sustained obedience

there has been so much going on in my life that the Lord is doing. i have been wanting to write a post for awhile but haven't found the time. time is so precious and i'm still learning to use it wisely. i never thought i'd ever be so busy and would be able to handle it. but it's true, with God anything is possible :O]

AACF winter retreat was this past weekend. God had me go for a reason. one of the messages that was on saturday night, spoke straight to my heart. everything i came to the retreat with and was struggling with was addressed in that message. i understand what it feels like when people say "i felt like the message was JUST for me." it sounds selfish but yet God really does intend for us to encounter things for a reason. even when i wanted to ask for prayer&hesitated, the worship leader said "and if anyone needs or wants prayer now, don't hesitate to ask someone. don't be afraid." and that just made me think "oh dang!! he's talking to me!!"
and so i got to pray with marissa and it was sweet and true fellowship. being able to share each other's burdens, weep together, laugh together, and to come before God together was beautiful.

the message offered encouragement and affirmation for me. the week before was SO intense and a little discouraging that i felt everything was falling apart and that all my energy and time invested was in vain. but God spoke to me through the speaker [Brian Chang] and told me to have sustained obedience and to work hard because it will be worth a lot more later than it is now. and something else that was really powerful was when he said "everything that happens in this world is for our own good." it was really interesting how the speaker used Haggai to speak to us and gave us his perspective on it. his interpretation was really helpful.

i also experienced a lot of true fellowship at retreat through-foosball games [even though it got competitive hehe], worship, moi time [one on ones], small groups, early morning prayer meetings, meals in the cafeteria, snowball fights, taking pictures, and the best part was at the end where Wil had everyone circle up and we sang "I Love You Lord" 4 times. the 1st time was everyone together, 2nd time was the girls while the guys prayed for their sisters, 3rd time was the guys while the girls prayed for their brothers, and 4th time was all together. it was SO beautiful!!

AACF has continually been a blessing in my life and even if i don't make it out all the time to large group meetings or events, AACF will always have a place in my heart and is already stamped in my past as a part that has grown me so much. I value the brothers and sisters in that fellowship so much. God has blessed me countlessly with their lives and interaction.

"but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me...Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 3:12-14

"in fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" 2 Timothy 3:12

"Instead, you ought to say,'if it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.'" James 4:15

"But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he does." James 1:25


those are just a few verses that spoke to me. the Lord is faithful and he hears you. If you're going through a hard time where it seems impossible to press on, be encouraged in knowing he understands your anguish and frustration. He loves you and is there with you. that is the most important part, you are not alone.

praise God!!