Shine like stars

What do you get when you mix hundreds of high school graduates and an Australian beach?

Jenny, Jake, Dave and me
on the last day in Byron Bay

Lots of long nights and amazing chances for ministry!

I just returned from a week in Byron Bay where I lead a team of three other YWAMers to reach out to the grads who are partying and celebrating their end of year. We were among a group of nearly 40 other people who were doing the same thing.

One of the verses to which God led me, and on which I meditated was Philippians 2:14-16. We are told to "shine like stars" in a "depraved and crooked generation". While doing this ministry, I especially felt like we were shining a light into the darkness, lonliness or confusion many of these teens are experiencing.
It was so fantastic to experience the way God has gifted me in certain areas: leadership, communication, organization and maternal tendancies. This is not meant to boast, but I didn't even have to try at leading the team. Thank you God, and thank you Jenny, Jake and Dave for being such awesome people!

Also, thank you God for showing me the power of your Holy Spirit within me. When talking to some of the young students, I had a chance to share God's love for them. And found that I started describing God in ways which I'd never used before. I can only explain it as the Holy Spirit giving me the right words to connect with a specific person at a specific time. Very neat.

On the beach at Byron Bay

I am also now sick of pancakes. We served pancakes in the morning, pancakes in the evening, pancakes after supper time! And yes, I ate WAY too many of them as well. Oooops! However, despite all the chai tea we served up too, I'm still seriously in love with it.

The good news is that I can make up either pancakes or chai in huge quantaties. So anytime you need 100+ people served, you know who to call.
It wasn't all work, we did get some time to enjoy the beach too. Byron Bay is a beautiful community - like Banff but with surfboards instead of snowboards.

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The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. James 3:17 (NIV)

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
Philippians 2:14-16 (NIV)