You Ever?

You ever had so many different things you wanted to blog about, but you're just to busy doing them to stop and write?

Yup.

Friday 5s

5 moments that made me laugh this week:

1. Sunday: When Cody Cline suggested we use "space wagons" to collect the change given to Kids in Need (he meant Radio Flyer).
   
2. Monday: Lunch with Corey Mann. The guy is just fun to be around.
3. Wednesday: When the video I was making froze as I put in the last frame (it wasn't a very joyful laugh).
   
4. Thursday: Watching Katylynn go down the big slide at Bremen Bounce.
5. Thursday: 30 Rock and the Office. I hadn't seen either episode last season, and both had me rolling.

5 moments that that pumped me up this week:

1. Sunday: (Kids In Need Meeting, Senior High Gathering, and worship service) It was one of the mornings where I walked away loving what I was doing and seeing a great year ahead.
2. Monday: Re-watching the Rwanda Highlight video and realizing we took part in a huge Kingdom work.
   
3. Wednesday: When Caleb Bislow gave a standing ovation (through Skype) to the Junior High students who listened to God's voice concerning Rwanda.
4. Wednesday: Watching the video explaining Kids In Need (the one that froze, but I was able to finish) and knowing that we can and will do something to make a difference.
   
5. Friday: 40 minutes ago. Walking out of the NorhtWood Football Chapel. These guys are a team, and their pride is not in themselves, but they are proud of their teammates.

5 people who I was very encouraged by this week:

1. Janelle
2. Dan
3. Dave
4. Cindi
5. Dustin

5 Things I'm looking forward to next week:

1. Sunday: Team-teaching with Pastor Dave. Haven't done it before, and I'm excited about what we're covering.
2. Sunday: Geoff is taking the reigns with Senior High Gathering that morning, and it's gonna be some great stuff!
   
3. Wednesday: Fall Kickoff. It's gonna kick!
4. Saturday (not tommorow, next): Disc Golf marathon. 5 courses with 5 friends. Gonna be a great day!
   
5. All Week: I'm in between books, and I started a new journal. Two things where I love the early discovery phase.
   

K.I.N. - The Big Idea

KIDS IN NEED:

A Year Dedicated to GAINING and GIVING.

Gaining awareness on the most significant issues facing kids worldwide.
Giving sacrificially of our time, talents, and treasures to address those needs.

The Major Issues:
Poverty: 1 out of every 2 children live in poverty
Education: 1 out of every 4 children has to work instead of go to school.
Health: 2.2 million children die every year because they are not immunized.
AIDS: 15 million African children are orphaned due to AIDS.
Hunger: Every 6 seconds a child dies of hunger.Trafficking: 400,000 children are abducted and taken across international borders every year. The majority are sold into slavery or prostitution.
Abortion: 1 million+ legal abortions are performed yearly in the United States.

THE ULTIMATE ISSUE:
Jesus said, "Whatever you did to one of the least of these brothers or sisters (a.k.a. our "kin") you did to me."
As we reach out to assist kids in need, we are hoping to allow children the opportunity to experience life, and ultimately experiencing life in all its fullness through Jesus Christ.


Everyone Gets Involved!
1. Individually – Personally gain awareness and give sacrificially
2. Group – As a Small Group adopt an issue or ministry and get involved.
3. All of Student Ministries – Large scale events focused on gaining and giving.


Keys to remember:

• GAIN and GIVE go together. We don’t want to just become aware and then do nothing, and we don’t want to give without knowing why we are giving.
• It’s about more than fundraising. We deeply desire to get the resources to kids in need, but that’s more than just money. It involves time, education.
• It starts with you. Before we even consider how to bring others in on this journey, every one of us needs to personally get involved.
• Dream Big and creatively. Think outside the box in how you can get involved. Allow God to blow you away.
• Give till it hurts. This isn’t about doing a little something. It’s about prayerfully considering sacrificially giving of our time, talents and treasures.
• In the end, it’s all about Jesus.
  

Friendship Stats

Found this app on Facebook and thought it was interesting...

According to http://www.friendshipstats.com I have 1333 friends, 1213 more than average. 53% are male, 47% are female. 299 are single, 790 are dating or married. If I contracted a deadly variant of flu, I would likely infect 21 people, 3 of whom would die. When I share something on Facebook, it is typically viewed by 63 people. If I died today, an estimated 966 people would try to attend my funeral. Based on my Facebook profile, I have a 98% probability of getting married. I am likely to earn US$2.7 million and have 3.3 children over my lifetime. Calculate your own stats at http://www.friendshipstats.com.

