Preparing for SNOGLO...

This weekend will be the first of two winter retreats we take as the FOUR:12 Student Ministry. This weekend, we will be heading up into the pocono region of PA to Pinebrook for their annual SNOGLO winter retreat with a bunch of middle school students. This will be a treat for me in a number of ways. First, I get to finally spend some quality time with our new middle school students where I can share my life with them and God-willing hear how God is working in their life stories. But even beyond that, I am especially excited because SNOGLO is where I grew up going to winter camp. I remember the great times of worship, hanging with friends, sledding, and questionable cafeteria food! But more importantly, I remember the hype of meeting with God, getting that spiritual and emotional high throughout the weekend, and then heading back home, thinking that I have changed, and then failing to "come through." I remember the heartache that this caused year after year after year...

So why am I excited about this? Great question! I look forward to the opportunity of sharing my experiences with our students. As I read through 1st Peter, our study for both weekends, I can't but help to see that when God calls us to a relationship with Himself, it is a call to life transformation- all areas of life. It isn't simply praying a prayer so that we can punch our ticket to heaven. When God calls us, He is calling us to holy, set apart living that is filled with the blessing of knowing Him but also the trials we face as those living apart from the world. You see when God calls us to Himself and shows us forgiveness and salvation through the cross of Christ, He is showing us that our lives are no longer about us, but rather, they are about His glory, His honor, and His praise...

So as we head up to Pinebrook this weekend (January 7-9) and next weekend (14-16), would you join me in praying for a few things?

1. First, pray for each one of our students that will be going with us.

2. Pray for God's Spirit to be moving in each one of their lives.

3. Pray for a common bond between our students.

4. Pray for our new leaders- their first weekend trip!

5. Pray for our speakers and worship bands.
6. Pray that God would call students this weekend to life transformation.

Thanks!

Matt