What God has Taught Me...
God has constantly been teaching me lessons since I arrived at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.. Everyday I find myself becoming closer to him and falling more in love with him. I won't go into all the details of how God is working with me, but I feel led to share my experiences from this past weekend. Last week, I was praying about getting involved in Disciple Now programs with UMHB BSM and I really felt led to work with teens. Randomly after a meeting, I was approached by a friend who was involved with DNow. He asked, "what are you doing this weekend?" I assumed he was just being friendly and said I wasn't sure yet. He then proceeded to ask me if I would consider doing a DNow in Georgetown. My heart leaped and I immediately said, "yes". I had no clue what to expect and the closer it got the more excited I became. Finally Friday came and I found myself in a car, with people I didn't know, going to a place I didn't know, to minister to teens I didn't know.. Normally, I would feel worried or anxious but I just felt a sense of peace and excitement. We arrived at Crestview Baptist Church in Georgetown and I began the journey the weekend would bring... I was placed with middle school boys which has always been an age group I struggled with so I was initially worried. However, as I got to know the kids, God showed me that this age group is constantly misunderstood by everyone. They are labeled as annoying and testing, but really all they want is someone to care about them.
The theme of the weekend was called The Pause. I never expected to be impacted by the sessions because it was geared towards middle school and high school students, but everything related to me. In our culture, we are constantly busy and involved. I have always loved being involved in many different organizations. As I have come to college, I feel overwhelmed and stressed from being involved in so much and it is good to "pause" and spend time with God. At the beginning of the semester, I listed all the organizations I was involved in and I found out I was involved in so much. But why was I involved in those specific organizations/ did they glorify God? If I had no real reason to be involved, I made it a goal to quit that organization. It worked for about a week then I found new organizations to replace them.. This weekend, God taught me that it is good to be involved. As long as I spend time with him as well... I still plan on quitting a few organizations and maybe doing some new ones, but I have also set aside an hour each day to spend time with God. So far, this has been incredibly liberating! My overall experience at the DNow was incredible getting to know not only the teens but also the leaders as well. Now I feel ready to serve in my church. I have felt God leading me to get involved in children's ministry, but now I feel as though I may be called to work with the youth program.
As the DNow ended, I realized my calling in life... I have always been called to missions, but I have realized I am truly called to love people and minister wherever I go... All of us are... How many instances do we focus more on our future than the present?? If you are like me, it was very often. This past semester I worried about grades, my degree, my future career, friends, etc. I never was content with my life... I have prayed for that feeling of being content this past semester and I finally have received it! I find myself saying "I don't know" to a lot of the questions I am asked about the future... I don't know what God is going to do with my Public Relations degree but that is where I feel led, I don't know when I will graduate but God does, I don't know what I will do as my career but God does, I don't know what Canada holds but God does, I don't know how the money will come in for Costa Rica but God does..
The best thing we can do is trust God through the hardships, insecurities, and worries of life. It is scary, but once you give him your trust 100% you will truly be happy and be blessed beyond measure.
I hope you enjoyed reading what God has taught me through DNow. I will post soon about my experience going to the Bethel concert and an update on Canada and Costa Rica as well.
In Christ's love,
Samuel
HELLO EVERYONE! MY NAME IS SAMUEL KINNIN AND I AM A STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR SEEKING A CHRISTIAN STUDIES AND PUBLIC RELATIONS DEGREE. THE PURPOSE OF THIS SITE IS TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCES AND WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE WITH MY LIFE AND MY UPCOMING MISSIONS TRIPS AND STUDY ABROAD EXPERIENCES. I WILL BE GOING TO CANADA OVER SPRING BREAK AS WELL AS COSTA RICA THIS SUMMER. I AM THRILLED TO GO AND SEE ALL GOD WILL DO!! I KNOW THE TWO EXPERIENCES WILL HELP ME GROW AND MATURE IN THE LORD AS WELL AS UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT HIM. I ALSO WANT THESE TRIPS TO BE ABOUT SPREADING CHRIST’S LOVE AND HOPE TO OTHERS. I ALSO HOPE TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT THE LORD HAS TAUGHT ME AND IS CONTINUING TO SHOW ME THROUGH MY LIFE AND IN PREPARATION FOR HIS CALL. ENJOY!