Feed the Children

I got a message on Facebook two weeks ago from Merri at Feed the Children. They had thousands of boxes of food and care products that they needed to get out to Kids In Need throughout the area. We decided it was GO Time for us in our year to seriously address Kids In Need.

58 Students and Leaders
3 Hours
2340 Boxes


(photos taken from my phone... so, far from impressive)

Any family or Youth Worker in the Michiana area looking for a ministry to volunteer a group... Feed the Children is a big win.

• Family Friendly
• Global and Local impact.
• You can see the results of your effort.
• Great for building community in your family/ group.
  

NMC Students Past: An Ongoing Blog Series

Megan Rendall
Class of 2007
Currently attending IUSB, NMC Student Ministries Administrative Assistant

Derry's Thoughts: I didn't really know the full story with Megan until more recently. I didn't realize she first attended our Hayride Outreach as a Freshman. Over time, she encountered a real and authentic relationship with Christ. She has been serving as a Jr High Small Group Leader over the past year, and joined us on staff this Summer. Last weekend, she was baptized (read her thoughts about that here). Megan's is a story of why we exist... to see students move from Religion to Relationship to Spiritually Reproducing.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS YOU SAW GOD'S MIGHTY MOVE WHILE YOU WERE A PART OF NMC STUDENT MINISTRIES?

• The first Student Led Maasai Night was a huge thing that God did through NMC while I attended.
• Another night that sticks in my mind was the "What if/ I'm in" night where the spirit completely moved everyone to begin change, a fresh, good change for themselves and the people around them.

WHAT ASPECTS/ PROGRAMS WERE SIGNIFICANT IN YOUR SPIRITUAL FORMATION AT NMC?
When First Serve Saturday began, I really saw God move as Student Ministries stepped up to serve others in the community and get connected with other people outside of their own cliques.
IN WHAT WAY WOULD YOU CHALLENGE CURRENT NMC STUDENTS TO SEE "A YOUTH GROUP THAT SAW GOD MOVING IN MIGHTY WAYS"?

• Prayer is huge. I never really realized how powerful it was until I was praying with other people. It's often hard to see results of something great when we're praying for or by ourselves, because our hearts are not always where they should be. But praying with specifics to God with a group of people always seems different. It's an incredible feeling when you can sense God all around you because the words of everyone's prayers are just being lifted up in unison.
• His timing really is perfect, even when we don't think so. We can't expect results immediately because we are giving limits to a limitless God. He's so much greater than that and it took me most of high school to realize that.

Grieving: It's Weird What Hits You

I'm going to the NorthWood/ Jimtown Football game tonight. I'm excited to support several of our students that are seeking to truly use their talents for the sake of the Kingdom. I will be meeting with any members of the team who want every Friday after school for "Chapel."

As I was walking from our Football Chapel to my office today, something struck me. My dad won't be at the game tonight. He won't be sitting in the stands, book in hand, watching the teams battle it out for the win. I think this may be the first NorthWood/ Jimtown game where he will not be present.

It's weird what hits you when going through the grieving process. I'll miss seeing him tonight.
I've thought about taking a book along with me tonight.
Seems like somebody should have one...

NMC Students Past: An Ongoing Blog Series

Josh Sabo

Class of 2004
Currently a Youth Pastor in South Bend

Derry Thoughts: Josh joined us later in his High School years. His entrance coincided with an awakening in his classmates that were a part of NMC. Josh has always been and is a radical that refuses to live inside the confines and safety of the religious norm. His heart bleeds for Christ. As his former youth pastor, I love watching him be a youth pastor now.


WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS YOU SAW GOD'S MIGHTY MOVE WHILE YOU WERE A PART OF NMC STUDENT MINISTRIES?

• I saw Revival, with over 20 people, who were the bigger partiers and people who wanted nothing to do with God, find Christ in a huge way and were not involved in ministry.
• Healings, Lives saved, Scripture lit up in our hearts and minds.

WHAT ASPECTS/ PROGRAMS WERE SIGNIFICANT IN YOUR SPIRITUAL FORMATION AT NMC?

