Spring Harvest - Day 3

Hey again,

iScape - Morning

So today not only are we focusing on the theme Game Changers but also everyone as God reaches each and everyone of us.

Exodus 17:8-16 - War with the Amalekites

After hearing this Bible story it was then acted out by members in the audience which was funny and helped me understand the story more clearly. After this we were then given 3 questions to think about;

1. What characteristics can you see in Moses, Joshua, Aaron and Hur?

Some responses to this question were;
Determined
Caring
Obedient

2. What character would you liken yourself to and why?

3. What character would you prefer to be and why?


Moses
Great Leader
Obedient
Ready

Maybe you need to step into a leadership role that God has planned for you or you need help because you feel you are not ready for the role, But you are, you just have to have faith in God's plan and dream for you.

Joshua
Bold
Enthusiastic
Risk Taker

You must trust in others like Joshua did as he put his trust in Aaron, Hur & Moses because if the stick wasn't up he and the man would have been getting injured and maybe even killed, therefore it was a risk of his life. We should follow this example and take more risks and trust that God will be with us through it all.

Hur
Visionary
Servant Hearted
Knew his significance

If I don't do .... (get the stone for Moses to sit on and hold his arm's up we are going to lose this war)
Hur had vision and knew his significance and his role.

Maybe God has something he wants you to do but your vision is blurred, because you haven't let God show you or you don't see the bigger picture or you don't know whether the dream is yours or God's.

You need to realise your own significance and do the role that God has called you to do. It's not about being the one that everyone sees in the light but performing the significant role that God has planned for you.

Nothing in the world will change unless you change it even if it is in a small way.


Swimming

This isn't to do with my belief in God but it is a part of Spring Harvest and it was great fun especially doing it with family as I hadn't been swimming with them probably since the summer as I started University in Plymouth.



Media, Arts & Entertainment

I went to a talk on Media, Arts and Entertainment as I felt it would be useful for my University course but also I felt it would be interesting to find out now I could be a game changer in my religious through the subject I enjoy.


Comedy Writer - James

This writer was co-writer for Miranda and wrote 'The God Particle' which is being performed tonight.

In this industry there are not many Christians but he feels that the kind of people that are drawn to this industry don't mind that and in fact would prefer it as there can do want they want like when creating a story.


Artist and Photographer - Mark

He spoke about now he feels he was 'born a Christian' due to being raised around Christianity and has continued in his faith, the only thing that changed is the closeness to God.

When he came to England he had difficulty with the language as it was his fourth language so he drew and ended up in an Art course and continued this at University. He then got industry work that involved travelling and therefore not staying in one place for long, due to the work that he was commissioned to do he ended up getting addicted to drug which took a lot of therapy to get out of. After this he decided to start his own business and chose not to do any work to do with drugs, alcohol and gambling. One of the first works he did was to re-brand God for a church in Cornwall which may sound weird but this was basically a project to help the church reach out to the community and therefore engage instead of just connecting. He feels that you can stay true to who you are and therefore true to Jesus and do what he would do. With his photography he has looked at refugees and homeless people as he likes using photography to give the people a voice. These projects he did because he was interested in them and not for money.

Example;

He turned down a deal that would have gotten him 250,000 because it was to do with gambling and therefore staying true to himself and the next day he got another deal for the same amount but wasn't to do with anything he said he wasn't doing.

God is everything and therefore you can't turn him down or his love for you. Our identity is in Christ.

Q & A

Being a Christian helps with failure because with this industry you have to fail to get that one good idea and being a Christian you know that we are all flawed and therefore no one but God is perfect.

When talking about the media you may think media influences the people but did you ever think that maybe it's the other way round, that the people have influenced the media.

God gives you your gifts so value them because Christian influence is needed in every area and therefore Christian influence is needed in the media.


iScape - Evening

Jen

There are 2 reactions when you hear about refugees on the news and they are;
1. Whats a refugee
2. Scared

Story

Someone fled their home because if they were to stay he would be killed, so then traveled by train to catch a ferry to France only to find out he can't go on the boat as he doesn't have enough money. He is then left with the choice to stay in this country where he will most likely be killed or to travel on this rubber dingy that a man is offering to get to France.



Laura 

Like I explained the theme of today was 'Everyone' so in this talk we spoke about the disciples.

John 1:35-47

Well the talk today was more about listening and interacting so I am just going to shared bullet points of what I made notes on.

