Orange Family Experience

Main Idea (if you don't want to read the entire thing): Tonight was awesome. God does really amazing things when we let Him.

Tonight was our first ever Orange Ministry Family Experience night. Basically, its a night where the parents get to see what all we are doing in children's ministry and we introduce the next month's theme. I have a lot to say, so I'm just going to list them, not in any particular order. (:

1. I love the kids at our church. They are absolutely fabulous! We had planned to go down the isles during a few of the songs to pull kids out and get them involved and dancing and things, and they did it all by themselves! Every song we were doing, they were out in the isles doing it with us, having a blast worshipping Jesus. Seeing the joy on their faces as they are praising Him is such an amazing thing. I don't even know how to describe it. And Orange gives me the opportunity to invest in them, show them that it's worthwhile to follow after Jesus with all they've got. I just pray that God is using me for His glory. Tonight, there was a little girl whom I absolutely love that ran up and gave me a huge hug with the biggest smile on her face. Kids have a joy inside that we lose as we grow up. I want them to realize that you don't have to lose it, that God can provide that joy. Always. It made my night to see and be with those kids. They are fantastic.

2. We sang 'Cannons' tonight. I lovelovelove that song. Cannons is one of those songs where I honestly have no idea what I look like when I'm singing it or what anyone else looks like, I'm just there to worship. If you've never heard it, I really encourage you to go look it up. The chorus is "You are holy, great and mighty. The moon and the stars declare who you are. I'm so unworthy, but still you love me. Forever my heart will sing of how great you are." The part in that really stuck to me tonight, and I was overwhelmed with gratitude. I am so unworthy. I mess up so much. And I've messed up so badly, and I've felt so unforgivable. There are a lot of things I've done wrong. For so long I felt like I couldn't be forgiven. I had messed up too badly to be fixed. But still you love me. That piece kept going through my head over and over and over, and here's the thing: He still cares. He forgives me, no matter what it is I've done. If I truly repent, it's GONE. I don't ever have to look at it's ugly head again. And in spite of my stupidity and sin, God loves me anyway. He LOVES me. Me. The one who messes everything up and makes things more complicated then they ever should have been... that girl is his princess. What an astounding, amazing, beautiful, humbling love that is. And the fact that I get to be a part of it... wow. I really can't ever get over it.

3. I just plain out had fun tonight. I put everything I had into it. I stopped caring what people thought about me, and let some inhibitions go, and just went for it. I danced like a crazy, and really just let go. It was so fun to be worshipping like that. It's not something you get to do everyday. And we did this little play off of a game show thing and I got to model the prize, kind of a Vanna White kind of thing. I went all out for it too, I wore my prom dress and everything! (& got called a princess! Highlight of my night!) I hadn't really planned on doing anything special, just go across the stage I guess, but when I got up there, I danced around and look like a total goob. But it was SO much fun. And everyone laughed. I got so many compliments on that, including little Jenna in cubbies who came up to me and said 'I saw your dancing. It was really good!' Makes my night. I was just Sarah, worshipping an amazing God, who does amazing and astounding things when we let Him.

I'm blessed beyond my wildest dreams. God, I pray that you will continue to move in and through me. Nothing gives me joy like following after you. I'm completely and totally yours, use me as you please. I love you.

Love,

Sarah♥