'm challenging myself to not need others validation in my life. I'm challenging myself to seek Gods faithfulness and understand that faith and action are what I need most right now. I'm challenging myself to make time for me this week. //
These car wash moments are really doing a work in me. As we enter this new week I challenge you to look at yourself and determine what can you start doing more of this week? We don't need to wait for then we need to start NOW. Stop carrying the burdens of the past and start working for today. I pray that you find that peace this week as in every week.
X.O,
M.K.M
Sunday, January 29, 2017
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
| Validation |
Friends,
STOP with the need to be validated by everything you do.
I am as guilty as the rest of you.
As a generation we have become a group of people who need to hear that we are working as hard as we think we are. We need to be told that what outfit we are wearing is the perfect outfit. For what purpose? If we are a generation in Christ no human words of validation should be needed. Every morning we should feel validated when we wake and we wake in the presence of God's love, grace, and mercy.
Do you ever just stop and really take a moment to think about that? Last week as I had five minutes to myself in the car wash (let me tell you my truck and my soul really needed those five minutes) I sat and spent the time talking to God.
It hit me.
It's nothing I haven't ever heard before. God sent His one and only son to die. He sent him to die so that you and I could have the freedom we have today. Yet we need our friends and family to validate us. We need others so full of sin and so far from God at times to tell us that we are "#killingit," Y'all as a generation myself included it is time we wake up and start falling at the feet of God. It is time that we give it all completely to HIM.Our obedience to Him is something God finds precious and His answer to obedience isn't an overnight answer. It comes with strength and endurance to the obedience. I'm praying that 2017 holds a year of obedience for myself and for you. I'm praying for more of those five minute car wash moments.
I hope that as you hit the mid-week hump you are finding something that recharges you, A verse that hits home and inspires you, most importantly I just hope you are diving into Gods word.
Just remember you only need God to be "#Killingit"
X.O,
M.K.M
//Galatians 1:10
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.//
|| Hey y'all I would love to know your thoughts and opinions on today's post. Comment here, on Facebook, or Instagram. ||
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
Passion 2017
The start of a new year is the start of new hopes, new dreams, and new beginnings. This year I kicked off my new year with 60,000 other young adults and church leaders at Passion 2017. I walk away charged and encouraged for what 2017 and God has in store for me.
Over the past three days we listened to numerous speakers and worshiped with Crowder and Hillsong United to name a few. The most amazing part about it all though was the presence of the Holy Spirit there in the Georgia Dome and the work He was doing in that place.
We kicked the Conference off with hearing from Christine Caine. She reminded us that this relationship we have with Jesus Is a race we are gonna need endurance for. She spoke about focusing on the here and now instead of the then and there. To drop everything now and start exactly where we were. God will meet you where you are He is faithful in that. We finished the first evening with a crazy awesome performance from Crowder who tore the house down with surprise guest Carrie Underwood. On top of all the other greatness from night one each attendee for Passion 2017 the 20th anniversary of Passion received a special Dome Edition Jesus Bible released this week!
Day two Dr. John Piper, Beth Moore, Jay and Katherine Wolf, and Francis Chan brought the word. Speaking on everything from defining the essence of sin, Gods thoughts are greater than our own and we are our own worst enemy when we allow ourselves to get in our heads, to it's a blessing to have the opportunity to suffer for and because of God. The evening ended with one of the most inspiring and moving messages I have ever heard from Pastor Louie Giglio.
Louie left us with some powerful stuff. Some of my favorite take aways from his sermon where, "stop trying to hang with the world and invite the world to come hang with you." Talking about inviting the world to come know Jesus with us. The one I would say that moved me the most was "you know love because of the circumstance."
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
The circumstance is that God sent His son for you and I. That's the greatest definition of love we will ever read about and know. The final take away from his sermon that really just stopped me in my place was "the innocent one became guilty so that the guilty could become innocent in him." Jesus took our shame and our wretchedness as His own. I am amazed every day of the things Jesus has done and will do. Night two ended with worship from Hillsong United and what a powerful performance they brought.
The third and final day ended with a great message from Pastor Levi Lusko from Fresh Life Church. I had three take aways from his sermon that I jotted down into my notes:
"You make fragrance by finding something precious and crushing it up. We need to ask God to crush us so that we can share the fragrance of Jesus."