• Can't help but tell people about your encounter with God.
• God knows where you have been and what is happening in your life and he loves you (loves everyone).
• God sees the person you have the capability and therefore will be (the person you will become) not who you are now although he does see you.
• You may have be a Christian for so long that you have forgotten the power you carry in your relationship with God.

You are the gateway to heaven. God lives in you and therefore you carry God's authority.

When you know who you are, and you know what you carry, everywhere is reachable.

Stuart Townend

When I left the evening celebration the queue for this event was already quite long so me and Charlotte decided to join it, at this time it was 9:15 and the performance wasn't to start until 10, our dad's later joined us and it was worth the queue as it was amazing. I really enjoyed it, we got taught songs and invited to sing along to almost all the songs that were played, we even bought a CD at the end of the performance.

Amy x

Spring Harvest - Day 2

Hey,

So the first session of today began at 10am so it was just like getting up for University.

iScape - Morning

Exodus 4 - God gives Moses miraculous power



After reading this there are 3 questions to think about;






1. Is there anything in this story that you can relate to?

Some responses to this question were;
Why me?
What if people think . . .  I can't
Fear limited him like they limit us

2. How do you think God is feeling about this conversation?

Some responses to this question were;
Frustrated
Annoyed

3. If you can go back in time and give Moses advice what would you say?

Some responses to this question were;
God is with you
He strengthens you
It's not about you
Take the first step and the rest will follow
Listen to what God is saying
Believe in himself because God believes in him
Trust in God to help and guide you - allow God space to come through for you


Q & A with Sal

While listening to her talk one phrase stuck out at me so I feel that I should share it with you all

Faith begins as an experiment and ends as an experience


Seminars

The seminars we had today were Church, Wisdom, Relationships, Q & A and Art. I went for Art which I enjoyed but not as much to go everyday so will likely explore during this time slot.


Destiny Africa Children's Choir

I went to this event with my mum and Wendy from church back home. It was a wonderful event that I loved and enjoyed. Here is a link to their website; Destiny Choir. This was amazing and I recommend you go to see them if you have a chance.



Photography

We heard a talk from a photographer that I enjoyed so although this isn't really about my belief in God I am going to share somethings he said in this talk. First he spoke about how a photograph is both nothing and everything as you each see something different in the same photograph as well as so many things. Each photograph tells a story and portrait photographs tells the persons story which he finds interesting. This photographer looked at youth culture on a day to day bases which he found interesting but he also said that he learnt loads from this experience. Photography is good for meeting new people as you might ask someone if you can take a photo of them.


iScape - Evening

So LZ7 performed their new song 'Home is where the heart is' which was great and it was amazing because this meant I would be able to see both LZ7 and Daughters of Davis.

Alex

This guy from Samaritan's Purse who was part of the Christmas shoe box project which I am sure you have heard of, came to talk to us about how receiving his shoe box had changed his life and how God had effected his life. He spoke about a miracle that happened to him as he fled from the war with over 2000 people;

He heard a noise getting louder but he didn't know what it was and ended up slipping on some cow pat and therefore fell over, however he then realised that the noise was a bullet so if he hadn't had fallen he wouldn't have been here to tell his story.

I feel that when hearing a story like this you can't think that God doesn't exist.

Sermon

You may think that you know the story of the Bible but God wants to break it down in new and different ways so listen as there is always something new to learn and experience.


Isaiah 43:19

"Watch for the new thing I am going to do. It is happening already - you can see now! I will make a road through the wilderness and give you streams of water there."





Matthew 3:13-17

"At that time Jesus arrived from Galilee and came to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him But John tried to make him change his mind. 'I ought to be baptized by you' John said 'and yet you have come to me!' But Jesus answered him, 'Let it be so for now. For in this way we shall do all that God requires.' So John agreed. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he came up out of the water. Then heaven was opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and alighting on him. Then a voice said from heaven, 'This is my own dear Son, with whom I am pleased.'"

Jesus was Baptized like us and in this scripture you see a snap shot of God's beauty through the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.


Temptation of Jesus

Matthew 4:1-4

"Then the Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the Devil. After spending 40 days and nights without food, Jesus was hungry and the Devil came to him and said 'If you are God's son, order these stones to turn into bread' But Jesus answered 'The scripture says Human beings cannot live on bread alone but need every word that God speaks'"

Satan is trying to destroy Jesus time with God and therefore Satan is tempting us not to encounter God.


Matthew 4:5-7

"Then the Devil took Jesus to Jerusalem, the Holy City, set him on the highest point of the temple, and said to him, 'If you are God's son, throw yourself down, for the scripture: God will give orders to his angels about you; they will hold you up with their hands, so that not even your feet will be hurt on the stones.' Jesus answered 'But the scripture also says Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"



Satan makes dangerous things seem good. Jesus may have been the son of God but he was also man and therefore was tempted but did not give in so we can also resist temptation.


