Sister 2 Sister Kick Off Party

Tonight was our Sister 2 Sister Kick Off Party. It was really good... well, to an extent. I felt very humbled because it didn't go at all how I planned it to, but God's so much bigger than my plans and I know that He truly worked in the midst of the chaotic madness of 400 people trying to figure out who their sister is and if they even have a sister!!
I want to share with all of you how the night went down... this is what I've been spending sooo much time on these past weeks, and I think that God really blessed and is blessing mine and Beth's efforts. So if you weren't there... see if you can join in on the excitement. And if you were, know that Beth and I are praying for you, we love you, and we hope that you and your sister will hit it off, love each other and build an AMAZING relationship this year as you draw close to each other and to Jesus.

Here we go....


Welcome Sisters!!As everybody walked in we tried to play this game... it worked to an extent, I think... :S They were great questions though, you have to hand it to us. :)

After the game we started finding our sisters... yeah, hopefully next year we will have a way better way to do this... but I think everybody found each other for the most part. Sorry sisters, if you were confused or frustrated during this time of the night!!Devo Time!!
So my Uncle Steve was taking Seth Micah into the garage to show him something at his workbench. Seth was following him, but when Uncle Steve walked around the garage and turned around Seth had held back and was frozen in place. His eyes were wide and Uncle Steve said, "Seth, c'mon, what's the matter?" "Unca Thteve!! A thpider!!" "Oh, Seth, don't worry, it won't eat much... c'mon buddy." "But Unca Thteve! Its a thpider!!" "Sethy, it won't get you, c'mon buddy." "Unca Thteve!" "Ok, I'll get it." So Uncle Steve walks back across the garage and smashes the spider with his shoe and motions for Seth to follow. "Ok, I got it Seth, let's go!" "But Unca Thteve! Its on your shoe!!" I love to hear that story of Seth. Sethy wouldn't let Uncle Steve take him into the garage the rest of the way until he cleaned up the spider with a napkin and threw it away in the trash.
I think I'm a lot like little Seth Micah. God's got something he wants me to do, something he wants to show me in the garage, and I've taken my focus off of the work bench and am looking at the spider that isn't even in my way and can't possibly hurt me. And I'm terrified, frozen, there in the garage. The amazing thing that I've found out about God is that He's a lot like Uncle Steve. He doesn't come back grab my hand and force me into the garage past the spider, no, if I need him to, he'll take time to come back, smash it, clean it up, take my hand and walk me through the garage.
Sister 2 Sister is a big commitment for all of us. We all have fears. Little sisters, you're afraid maybe of not getting a sister or having a bad sister, Big sisters you're afraid of not having enough time to be the best sister we can be or you're afraid of not being able to be the mentor we know that God is calling us to be, Sponsors you're afraid of what your role looks like and aren't sure what we're asking of you. And outside of Sister 2 Sister we all have fears that just grab us and freeze us in our shoes. My fear is of this leadership role... that I will let you girls down. That I will fail in my life and therefore set a not so great example of what a Christ like sister looks like. Take some time right now and talk amongst yourself about your fears....

*Pretend/Imagine that God wants your fear, your spider, to remain in your life because it isn't going to get you like you suppose. How do you think He can use your fear to help you become a better person/sister?
*Do you think that you would be a better sister/person if the fear was eliminated?
*What are you afraid of?
*What freezes you and you wish God would just smash it?

As I was freaking out several weeks ago about this night, this party, the words I was going to share with you, I was gripped with fear and I cried as I opened my Bible to Isaiah 41 and heard God speaking to my heart. This passage is directed towards the chosen people of Israel, yet I am embracing these words as my own and your own because each of us have been called into this place where God can use us and these are his comforting words for us today.

I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, "You are my servant; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand... For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Do not be afraid, for I myself will help you," declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One.
-Isaiah 41:9-10,13-14

I sought the Lord and He answered me. He delivers me from all my fears.
-Psalm 34:4

Take tiem and pray over each other, specifically that you will step out of fear and into His arms. Pray for each other that you will allow God to comfort your fears. Thank Him for His promise of strength, that He is and will continue to uphold you, and thank Him that He HAS called you into this place where you can grow through your fears.

Check out our SUH-WHEAT S2S T-Shirts!! And don't forget... there's cookies out there! Lots of nummy ones... chocolate chip, peanut butter, oatmeal raisin, m&m and sugar!!
Peace Out, Girlies!!
May the God of peace equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
-Hebrews 13:20-21