I haven't read a scripture and analyzed it in here in a while. Work
consumed my life. I lost myself for the past two years burying myself in
work and in the world. I lost focus and my passion for the website and
what I wanted to do in this world. I found hope in my future with my fiancé
and lost it in the fact that I wasn't right with where I needed to be for
our lives to begin together. I still have my fiancé, but we are still in
two different countries.
In the past two years, I have come to realize several things about life
and God. I have learned that when I truly lean on God and trust Him to
take care of my problems and my life, the stress magically disappears. I
learned running from what you know you will eventually do will come back
to you. God has taken my life and turned it around again.
Work no longer consumes my time and my life. I do still work a lot and do
what I need to do for work. I'm as dedicated as ever to my job and making
sure my customers know that I will continually try to help them throughout
any situation. My job enables me to help others and fulfill my goals of
helping as many people as possible.
I have re-dedicated my life to this website, and the Youth Group.
I knew in the back of my mind one day I would be over the Youth
Group. I fought it because I didn't want the responsibility for the
children's views on God and on life to come from me. Then, it fell in my
lap with last summer's Youth Trip. I took 4 girls and my best friend. We
loaded up in the van with Aunt Dianne and Jeff to chaperon us where we
needed to go. We headed off to Lake Junaluska, NC which is a place dear to
my heart.
When we got to Alabama for the first night in the hotel on the way up to
LJ, I thought, what have I gotten myself into? The girls are good kids,
but they didn't want to sleep. Once we got to LJ, I realized, these girls
are my future. They opened my eyes to what I needed to do to serve the
Kingdom and God's plan.
I knew that once we returned, I would need to start youth meetings. My
main concern was who would come? We only have 2 kids in the church old
enough. The other 2 on the trip were friends and family. The worry started
eating away at me. I knew August 12, 2007 we would start our regular
monthly meetings. I didn't know if I could handle teaching youth again. I
don't like structured materials. I like to be flexible. Youth...
definitely need structure.
August 12 came and passed. I had 7 kids the first night. I thought
wow! They actually came. Friends of the youth came to share and learn. The
next Sunday, we had low attendance, but I wasn't discouraged. Since then
we have averaged 6 people a night.
I usually have to pick the kids up in the church van to get them to
church, but they are still coming. They are excited about learning, and
fellowshipping together. They want to spend time together in the church
and have fun. They want to go on a trip next summer.
I know now that I needed the trip more than I think the kids did. I needed
to be reminded that to be the body of Christ, we have to be willing to
give up what we think is the right way to handle our lives and just let go
to God's power.
I tell my fiancé all the time, the simplest prayer I've ever prayed is,
"God, just put me where you want me and do what you need to with
me."
That's how I got to USM, meet a dear friend who helped me realize there's
more to church than Sunday Mornings and also helped me find a world online
to reach out to people, and how I met James, my fiancé.
I truly believe everything happens for a reason. I hope that through this
site and through the changes that will come you see the Lord at work in
all of the lives of the community of Auburn.
The Youth will assist me with the site to help keep it going and to hold
me accountable for this site. Everyone needs someone to hold them
accountable for their actions. It makes you work harder and better than
you do alone.
I want to take the time as well to apologize to everyone at the church and
in this community for failing to update the website as often as I should
have. I am still learning to balance time.
I know that this site is a way for me to each the world and show them that
in Auburn, MS there is a church that stands proud in the fact we reach out
and try to make an impact on this world.
Throughout the next few months, the site will slowly build back up to the
normal site with new pictures. At this time, we are still doing a new
directory and a new newsletter is being created.
Thank you as always for your prayers, love, and thoughts. We also welcome
any suggestions for improvement.
May God Bless You Always,
Jessie
Webmaster
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Adams United Methodist Church