Let Us Fix Our Eyes on Jesus by Sarah Valley

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run…

Okay. That’s enough to make me stop there. Run? Me? I hate running! I have some friends that just came specifically into Nashville to run in the Music City Marathon. This is crazy to me! Run? Much less pay to run? Who in their right mind would do this? Running is for dogs. Well healthy dogs anyway. Lately things have been a bit difficult for my husband and I. We have 2 dogs that we absolutely adore. I completely understand now when people say their dogs are like their children because I feel as if I would do anything for my dogs. We don’t just have dogs-we have big dogs. One is a 120-pound Alaskan Malamute named Rio who looks to be about 200 pounds because of her fur. Lisa, who played drums for me at Connection actually referred to her as a polar bear recently. She is every bit as beautiful as this breed can get- very smart, independent and man oh man does she have a dominant, stubborn nature. Our other dog, Forrest, we adopted about a year ago. We’re not quite sure what kind of dog Forrest is. He looks to be a boxer mix of some sorts and is literally half of Rio’s size. Forrest is an energetic, fun-loving dog who is eager to please, always ready to run…….ugh! There’s that word! Run! And that my friends is where the trouble begins….

We brought Forrest in for his yearly vaccinations, and as we were waiting in the room my veterinarian comes in and says, “I have some bad news.” Not really the words I was expecting to hear. I was thinking, “what? He has fleas? No big deal.” Nope. This was something else. My sweet Forrest has heartworms. How is that even possible since he’s been on heartworm medicine as soon as we got him? My sweet boy was diagnosed with something that I knew was expensive to treat. We have a baby on the way! Spending exorbitant amounts of money on our dog was not really something we were expecting at this point. Not only is it expensive to treat, but also after treatment there is a long hard recovery period. Ugh.

….with perseverance the race marked out for us…

For those of you that don’t know heartworms are transmitted through a mosquito and primarily affect our canine friends. Heartworms are treated by giving a dog 2 different shots that are really harsh on a dog’s system. They give him one shot on one day, keep him overnight to monitor him, and then give him one the next day. After giving him these shots it is now our duty to make sure Forrest remains still and calm for the next 6 weeks. SIX WEEKS!?!? Are you serious??? This is my little dog that loves to run and has the energy of 5 of my malamutes rolled into one. Keeping him still and making sure his heart rate doesn’t go up is very important because during this time, as the heartworms are breaking up, Forrest could throw a clot if his heart rate gets to high and it could kill him. Oh. I see. So there is purpose in keeping him calm for 6 weeks. We can do this. By the grace of God we can do this. This means we have had to choose to keep him indoors. We have had to choose staying home over going out of town so that we could make sure he was okay. We have had to choose to walk him on a leash when he goes outside to go to the bathroom instead of just letting him run out there. We have had to choose the hard things. We all have a choice to. We can choose to persevere and endure. It may feel impossible but this is how it is done. This is how we run this race:


