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I've been thinking a lot lately about some cherished memories I have in my life, and realizing the significance of each of those events in shaping me for the future. One such memory is my youth group's many missions trips to downtown Chicago. On one particular trip, we spent our free day at Six Flags. I remember sitting at the top of the Giant Drop (much like the Power Tower at Valleyfair), just waiting to plummet to the Earth, and singing out (along with my friends, Michelle and Marie), "Be bold! Be strong! For the Lord thy God is with you. I am not afraid, NO NO NO! I am not dismayed, uh uh. I'm walkin' in faith and victory, come on and walk in faith and victory, for the Lord thy God is with you!" And with that, the ride would fall to the ground and we would scream every second of the fall!
It's moments like that that make me realize just how much my family shaped and impacted my faith, how much of a huge role my youth group played in solidifying my beliefs, and how much the role of my close friends played in my life. Had it not been a 'normal' thing to be a Christian in my group of friends, it likely would have been something that I would have ignored or walked away from, for fear of being rejected. Instead, I was blessed with some phenomenal Christian girlfriends, a great mother who continually reminded me of God's love for me and of how much I can and should have faith in Him and His promises for my life, and a church youth group that provided the fellowship I needed and the lessons and instruction I craved to grow as a Christian.
I look back and I see how much I was fed in my Christian walk, and I am so grateful for it. My knowledge of the Bible started from the time I was a young child learning memory verses in Sunday school ... and it continues to today, when I am spending time in the Word, growing closer to my Savior every single day.
God is so wonderful and He has blessed me so much in my life! Thank you so much to all of you who have been a part of that blessing - you are loved more than you will ever know!
It's moments like that that make me realize just how much my family shaped and impacted my faith, how much of a huge role my youth group played in solidifying my beliefs, and how much the role of my close friends played in my life. Had it not been a 'normal' thing to be a Christian in my group of friends, it likely would have been something that I would have ignored or walked away from, for fear of being rejected. Instead, I was blessed with some phenomenal Christian girlfriends, a great mother who continually reminded me of God's love for me and of how much I can and should have faith in Him and His promises for my life, and a church youth group that provided the fellowship I needed and the lessons and instruction I craved to grow as a Christian.
I look back and I see how much I was fed in my Christian walk, and I am so grateful for it. My knowledge of the Bible started from the time I was a young child learning memory verses in Sunday school ... and it continues to today, when I am spending time in the Word, growing closer to my Savior every single day.
God is so wonderful and He has blessed me so much in my life! Thank you so much to all of you who have been a part of that blessing - you are loved more than you will ever know!
I always think it's so cool how the things you learned when you were little stick with you -- like the bible verses me and my brothers memorized from the Donut Man videos! haha :)
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