• I found my warrior brothers and we began to pray. We learned what prayer was all about. After we learned how to truly pray we just watched God move is great hands into a great revival.
• Summer camp was a great time of unity between many of the age groups. God moved through the simplicity of life and the power of God. The greatest thing was that we brought that power back with us to our schools and back to our homes. Families were changed and parents came to Christ!
• Others are now proving how God can move in lovely wonderful ways.

IN WHAT WAY WOULD YOU CHALLENGE CURRENT NMC STUDENTS TO SEE "A YOUTH GROUP THAT SAW GOD MOVING IN MIGHTY WAYS"?
Remember that it isn't your religion. It is knowing how much Christ loves you and how much he loves those that you may not love. Get rid of yourself. Get rid of who you think you are and become to God wants you to be. You can then find how confident you can be. Who doesn't want to be confident? God is magnificent. Be strong and don't burn out fast. Stay strong in your word! Leave your heart in his hands. Praise God for everything great and good in your life. Amen

K.I.N.: A New Series

As our students seek to take a year to seriously address Kids In Need, I hope to dedicate at least one post every Wednesday to the issue.

Jeremy and Nicole Greenlee are currently at the AGC Abandoned Baby Center in Kenya. NMC has a significant partnership with this orphanage that is seeking to do something to address the AIDS crisis in Africa. As an added joy to me, Nicole is an NMC grad and daughter to two of our super awesome Senior High Small Group Leaders (Brad and Kellie).

This post on their blog about Faith, one of the newest additions to the Baby Center is exactly why we are doing this. Go, read, and realize that Whatever you'vd done or not done to one of the least of these, you did or didn't do to HIM.Check out the Baby Center Blog as well.

Indexed

One of the tabs on my Google Reader is titled "Creative Stuff". In that folder are the blogs/sites that I enjoy due to the humor or out of the box style. Included are...
Neatorama - THE SITE for oddities found around the world. They update a little too much.
RhettandLink - Two of the funnier guys out there.
Stuff Christians Like - It's good to laugh at ourselves.

One of the most creative sites out there is Indexed. All posts are graphs written on index cards. Some are funny. Some are profound. Some are both. I especially enjoyed this one as I read it tonight. The post is titled True for Boys and Girls

Youtubesday: Insane Usain

Enjoy the German. He's fast.

Dear Brett Favre,

sigh. This is getting old.

Yours Truly,
Derry

8 Questions Answered

1. Jon said... What is one book you think every youth worker should read?
   The Bible. Seriously. I wonder if we're all spending a little too much time reading what everyone else is saying the Bible says, and not enough time reading it for ourselves. I'm guilty.
   
   
2. Phil Strahm said...The discipleship, fellowship, worship, and missions aspects of NMC's youth are fairly obvious on your blogs.Can you shine some more light on evangelism aspects of your ministry as it pertains to your students reaching out to other local students?
   Where we have specific programs that hit the aspects mentioned above (Small Groups for Fellowship, IMPACT for missions, etc.) we have discovered that evangelism aspect does not fit best in a "program". It is almost an all-encompassing emphasis that finds its way into everything we do. Here's a few examples...
   GO Trips: The GO Trip itself has a major emphasis on personal evangelism training... not The Way of the Master/ Street Evangelism stuff, but lifestyle evangelism. Every participant identifies 1-3 lost or spiritually struggling friends, and writes a letter home to them while at the trip. They are encouraged not to be "preachy" in that letter, but instead use it as a launching point to go home and share Christ in both words and actions with the friend.
   Prayer Groups: We challenge and help students as they form prayer groups at their schools. Several of those prayer groups will pray for specific individuals who don't know Christ.
   Wednesday Night: We seek to plan Wednesday Night Gatherings in a way that can allow students to bring their friends into a "safe" environment for "dangerous things to happen.
   Passion/ Platforms/ People: We're constantly infusing into our teachings the need for students to identify these 3 things in their life as opportunities to share Christ. It's especially pushed toward every day life.
   
   
3. Rob said...Who's going to win a championship next out of your beloved teams: Notre Dame football, the Indianapolis Colts, or the Cubbies?
   Let's clear something up first... there are only 2 beloved teams mentioned above; the Colts and the Cubbies. I am a nominal ND fan at best. But, between the 3, I'll take the Cubs (hopeless optimist).
   