…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1,2

That’s how I feel in my walk with God sometimes. Sometimes the daily life-the perseverance part can get me so bogged down to where I definitely don’t feel like I’m running. Maybe I’m going at a turtle’s pace, but then again the turtle did win that race in the story about the turtle and the hare. (Rabbit for those that don’t know what a hare is. I know? Why not just say rabbit?) =) Let’s look at why the turtle won the race though…the turtle won because he stayed on the path. He kept racing towards his goal-the finish line. The rabbit got sidetracked and decided to go off the path and take a nap and lost all track of time until it was too late, and there was no way he could win the race. The turtle won because he kept going. He kept his eyes on his goal. It is the same with us. No matter what the pace in our journey with Christ, if we fix our eyes on Jesus we will reach our finish line. I love that word “fix.” It doesn’t just say keep your eyes on Jesus it says fix, which means to become stable or permanent. With our eyes permanently set on Jesus we can stay on the path and achieve our goal. The only way that Michael and I are able to endure going through this with our dog Forrest, is to keep our eyes on the end result. To throw off or get rid of those nasty worms that entangle his heart so that he can run again, we must endure and persevere through these 6 weeks by keeping our eyes on the end result. At the end, he will be better and healthy and finally able to run again! Praise God that our journey with him is this way. To get rid of the things that slow us down and the sin that keeps us from racing, sometimes we walk, sometimes even crawl but with our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ we will run again. We will “run and not grow weary,” we will “walk and not faint” as it says in Isaiah 40. The only way that Jesus himself was able to endure the cross was he kept his eyes on the end result. He knew that in the end death would be defeated as he sat down at the right hand of the Father. It is finished. Let us keep in mind too dear sisters and brothers in Christ that this life is not forever. It may seem like it, but it is quick and even our most trying times will be worth it if we keep our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith. Praise the Lord that as we run this race we are not alone! There are many racers alongside us. I was so grateful to meet many of you at Connection this year and look forward to the day when in heaven we can gather around our Savior’s throne and look at each other and shout about our own race- it is finished! Then we will bow before the One who has gone before us and marked out the finish line. In the words of the song Our God by Christ Tomlin that we sang at Connection: Our God is greater, our God is stronger, our God is higher than any other, Our God is healer, awesome in power-our God! Our God! And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us. And if our God is with us than what can stand against?

Let us fix our eyes on Him!

A Word for the Race by Amanda Dean

Hi fellow race runners.
I hope you remembered to put your armor on today. If you need to check to see if you have remembered everything read Ephesians 6: 10-18.
It always seems easy to start the race there are so many other race runners to keep us motivated. But some of you may find yourself alone on the road, perhaps you see a few other runners up in the distance, don’t be discouraged, there are going to be stretches when you are running alone. When you find yourself alone on the road, remember to focus on Jesus. Re-read Philippians 1:6, 4: 4-9, 4: 11-13 and finally Isaiah 30: 21. Can you hear Jesus voice? Read and meditate on the word of God and you will begin to hear God’s voice more clearly. His voice will give you strength and perseverance to run the race. In other words do not focus on the other runners; this is NOT a race, focus on Jesus and Jesus alone.
I am back in Arizona, reflecting on all of the encouraging words and events of the weekend. I want you to know how much you encouraged me. Each smile and hug and every conversation are so precious to me and they will provide much encouragement when I grow weary. Acteens don’t forget I have placed you in my arena, my cloud of witnesses. You are there because you provide energy, much needed energy. My focus is on Jesus; but when I hear about how you are involved in your community, in missions, in ministry and in discovering how you can use your gifts and talents for Jesus; I am so inspired and encouraged and energized.
Run the race God has before you Acteens!
Run with perseverance Acteens
Amanda Dean
April, 2011

Pictures from Connection 2011

2010-2011 State Panelists

Great Girls Worshipping the Lord FBC Bolivar girls MEGA Fair Prayer for Missionaries led by a bday girl

Worship through Art Sunday Morning

So cool!

Zumba Late Night Fun

More Zumba

Sarah Valley

Welcome

Connection 2011

Connection 2011 Unhindered, Unstoppable, Undistracted was a tremendous successful with 477 girls and leaders who attended conferences, worship services, even and did some Zumba! Girls were challenged by conferences about learning to study the Word, glorifying God through relationships, respecting their purity and much more. We added a Late Night option a few years ago and had enjoyed having this element of fun for Friday and Saturday night. One of the most successful things we have done was this year’s Zumba class. Zumba is a form of exercise based on Latin dance. The girls had a great time and a great workout! Amanda Dean, former TN WMU specialist, was our Connection speaker and she challenged girls to live a life unhindered by sin, other influences, and circumstances. She spoke through her testimony showing girls that we can be unstoppable by running the race even when times are hard. She encouraged girls that if they keep their eyes on Christ, being undistracted by the world, and put on His armor we will find success and finish the Christian race well. It was such a privilege to have Amanda back in Tennessee and I know girls’ lives were changed through her message! Jason and Emily Moore, ISC missionaries that just recently returned to the states from Italy, shared with the girls through worship and conference about living the life as a missionary in Italy. Highlights from their time included in introduced to what ISC/Journeyman program looks like, stories of sharing their faith through relationship evangelism, and the power of praying for missionaries on the field. Its such a privilege to share Connection with Acteens each year. My spirit is strengthened and I see Christ work in my life each year. It’s a blessing, beyond blessings to get to serve along our conference leaders, worship leaders, and speakers. This year’s line up was fantastic and I know that Christ used their words, testimonies, stories, and resources to change lives for His glory. If you don’t have girls from your church at Connection make 2012 the first, they will walk about encouraged, grown, and inspired to take their faith to the next level!

