Mission and the Holy Spirit

It is June in Las Vegas, and it feels like summer at CLC! I am preparing for Vacation Bible School, and I just got back from a mission trip with the youth group. It is a wonderful season, and I am truly blessed to be a part of this journey!

As much as I love this time, it is also an easy time to become overwhelmed. There are so many things on my to do list. I feel like I have been constantly recruiting volunteers, preparing lesson plans, and finding decorations and craft supplies. So when I finally left town last week to go to Long Beach, I was a little anxious about all the projects I was still working on. However, there was a time when I realized I was a part of something special. I let go of all the concerns, and I was able to trust that the Spirit was moving. As soon as we left town, the kids on the mission trip immediately started building new relationships. They spent the week working incredibly hard, and their work changed lives. Whether we were scrubbing, sorting, or painting, they saw God in these incredible moments. 

There are times we look for reasons to be anxious. It can be easy to get lost in all the problems, and we can feel annoyed by ordinary tasks. I love when we can take time to wait and watch for the Holy Spirit. God is present in every moment. I hope we can all make room for all that Christ doing today!

Blessings!

Brian

Summer Fun!

Are you ready for summer?

I have been scrambling over the last few weeks to prepare all the summer activities coming up at CLC. The Youth Group is packing right now for our mission trip to Long Beach, California. This is a great opportunity for the kids to serve others and build new relationships. I have always found these trips to be incredibly rewarding, and I can't wait to see what God is going to do this time. 

Once the youth are back home, it will be time to dive into Vacation Bible School. This is usually our biggest event in Children's Ministry, and it reaches out to kids in our church and in the greater community. It is another opportunity to share God's Love in new and exciting ways. 

I love watching God's Spirit move in and among us. However, as I prepare to lead each of these activities, I'll admit that I've been feeling more than a little stressed. I am busy securing van rentals, organizing volunteers, preparing craft projects, writing devotions, and a host of other things. It takes a lot to get these projects moving!

I was working through some of these details last weekend, when my wife asked what I wanted to do for Memorial Day. I had been so busy I hadn't really thought that much about it. We thought about going on a hike, but I didn't know if I could get away, and her back had been bothering her. However, when we woke up on Monday, the weather looked so beautiful we decided we couldn't stay home. We decided to go on a little hike with the kids up to Big Falls, near Mount Charleston. It turned out to be exactly what we all needed. The boys loved marching though the creek and sliding down the snow. The air was refreshing, and we left feeling inspired. Besides all of that, water was actually flowing over the falls. (That doesn't happen all that frequently!)

Sometimes we have to take a breath and remember that God is with us today. It is fun to prepare for the big events, but we need to take time for the blessings along the way. Today I hope you can all experience the Holy Spirit moving in your lives. I hope you all take time to cherish this!

Blessings, and here are a few pics from our hike!