   
4. Carrie said...Have You and Janelle thought of adopting again?
   Yes. Praying and taking steps. Trusting His leading.
   
   
5. Anonymous said...I don't have a relationship with my family, so they think I have been a Christian for a long time; however, I didn't make that decision until this past year. Anytime I do something wrong they tell me that if I am going to talk the talk I better start walking the walk. It hurts more than anything because they don't know I am new to devoting my life to Christ, but I love every second of it and trust in that experience. My point is, my family does not live for Christ and are judging me in my walk. How do I respond to their judgment?
   I feel a little like "Dear Abby" on this one. I have no perfect answer to this. I'd recommend some focused time spent in Matthew 5-7. Tons of insight on facing opposition, shining light, and responding to criticism. I also once heard someone say, "An unbelieving world may be looking more for people who repent well then they perfect people."
   
   
6. Ken said...Who was your favorite youth pastor growing up?
   Well Ken, so weird you ask this question. I had a youth pastor named Ken Weeks who was the coolest (and geekiest at the same time) youth pastor a high school guy (and especially a churched-out, over-religious, and missing out on a relationship with Christ) could ask for. In all seriousness, I wouldn't have gone to Bethel College had it not been for a Sunday Night conversation with my youth pastor while playing Super Mario Kart.
   
   
7. Anonymous said...How does asking "what if" questions help your group to grow spiritually?
   &
8. Anonymous said...Based on texts such as Philipians 1:10, Galatians 2:20, and John 3:30 someone has defined the true church as:"Christ PLUS Peter MINUS Peter EQUALS the church" How do you see this statement if light of the "Dreamer Lab" movement led by Erwin McManus? Are we helping people to identify themselves with the death of Christ (so they can live newness of life) by instigating them to be dreamers?
   Anonymous Questioner 7 & 8, I'm thinking you are the same who asked these questions as they are much alike, and I wish you would identify yourself considering the tone of critique the questions seem to be taking, but I'll move forward.
   I would look at the "Dreamer Lab" (never heard that label before) as completely acceptable and actually beneficial when keeping in mind those scriptures mentioned above. I'm working under the mindset that we are in the process of dreaming and asking "What if" in a manner that ushers in God-given dreams, burdens, and passions.
   As followers of Christ, I believe what the scriptures say in that the Spirit of Christ lives in us (I Cor 3;16; Col 1:27) to be true. I also believe that Joel 2:28 is true today. If young men will dream dreams and see visions, why would we not create an environment to see that happen?
   How does asking "What if" help the group grow spiritually? I'm not sure spiritual growth is the goal, I would say spiritual activism is the goal... yet I believe in the process students grow...
   - in their ability to discern hearing God's voice over their own or the enemies (Philippians 1:10).
   -as they get past themselves and dive into something bigger than themselves.
   - in understanding that God has a plan to use them for HIS glory.
   -about 100 other ways.
   Are we helping people identify themselves with the death of Christ as we challenge them to dream? I think so. If the dreams are from God, they will push students to live beyond themselves, and ultimately help them grasp the reality that the greatest potential is when they are surrendered over to Christ.
   
   My final thought... if dreaming is the only aspect of a ministry, that would be a huge problem. At the same time, if getting people identify themselves to with the death of Christ is the only (and ultimate) goal, I would say we are significantly selling short the message of the Gospel.
   

10 Questions

Haven't done this for a while. Whether you're reading this at www.derryprenkert.com or on Facebook; leave a comment asking a question, any question you want me to answer.

Once I get 10 question (or however many I have if it is just taking a long time), I'll answer.
One Question per comment.
One comment per person.

Ask away...

Baptism Celebration

This is one of my favorite (if not THE favorite) Sunday of the year. The Summer Baptism Celebration has been held at Wagner's Pond for the past 36 years. This Summer, we held it at Heritage Hill (the amphitheater at the back of the NMC property).

Although it's an awesome setting, it's really not about the setting. It's not really about the number of people there or the number being baptized, although both were an awesome sight to see. Bottom line for me, it's all about celebrating the stories and lives of those whose lives have been gribbed by the power of the cross and are focused on fulfillling the call of the Kingdom.

Some of those stories:

• A mom who has truly moved from Religion and into relationship over the past year.
• A former student who came with a friend as a Freshman & is now working at the church in Student Ministries.
• A 10 year old gal that is fighting cancer.
• A high school Senior who is the 4th generation of family who has served God boldly and faithfully at NMC.
• A Junior guy who had his eternity set going into this Summer, but has truly given his all to see God's Kingdom in the here & now.
• A father and daughter side by side saying they desire to be known as Christ Followers.
• A lady with Hunington's disease who had to be carried into the water by her brother in order to be baptized.

