Be a man.

God is humbling. I find myself relying on his strength day in and day out. He’s let his grace pour out over my sin and his love over my hate. He’s transforming my mind like he says he will in Romans 12:2. I thank God for the time he has given me and, I pray that he will grow me even further. The joy that have I have when I share him with my friends and school-mates is unexplainable. He’s taken me from a life of uselessness and pornography and made me new. I am forever grateful. It’s tru that God takes the most unlikely people to do his work. There is a scipture that has been on my heart as of late. It’s 1st Corinthians 16: 13 - Be alert, stand firm in the faith, act like a man, be strong. It has made me question, do I really act like a man. I don’t mean by standards of muscles, money making, or anything that has to do with what the world says a man is. I am talking about what God says I am to be. Have I taken up my cross? Have I made a covenant with my eyes not to look upon a woman with lust? Have i despised my life in this world so that I can keep it as eternal life? Scripture actually says a lot about this.

Titus 2:7

⁷Show yourself in all respects to bea model of good works, and in your teachingshow integrity,dignity,

Psalm 119:9-10

 ⁹ How can a young man keep his way pure?
   By guarding it according to your word.
¹⁰ With my whole heart I seek you;
   let me not wander from your commandments!

Psalm 1:1-2

 ¹ Blessed is the man^[a]
   who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
   nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
² but his delight is in the law^[b] of the LORD,
   and on hislaw he meditates day and night. ³ He is like a tree
   planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
   and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers

I ask that you pray for me that I may grow in faith and that I will becaome a stronger man of God.

 

Wanted: You; By: Everything

It’s that time of the year again when you’re halfway through the school year, and summer is getting close enough that you’re starting to make plans. Of course every organization, group, and person also realizes this so they’re all competing for your attention. Quite simply, you are a valuable commodity. School programs that meet through the summer want your participation. Your employers or potential employers want your time. Let’s not even talk about your friends and all their thoughts on what you should do with your summer break! And of course, when we ask for a six through eight week commitment, AIM is no exception to the plethora of voices trying to finagle you into choosing one activity or program over another.

We often hear from teenagers who want to do AIM. The thought of serving God, growing closer to Him, and reaching out to others is appealing because they have a heart to follow after God. But as summer grows closer, their nerve starts to falter. There is money to be made, and sometimes one’s future to consider. A summer saying no to the world’s entreaties can be understandably daunting. We wonder if we’ll miss out on something, or if it will affect us some way in the future. Will you have enough money for those trips you’ve been wanting to go on? Will you regret missing out on band camp, or football? Maybe, maybe not.

The truth is that sometimes to follow God, we have to sacrifice our own wants and desires. This is not a bad thing. As you follow our Lord, you will soon discover that His plans are oftentimes better than anything we could ever devise for ourselves. While you may regret not being able to play the latest video game, the real question is, “Will you regret choosing a summer that seems convenient to your plans over one that gives you the kind of adventure only God can design?”

Take it from a now college girl. The stuff you think is important now will change. One day you’ll look back on these high school days and wonder why you wasted so much time. The summer memories that stand out most in my mind are not the ones where I goofed around with friends. It’s the memories of watching people smile as I shared God’s love with them, of having tiny trusting hands slip into mine from children who didn’t even know me. It’s of the hot sun, of teaching young girls how to paddle a canoe out on a pond, of walking into a stranger’s home and telling them about Christ. These moments occurred when I dropped to my knees in surrender and choose to give my time back to Christ. These memories, occurring while I stood in the center of God’s will for my life, are vibrant and alive.

Before you start signing your summer away to this activity and that organization, perhaps you should take a moment to consider something: What does God want you to do with your Summer? Can you hear Him calling you, and telling you to follow Him? Six through eight weeks may seem like a large chunk of time, but if you feel as if God is leading you to serve Him through AIM, don’t you think that He, with His power and wisdom, will reward you in some way for obeying?

If you have a strong desire to be an AIM Missionary, don’t you think there might be a reason why?

