Seek.Share.Serve.Ski.

About a week ago, I came to the conclusion that God wanted me to stay  home this past weekend.  A day later, it was confirmed that He didn't want me at home.  Instead He wanted me to spend the weekend with a great group of teenagers, hanging out until the wee hours of the morning, learning what it means to seek Him, share Him, serve Him.  Oh, and throw a bit of midnight skiing in there.

As always, when I am where He wants me to be, blessings abound.  Being around these kids from our church youth groups is always such a blast and I always come away loving them even more.  They are good kids, who love Jesus, and know how to laugh and have a good time in the process. 

The main reason that I felt that God didn't want me there was becuase for about a week before, I hadn't had a whole lot of sleep at home.  I was dog tired and felt that I needed to not get behind on my sleep even more.  Things were behind at home and I felt like I didn't need to get behind any more.  I knew, from past experience, that sleep would be little on this trip.  So, how could this be good for me?  (Do you see a trend here?  The first person pronoun emphasis?)  After a brief conversation, on Tuesday, it was obvious God had other plans.  Better plans.  And I knew He would get me through.  He always does, so why would this time be any different.  And yes, He was faithful!

True, if I hadn't gone on this trip, I would have gotten more sleep.  I actually calculated the number of hours I did get sleep.  I won't share the gory details with you.  But, if I hadn't gone, I would have missed.......

* 5 minute arrival warnings ("we are 5 minutes closer than we were 5 minutes ago")
* randomly handing out about 120 candy canes on the bus ride
* realizing that I need to stay close to the Vine in order to grow
* lots of snow
* pink fuzzies
* seeing kids really think about what God wants for them and from them
* new friends (Brittany, Kirsten, Samantha, Rachel, Isaac, Kate, to name a few)
* the excercise walking up and down great hills
* learning where I need to be serving
* helping these kids learn how God has uniquely made them to serve
* Mr. Potato Head
* 4-On-A-Couch (ummm, can we try that again sometime?  When I've had more sleep?)
* hanging out with friends (you know who you are....)
* actually seeing clean tables after a meal
* hearing beginner skiiers tell me about their black diamond adventures
* handing out a gazillion quarters and fighting with the lockers at the lodge

So much more, but you get the idea.  What a blessing and joy!  Yes, I am still recovering from sleep deprivation, but it was totally worth it.  It is every time.  God is faithful!

Hey, Andrew, where are your gloves?