Excited About The Lord's Plans

Hello, all! Welcome to our church's new website! All of us here in the youth group are so very anxious to see what great works are in store for us in this new experience. To start things off, I thought I'd give a little insight into what this youth group stands for and what my goals are for our walks with God. My youth group has always been such a blessing to me, especially when I was lost and in dire need of a savior. 

When I was about 9 years old, I began to hear the Lord speaking to my heart. It was a feeling I had never felt before. How amazing it was to hear a living God begin to speak in a still small voice to my heart. As wonderful I realize conviction is in hindsight, at the time I didn't heed to the word and the calling as I should've. I went about a year gripping the pew and choking back tears as the man of God proclaimed the word to me, explain how wretched I was, how the Lord aimed to save me from a place called hell. I thought I was hiding this grandly, of course. :) But I was not. The Lord knew where I was and only pursued me more diligently. I tried to wrap my head around the idea of submitting myself to an all knowing God for so long, but it was futile and impossible. One Wednesday night, August 15, I finally stopped my routine of justification and procrastination and asked myself, "What am I really afraid of?" And when I did, something inside my heart broke, and I was no longer frightened, so I grabbed a friend to go pray with me. I can't tell you a word I said because I frankly don't remember, and I have a vague sense of not saying anything. I sobbed, as the Lord read my heart and knew exactly what I needed. I could hear the cries of my church around me and I felt whole. That piece I was missing all my life was there. I could feel the arms of the Lord surrounding me. The pastor hugged me when I got up, I and distinctly remember saying, "That wasn't as bad as I thought it would be." I laugh as I write this, at the innocence of myself, who was afraid of salvation, who didn't realize that it was much more than a rescue from hell. The one who didn't realize it would be a comfort when I carried the burden of friends who were lost, the hand to hold when no one else understands, or the shoulder to lean on when the grief of a death shook my world. I thought I was just escaping punishment but I was entering a more abundant life than I could ever imagine. 

That is my goal for our youth group. To help see as many people who are lost, like I once was, to Jesus. I want our youth group to open doors that the lost can walk through to get to God. And I sincerely hope sharing my testimony will help do that. I pray that those who read this will learn from my own mistakes, and come to the Lord when he first calls, rather than wait and lean on their own earthly understandings. Thank you so much for allowing me to share God's amazing work in my life with you, and I hope that this helps. If you have any questions, or would like to talk about your walk with the Lord, shoot us an email at jarniganchapel@gmail.com and someone will be happy to talk with you. I hope you have a truly blessed day! 

                            - Abbey, 14 years old