From Tasha Lopez
" Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; for the lord your god will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9
Most times you will see older people who have made some bad choices in the past come to God and feel so new and be a better example to there kids and family members and friends but for young kids it's a little different. Where I'm from being a Christian in high school was vert rare and being able to admit to being a high school Christian didn't exist. God doesn't deny us with all of our mistakes and baggage we come with so why do we deny him ? Just because we're in a different environment like school or something other then church does not mean God is no longer watching us so no matter what stand up for what you believe and love because God gave us a purpose. As a young teenage Christian I understand how hard it is to be the only Christian in school but I won't be scared because my god is an awesome god who will love me no matter what so I'm not going to deny him for anyone else why should you ?
God thank you for all that you've done thank you for sacrificing your son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins. Thank you or walking every step not only with us but ahead of us for us to follow you.amen
Monday, July 30, 2012
Thrive Parent Email - 07.30
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Thursday, July 26, 2012
Wednesday Rewind 07/25
Loved having the Juniors of The Woodland Wolfpack serving last night in our Food Bank. Love the heart of this team and I count it an honor to be a part of it.
Great crowd for Summer. A lot of excitement right now with our students and leaders.
Loved having Worship again. Been in a small group format for the Summer. Felt good to crank things back up last night.
Week 1 of The Hunger Games was awesome. Really felt like God gave me a word for the students in the house. I will be posting notes later today from the Message.
We had our "reaping" to divide up in Districts right after service. A lot of smack talk happening right now between the teams.
Each District is working to earn credits to use at our All-Nighter on August 10th. They can earn credits by writing a devo, bringing friends, memorizing Scripture, bringing their Bible, taking notes, and more.
Had a blast at Yo Tops Yogurt and Ice Cream last night after service. Appreciate them staying open later for us. It was fun to hang out and laugh.
A lot happening over the next couple of weeks. Looking forward to some real big things!
Parent Email July 23
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Thursday, July 19, 2012
Hunger Games Series
Thrive's Hunger Games Series launches Wednesday night July 25th. This is going to be an awesome series that is going to be challenging and fun. We will tackle topics like forgiveness, mindsets, seeing people in their pain, looking past the exterior, and more. Each week I will post a copy of my notes on this site. It will also be a great series for the students to invite a friend. The Hunger Games will run every Wednesday through August 8th, ending with an All-Nighter on August 10th.
Every Wednesday night during the series we will be having something special before and after services as well. Here is what is going on:
July 25th - Yo Toppers Yogurt after Service
August 1st - End of Summer Bash / Summer Photo Booth & Taco Bell
August 8th - Thrive's Largest Sundae
Wednesday REwind 07/18
So grateful for Bobby, Devin, and Michael for filling up over 1,000 water balloons that could not be used and not whining about it.
We played the infamous "do you love your neighbor" game. It is alway intense and always fun. It is a good group bonding game with a lot of laughs and memories.
You know it is a good night when more and more students join in on the game as the night goes on instead of backing off and talking with their friends.
The end of the night was spend with a challenge that though Summer is not over, it is time to go back to work.
Got a lot of cool things planned over the next few weeks.
I believe Thrive is about to step into a new season. A season of growth, both spiritually and numerically.
Thrive students are truly some of the most awesome anywhere in the world.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Thrive Parent Email July 16
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Real Life: Final Thoughts
The team worked so hard on so many projects. The badge of honor for the week was to see who could get their shirts the dirtiest.
Being at Real Life Children's Ranch was a divine appointment. We really believe that we will have a relationship with them for many years to come.
Connecting with the kids at the ranch was the highlight of the trip. What God is stirring in us and preparing Thrive for is awesome. The Gospel is shared not only through words but action as well.
Memories that were made of this trip will last a lifetime. We went down to minister to kids and got ministered to ourselves in return.
We saw last week that everyone, no matter who you are, has the potential to bring hope.
We have to love the people in our world on a daily basis like we loved last week. If we can do that, we can change our world.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Real Devotion: Real Courage
Deuteronomy 31:6
Psalm 27:1
2 Timothy 1:7
Joshua 1:7-9
Courage is not the absence of fear, it is just not being controlled by fear. This week you have shown the love of God to people all around you, as you go home the call is the same. A lot of times it is easier to live fully for God on a trip like this rather than back home in our every day world. There is not the pressure to fit in, or be accepted. It is going to take a Holy courage to continue to live it out. To continue to pray, to be a servant, to show compassion, to be obedient, and to live love, but it can be done. What are you going to take home with you from this week? Will you go back to the way that life was before you left, or will you have the courage to be different, to be changed. It has been said that the brave will not live forever but cautious do not live at all.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Real Life: Day 5
It was our last day at Real Life. It was a heavy day and hard to say good bye. We have left a piece of our hearts down here with these kids and staff member. We believe that the relationships that were made this week are eternal. Very proud of our students, the way they loved and served was unlike anything I have ever seen. You did not hear them complain or grumble about all the hard work. You watched as they connect with kids that they may have nothing in common with. It was truly a God thing.
