New Blog, New Times to Share

Well, I've got another gmail account now, so I figured I'd abandon my old one, not that anyone reads it anyway. My first post will be on PASSION. As many know, I went to Washington D.C. for the conference, and I have to say, God is good. I've been on a spiritual low lately, with little to no activity, which is why I'm so glad God led me to go to PASSION'08. It all started when we saw the promo at ACF. I saw the size of the audience, Louie Giglio and Francis Chan and I instantly felt like being a part of it. I left Toronto 4am on Friday morning and got to the campus 10 hours or so later (glad I pass out so easily ^.^). Had lunch/dinner at Denny's before the first session. I got in at around 7:00pm and I was amazed at how many people were there, it was quite overwhelming but at the same time, refreshing to know there are so many Christians out there. It opened with worship, led by Chris Tomlin (which didn't even click at first - yeah i didn't even realize it was him). The resounding voices were phenomenal, all there to worship God. I did the usual thing, hyped up in singing, but wasn't really whole-hearted in it. Louie Giglio came on to share during that session, and I don't know about most people, but I've been bored at sermons at my church, but this was totally different. I could instantly see the passion this guy had for God, making me pay attention to his every word. I wish I was able to get the CD for the session, but it was sold out ><'. The key points I got out of it was how big God was and how we should take part in Him. He used the analogy of us being individual matches, with limited lifespans, while God is the Eternal Flame. If we throw in our tiny little flame, we are then able to burn for as long as His burns; for ETERNITY.
One other thing that really hit was his real life example of a girl being saved (Ashley). She had been in and out of a relationship with the same guy and she hit a real low, while she had just got a Christian roomate, whom she called "Fruitcake". After breaking up with her boyfriend, Ashley broke down and fruitcake was there to listen to her. Ashley had been raised in a Christian home, but was not a believer like her father and they both thought the rest of the family were crazy for believing in God. However, she saw that fruitcake was different from all the other Christians she knew. Fruitcake was wierd in all the right ways and normal in all the right ways (I WANT TO BE A FRUITCAKE!). Slowly but surely, Ashley became drawn to fruitcake's belief. Fruitcake showed her messages by Louie and after a while, she became a believer, it was a really powerful message. We finished off with more worship, and the night with more Denny's (becoming a habit?).
The next day, we opened with worship again (Charlie Hall and Matt Redman were there too). Francis Chan shared this time, and this was the most powerful message I heard, mainly because it applied so perfectly to my life. From having a past that was pretty crappy to becoming a Christian to escape it all, and putting imperfections based on my earthly father onto my Heavenly Father, to making all my mistakes AFTER I became a believer and got baptized. Questioning myself whether or not I had the right to believe I could be saved. It really hit me with the fact that God is Love and He NEVER gives up on us, NEVER. I would put up a facade with my Christianity, but it was all wrong and I felt like a burden was lifted when I listened to Francis. On top of it, the passion Francis showed was really moving. I felt a burning desire to become more Christlike and more of a fruitcake, than I had ever felt in my life before.
The second session of that day, Louie spoke again and he burped mid-sentence, YES! it was priceless XD. But the message definitely was good and he finished off the story about Ashley. Ashley came to Christ and her father saw a definite change in her; however, 2 days before recieving her degree, she was in a car accident and died. I'm so glad she was able to become a Christian before it and is now with God. But more amazingly, her father began to have questions about God and he is now friends with Louie. God can do anything and works powerfully through others. The story has made me realize that I have always been an observer as opposed to striving to become someone God can use. Instead of thinking "I want to be like that", I should work my butt off being one of those people, because WE ARE ALL USABLE BY GOD. So this is now my goal and my passion in life. Forget everything else, what's important is that I live my life with God.
The worship at the conference was awesome when it started and unbelievable when it ended. EVERYONE in the stadium was singing at the top of their lungs, arms held up high grasping for God, and jumping out of joy of being with God and knowing that He will never leave us. A Father and Lover of us all. I have some new favorites for worship songs, and I may be listening to them all the time to keep myself reminded of my goal and that God is always with me. "God of this City", "Sing, Sing, Sing", "Hosanna", "Dancing Generation", "Mighty to Save", "Let God Arise", "God of our Yesterdays", and "Everlasting God".
Coming back home, God showed me my greatest temptation: lust. With his strength, I'm working to overcome this weapon of the devil. I want to show my tempations and put it out into the Light, rather than keep it in the darkness and being ashamed. I think it was during a bible study at LCAC studying Ephesians 5: "...Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible..." [Praise God. God is greater than anything of this world and everything beyond, so who should I fear? I am in awe of your love for me Father, may you "heal my heart and make it clean, open up my eyes to the things unseen, show me how to love like You have loved me, break my heart for what breaks Yours, Everything I am for Your kingdom's cause" - "Hosanna" - Christy Nockels. In Jesus' Name, AMEN.]