Plugged-In 2014 continued......

Continued from my last post...........This is my amazing small group that I had. Mrs. Lorretta Stembridge (www.dancingonthedash.com) she was my small group leader. They were so amazing and I felt like I can open up to them without them judging me or my actions. We all can relate in some kind of way!

Annie and I. The speaker

I talked about in my previous post. She has become one of my greatest friends. She writes like she is talking to you. She is an amazing person, Christian, friend that a teen girl could EVER ask for. The first time I met her I wondered if we could really be related. She isn't afraid to share her life experiences at the right time. "I like having fun!" -Annie Downs! We are not suppose to live this life alone, we need Jesus in our lives! She also has a devotion to go with her book Speak Love it is called Speak Love Revolution 30 days. 

 This picture was Sunday during 

our last worship service! I didn't plan on getting up and talking, but it just happened. Plugged-In changed my life two years ago. I became a Christian at this retreat! God allowed me to meet Annie so I could see that I was not alone in the struggles I was facing. She dealt with the same things I was going through. So I told her on Sunday "Thank you Annie for all you have taught me throughout the years." Which was 100% true! God has used her to show me that no matter what I am not alone in my struggles. No matter what you are facing in your life.....God will never leave you! 

 We were apart of a global service project

called Sole Hope. This organization makes and sends shoes to the people of Uganda, Africa. In this picture we were cutting out the plastic soles to go into the shoes. We made 41 pairs of shoes out of old jeans! Wow! That was incredible! I am so blessed that I was apart of that, the fact that a kid is going to have a pair of shoes because of me is a humbling feeling inside my heart. If you ever have a chance to be apart of something like this or in your own community TAKE THAT CHANCE!!!!!!!!!!!! It will change your whole output on life and make you see how many blessings you have in your life. I know I did! 

Thank you to Mrs. Lorretta Stembridge for taking the amazing photos! 

Plugged-In 2014! Teen Girl Retreat!

I just got back from a girls retreat in Waynesboro, Georgia! It is called Plugged-In (2014)!!!! It is so much fun and worth the time to attend.

Our speaker was Ms. Annie F. Downs, author of Speak Love-Making Your Words Matter and Perfectly Unique. She has a blog called Annie Blogs annieblogs.com follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pintrest, etc.... She is an amazing writer and author. Look her up!

Anyway she has come to Plugged-In for 3 years now, and she has been an important asset to our group. As I walked in that Friday afternoon, an instant smile came across my face. Why you ask? Well I saw people that I haven't seen since that time last year. First person I saw was my two best friends Beth Jenkins (blog is wandering forevermore------check it out) and Whitney Dixon. I haven't seen those girls since Homecoming day at my school (Edmund Burke Academy) in October.

All the ladies who made this retreat happen really deserve a HUGE thank you!!!!!! Our theme was how to become an authentic community. Our theme verse was Acts 2:42 "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." Some important words in that verse are DEVOTED, TEACHING, FELLOWSHIP, BREAKING OF BREAD, AND PRAYER. There are three types of people in our lives: Plane- they know you but you don't know them, Bus-Everyday people, and Car-Your closest friends & family. Who is in your car and bus?

On Saturday we did service projects throughout our community, I was apart of cleaning The Center For New Beginnings, a tutoring place for kids with special needs. Every time I help someone or a group of people I get a humble feeling inside my heart. Also was apart of a global project called "Sole Hope" this organization makes and sends shoes to the people in Uganda, Africa. We made soles for 41 pairs of shoes for the children. That was the most humbling feeling and I was blessed to be apart of it. If you EVER have a chance to help in your community or even better within the world then TAKE THAT CHANCE!!!!!

Annie talked about her life experiences within her life, some were SO FUNNY, others were more serious. She wasn't showing us a fake person. She was showing us HER! The Annie that is her self and not someone else. Her book Speak Love is amazing, and will truly change the way you use your words. Be careful about how you use your words. Leave the right kind of "footprints in the sand" because you will never know who is following in them. Ephesians 4:25-26 says "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 'In your anger do not sin.' Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry." Ephesians 4:31-32 says "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." 

WATCH YOUR THOUGHTS THEY BECOME YOUR WORDS
WATCH YOUR WORDS THEY BECOME YOUR ACTIONS
WATCH YOUR ACTIONS THEY BECOME YOUR HABITS
WATCH YOUR HABITS THEY BECOME YOUR CHARACTER

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO MADE PLUGGED-IN 2014 POSSIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Chapel Lesson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyheJ480LYA This is the link to the video my lesson was about. It is called Lifehouse Everything Skit. It is VERY powerful!
   God created you for a purpose. This video shows how easily we can slip from God. Satan sends things in our lives to make us turn away. Everyday we are in a spiritual battle against something. Whatever it may be, God is pulling you back to Him. Cry out to God and you will be heard. (Basically a battle of tug of war) Psalm 116:1-2 says "I love the Lord, for He heard my voice, He heard my cry for mercy. Because He turned His ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live." (NIV). After we accept Christ, that doesn't mean that all the trials won't happen. They WILL! I know! We just need to run and cry out to Him. Galatians 5:1 says "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, the, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."
      Don't be afraid to run to God when something in your life goes wrong. He wants you to go to Him when you are hurting.


Hope you like the video!


See ya!


Lecie :)