reflections: a look back

We have been home for almost an entire week now. It has gone by fast and I have had the chance to talk about the trip with a lot of people in many different settings. It has been great to go over the things that happened in Montana, talk about them, share them, and hear people's reactions. Here are a few of my reflections.

Tightly Bonded Group: most of our students already had good relationships with each other. They have grown up in the church and have become good friends just through time spent together. However, while we were away some things happened that really brought them together and gave them common vision. If you haven't read McKenna's recount of Monday night you really should. It was a turning point in the trip that God used to bring our students together and show them how much He loves them.

God is in Control: I think that a lot of times we start to believe that if we only do things correctly then we will get the response we are seeking. Or we, incorrectly, believe that we know what will happen if we "do" ministry a certain way. We should always do the best we can and we should always leave the results to God. He'll do a much better job anyway. Our ministry in Roundup became something that was led by God as the week progressed and our students got to know people. Some of them went to dinner with students from the town and heard their stories. Others found ways to use their gifts to bless others without the benefit of food. I found solace in watching as our students "got it" and began listening and sharing with other students. I did my best to let God use our students and I was blessed by what I saw.

Worship does not equal singing: This is a great lesson for everyone to learn. We can worship by singing but our worship does not consist only of music (and that's good because some people aren't musical and I don't think God wants them to miss out on worship). We sang like crazy Saturday night, we sang lots on Sunday, and a little bit on Monday. After that our worship consisted of encouraging one another, praying, sharing, laughing, and allowing God to work in us through each other. We were up really late most nights and it seemed like sleep would be worshipful to me...it was.

Thankfulness: I have amazing volunteers! Mike and Lori not only helped with the students on the trip, making sure they were safe, talking to them, working with them, but they helped me a lot. I don't always see everything the way it really is and to have their eyes and experience there was a huge help to me. They were instruments that God used to make sure this was the trip it needed to be.

Bringing it HOME! Between West Glenwood and the "downtown" exit McKenna spoke up and said, "We need to pray before we get home." So I told her to start and she did. She and others in the van asked that God would help them do what they had learned in Roundup here, at home. We all realized that God will change lives if we will take the time to be used as instruments of His grace and love. We know that not everyone will respond well, but we learned to be "seed flingers" throwing God's love everywhere we go. We need to be a lot less careful about where we throw the seed.

Prayer: One night, around the table, we were talking about "going home" and I had the opportunity to share with our students my hope for them. There is a Proverb that says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." If the students who went to Montana continue to do what they learned in those 10 days here at home they will share the love of God in a powerful way. Please pray that they continue to listen to people's stories, refuse to judge before they get to know them, share their faith blatantly, and love unconditionally.

Please consider how you will do this as well. Who do you know that could use a cup of coffee and an attentive ear? Who, in your life, needs to know that Jesus loves them? How can you share with them? During our time in Montana we learned that we cannot put God in a box...how is God going to use our trip in your life?

in His grip,

Jared