My life formation in Gettysburg Master's Commission (The Ministry Experience) @ FVN can be explained because of one above all else who I'm living for...Jesus Christ the son of the living God
If it's anything I should talk about in my life from this past week, it would be talking about my faith. A friend and I recently had a fantastic time/meeting at Panera Bread to talk about our growth group plans for others to join. She asked me if I was ok, that I didn't seem like myself. I was sort of stunned at that. I thought I was having a pretty good day even though I have a million things on my mind and praying about. I shared a lot with her and she had me read:
Matthew 6:25-34 25“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?26Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?27Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 28“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing,29yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.30And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? 31“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’32These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.33Seek the Kingdom of God[d] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 34“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
I've read the passage before, but I think almost just read over it and not really seeing it until today. I've learned that the reason tend to worry so much, about school, relationships, jobs/internships, etc is because I don't put all my faith and trust in God. I always thought I have but I haven't as much as a I thought. What I've learned is that, letting go and laying down everything at the foot of the cross can be a hard step. If you do that however, putting, keeping the faith and trust in God is all we can do in life. God is our only way to live by and for. This a prinicple I need to take with me everywhere I go. Anywhere I travel in the future, those people need to know top ut their faith and hearts into Christ
Also, something I've been realizing is that, with this 40 day purpose fast, I've been spending much more time in the word and worshipping God. I feel like I haven't had that in a few months. Having it back is really nice and I pray to make this more of a habit. God is just fantastic and really brought me into my own light lately!
"Lord, thank you for all you do! You are so awesome and have shown me so much faith, love, mercy, and grace. I pray to give all those right back to you! Amen."
Caitlyn A. Inman
Gettysburg Masters Commission student'10-11
Elevate Leadership Ministry School
Freedom Valley Worship Center
Have you ever heard of Bible verse, "the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few." This is from Luke 10:2. This week/ weekend has been a time of harvesting God's field. As people, we need to learn to send more workers out to the field to grow the kngdom of God.
Though this is what I am using for my presentation in class this is what I've learned this week. Enjoy!!
Saturday night I believe, but Sunday was fantastic! Just hearing the way we prayed as a worship this past sunday morning was, it's hard to describe but I LOVED it! Not only Sunday morning but I believe it was that night, we heard a Bible passage before we went on stage...both times, in the morning and night, we just said "Give it all up to God until there is nothing left. Don't hold anything back, and give it your all."
This first video is about giving your all to the Lord and holding nothing back. This definitly fit my week and past few months for Harvest Cry.
Holding Nothing Back- Jesus Culture (we did this song the past few weekends)
This second video also reminds me about giving your all to God until you have nothing left to give. It's very inspirational!!
scene from "Facing The Giants" movie...my favorite part!
God was so inspirng this weekend to me through the Imagine Conference and through Harvest Cry. I saw some miraculous healings and just people dedicating their lives to Christ and submitting themselves to the Holy Spirit! This is what we've prayed for for months! I've experienced some of this recently and then saw it. Being a partial eye witness to miracles from God!
Blessings in Christ!
Caitlyn A. Inman
Gettysburg Masters Commission student'10-11
Elevate Leadership Ministry School
Freedom Valley Worship Center
Throughout this week, I've thought a bit about what we learned in class. We learned about what people think of Christians and unchristian people. I've found this to be a bit ridiculous and over the edge but ok. People are right, that Christians can be hypocritical and the other things. I've experienced this but everyone is like that at one point. The only thing we can really do is try our best to live like Christ did and following God's word.
A way I'm doing that lately is by constantly praying and fasting. I've been fasting McDonalds since wednesday and I've been fasting everything but water since sunday for Harvest Cry. Another thing I started is "A Complaint Free World" bracelet. If I complain, criticize, or gossip, I have to switch the bracelet to the other wrist. I can't wait to see what God has planned with these fasts and during Harvest Cry. Satan is trying to fight back but he has already been defeated I believe through Jesus Christ! Read Daniel 9:3. I love this verse on fasting and praying.
I love how I've found a family with GMC and just in general at FVWC. I love living with the Kadish's. They've been a blessing to me since I'm not with my family who raised me. I've found an amazing church family under the body of Christ and feel I'm to stay here forever. Eventually I'm to go to the Tulsa plant but not for like 5-10 years. When I get married and move out of Thomasville, I would love to live in New Oxford. God has definitly blessed the town of New Oxford! I love how God's beauty shines out in it! I love just working with Charity and worship team, ThEdge youth, and kids ministry here. I've been praying for our team, our churches, families, etc. It's been a lot but know God is blessing us through this!
