God's work and our work....

Today is a wonderful day to follow Jesus. It could be your first of many or it could be one of your many like it's your first day. No matter where you are in your relationship with Him, today, your relationship can have big implications on the world around you.

When we pray we are asking God to get involved in our lives. When we pray God's will above all, we are asking God to involve US in what He has going on here.

Nehemiah heard there was devastation among God's people and that because of their disobedience and failure to acknowledge God their land laid in ruin and was the laughingstock of their culture. Nehemiah began to pray, not for things to just get easier, but to ask for forgiveness for God's people, for himself and for his family before him. He asked God to forgive them for their sins and that God in His grace and power would remember them and send favor back to His people.

This must have been on the heart of God because The Lord answered Nehemiah's prayer. Not in the way of everything was instantly better but that God commissioned Nehemiah to get to work. God moved the king's heart to give Nehemiah  favor and letters of safety and provision BUT Nehemiah had work to do and faced battle at all sides. God answered the prayers of Nehemiah but without Nehemiah's actions after the walls would have remained in ruins. (Well at least until the next person answered the call)

Here we are today. Praying for our nation, praying for our teens, praying for our kids. We are asking God to bring favor and salvation and we are waiting excitingly for His answer. We are asking for forgiveness of our sins and for those of others and we are asking God to rebuild what lies in ruins today. BUT are we answering the call that come with our requests? Are we headed into the land with blueprints and visions of a healed and mighty land or are we waiting for someone else to do it? Are we praying for our people to be restored to Christ or are we just praying to get through each day? Are we the body moving towards the stones or hiding from the work at hand? Do we really want salvation for our nation, friends, family and strangers more than to sit by the side of the king?

Nehemiah had a great sacrifice to leave the side of the king. He was well taken care of and lacked nothing. Yet, he used his favor to influence the king for God's tasks and he left his comfort of the palace to go and to guide God's people to rebuild an old forgotten wall. He had his life threatened and his reputation questioned and yet he did not waiver or give up.

Friends, are we asking God to do what we are not willing to? Are we waiting for Him to build something that will benefit us without asking what we can and should be doing? Are we begging for salvation of others or just hoping they get it eventually?

I guess this week in our prayer time I am asking you to dive deeper. I am asking you to pray and ask God to move in ways that have eternal value and to wait for His response. Maybe He will return to you with favor for a mission He has for you or maybe He will speak to someone else to move as a leader on your behalf. Whatever it is I ask that you lean in this week in your prayers.

For us at YFC Campus Life Military we have some requests:

For the outreaching to meet military teens in our area.

For God's forgiveness for them and for favor over them as they learned they are loved by God and in return share that love with others.

For God's favor over us as we work toward rebuilding and restoring God's people to himself by way of Club nights, small groups, volunteer leader development, and See the Story events.

That we may have strength and protection as we work, and for FULL provision so that our minds and hearts will not have to juggle to provide support for our family and ministries.

Personal requests:

Vanessa: for healing and hope in the middle of a family loss, for strength and endurance as the end of the deployment nears, for grace and peace over all the seeds she is sowing, watering and harvesting.

Rachel: for continued grace and wisdom while blending families and lifestyles, for joy and wellness in her home and for her strength as she mothers now 8 amazing kids

Jeni: for wisdom and favor with decisions to be made, for energy to keep up with the ever changing schedules and for God's provision over the ministry in way of finances and volunteers so that much could be accomplished in a shorter amount of time.

We cherish you and your prayers and can't wait to see the fruit of your work in the weeks and months to come!

New Year, New YOUth

Hey friends, I pray your Christmas Season was refreshing and restful.

God has granted us (the team) much favor and rest and we are thankful for every bit of it. I cannot believe we are already a week into the new year. Is it just me or did it happen in a blink?

Vanessa traveled, Rachel got hitched, and I (Jeni) hosted company. The days were full but blessed to the brim. We surely will not run out of things to be thankful for!

The days in January will be filled with praying and planning. Each of us have tasks that we will need to navigate as we move forward. Our calendars are starting to compile new adventures with our youth and like race horses that have to pee.... we are so ready to start this beautiful race we have before us. But like every race comes prep and practice and some stretches and the buy in and some well.... waiting. This January while we move forward we are taking our time to listen closely to what God is calling us towards. We are seeking His heart and asking Him to guide us, train us, prepare us, and to faithfully race us toward His finish line. 

So as we await our lists of to-dos our prayer is that we will grow closer to HIM. That in the crazy of everyday life we will see HIM, acknowledge HIM and praise HIM. Our prayer is that from the overflow of our relationship with HIM everyone around us will also be transformed by HIM. We are asking you to pray with us that while we seek God so closely, that God will do the rest! 

Personal requests include:

Vanessa: Finishing the deployment strong while being able to balance work and "single mom" life in the meanwhile.

Rachel: For the blend of her now 8 children into one home, newly wed life and everything inbetween.

Jeni: For continued provisions and wisdom while fixing homes and getting out of debt.

We thank you for being an amazing part of our team. Your prayer hold us up when we need them most. May God overwhelm this area with HIS love and redemption, bringing salvation and reconciliation to His people.