Embarrassing Worship

Starting a blog has been on my heart and mind for a long time, and a week ago, I finally felt like I was supposed to do this. I’ll be honest: I have no idea what I’m doing. I don’t know where this blog is going to go and I may lose the motivation to run it in six weeks or six months, but, as I texted my best friend, Anna, YOLO. One of my biggest passions is writing, and maybe by writing a little about my life, and a whole lot about Jesus, I can bring some light into others’ lives.

A little over a week ago, I had just arrived back home from one of my best weeks of the summer. For the past four years, I have spent a week in Wayne, USA at Launch Leadership workshop. Basically it’s a bunch of crazy adults and crazy teenagers coming together to get to know one another and learn more about leadership. Every summer I fall in love with Launch more, and the people it brings into my life. This year was extra special because I got to be a part of Launch’s Advanced Leadership Workshop, which is for seniors only. The group of delegates I got to be around for week were amazing and inspiring and just by being the leaders they were, I learned so much about being a genuine and effective leader. As I spent the week with them I realized how self-centered I had become as a leader. I had spent way too much time focusing on improving myself, when Jesus taught that the being a leader is about being humble and serving others. So, as the week went on, I learned to close my mouth and open my ears and heart to pay attention to the incredible people around me.

The day after I got back was the beginning of my other favorite week of the year: Vacation Bible School!!!! Yes, I am seventeen years old, and yes I LOVE Vacation Bible School. VBS will always have a special place in my heart because if my friend, Lauren, hadn’t taken me to VBS eight years ago, my life would be dramatically different. VBS gave me a church, two of my best friends, and most importantly, Jesus.

So, it’s no surprise that I love VBS. If I can give one kid the same experience I got, then it makes the whole week worth it. It’s also great that all the other volunteers at my church are just as crazy about VBS as I am. My church, Horizons, rocks VBS. I’m talking full out jam sessions and team challenges and spirit animals and blended up McDonald’s and a whole lot of Jesus.

So as I started the week, I was in love with God’s timing. I loved that he would send me to Wayne, NE and humble me, so that I could come back to Lincoln and share his love with seven 2nd grade girls. And that’s what I tried to do.

One of the girls, Grace, who I am especially close with, told me on Night 2 that I was embarrassing as I was dancing along with the music during the night’s opening. On Night 5, she raised her hand to say she was ready to accept Jesus’ love.

I’ll be embarrassing for the rest of my life if I get to show people Jesus.

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” // Mark 9:35

#August2015 #church