I've been keeping up pretty well in all homework, staff work, scripture memory. I can't believe in 2 months and 1 week we graduate. God is just so amazing and this is what he's been working in me in the past week. I'm definitly not going to hold anything back this week! This is a new song we did this past week for worship. God also has shown me that I'm not done here yet!
Holding Nothing Back - Jesus Culture
I know this is a shorter blog than usual but I this is what God's been working in me! Blessings!
Caitlyn A. Inman
Gettysburg Masters Commission student'10-11
Elevate Leadership Ministry School
Freedom Valley Worship Center
life.form.complexity:
complexity - {kem'pleksite}
noun (pl. -ties)
the state or quality of being intricate or complicated : an issue of great complexity
complexity.issues.key:
*perception of Christians
*politics
*evolution vs. ID
*gay/lesbian
*different faiths
Stats."UNchristian" 16-29:
*Outsiders' (unsaved) - Perceptions of Christianity:
*90% - Antihomosexual
*87% - Judgmental
*85% - Hypocritical
*75% - Too Political
*70% - Insensitive to Others
*64% - Not Accepting other Faiths
gabelyons.co-author.news
Gabe Lyons, "UNchristian"
Just be there for people, be present...you may not need words...
shift.perception:
*JUDGMENTAL
-perception: christians prideful and quick to find faults in others
-NEW Perception: Christians show grace by finding the good n others and seeing their potential to be Christ followers.
sync.truth:
*Philippians 2:17; 2 Timothy 4:6; 1 John 3:16-19- Our lives are to "poured out" and spent to serve God's purposes.
-Philippians 2:17 - "But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God,[a] just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy."
-2 Timothy 4:6 - "As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near."
-1 John 3:16-19 - "16 We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister[a] in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? 18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 19 Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God."
*Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:21-22- Our attitude should be like that of Jesus, who loved and accepted humans even though they were "enemies" of God. He changes their status from enemies to friends, even songs and daughters of God, when they commit themselves to him.
-Philippians 2:5-11 - "5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God,[a]he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges[b]; he took the humble position of a slave[c]and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,[d]8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
-Colossians 1:21-22 - "21 This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. 22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault."
shift.perception:
*HYPOCRITICAL
-perception: christians say one thing but live something entirely different
-NEW Perception: Christias are transparent about their flaws and act first, talk second.
How NOT to Evangelize
clip from the Disney Channel Movie: UP
shift.perception:
*ANTIHOMOSEXUAL
-perception: christians show contempt for gays and lesbians
-NEW Perception: Christians show compassion and love to all people, regardless of their lifestyle.
doc.love.lisen.repeat
Tony Kriz: Confession Booth Story
Wm. Paul Young, Author of The Shack
sync.truth
*1 Timothy 3:1-7- One of the qualifications of Christian leadership is to have "a good reputation with outsiders."
*Titus 3:2- Christians should be peaceable and considerate, showing true humility to everyone
*2 Peter 3:9 - God wants everyone to repent and turn to him
shift.perception:
*TOO POLITICAL:
-perception: christians are primarily motivated by a political agenda and promote right-wing politics
-NEW Perception: Christians are characterized by respecting people, thinking biblically, and finding solutions to complex issues.
Blake: Hope For Africa, poverty activist
Creatively give back to others. How To Save A Life
Caitlyn A. Inman
Gettysburg Masters Commission student'10-11
Elevate Leadership Ministry School
Freedom Valley Worship Center
In this world, we need to know what our mission, our vision is for our life and whether it matches God's! What is your virutes, your morals? What I learned this past week is that God is crazy about us and we need to be crazy about him. We need to love him and love others! The most important commandments is, "Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind." Secondly is to, "Love your neighbor as yourself."
The Christian rule of chastity cannot be confused with social rule of modesty. I like how in class we learned a quote from C.S. Lewis stating that, "old, ol-fashioned people, should be careful not to assume that young people are corrupt, and in return, young people should not call their elders prudes."