-It's not enough to say that as a generation but as a church whole we need to ask God to crush us and use us for His glory. To use us to share the gospel and take His name to the ends of the earth.
"Ministry that is affective begins at home." Ministry begins in our hometowns and in our communities.
-We can't go tackle the big battles until we start with the people next door and across the street.
"We need to train for the trial we are not yet in."
- Seasons are changing constantly in our lives. We should always be preparing our hearts for the next step. Enjoy the moment that we are in but understand that in the blink of an eye the moment can change. We should not falter nor question God for it but prepare and praise Him through it.
These past three days have got me fired up for what is to come in this following year. I'm encouraged to know that I'm not alone in my walk either. Surrounded by 60 some thousand other followers makes it kind of hard to feel alone. Passion 2018 can't come fast enough. Until then though I'm challenging myself this year to be more intentional, to be plugged in, and to serve. In no particular order nor particular capacity I hope this year I live more for Jesus than I did last year and the year before. 2017 holds big things myself and you included need only be faithful to the Lord and know that through our obedience He will provide.
Here's to 2017 and making much of Jesus!
Over the past three days we listened to numerous speakers and worshiped with Crowder and Hillsong United to name a few. The most amazing part about it all though was the presence of the Holy Spirit there in the Georgia Dome and the work He was doing in that place.
We kicked the Conference off with hearing from Christine Caine. She reminded us that this relationship we have with Jesus Is a race we are gonna need endurance for. She spoke about focusing on the here and now instead of the then and there. To drop everything now and start exactly where we were. God will meet you where you are He is faithful in that. We finished the first evening with a crazy awesome performance from Crowder who tore the house down with surprise guest Carrie Underwood. On top of all the other greatness from night one each attendee for Passion 2017 the 20th anniversary of Passion received a special Dome Edition Jesus Bible released this week!
Day two Dr. John Piper, Beth Moore, Jay and Katherine Wolf, and Francis Chan brought the word. Speaking on everything from defining the essence of sin, Gods thoughts are greater than our own and we are our own worst enemy when we allow ourselves to get in our heads, to it's a blessing to have the opportunity to suffer for and because of God. The evening ended with one of the most inspiring and moving messages I have ever heard from Pastor Louie Giglio.
Louie left us with some powerful stuff. Some of my favorite take aways from his sermon where, "stop trying to hang with the world and invite the world to come hang with you." Talking about inviting the world to come know Jesus with us. The one I would say that moved me the most was "you know love because of the circumstance."
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
The circumstance is that God sent His son for you and I. That's the greatest definition of love we will ever read about and know. The final take away from his sermon that really just stopped me in my place was "the innocent one became guilty so that the guilty could become innocent in him." Jesus took our shame and our wretchedness as His own. I am amazed every day of the things Jesus has done and will do. Night two ended with worship from Hillsong United and what a powerful performance they brought.
The third and final day ended with a great message from Pastor Levi Lusko from Fresh Life Church. I had three take aways from his sermon that I jotted down into my notes:
"You make fragrance by finding something precious and crushing it up. We need to ask God to crush us so that we can share the fragrance of Jesus."
-It's not enough to say that as a generation but as a church whole we need to ask God to crush us and use us for His glory. To use us to share the gospel and take His name to the ends of the earth.
"Ministry that is affective begins at home." Ministry begins in our hometowns and in our communities.
-We can't go tackle the big battles until we start with the people next door and across the street.
"We need to train for the trial we are not yet in."
- Seasons are changing constantly in our lives. We should always be preparing our hearts for the next step. Enjoy the moment that we are in but understand that in the blink of an eye the moment can change. We should not falter nor question God for it but prepare and praise Him through it.
These past three days have got me fired up for what is to come in this following year. I'm encouraged to know that I'm not alone in my walk either. Surrounded by 60 some thousand other followers makes it kind of hard to feel alone. Passion 2018 can't come fast enough. Until then though I'm challenging myself this year to be more intentional, to be plugged in, and to serve. In no particular order nor particular capacity I hope this year I live more for Jesus than I did last year and the year before. 2017 holds big things myself and you included need only be faithful to the Lord and know that through our obedience He will provide.
Here's to 2017 and making much of Jesus!