Matthew 4:8-11



"Then the Devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed him all the Kingdoms of the world in all their greatness. 'All this I will give you,' the Devil said 'If you kneel down and worship me' Then Jesus answered 'Go away, Satan! The scripture says 'Worship the Lord your God and serve only him!' Then the Devil left Jesus; and angels came and helped him."

We can resist temptation and tell the Devil to leave us and God our Lord will help us.



Daughters of Davis

This evenings event was Daughters of Davis who I have seen before back home in Kenilworth so I was really excited to see them again. I now have both there albums and DVD although not sure where that is, oh well. I loved it and so did mum.






Amy x

Spring Harvest - Day 1

Hello,

So the theme of Spring Harvest this year is Game Changers.

Anyone can change the game by following what Jesus did 2000 years ago with the disciples which begins with youth that are the next generation.



We should shine a light on other people and therefore Jesus on other people. If someone believes in you and you believe in God they might think more about this belief as they believe in you. You should therefore be open with your faith in God and shine a light onto others.


John

This guy came and told us about his story which was inspiring as he told us about how he had a choice at the of high school, and his decision led to drinking and at one point selling drugs and he was in abusive relationships. He wanted to change this and a friend said that he felt that he should move so he did and with the help of God he no long does drugs or drinks and helps out at church.


Exodus 3 - God calls Moses

"I am has sent you"

God is ...
1. Mysterious
2. Holy (pure)
3. Permanent
4. Caring

There are somethings that God allows us to understand but somethings we will never understand such as the bush burning and the only understanding we have is that God is permanent and therefore God is life itself.

God interacts with ordinary people like Moses so you can with him as he wants to interact with each and everyone of you.

The question that kept coming up in this talk after reading the Bible verses was 'Who am I' which reminded me of the Casting Crown song;

Who Am I

God wants to encounter us, it doesn't matter whats happened in the past God will Love and forgive you and let you know that it's going to be okay so look to him and find out who you are.


EVENT

This evenings event was 'Broadway Live' which I went to with the group of people I met early that day (Charlotte, Rachel and Hope) as well as my dad and sister. This was an amazing evening that I really enjoyed and would recommend the event.



Amy x

Easter

Hey,

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter I certainly did.

Went to my grandma's Church in the morning with the family which was lovely, however this church is more traditional as they used hymn book which I don't really like using.


The sermon went on for a bit too long but it had some interesting points;

When talking about the Easter story first ask whether you believe in this 'that Jesus died for everyone and for our sins' or not and then what to do with it.




Next

Think about now culture has changed so we have to learn to tell the story which could be in a different way that people would listen.

Everyone has a story
1. Life before Jesus
2. Realised that what is said is true
3. Life after that - belief in Jesus and what he did

After then we had communion which was in the traditional way that now feels strange to me as my Church in Plymouth does a different way.



As am off to Spring Harvest you will me hearing more from me so see you all soon



Amy xx

Mayflower

Hey,

So today I went to church for an evening of worship where we had people visiting from USA Plymouth and therefore spoke about the growing church and how there are 51 Plymouth churches around the world.

They opened with one of my favorite songs;
Happy day

Talk by Paul from Plymouth Church in USA


Revelation 3:6

"If you have ears, then, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches!"

We are justified by faith and those who believe in him are both blessed and made into a blessing.





While talking about becoming an blessing they where singing about how nothing can separate me from the love of God and while research found a song I liked;
Nothing can separate us

Genesis 12

"The Lord said to Abram 'Leave your country, your relatives, and your father's home, and go to a land that I am going to show you. I will give you many descendants, and they will become a great nation. I will bless you and make your name famous, so that you will be a blessing."

You will become a blessing.





The gospel is a legacy just like your kids. Your not just spending time with them, but passing knowledge down to your kids and therefore creating a legacy. We are all children of God and the gospel is his legacy passed down to us though his word but also those who have come before us.


Christianity is a movement that continues to change, but also gives us a chance to become a blessing therefore showing that the church is not the outside of what you see but the inside of each and every person.


Another one of my songs that is wonderful and I enjoy is;
Water you turned into wine

Young people (under 20) were called to the front and prayer for about being influenced why God which was a unique experience.


I also came across a new song which linked well and was inspiring. I also loved and enjoyed it:
Spirit break out

Amy x