If you look at the unhealthy view of sex & food parallel it's really bad. We need to learn to act on discipline because things cannot get confused. If you go as far as you want wen you want...that can be very bad most times. Things people crave for, they need to think, "will this please God?" That's why fasting is so good to do in different areas of your life. I tend to do this and others do too but we are always wanting things instantly but it can't always be like that. In most cases, the best things in life will be more blessed over time and when you wait." What we need to crave after is our God because he is so jealous for our attention that we don't give enough to him. I love how in God of This City, Bluetree writes about greater things are yet to come and greater things are still to be done in this city! God has such big plans in our lives and in every part of the world. Everyone needs to discover their spiritual gifts so that they can help others in their callings. 1 Corinthians 12 talks about that. "A real desire to believe all the good you can of others and to make others as comfortable as you can will solve most of the problems." We really need to think on this. I know that people need to learn to this "vision" because often people are out of their comfort zones. That can be a good thing but if it is to much for them then people will back out too much. I know that when I get out of my comfort zone to talk and help others, that helps them and then they can ask for help in areas that usually need attention.
Marriage, love, Christ is so important to pay attention to. In relationships there will always be obstacles and you'll be tested on your faith. That is when you need to press and push through those obstacles. A good marriage is when both people always get along but in a GREAT marriage, there will be obstacles that the couple defeat and push through. When I think of this concept, I don't just think about the song "Marry Me" by train with the birthday video for Rachel by Hugh Jackman and Rachel's husband Christtian. I think about the movie, Fireproof. This movie starring Kirk Cameron is so influencial especially to married couples going through problems.
How far would you go to save your relationships? Especially maybe your relationship with God? We all need to ask ourselves this question. "Never leave your partner behind, especially in a fire." God never gave up on us. He's never given up on me, so I can't give up on him. Wait on him patiently and serve, worship and love while you are waiting for him.
(I saw this music video from Fireproof and it reminded me of another video I saw, created by one of our own Freedom Valley members but I'll just show the Fireproof version).
"Justice = keeping promises"
When I hear the song, "How He Loves Us" I think about the 2 most important commandments again. We need to pay attention to the trinity. We need to love people and give them second chances as much as we can because God does that for us. Love others and Christ as much as he loves you! I always try to follow this but it can be difficult at times. We need to "let truth have the power" Lately, i'm trying to learn and worry about who, what, when, where, and how to minister to people, sharing truth with them. Keep love as a deep unity you have for someone. I know for me, when I love people such as my family, friend, etc it brings unity for them and myself.
Forgiveness = mercy & grace. God is a merciful and graceful God. People tend to say that forgiveness is a lovely idea until they have something to forgive. We can't judge others though because when we judge someone else, then we will be judged. I like how what we learned in class last week was that when we need to consider ourselves and everyone else better than you/they are. We need to give ourselves the benefit of a doubt sometimes. When we sin though, we tend to want others to judge us by our intentions and not the sin. I don't know, it's very interesting what we learn in class sometimes. I love the quote by Bertha Calloway where she says, "We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails."
Thinking about the great sin is such a hard concept sometimes for people and for myself. Pleasure in being praised is not pride. We must not think pride is something God forbids. Humility is something that God demands. I tend to be to prideful sometimes in how I live my life but I need to learn to humble myself before God more. Esepcially during weekend services I tend to not do this enough.
Another thing we learned about that was probably my favorite part of class is Charity/Giving, Christian Love. The power of ONE can make such a difference in peoples lives. Especially look at Jesus Christ himself. I love giving to others and especially tithing. This is where the commandment, "Love your neighbor as yourself" comes into play. Right now, I'm currently feeling the desire that God placed in my heart to sponser a Compassion child and also to buy a pair of TOMS shoes. These are some areas where I want to be able to give. Right now I can't but I pray to in the future.. I do help to sponser the SOS's compassion child. Her name is Princy and I love that we can send letters to her. I'm doing what I can though right now and that is giving to Freedom Valley Worship Center for the kingdom of God through partnership, serving in youth, kids and on worship team. Lastly we need to provide hope to those around us. I love when I can help people to realize that their is hope for them. I wish I was more gifted in this area but I always try to do this. I love how we have our own HOPE INITIATIVE here at church and i'm part of serving in that.
We are doing this all to further God's kingdom. I only pray that God gives us all more direction in our lives through time on what he wants us to do in our lifetime here on earth. Live for yourself, more for others, building it all up in faith for our one true, God of this city!! <3
Caitlyn A. Inman
Gettysburg Masters Commission student'10-11
Elevate Leadership Ministry School
Freedom Valley Worship Center
The Unpopular Virtue - Virtue of Chastity: "The Christian Rule of Chastity must not be confused with social rule modesty" - Culture: "Old, ol-fashioned people, should be careful not to assume that young people are corrupt, and in return, young people should not calltheir elders prudes." - C.S. Lewis - Unhealthy view of sex & food parallel - Chastity - acting on discipline...things can be confused. If you go as far as you want when you want...that's bad. That's why fasting is so good to do in different areas of your life. We are always wanting instant but the best things will be more blessed in time, when you wait.
