Day 1 -- Grace..No matter what

Day 1 --- Grace..No Matter What

I had the amazing privilege of being an adult sponsor for my church last week at the Christ in Youth Conference in Scranton PA. It was an incredible experience. One I wish I could have video taped everything for everyone, but I did take a ton of pictures that are on my facebook page if you would like to see them all! =)

Here are some things that I jotted down in my notebook from each day at the conference.

The theme was "No Matter What" And we spent a majority of the week reading and studying 1st and 2nd Timothy.

Sunday night, the theme was "Grace ... no matter what "

~ Our sins do not disqualify us for a relationship with Jesus. He can use the mistakes you've made, for His honor and glory. We are not bound to our sin. But by not giving up sin we are not accepting the transforming power of God

~ Many people rejected Jesus and his ministry because He wasn't what they expected of their messiah. People expected him to hang out with other missionaries, priests and the higher class population. They didn't expect him to spend His ministry with tax collectors, pharisees, prostitutes, etc. He came to save the sinners and the unclean. So many people rejected His salvation because he didn't fit into the parameters they expected.

The speaker told us an incredible story. He was in Amsterdam for a missions trip, and spent a lot of time in the black light district (I think thats what he called it) praying for the people who were there. He told us about these glass doorways, where men would walk up to the door and pick which woman they wanted to sleep with that night. He was heartbroken for all of these women, who were brought into the country as sex slaves, and he prayed about what he could do for them. On his last day there, he walked by a florist, and decided to go in. He bought as many bouquets as he could. He walked down the street carrying all of the flowers, and stopped at the first door. He opened the door and said to the person "You are beautiful. I love you. And God Loves you" Every woman he said that to, broke down bawling. They didn't understand how God could still love them, with the job they were being forced to do.

What an incredible picture of God's Grace. He loves all of us, He sent His only son to die for our sins. Jesus didn't deserve that, and yet he did it anyways, for me. For you.

Wow.

just...wow