Raising Money for Blume

Check out this great article about a TN Acteens Group raising funds for Blume!!

Maryville Acteens: Girls on a Mission

What are ways you are raising money for Blume?

Why I enjoy Acteens?

We asked the 2010-2011 this year to show us some of the things that are important to them as young leaders, teen girls, and Acteens. Their insight below to the question, “Why you enjoy Acteens?” shows us

Rachel: Acteens has been an awesome experience. it allows me to grow spiritually, as well as in my friendships with the other girls at church. It provides me with opportunities to serve others and to share God's love with other people. i love that Acteens allows me to spend time with my friends while growing spiritually. i feel like friendships founded in a love for God last forever, and through Acteens these relationships are built. It also provides me with new insight to God's word and His love for me through the devotions and activities we do.

Alyssa: I enjoy Acteens because it really gets me involved in my church! Acteens allows me to get closer with the girls from my church as well. In Acteens we do the Quest For Confidence book together which really draws us all closer because we're learning new things together, which i love! I also enjoy Acteens because it opens doors for alot of mission activites. I love missions and feel the calling to be a missionary so Acteens allows me to have many opportunities!

Sara: Before joining Acteens, I was probably one of the shyest people you would ever meet. I would just smile and wave when people would talk to me. Then, my mom said to me, “You should started going to Acteens, meet some new people.” So I went and almost immediately I loved! Finally I was able to interact with girls who didn’t care what you looked like or what school you went to. They were just grateful that you were there to learn about how to fall deeper in love with Jesus. From joining Acteens, I have made many remarkable Christian friends and have learned how exactly I should be living my life for Jesus. I feel that Acteens has been one of the most beneficial experiences in my life. God purposely had me join Acteens and I am so thankful that He did!

Savannah: Why do I enjoy Acteens? Well, for one, no boys allowed. J Acteens is a place for teenage girls to escape the drama and distractions of everyday life and just be with other Christian girls who believe like each other. I love our Acteens group because we know everything about each other, we learn about missions, and we are always there for each other at any time. Acteens has introduced me to several things and people and I am thankful that I have had the opportunity to be in Acteens.

Brooke: I enjoy Acteens because it is a positive place for girls to gather and socialize with a positive peer group. Also, Acteens provides the opportunity for girls to learn about local and foreign missions. Another reason that I enjoy Acteens is because it not only teaches you about missions, but it also gives you the chance to participate in missions by serving in your own community. Through Acteens, the North American Mission Board provides mission trips across the country. These are just a few of the many reasons that I enjoy Acteens!

Maisen: Acteens is more than just a Wednesday night activity, to me. My Acteens leader, Andrea Young, is the bomb and I know I can go to her for anything. The girls in my group are so special to me and being an Acteen has given me friendships that will last a lifetime! I have had so many opportunities to step out in my faith with Acteens. The girls and my leaders really push me to step out of my comfort zone and be bold for my Savior! I have also learned so much about Missions and Missionaries and how to pray for them.

Welcome

Hey girls!  Welcome to the Tennessee Acteens blog!  We just got to thinking one day a few weeks ago it would be really cool to have a place on the web where we could post articles for you and interact with you on topics you are learning about and experiencing! 

Another cool thing about our blog is it will feature teen girls just like yourselves writing articles that relate to life, following Christ, missions, etc.  I hope you enjoy your reading.  Feel free to comment and share!