It’s that time of the year where everybody is trying to get you to make summer plans. Before you do, pray.

He Works. He Really Really Works.

This past week I saw God work in a way I have never seen before. He used me in countless ways this week and i feel so humbled by it. I found out firsthand the power of prayer because everyone I prayed for this week came to know Christ as their Lord and savior. Now you look me straight in the face and say that God doesn’t answer prayer. I can’t believe God let me be a part of something this amazing. I pray that he uses me everyday for the rest of my life so that He may get all the glory He deserves. God brought so many people into my path this week so that His glory may be spread that I can’t even count them all. MY GOD IS GREATER AND HIS LOVE IS FAITHFULL. I thank God for this week because He has opened my eyes to things that are not of him that are in me and He has shown me things that He wants me to do that shock me but also make me joyfull because I know that he wants to use me. For those that are reading this I would just like to say that from now and forever I am dead to myself and God is going to take my life and use it for his glory. I hope he does the same for you. His word is constantly changing me. I praise god for what He has done. You should do the same.

Tanner Wright

The Next Week Begins…Tonight

So, I should be packing, and I should be studying, but I feel that it is really important to update this blog first. Seeing as Shealy has already shared the highlights of the week, I will instead focus on this upcoming week: the Momentum Youth Camp. For all of the AIM missionaries last year, this week played a pivotal moment in our relationships with God. Many of us were given more leadership responsibilities and trusted to be a witness for God than ever before. We spent time in prayer, just praying for the Campers by name. And God answered. Hearts were touched and lives were changed, and I cannot wait to see Him do it again this year.

So I want to share with all of your faithful Blog readers what it felt like last year to be a missionary to your own peer group. It’s scary. Nobody wants to be labeled a freak and ignored, right? But somehow it’s easier to be a witness to strangers in Wal*Mart that you’ll never see again, or with little kids who will adore you no matter what, then your fellow teenagers. At the same time as you’re afraid, you feel this incredible burden. There are lost people at this Camp, and there are Church kids who have backed away from God. All of these souls are precious treasures to God, and it is our job to lift Him up so that they might draw closer to Him. We give our testimonies in front of large groups at this Camp. We build relationships, and again, we pray. Yeah, we pray a whole bunch.

And in the end we have the great joy and honor to watch lives change. It’s an incredible and unforgettable moment, to see somebody you’ve been praying for and talking to come forward one night at the invitation. It is also humbling and exhilarating at the same time. In short, last we saw how God can use us, just ordinary students who decided to serve Him.

Last year was amazing, and I hope this year is even more so. Please, join us in praying that God’s word might be taught and that lives will be changed for eternity. Once again, thank you.

Return of the Red Head

That’s right. I’m back. Ladies and gentleman put your hands together for KJ fifty-two.

Umm, sorry about that. Apparently my thoughts got mixed up with some KJ-52 songs. Oops.  Anyways, I know what you’re thinking. You’re going, “Did this crazy girl ever leave?” Truthfully? No, not really. I’ve been about as involved in AIM throughout this year as I could be. And guess what? You guys are stuck with me for another summer. Yay!

So for those that have no idea who I am, I’ll sum it up as quickly as possible. My name is Lauren Stoops. I was born a pastor’s daughter, lived as a pastor’s daughter for 13 years, became a missionary’s daughter, and am still an MK. This is my second year in AIM, so if you want to read my testimony then you can just check out my introductory post from last year.

So what’s different? Well, I’m now 17, and am a highschool graduate. I’m going to Brewton-Parker this fall to study Communications. I am still a writer, but I’m finding it difficult to focus on learning the skills of writing now. I keep wanting to jump ahead of God and do the whole author thing by chasing after those elusive book contracts. But I know I have a lot that I need to learn before I’m truly ready to serve God through my writing. I’m trying to learn how to keep characters distinct and to make them about as real as I can without them jumping out of the book and talking to readers one-on-one. I’m also trying to learn how to portray emotions through my writing. It takes a lot of time, and when it comes down to it, I’m not the most patient of writers.