And that's only a few of the 35 stories and lives who stepped foot in that water this evening.

Katylynn's Summer

She's so much fun.

David Crowder + Youtube + Twitter = Derry Laughing

I just showed this to Janelle, then realized I haven't posted it here. This Video cracks me up (and makes me want to start up the Youtubesday series again).

Wendesday Night Youth: August 12

Finishing out a night of prayer walking at NorthWood High School by praying over other schools represented at NMC. There are pictures of those schools spread out on the tennis court. It's been a great night.

Quick Hits

What's exciting right now?

• Gearing up for Fall at NMC.
  
• Baptism Celebration this Sunday.
• Lots of brainstorming for a year where Student Ministries takes a year to seriously address Kids In Need. (4 big ones in the hopper that just get me pumped up!)
• A little 21 month old that's talking, running, drawing, sliding, and basically moving like you wouldn't believe!
• Some good times in the word & in prayer just for the sake of my soul!

I'm pumped up. Good things lying ahead. God's on the throne, he always has been and always will be. I'm just excited I actually recognize it.

Carter and Austin; In Carter's Own Words

Carter has posted his thoughts about his friendship with Austin here. Well worth a visit as well.

Carter and Austin; In Austin's Own Words

I highlighted the story of Austin and Carter as they shared during Preteen Camp here.

Go here and read about this friendship from Austin's perspective. It's well worth your time.

Post Preteen Camp Thoughts

• Preteen Camp is the most exhausting Student Ministries Camp for leaders. Although it's the shortest in length, there is absolutlely no downtime from the moment you're awake to the moment you go to bed. A leader always has to be "on."
• Taking our mature Senior High students as leaders has been a great win/win for us. Huge win for the Senior High students in our mission to see students become Spiritual Reproducers. Huge win in 5th and 6th Graders seeing a relationship with Christ modeled by a High School student. Preteens are looking for heroes, I'm glad many of them found one in their cabin group leader this week.
• Preteen worship rules! I'm sorry, but I loved doing motions to songs, jumping around, screaming, clapping along to a reflective worship song. It brought the kid out in me, and in the process I connected with my Savior in a fresh way.
• Concrete experiential learning is king! Abstract or conceptual teaching might connect, but will most likely shoot over heads. Sitting and listening works... for about 5 minutes. We ran stations where a leader talked about God's love, and then students did something to experience or express it. It worked. When we ran the "What If?" stations, we pushed for kids to think of practical step. They did. When Jason taught, he incorporated motions, drama and action steps.
• God moved! On Thursday night, God showed up in a major way. Seeing many Preteens stand up and say, "I Want to be used by God" was a powerful picture. The presence of God was thick in the room. The conversations that happened in groups after was awesome!
  

Those who are standing are, out loud, saying their name and "I want to be used by God."

That's Austin and Carter up there with Jason. As a 7th grader, Austin starting bringing Carter on Wednesday Nights. This fall Austin and Carter head off to college... but both took some time to dive into the lives of preteens. Jason is allowing them to tell their story to these students so they can understand they can be used by God.

These gals are listening to worship songs that focus on God's love. It's an opportunity to learn to worship on their own. parents, buy your kids a Passion, Chris Tomlin, Desperation, Hillsong, or some other worship CD so they can do this in their Time Alone With God at home.

These girls are reading and highlighting their bibles as they read about God's love.

Tonight was a trifecta of pictures of God's love. Jason shared two stories. He told about his relationship with his daughter Haley and how much he loves her. Through his explanation he painted a vivid picture for our students of a heavenly fathers love. He also shared about the hurt he and Rachael were going through in the recent loss of their unborn daughter Alieagh. He explained how the seperation from her is what really hurts. He explained how this is similar to the pain God feels with the separation sin creates with us.

The third picture of God's love was painted through the drama performed by members of our impact team. They did an absolutely fantastic job at helping students see the love God has for us and how he will fight for us.

One thing I love about preteen worship is that it's a full participation, full contact experience. As I type this the ground is shaking from the conga line that has formed as the students sing Undignified.

Those with hands raised are saying "I want to be moved by you, God."