Today we got to the Ranch and took off one more load of brush and trash that we cleared out yesterday. Then we headed to Douglas Pond that we were able to rent out for all of the Ranch and our team. It is a spring fed pond that a family has build a picnic pavilion, a tower to dive off of, a rope swing, a slide, and a zip line at. It was awesome to watch the kids, staff, and our team play, swim, and have a blast together. Not even me falling off the rope swing a landing on hard ground dampened the day. We ended the day grilling hotdogs and hamburger and having a cookout.
After we left the pond we went back to the ranch to hangout and say goodbye. It was tough loading up in the vans and there was a lot of tears shed. We have seen God move this week in and through this team and the kids of real life. This is a relationship that will last for many years.
Our prayers are that God continues to bless the vision of reaching the forgotten kids of Florida. Real Life will not be the same and neither will we.
Today we got to the Ranch and took off one more load of brush and trash that we cleared out yesterday. Then we headed to Douglas Pond that we were able to rent out for all of the Ranch and our team. It is a spring fed pond that a family has build a picnic pavilion, a tower to dive off of, a rope swing, a slide, and a zip line at. It was awesome to watch the kids, staff, and our team play, swim, and have a blast together. Not even me falling off the rope swing a landing on hard ground dampened the day. We ended the day grilling hotdogs and hamburger and having a cookout.
After we left the pond we went back to the ranch to hangout and say goodbye. It was tough loading up in the vans and there was a lot of tears shed. We have seen God move this week in and through this team and the kids of real life. This is a relationship that will last for many years.
Our prayers are that God continues to bless the vision of reaching the forgotten kids of Florida. Real Life will not be the same and neither will we.
Real Devotion: Real Love
John 15:13
1 John 4:18-21
John 3:16-21
1 Corinthians 13
The word love may be one of the most over used words in the English language. We use the same word to describe our favorite pair of pants and how we feel about our families and people who are dear to us. The same word that we use to express how much we enjoy food, is the same word to convey our deepest affection. If this seems troubling to you, it should. Love itself was never meant to be expressed by words. It is shown and lived by actions. Words are empty unless they are backed up by your life. So the question is do we just simply use the word love or do we live it out? How do you show love with your life? What decisions do you make that back it up? Does your life shine with love or does your mouth just say it?
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Real Life Day 4
Today was hump day. Most of our team over slept this morning including myself. That makes for a rough start and a quiet breakfast time. Our team prayer time has been some of my favorite time of this trip this week. Watching the students pray, read their Bible, and worship is definitely the highlight of my day. Hearing the students pray out loud for Real Life Children's Ranch and the kids is awesome.
It was finishing day. We cleaned up where we had laid sod, hauled off trash where we cleared a wood line, finished ripping up flooring in a house, and ran barbwire on the fence we mended. You could tell our students were tired but I never heard them complain.
The afternoon was spent hanging out with the kids and doing small cleaning around the ranch. We quit around 4pm and headed to the Hotel to rest, freshen up and eat pizza. Then headed back to the ranch for a service with the kids and staff. It was an awesome time of worship, students sharing scripture and testimonies. There was such a sweet presence of God in the chapel during the service.
After the service we hung around for a couple hours playing and laughing with the kids. It was a great way to end the day. Tomorrow is our free day and we have rented out what they call "Douglas Pond." It is a fresh spring pond with rope swings and zip lines. We will have a picnic lunch and then grill hamburgers and hotdogs later in the afternoon. It will be fun to hang out and play with all the kids and staff of the ranch.
So proud of our students and what they done and given this week.
It was finishing day. We cleaned up where we had laid sod, hauled off trash where we cleared a wood line, finished ripping up flooring in a house, and ran barbwire on the fence we mended. You could tell our students were tired but I never heard them complain.
