 Bilzzard 2009 - Elevate
Dustin (youth leader) and 2 of our youth attended this years Blizzard conference and have decided to share their journals with you.
During this event, the youth kept a journal of their experiences. This documents the experience, gives opportunity for others to see what Elevate is all about, and confirms God’s presence in the lives of these believers. Both Brian and Cory, upon hearing the proposition of sharing their journals online, immediately tore out their pages and gave them to share.
Cory, 16, Pontiac MI
Entry #1
EXPECTATIONS
Dear God,
I came here to learn more about you and have fun. For future reference, I can look back on this experience one day and be happy I came and remember the knowledge you put in my head this day. I expect to remember this day and know more about you by the time I leave.
Entry #2
REFLECTION ON FIRST DAY
(Worship, Sermon, and Recreation)
Yesterday on Thursday I had fun. I met new people and learned new things. We prayed a lot, which we were supposed to. We walked around in the hotel and did Bible study too. We worshipped like I never did before. I felt the adrenaline runnin’ through me. We had the best speaker, he knows a lot and talked about a good message. We had fun at Magic Mountain too. Then, we went to sleep.
Entry #3
REFLECTION
Pam Stenzel’s DVD about sex and its consequences
I learned a lot about STDs. She was a good speaker on the subject and had plenty experience to back it up. She’s a good person to speak on the subject because she has been through most of the stuff she talked about (other than the diseases). She made a big impact on her audience. I feel like I’ve done good for Him. I pray that I don’t fall a lot and we have fun worshipping God.
Entry #4
ON THE WAY HOME, a reflection of the whole event.
God did more than enough to accomplish his goals at Blizzard. I liked the fun we had and the worshipping and everything else. There wasn’t a reason to not like any of the events. Last night was fun. We worshipped for three hours and after that I learned how to ice skate, for the most part. I had fun playing lazer tag and had fun at magic mountain altogether. The six hours of worshipping made a big impact on me. It will make me think and make wiser decisions. It put me closer to God and that is a big reason why we came.
He gives us a Vision, makes our Vessel, and speaks His Voice through us. The speaker we had did a better job than any other preacher I’ve heard. He was a comedian preacher and kept the audience active.
I had fun playing Frisbee game, being active, and in the pool too.
Brian, 14, Waterford MI
Entry #1
EXPECTATIONS
God,
I want this to be a very good experience. I hope we all get a blessing from this time. I hope everything happens in your Name Lord. Let our hearts be filled with the Spirit. Let everyone’s heart get filled with the Spirit. Let our voices be heard, and let us have a wonderful time at this event.
Entry #2
REFLECTION ON FIRST DAY
(Worship, Sermon, and Recreation)
Last night I really felt the Holy Spirit run through me. The worship, I really got in to it, and the speaker was really amazing. I hope today is going to be even better. I remember holding hands with everyone and praying. I felt I really got everything I wanted out of this service. The title of his message was, ‘Here am I,’ which was talking about how we have to be right here for God. After the service was Magic Mountain where I won a lot of little knick-knacks. The event was only til 1:30am but we did not leave until 2:00 in the morning. We were the last ones in to the hotel. I got a blessing out of service.
Entry #3
REFLECTION
Pam Stenzel’s DVD about sex and its consequences
I learned that even though you don’t get pregnant every time after sex, you still can get and give diseases to the other person. I also made a commitment I will not have sex until I am married and in love. I also learned a lot more about STDs. After you have sex and get a disease you will most of the time have that disease for your whole life. So, that is why when you have sex make sure it is someone who is clean of diseases. I hope tonight will be a blessing to me and Dustin and Cory. I hope we will worship and do everything in your Name. I hope He gives me a true blessing; let our hearts and minds be filled with your Spirit.
Entry #4
ON THE WAY HOME, a reflection of the whole event.
Well, the Blizzard trip is over. I felt that God really worked through me this weekend. I got everything I wanted out of this experience. It made me identify who I am as a Christian. The speaker made it clear how we should walk in the footsteps of God. Magic Mountain was so much fun to me. I won a lot of Nerds and a couple other knick-knacks.
Vision, Vessel, Voice was the message last night. God gives you a vision and then makes a vessel so you can speak your voice. The night before last the title of His message was, ‘Here am I.’ It talked about how our hearts, minds, and bodies need to be committed to God. We need to be committed to follow and do everything He wants us to do. Last night, we went to the Chiller which is an ice skating rink. I didn’t skate because I just had knee surgery a couple of weeks ago. This weekend I was able to open my heart to God and let Him fill me with the Holy Spirit. The worship team was great. They got that place really jammin’. They did about eight or nine songs every service. This was an event where I think a lot of people gave their heart to the Lord. I hope that Blizzard will even be better next year. Let Pastor Pete come to our church and feel comfortable in a couple of weeks. This was a good weekend.
Dustin, 26, Auburn Hills MI
Entry #1
EXPECTATIONS
God,
I am hoping and praying for a wonderful revival. I am praying for the youth here to be filled with your Spirit! I am praying that all the youth leaders would be energized and filled with boldness and strength. I am asking that Brian and Cory’s needs will be met and that you would supernaturally open their minds to living for you. I pray for fun Lord Jesus! I pray that everything goes according to your plan and your purpose and that everyone here is enriched by this experience.
Entry #2
ON THE WAY HOME, a reflection of the whole event.
Blizzard 09 was awesome! All of us had a life enriching experience. The human videos were awesome! The worship was loud, powerful, and gave all of us the freedom to pour our hearts loudly to the Lord of all Creation. The metaphor of a rain cloud was a great metaphor given for praising God. If nothing goes up (evaporating water, praise to God) then nothing comes down (rain, spiritual rain from God). The Holy Spirit rained down on us and we received Him. The speaker was anointed and an extremely talented communicator. I pray that the messages given: Here am I, a light-bearer – and that God gives us a Vision, makes us a Vessel, and speaks His Voice through His vessel; stay in our hearts and minds forever more.
We had fun! We had fun praising God and giving our selves and our sustenance Him. We had fun doing Bible studies and discussing God’s Word. We had fun playing the Frisbee game, Man Bites Dog, and playing games in the pool. The Chiller and Magic Mountain were also a great time. Cory did real well for his first time out there on ice skates at the Chiller- he was even talking on his cell phone and skating at the same time. Magic Mountain had free lazer tag and arcade games all night long! (Unless of course you used up all your tokens for the games with tickets like Brian did- He did get a lot of tickets, and therefore a lot of Nerds…
I am learning more and more where God is leading me. He always confirms His Word; we just have to be listening and obedient.
This generation is in our hands church, are we listening? Are we being obedient?
Thank you Lord Jesus for Blizzard Elevate 2009!
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