So much has happened leading up to the Next 2008 conference. A semester has come and gone, God placed old friends into my life as others walk out of this season in my life. Gods grace Is apparent in every area of my life. I have been so blessed. I wasn't sure if I was going to have the means to get to Next this year, but God provided and I couldn't have been more grateful.
The weeks leading up to Next were interesting, my life is going to be transitioning yet again. I have recently been made aware of a few things. Earlier this year the church was informed that one of our dear families was going to be relocating to Tampa due job situations. They are such big part of our church and my life, to think of it without them in it doesn't seem real... Also a big change, my roommate (who is one of my best friends) was going to be moving back home, only for the reason God was calling her to be back with her family. I can scarcely be upset with her for that reason, because I want her to stay for selfish reasons. Then to "top it off" so to speak, three weeks ago I was told that the family that I have been nannying for is going to be moving to Texas for job relocation... They are also very involved with the church, and in my life. My job set aside, they are like my second family... All of this is ever more showing me my need for my savior. Alone I wouldn't handle all this uprooting very well. The Lord had been faithful and helping me to see more of the big picture. Needless to say I could not wait to get away and meet the Lord. At this na..Next was going to be very different then any of the other years I had attended. Very few people from my church were going, only four if I remember correctly, many of my out of state friends were unable to make it is well. Nevertheless I was still very excited. Ever since my first NA this conference has been the highlight of my year, the teaching discussion, and worship effect me in a very unique way, God always meets me there unlike any other conferences I have ever attended. I am so grateful for everyone who puts so much time and energy into this conference! It is such a blessing!
This year I had been praying that I would come away being refreshed and would gain more knowledge about my Savior and through His life and what was accomplished.
It was 5:00 on Thursday the 22nd, I was franticly going down my list of things I needed. My bag was becoming increcently more difficult to zip every time I repacked. I frantically through all the stuff I didn't need in my closet. Shutting the door, I heard the door bell down stairs, The Lyssa and Katelyn were here. The three of us were going down town to hang out with some friends before we left. As we ran through the rain to the car, we were drenched. There had been so much rain over the past week most of the major roads had all been closed. It had rained for a striate week non stop. Many people were saying that they had never seen flooding this bad in 20 years, no joke. I can't remember missing the sun so much in my life!
As the evening progressed the rain let up a little, and we were able to walk around. Over all it was a fun night. We had to be home by ten because we had to be ready for Next! I had to be up at 4:30am... not so much fun, I couldn't sleep to save my life! The growing anticipation would not let me rest. I didn't end up falling asleep until after 3:00... I woke up to my dog all over my face, not such a pleasant experience. To my dismay I had slept through my alarm! So I franticlythrough myself together and said goodbye to Chelsea and went to meet up with Steven to head to the airport. I bid ferwell to my worried mom and we were off! At last I couldn't believe it was already here! Unfortunalty to our disappointment Steven and I had arrived ten minutes late to cheek our bags.. So we had to take another flight at noon... It really wasn't so bad, I had never had like 4 hours in an airport before. So pretty much everything you can think you can do at an airport we did. We went on the tram thing a few times went in all the shops a few times... wow that took 45 mins, believe me it felt like it had been at least two hours haha. but the time went by faster as it went on. The Ang and Allie ended up on our flight, For that I was pretty excited.
On the plane I was in the middle of a mom and a two year old... If you have ever met a two year old you would know how much fun that would be haha. I couldn't believe how happy I was with the pilot said we were there! Not just for the crying baby, but because we were almost there! =) We waited for the Tram to take us through the city. It was packed inside! I like Trams so It wasn't bad. It didn't take long before we were in the city. I met up with my friend Timtim, and she took me up to our room. Later the two of us went all over the hotel. On the 4th flour there was a pool and a gym, but the best part was this balcony that overlook the baseball staytiom. After running around the hotel and the city we were over heated, so we went to the lobby and met up with Matt. Sitting there I met two of the ninjas :) I love the ninjas they are one of the best things about Na..Next. They are married couples that run around giving us stuff and they take poliruode pictures if you ask them. Anyway Timtim and I went to register for the conference, while there I spent the time reuniting with old friends. See when I say reuniting... for me that means you run over and both parties start screaming and hugging. It must look so peculiar to other people now that I think of it... Nevertheless the day progressed with many hugs, laughs and greetings. The session was getting closer and closer to starting! Walking through the doors to that main session was so cool! I can't tell you how enthusiastic I am about Na..Next, think about it, 4 days Beholding Jesus Christ! How can you not get exited about that!?
There is nothing like the worship with Bob Kauflin, and this year they had Reilly lead worship one of the days! They are one of my favorites. Their violinists and lyrics are amazing. A band called Zelos also lead one of the nights. I have not had the opportunity to hear a lot of their work, but what I heard was pretty good. Devon Kauflin... I am pretty sure that is his name, lead is well. He is really gifted, along with the others. After an amazing night of worship, Joshua Harris brought an outstanding message on Christ's Preeminence. His message was on
Colossians 1:15 -20
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16For him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.19For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
I had never looked up the word Preeminent before. I had resumed what it meant, but by definition it means : having paramount rank, dignity, or importance : outstanding, supreme.
It effected me when He was asked if we were living and shaping our lives on the Knowledge of Christ being Preeminent?
Then He turned to Luke 6:46-49
"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great." And He was pointing out that he was also talking about people who know their theology. He was also talking talking about those who call call Him Lord Lord but do not know what He says. Often Jesus can become a means to get something, a means to an end you could say, and how none of that will be a foundation to for your life. He was reminding us how Jesus Christ was risen from the dead and we are built on Jesus Christ and Him being preeminent, our confidence must be in Him.
Another really good point was that "if we want to know God we have to be ready to work." I think he quoted CJ "If you want to feel deeply you have to be ready to think deeply. He was also saying that it is not about emotion, and emotion built on emotion is empty. In closing I think it was He was talking about how the closer we get to God the Bigger he becomes, it s through the blood of Christ.
Well my mind is all over the place so I could have all that out of order and context, But is really was a great message and I have already listened to it again since I got home. Back to the conciliation of day one. After the meeting was over we had community groups. A community group os made up of about 100 people or so and then to break up into small groups of 10 to 15 people. This is my favorite part of Next! Jancy was the first person in my group I met. She is so sweet and Godly and amazing, but I could go on about that :) but I met Christina was amazing is well and Wendy and Caleb it is late and they are the only ones I can think of off the top of my head, and I already knew Abby and a few others who never ended up coming the remainder of the time. After some amazing fellowship and getting to know each other a little I went to meet up with the Merwins. :) We went and got snacks and went back down in the lobby. We found out if you give Katelyn a bag of twizzlers and put her in the middle of a room guys just run over. No joke! After that we had a good laugh, Eli and Dustin got us drinks and ended up giving us pizza. However I did managed break my glass... no Idea how that happened. It was approaching 1:30 2:00am so we decided to go to bed early the first night. But we sat in the Hall for a little while laughing and making joke about why everything was so funny so we were joking around that the guys put something in our water. haha But yeah I'm sleepy and Im going to go to bed. And thus concludes the first night of Na..Next =)
I'm to out of it to fix my spelling..