The afternoon was spent hanging out with the kids and doing small cleaning around the ranch. We quit around 4pm and headed to the Hotel to rest, freshen up and eat pizza. Then headed back to the ranch for a service with the kids and staff. It was an awesome time of worship, students sharing scripture and testimonies. There was such a sweet presence of God in the chapel during the service.
After the service we hung around for a couple hours playing and laughing with the kids. It was a great way to end the day. Tomorrow is our free day and we have rented out what they call "Douglas Pond." It is a fresh spring pond with rope swings and zip lines. We will have a picnic lunch and then grill hamburgers and hotdogs later in the afternoon. It will be fun to hang out and play with all the kids and staff of the ranch.
So proud of our students and what they done and given this week.
Real Devotion: Real Obedience
1 Peter 1:14
James 1:22-25
1 Samuel 15:22
You may have heard it said in church that obedience is better than sacrifice. What does that mean? How does that apply to your life and my life? Simply said sacrifice is what you do, it is your actions. Sacrifice is the outward effort. Though that is important, there is something a little deeper. Obedience. If God only has your sacrifices, He only has your hands, but if you are obedient, He has your heart. Obedience is a commitment of your heart. You can fake sacrifice for a time but never obedience.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Real Life Day 3
This is one of the best missions trips that I have ever been a part of. The cool thing is that we have not presented the gospel in the traditional way that you would think about with a missions trip. Yet we have felt the love and presence of God in everything that we have done. We felt it in laying sod and playing on a slip n slide, laughing with kids and making friends. Instead of preaching about the Gospel we have been striving to live the Gospel out.
Everyone got up moving very slowly. Sore and tired from the day before. Breakfast and load up time was an hour earlier than the day before. We got to Real Life and had an awesome pray time. There was such a sweet peace as we prayed for Real Life and for each other. After our prayer time we went straight to work. We pulled up more carpet, laid 9 pallets of sod, and repaired a fence. It was a little warmer today and several of the student's faces are red this evening.
We quit working around 3pm and set up the slip n slide. It was awesome watching our students go down it with the kids, everyone was laughing and having a blast. For a moment our students forgot how tired they were and the kids from Real Life forgot their pain. The afternoon continued with popsicles, duck duck goose, and a lot of goofing off.
We left Real Life shortly after dinner and headed to Dairy Queen for a victory ice cream. It was good to sit back and relax for a moment and take it the day. Tomorrow will be another busy day. We get to have a service with everyone. Looking forward to what the rest of the week holds.
Real Devotion: Real Compassion
Proverbs 21:13
Micah 6:8
Ephesians 4:32
1 John 3:17-18
Compassion is defined as a sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it. Compassion is not only knowing something is wrong or seeing someone in pain but it is backing it up with action. It is putting movement with your feelings. Jesus has not called us to feel sorry for anyone, He has called us to see the hurts and help bring the solution. Compassion can be as simple as giving someone a smile, a hug, or as complex as inconveniencing yourself to meet their need to show the love of Jesus. How will you not only have compassion today but show compassion and live compassion?
Monday, July 9, 2012
Real Life Day 2
Day 2 is really day 1 with yesterday being a travel day. Most first days on site with a missions trip is spent in training and preparing for the week ahead, but not this week. We hit the ground running this morning. We got to Real Life Children's Ranch (rlcr.org) and started in the chapel with a time of prayer and devotion. It was a sweet time as the students not only prayer for themselves and the week but for each other as well. We then divided into team and took on three projects. One team is sodding the front yard of one of the houses at the ranch, another one is pulling up carpet at a house, and then the other team is clearing a tree line on the property. Each team worked really hard and got more done today than expected. It was hot and dirty work but we pressed through and did what needed to be done.
We knocked off a little before 5pm and got ready for dinner. After dinner and clean up we set up a big screen movie and hung out with the kids of Real Life. We gave them candy, laughed and connected with them. As the movie finished the fun moved outside to the playground and basketball courts. You could sense the presence of God as you heard the laughing and playing of the kids. Several had to fight back tears as we understood what God was doing in that moment. In that moment no one cared about Foster Care or wounds or scares, all we cared about was right there. No one was worried about where they had been or what tomorrow held. It was beautiful!
So very proud of our team today. When they were tired and worn out from working in the hot sun, it did not matter, as soon as those kids came in they came to life. You heard our students connecting with kids not whining about be tired and dirty. You heard laughter, not grumbling about being ready to leave. We actually had to force them into the vans at 9pm after being there for 12 hours.
Tomorrow holds more projects and a slip n slide. It is going to be awesome.
Thrive Parent Email July 9
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