Besides that, I am also really trying to focus on relying on God. For a few months, I’ve been the “leader” of an online Bible Study, but I want to learn how to transition to teaching in face-to-face settings. One of my mottos has become, “Trust God. He’s not going to call you to a task and then let you fail.” So that’s what I do. Anytime I have this thought, “I can’t handle this,” I remind myself that God will give me whatever help and tasks I need so that I CAN handle it.

Anyways, AIM starts today! And I am extremely excited to see what God has in store for us this summer, and to work on new friendships with this year’s AIM family. Please keep us in your prayers. Last year the AIM students learned that when you pray to God and really expect Him to respond, He will answer. Imagine if we were all praying?

I hope you also keep an eye on this blog, and the AIM Facebook page. Who knows? Maybe we’ll also encourage you to keep running the good race. Thank you!

Why?

I have heard and heard again, especially lately, that I am too young or too small to be a part of anything. Why not?! I put in time and effort into everything I do. Why can’t I do something great. Why the heck not?! I can be just as vital as someone twice my age. It was brought to my attention during our VBS that they needed the youth to help. But, what I didn’t know is that they didn’t want us to teach. If we are going to grow up and follow the great commision with our heart, mind, and soul, then why can’t we teach 1st 2nd 3rd and 4th graders about Jesus? I am so sick of it. i read my Bible everyday too. I put time and sincerity in my prayers. I pay actively listen to my pastor and youth pastor. Why am I too young to teach? I swear, I am going to show everyone that I am not insignificant! Yes I am small. Yes I am young. But, don’t I deserve a chance? The youth are the leaders of tommorow, and we shuold be teaching now! This should be the generation that changes history. This should be the generation that provides the rippples of hope throughout the world. How are we going to do that if we are being hindered by the very ones who are supposed to be teaching us? An anonymous author once said, “The difference between the good and the great is that little extra effort.” We, the youth, are that little extra effort! With us, the good can turn into great. How are we going to lead we are no longer youth if we aren’t learning by expererience. If you are reading this please join with me. WE ARE CAPABLE! We will be the change even if we have to go it alone. Ghandi once said, “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” We will be that change.

-Tanner Wright

Shealy Smith

Greetings and salutations! I’m Shealy and I will be one of the AIM missionaries this year. I am very excited for this summer, I can’t wait to find out what is in store!

Since you already know my name, I’ll tell you a little about myself. I’m 16 years old and my birthday is in October. I have been homeschooled since the third grade and I am going into my Junior year of high school. I have always been one to stand apart from the crowd and be different. I’ve been told that I’m fun to be around and I know I can be pretty random sometimes, especially when given coffee, but I know when to be serious, too.

Oh! Look! Shiny!

Haha, sorry about that. Back to the blog. Where was I…

I accepted Jesus Christ as my savior when I was six years old. I’ve attended church nearly my whole life, and I knew what it meant to be saved even at a young age.  I know I haven’t exactly been the model Christian, though. Even though I do like to be different from other people, when I was younger I also wanted to be like everyone else. I was shy and afraid to talk to people, so I thought that if I liked the same things as them and did the same things that they did, they might accept me. I can’t say that that plan worked out very well. I learned that being me is the best way to be and that God still loves me and will be my friend even when others won’t.

About a year ago my youth pastor started a Student Leadership program in my youth group. We did an in-depth study about discipleship, and I really learned a lot from it. I felt that God wanted to use me. Since then, I have decided that I would like to be a missionary among many other things, and by other things I mean an extensive list of various career choices that I would like to try, although my main goal is doing whatever God wants me to do with my life

Here are a few other random facts about me:

• My favorite color is blue
• I like old movies and tv shows (think 1930′s through early 1990′s)
• I am a skilled multitasker
• Most people I meet are taller than me
• I love music
• I like to look at the sky
• I do tricks on the trampoline for fun
• I am the oldest of three siblings
• I have a puppy named Dally
• The two things that I’m afraid of the most are needles and murky water (don’t ask)

Aaaaaand… that’s all, folks!

~ Shealy M. Smith