- "Everyone knows that the sexual appetit, like our other appetites (food), grows by indulgence."
In the movie SUPER-SIZE ME the guy ate McDonalds food every meal and every day for at least a month to see what the effects were to it. Why do we crave things? Are you addicted to this or that? Is is harmful?
- "One critic said that if he found a country in which such strip-tease acts with food were popular, he would conclude the people of that country were starving."
Listen to this song. The song is probably most known to you by hearing Chris Tomlin but Bluetree wrote it. God of This City
- "A real desire to belive all the good you can of others and to make others as comfortable as you can will solve most of te problems."
1 Corinthians 12 - "Spiritual Gifts"
*Watch Craig Gross from xxxchurch.com*
Christian Marriage: Marriage: love & Christ
- "The Christian attitude does not mean that there is anything wrong about sexual pleasure, anymore than about the pleasure of eating. It means that you must not isolate that pleasure and try to get it by itself, any more than you ought to try to get the pleasures of teaste without swallowing digesting, by chewing things and spitting them out again."
In relationships, try to press and push through obstacles!! Justice: Christian & Rachel
- "Justice = keeping promises"
*MarryMe - Train*
(P.S. This made me emotional)
"Oh, How He Loves Us", The Trinity is so important and we need to love people and give them second chances as much as we can. Love them as much as Christ loves you!"
-"What Christ meant by saying that a thing will not really live unless it first dies. It is simply no good trying to keep any thrill: that is the very worst thing you can do. Let the thrill go- let it die away- go on thru that period of death into the quieter interest and happiness that follow- and you will find you are living in a world of new thrill all the time." Divorce: love & Christ
- "A great many people seem to think that if you are a Christian yourself you should try to make divorce difficult for everyone, I do not think that."
- "Let truth have power!" "Worry about who, what, when, where, how and if to minister to people." A Few Things: Being in Love
*Ceasing to be "in love" need not mean ceasing to love.
*Who could bear that excitement, what would come of your work, appetite, sleep, & friendships.
*Love is a deep unity, maintained by the will and diliberatly strengthed by habit; reinforced by grace which comes from each other and God.
*Being in Love first moved them to promise fidelity: this quieter love enales them to keep promises. It is on this love that the engine of marriage is run: being in love was the explosion that started it.
Forgiveness: mercy & grace
- "Every one says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive." - "When you judge someone, you will be judged."
- "When we sin, we want others to not judge by the sin but by the intentions. Consider yourself and everyone else better than you/they are." (giving yourself the benefit of a doubt).
"We cannot diect the wind, but we can adjust the sails." - Bertha Calloway
"There is one vice of which no man in the world is free; which everyone in the world loaths when he sees it in someone else; and of which hardly any people, except Christians, ever imagine that they are guilty themselves." - pride leads to every other sin/vice
Photo by: Janel K. Weyant
"It is the complete anti-God state of mind." "It was thru Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads every other vice."
The Great Sin
- "Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man." Misunderstandings:of the great sin
*Pleasure in being praised is not Pride, thinking what a fine person I must be to have done it...is.
*Being proud, a warm-hearted admiration for.
*We must not think Pride is something God forbids or that Humility is something he demands
*Humility is not someone who thinks he is a nobody, probably he is a cheerful, intelligent, chap, who took a real interest in what you said. A Few Things: the great sin *Pride Test: Ask, how much do I dislike it when other people snub me, or refuse to take any notice of me, or shove their oar in, show off?
*Power is what Pride enjoys
*As long as you are proud you cannot know God
*Whenever we fnd that our religious life is making us feel that we are good, above all, that we are better than someone else, I think we may be sure that we are being acted on not by God, but by the devil.
Charity/Giving: Christian love *ONE*
**Romans 12 (The Message)** A Few Things: charity/giving
*Charity: the state of the will which we have naturally about ourselves, and must learn to have for other people.
*Do not waste time bother whether you "love your neighbor," act as if you did. If you do him a good turn, you will find yourself dissliking him less.
*Good and evil both increase at compound interest. That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of infinite importance.
*Christian Love, either towards God or towards man, is an affair of the will. Hope
- "Aim at Heaven and you will get earth 'thrown in': aim at earth and you will get neither." A Few Things: hope
*Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next.
