We won't be silent

I posted this on Facebook, but then I realized that not everyone has facebook. So this is for all you non facebookers ;)

"Shout it out the world must know, God is love"

     Amazing and powerful things happened this past weekend. I don't know about you, but starting Saturday night I truly felt like we had become a part of the body of Christ. We were able to put away distractions, open up and be real with one another. I had come to the retreat with high expectations. God went far beyond those. I had been praying for connection among us. God unified us. I was praying that we would be real, but God opened us up even further. Not only were we real with each other, we were real with God, and real with our worship.
     The retreat was just for a weekend, but it doesn't have to end there. God started something in us, and we need to carry it on. Like Adam said, we can't just let those feelings go and go right back to our old life. We need to leave our sin behind, and walk the path that God has laid out for us. Maybe this past weekend was the starting point of that walk, or maybe it was a milestone. But whatever it was for you, don't hide it. Don't be silent. Because that's what Satan wants. Shout it out. The world does need to know God's love.
     Now, if you're anything like me, today was really hard. School, work, family issues... it's all back. And all I want to be doing right now is worshiping our God with all of you. But sadly, life is not like that all the time. We got to keep going and living our life. But even though the music has stopped, our worship doesn't have to. And it shouldn't. Everything we do should be an act of worship. Obviously, this is easier said then done. And that's where friends come in. Are we helping each other build a life that is worthy of our calling? Are we encouraging and praying for one another?
     Guys, I'm serious. If we want more of what we had Saturday night, we have to help each other. Communicate during the week. Share with each other how God's working. Admit to sins that you need to change, and give advice. God is at work, but so is Satan! We can't just sit back and say "well, that was awesome. I hope it happens again." We have to work together for that to happen again. Because it's more then just a group thing, it comes down to where we are individually. Most likely there will be a certain friend, or group of friends that you're going to go to more often with your problems. But we still need to get to know each other better, and reach out a hand to those who need it.

     This is getting long, so I'll end it now. But one last thing I want to say, if you haven't already, go read Matthew 5-7 which is the Sermon on the Mount. It will help you put everything into perspective. Well... it did for me :)
     I love you all a lot, and you are all in my prayers.

"Submit yourself therefor to God. resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you." James 4:7-8

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the reace that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despsing the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow tired of fainthearted." Hebrews 12:1-3

We also have this awesome  group going where we just post whatever. Scripture that helped us, prayer requests, etc. But we're going to move that to a blog thinggy/forum or something like that so everyone can see it, and not just those on Facebook.
Anyway, hope your week is going well  so far!