Jason is having the students act out the story of Job as he tells the story. Lot's of laughs and very effective.

Jason is kicking off our session by telling the story of Job.

The game is calle gaga. It's kind of like foursquare and dodgeball combined. Preteen boys will be playing it every second of free time we get.

Unloaded and heading to the cabins.

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2009 Summer Movie Rankings

My rankings for the Summer movies I've seen thus far:

Tier 1: Worth the heater visit.
1. Star Trek
2. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
6. Transformers 2*
Tier 2: Wait for the Red Box
3. Angels and Demons
4. Terminator: Salvation
5. X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Tier 3: Don't waste your time.
7. Land of the Lost

Still wanting to see:
G.I. Joe, District 9, UP

*Plot line and overall movie, Transformers ranks 7th. I put it in tier one because the big screen experience was worth the visit to the theater.

One Last Camp

Tomorrow, there will be 110 5th and 6th Grade students showing up at NMC for Preteen Summer Camp. This will be the first time I'll be attending Preteen Camp for it's entirety. I'm excited for it on multiple fronts:

• Support. I would have been dead meat at Senior High Camp without the key support people around me. Now, I get a chance to pay it forward by helping Jason Thompson in whatever way I can. He's had a rough two weeks heading into this camp.
• Investment. There are multiple High School students going as leaders. I'm excited to play the role of coach and mentor to those leaders.
• Game Guy. I'll be running the crowd breakers and opening stuff for our sessions. I haven't had that be my major focus for sessions in a long time.
• Brace Yourself to be Loved by God and WHAT IF? These two experiences were significant at both Junior High and Senior High Camp. We've done some tweaking to make them a little more age-appropriate, but I'm very excited to see what God wants to speak into the lives of these 10-12 year olds.

I'll be posting some pics and updates throughout our time.

NMC Students Past; A New Series

As I mentioned in the "What If?" post Friday, I sent out a message through Facebook to many former NMC Students. The responses to the three Questions I asked were so fantastic and encouraging, I thought I'd post several of them on the blog. Hence a new blog series you'll see over the next couple of months called NMC Students Past.
First up...

Lizzie (Burns) Ross
Class of 2005
Senior at Armstrong Atlantic State University studying psychology.
Playing leadership roles in two ministries that helps rescue women and children caught in Human Trafficking.

Derry's Thoughts: It was exciting to watch the spiritual light bulbs go on in Lizzie's life throughout high school. In her Junior and Senior year, Janelle played an especially significant role in Lizzie's life as a mentor. I watched a ridiculously determined teenager begin to let her abilities, passions, and focus collide with God's will for her life. As I look at how she is making a difference in the life of the oppressed in Savannah Georgia and around the world, I am very proud to say she was a part of our ministry.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS YOU SAW GOD'S MIGHTY MOVE WHILE YOU WERE A PART OF NMC STUDENT MINISTRIES?

• I had a friend who was one of the last people I’d ever expect to became a Christian accept Christ. That was awesome!
• I got to talk to people in my family (immediate and extended) who either aren't Christians or have fallen away about their "spiritual lives." Because of those initial conversations, 3 of them still talk to me and ask me questions about God, even though I haven't seen any of them decide to follow Jesus yet.

WHAT ASPECTS/ PROGRAMS WERE SIGNIFICANT IN YOUR SPIRITUAL FORMATION AT NMC?

• Janelle Prenkert (My Small Group Leader)
• Out of the Box worship night (a night were we were given opportunities to worship in multiple ways other than just singing).
• I developed or strengthened close friendships with other Christians (people like Danae Schaffer and Ben Yoder), and that made a huge difference in my spiritual formation.
• Personal challenges from leaders.

IN WHAT WAY WOULD YOU CHALLENGE CURRENT NMC STUDENTS TO SEE "A YOUTH GROUP THAT SAW GOD MOVING IN MIGHTY WAYS"?

If you want to see God move in mighty ways, you have to allow him to move in very small ways first. You can't just skip to the big stuff. He has to deal with our character - things like procrastination, gossip, pride, greed, humility, etc. - before he will move through us in mighty ways. Focus less "spiritual energy" on big, dramatic aspirations, and concentrate instead on things like following through with commitments, doing small things with excellence, being financially responsible, acting with integrity towards those who offend/hurt you, etc. There are always intense trials in a person's life before God does big things through him/her.