*If you read history you will find that the Christans who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next.
*Apostles and conversion Roman Empire and English Evangelials who Abolished Slavery.
*There are all scores of things in his world that offer to give it to you, but they never quite keep their promise.
Will you be a part of the hope this year?? Join April 5, 2011
A day with no shoes
Take a look at our own church's HOPE INITIATIVE @
.com
What is your thought on this?
Caitlyn A. Inman
Gettysburg Masters Commission student'10-11
Elevate Leadership Ministry School
Freedom Valley Worship Center
To start off, I'm very upset that we haven't had class lately. I feel like I've missed so much even if the class didn't happen but I guess it can always be fixed somehow if we just trust in God.
Lately, i've been thinking a lot about, "why am I here at Gettysburg Master's Commission and Freedom Valley Worship Center."
What I've come to realize, at least in the FVWC aspect is that God brought me here, to become a part of the church family where I can grow in my relationsip with Christ. So far this year, I was water baptized to public show that I am living for God and giving him my all. Secondly, I was I guess in a way filled with the Holy Spirit by speaking in tongues. Also that same weekend that I was water baptized for the second time in my life is that I partnered with this church. I feel that God wanted me to do this because I'm suppose to start something in this church. I still don't know what that is yet but I can't wait to just continually help to grow the Kingdom of God. I know that I was called here to continue in music ministry. I have such a passion for music. Music is something I grew up with and it's one of those things where it's almost my life. Music is live my prayer language. I connect with God through music and prayer but more so music. Seeing people be able to discover their talents and just connect with God is something that is incredible to have. Seeing different kinds of worship is something I want to see and work on. Just playing acoustic sets, to a few members, to a full team, to an individual. Some people feel like they don't connect with God through prayer...therefore, music is a way to connect with him.
I'm here at GMC to spend time connecting with the ThEdge youth and also with kids. Not only to do that but to learn how to have that connection place with God. Whenever you are in that place, it's just you and him. I'm learning how to become more of a leader and a better one. GMC exists to share the Gospel and minister to anyone wherever we go. In GMC i'm here to learn what God wants me to do in the next stage of my life. What i've received so far is a closer relationship with him. I'm here for that "Turning Point," that "New Direction." I've been asking the question lately of, "Am I utilizing my time with what God brought me here to do?" That is definitly something I've worked on a lot this week. We need to learn to ask, receive, and apply. When you receive, keep to it! Romans 8:31 states that nothing can separate us from God' love...ever! We have the authority, ablility of power but we need to find it and use it in a way that furthers God's kingdom.
Worship and prayer lately with the team, since we got back from our Texas trip...the atmosphere has changed into something more positive and corporate. Live an Exraordinary Life - John Bevere. "Lord, help me to make an effective schedule and to follow it. It's my desire to live and be used by you in the way you want me to. Allow and help me to use my ears to hear you, my eyes to see what you want, my voice to speak what you want me speak, my hands to do the works you want done for your kingdom. I pray for direction this week for myself, for the team, especially with some decisions we need to make. I want to only follow you Lord. Help me to love like you love us. God, I belive that you have huge plans for Gettysburg. You are the God of THIS city and the surrounding areas from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. Lord, just let that love pour out and blessings over each ministry and with the events coming up. In Jesus name...Amen!"
Generous lover...what is that? In this past weekend service that's what the sermon was on in the series LOVE STARVED WORLD. The main points were "great lovers constantly risk rejection," "great lovers live cheerful lives," and "it does not take two to tango." What I got out of these points is that "you reap what you sow," it's your choice to see the glass half full or half empty (I choose half full), and don't put yourself in that victim position. Fix and be the changer. God gives us the authority and power when we use it correctly. There, I WILL be an initiator and I'm willing to risk rejection. I'm paying more attention to cheerfulness. I will be the one to be giving and receive so that I can give more.
Romans 8:28 - "And we know that all things work for the greater good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose.
Reading Luke 10, remember that "the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few." We need to go out and harvest. *Work on the 80/20 principle.
I wrote out some new 6x6 goals individually and with the girls in the youth catalyst meeting.
With anything, you should always at least have an idea of what your Mission and Vision Statements are.
Take also a look at Romans 12 just take it in and run with it. :)
In the midst of everything...don't ever forget why God placed you here or anywhere! Put your mind on the goal...go EXTRAORDINARY!!! :)
Caitlyn A. Inman
Gettysburg Masters Commission student'10-11
Elevate Leadership Ministry School
Freedom Valley Worship Center
