An Unexpected Journey

     It's no secret. I love The Lord of the Rings trilogy film. Who doesn't? But The Hobbit - even better, in my opinion. I love Bilbo Baggins' story. Here's a guy who represents the average human being: living a quiet, comfortable, and somewhat uneventful life. But then Gandalf (much like the character of God) comes along. "I'm looking for someone to share in an adventure..." he says. He invites Bilbo on an incredible journey. Bilbo's life is suddenly bombarded with chaos, discomfort, but a little sense of mystery - and he gets a little curious. 
     Gandalf and the dwarves offer him the opportunity to join them on their quest. Bilbo counts the cost of such an endeavor and Gandalf tells him, "you'll have a tale or two to tell when you come back." 
     To which Bilbo responds, "can you promise that I will come back?"
     "No," Gandalf replies, "and if you do, you will not be the same." 
     Bilbo is hesitant, much like we are when God calls us to an uncomfortable journey. He actually declines the offer at first, but imagine what a boring story the Hobbit would be had he stayed at home! The story and the excitement of life begin when we step outside our door. 

Bilbo leaving his home in the Shire: "No time to talk. I'm going on an adventure!"

What an amazing opportunity God gives us to be involved in His ADVENTURE! Don't miss out! Stop just wondering what's on the other side...and GET OUT THERE! 

"Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together! To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance."

     Christmas was fun with my host parents from when I was here a few years ago. Such a blessing to get to spend the day and night with them! And I got to Skype my family at 2am on Christmas morning. YAY! And tomorrow morning I'm travelling to Poland for a week to visit my mom's college roommate and possibly learn more about Eastern European culture and human trafficking. Kind of a last minute plan, but when God invites us for an adventure, don't say "no!" :) 

     Merry Christmas and Feliz Navidad and Happy New Year to you and yours. May 2013 be a year of blessing and expected journeys! 

Taking the Backseat AKA the "be still and know" part

     FIRST CHRISTMAS SNOW! What a wonderful day-after-my-birthday present! So beautiful to wake up to a world in white and I can't wait until it snows again! Really puts you in the Christmas spirit! 
     Last week we had a Christmas dinner with all the leaders from Firecrackers (4-8 year olds). It was good to spend time and get to know them outside of youth groups. 

Firecrackers Leaders

      Last week I also hosted a girls Christmas craft and movie (Elf) night for the middle and high school-aged girls. It was fun to just hang out with them, make puppy chow and apple cider, and watch them get to know each other outside of their normal friend groups. A lady who helps with Firecrackers, Jane, took me to buy supplies for crafts and stayed for the event to help the girls with their crafts. So thankful and blessed to have her! And she made a Christmas wreath for my house! We had about 12 girls come to the event. 

Jane's Christmas Wreath

      Last Thursday I went to my first primary (elementary) school assembly. We have been asked by the school to come in for 20 minutes twice a month to talk about Bible stories, what an opportunity! We talked about creation and used funny props to tell the story of what God made on each day. The kids loved it and got really involved, listening and answering questions about the story. You gotta love 100 little kids saying "Good afternoon, Rachel" in unison, and in English accents. So precious! After we told our story and prayed for the children (imagine, praying in a public school!) we stayed and listened to them sing "Silent Night" in English, French, and German, which they've been learning for Christmas this year. It really struck me as they sang the words to a very "Christian" song that they are very open to the truth and surrounded by the truth about Christmas, yet they just don't get it. To them it's equal to the story of Santa Claus or any other fairy tale. But I am thankful that they love the idea of having us come in to share with their students, so I'll trust that God will allow the truth to prevail and continue to water the seeds we plant!

Girls at Christmas Craft/Movie Night

     And on that note of planting seeds: the most exciting but also most difficult part of the last few weeks. Monday night we discussed the Christian film To Save a Life with the middle school-aged students. We've watched the film with them over the past 2 weeks and some walked away in tears last week because they saw it as depressing and hopeless. I've shown this film to literally hundreds of high school students in America but I've never seen this response. It's meant to be a challenging but hopeful movie! So this past week I've been trying to think of a way to convince them of the hope that can be found in Jesus because we don't have to live life on our own. I don't want them to just watch a character's story of pain and sorry, I want them to see it as a choice they can make in their own lives! 
     So Monday we broke into boy/girl groups to discuss their thoughts on the film. Even thought kids felt depressed about film, they really knew it. They knew all the details of the story which is sooo encouraging to know, and I pray that they'll remember it for a while so that God can bring things to their minds as they get older. This is so promising and I'm excited to see how God continues to grow seeds that were planted during the screening of the film. Towards the end of our discussion I was able to pray that the girls will begin to sense God's working and presence in their lives, even though they don't believe He exists - YET! I said that at some point they'll all have to answer the question "Is there more to life?" And I believe with all my heart that the only answer to that question is found in Jesus Christ. As God has clearly taught me, I can trust Him to water seeds! After our discussion, I asked if anyone would like a copy of the follow-up mp3 devotional used by the characters in the film. One of the girls in Lightning Bolts (who has only been coming for 3 weeks), a girl who is junior leader in the group (high school) and leader (a mom) all wanted copies! So excited to see what happens when I step back and let Him work!

     Another cool God moment: There's a high school-aged girl who's been pretty actively attending our Bible study. Half of the time I honestly don't think she gets a word I say. To her, everything in the Bible becomes about loving each other and just being nice. No matter how many times or different ways I explain the Gospel, she doesn't get it. So when we gave her the book Crazy Love I didn't know what to expect. However, she's been reading it like crazy...already to chapter 5 when the rest of us are on chapter 3. Monday she came to help out at youth groups and told me she had a question about the book. I assumed I would have to explain to her something pretty basic, assuming most of the ideas in the book would go over her head. I underestimated God, yet again. She asked about chapter 4 saying, "what does lukewarm mean?" So I explained it in literal terms and tried to simply share how God doesn't want us to be lukewarm. As expected, she probably listened to about half of my explanation, but then she asked "yeah, but what does it mean to be a lukewarm Christian?" I was humbled. God had patiently spoken to her through the reading and found the right time for her to "get it." She had finally connected literal life to a relationship with God. And me and my impatient and annoyed explanations didn't need to be a part of it. God just showing me who's boss. Then God threw another curve ball when she asked "well how do you avoid being a lukewarm Christian? What do you have to do?" 
     So, armed with this new excitement and the unexpected blessing of getting to see the fruit of my labor (er-God's labor) I'm going to be working with her a lot more in the coming months. I'm taking her to pick out a good teen study Bible this week and helping her learn how to hear from God on her own. I've learned to take a backseat, to stay out of what God's trying to do, and sit back and watch!

James Arthur

     P.S. Want a new Christmas movie to watch this year? Watch the film, Nativity. It's the English equivalent to The Christmas Story, Elf, or It's a Wonderful Life, whichever Christmas style your family is in to. I saw the sequel in cinemas for my birthday and it is so cute with lots of precious little children. And it gives a glimpse into the culture of England, Jesus is well-known, but just a story.

     Also, James Arthur won the British X-Factor this year, and he's from Saltburn/Middlesbrough, right where I live! So proud!