Summer heat, Engram, and good times...

Can I just start by saying how cool God is? Since last summer, I've really become a fan of Psalm 139. I love the New Living Translation:

1 O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.

2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.

4 Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.

5 You hem me in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?

8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.

11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"

12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!

18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake,
I am still with you.

and skip on down to verse 23...

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

I read this, and I can't help but think that God knows me better than I know myself. That translates into that God knows exactly what I need to get through any issue facing me. This revelation has been a HUGE comfort to me at times over the last 8 months since my return from England.

This summer has gone really well overall. When I sit and think about the different place I was at this same time last year, I'm totally amazed.

I've been blown away by God's goodness. when my old cell phone was falling apart, God opened a door for me to get a new one. I've been mobile with a car, I have wonderful housemates, and cool place to call home. I've had no major worries this year, and the restoration work by God in my life leaves me speechless at times.

This past week I took part in Engram, our yearly youth project here at our church. One of the major ways that God used me was at the Friday night session. I was asked to join a team of people who would share words of knowledge with the youth. I asked God what he wanted me to pray for and one word came to mind: suicide. It brought tears to my eyes to think of what it must be like at 15 or 16 and really feel that the best option is ending it all. I felt that last year, and that's a point I wouldn't wish on anyone.

Between Friday night and Saturday I prayed for 3 different people over that issue. Hearing their stories and the hurts that led them to feel that way about themselves was staggering, and yet in the midst of it I was amazed that God used me to bring some hope and healing to His children.

During the week of Engram, I almost r an myself ragged between giving oversight to the outreaches and being trained in the office to cover key areas while one of my co-workers is away to Mozambique for 3 months. The upshot though is that I'm now a full time employee of Vineyard Oak Park! Haha, it's better than being an intern!

I can't believe that summer is almost over! Starting in September, I'll be leading the Jr. hi program at church! I'm really excited to be doing this. I've really enjoyed the small roles I've played in various youth projects since I've been back (Toronto, Engram, Vacation Bible School) but coming in to the new role as a leader really excites me overall (haha, it is YOUTH MINISTRY after all, so there are SURE to be some tough challenges ahead!).

Anyway, I think that's enough of a rambling update for now.
Till next time!
~Paul