Moments

In my adventure here in Colorado, I have found a new church. Mission Hills Church is great! The worship is all about God and the preaching is challenging and relevant. There is a genuineness that I have missed in church for a long time.

Since I've discovered a new church home, I've felt my heart aching to get back into being with youth. I recently tweeted that I miss all-nighters. Who would've thought that?!?! So I contacted the church and I'm currently in the process of becoming a volunteer again (YAY!).

I miss all-nighters and mountain dew comas. #youthministry #youthpastor #bestjobintheworld
— Janel C (@janelc1228) January 3, 2014

One of the questions on the application is "What are some significant events in your life that have impacted you spiritually?" As I began to think about significant spiritual events, here is what I came up with, and I wanted to share it with you.

-Going to Camp in High School and learning that God wanted a relationship with ME.

-Urbana Mission Conference where I heard God calling me to Youth Ministry.

-Going to Biola and realizing what it was that I truly believed and not settling for what I had been told to believe.

-Going to a Youth Specialties Conference and hearing God call me into full time ministry.

-Going on a mission trip as a leader and having my heart broken for the less fortunate in downtown LA.

-Going to Mexico as a leader and having students teach me about the area and being led by them.

-Being surrounded by love from my friends as my time as a Youth Pastor came to an end professionally and through that love, knowing that God was always going to care for me.

I haven't made a list like this in a long time. I ended up making a list of significant spiritual moments in my life that defined me, instead of moments that happened in my life and how those shaped my spiritual life. I'm not going to lie, I cried as I wrote this list. I wept for missing those who were there, for missing those memories. How I hadn't thought of those moments in a long time. But mostly I cried because I realized that God was there at every moment. That my life is defined by what God does. Beautiful. 

I encourage you to make such a list. I think I will print it and place it somewhere I can see each day, to remind me of God's faithfulness. 

Happy New Year.