To KB or Not to KB???

To KB or Not to KB...that is the question?!?!?!?!?

Something to think about before we meet on September 12th. Kingdom Bound is an absolute crazy, growing, learning experience!!!! Do we do it again? Or would you want to do something quieter--like stay at Shiloh???

Think about it....Pray on it....watch over the next few weeks as the Lord works on your heart of what we should do.

Kickoff at Kolb's camp

Welcome to all the New VCers!!!!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU TO JERRY AND JOAN KOLB FOR OFFERING THEIR BEAUTIFUL CAMP TO US FOR THE EVENING!!!

21 of us got together for a great evening of swimming, tubing, kayaking, volleyball, eating, star gazing..... and getting to know one another. The laughter around the campfire and learning about each other's "summertime hightlights" was the best.

After a "not too much sleep nite", we had pancakes and sausage for breakfast, cleaned up camp, and one last volleyball game--where the girls beat the guys. (hey did u know how hard it is to find a volleyball in a bush?!?!?!?!LOL)

.......more pics available online at Facebook's group VERTICAL CONNECTION........

Pray for this next year.....let Him use us for His purpose.

Kingdom Bound 2008

Did it ever happen??? It has been a whole week now since we were at Kingdom Bound. A years worth of planning, fundraising, and earning points is behind us. Well, one way to think of it is that KB 2009 is only 51 weeks away!!!!!

The Kingdom Bound experience reminds me of that new Orange County Chopper motorcycle/roller coaster ride at Darien Lake. The year's preparation is like the start of the ride---you move forward and wait, with this pit of excitement for the ride to shoot you out and begin. Whooooooooshshshhshshhhhhh.........you lunge forward as the ride begins and you're not sure what to expect--just like arriving at Kingdom Bound. Then as you relax and begin to enjoy the experience, you feel so free. Your arms lift up as you enjoy all the graceful turns, surrendering yourself to the roller coaster's glide. So much like at the concerts or morning worship--where you can relax, enjoy the music, and feel His presence. And before you know it, your arms are lifting up to our Father, surrendering to Him! Yet, as quick as the ride ends, so does Kingdom Bound.

But do we have to let the surrendering feeling end???? NO!

I pray that each and everyone of you continues surrendering to Our Redeemer.

• When you are at church on Sunday and everyone is singing...if you are not a singer; just read the words, feel what they mean. Praise Him with that.
• When you are alone in your room....pray out loud or quietly to yourself--either is fine with Him; and lift your arms as you pray. Praise Him with that.
• When you are listening to your favorite Christian artist...dance like a child; jump and move. Praise Him with that.

Keep that graceful glide going for the next 51 weeks. Praise Him, pray to Him.

6 Days till Kingdom Bound 2008

Six days and we leave! It is hard to believe that it has been a full year since the last KB experience. It brings back so many memories of last year--morning worship, the heat, the walking, the concerts, the first concert (chirp, chirp, chirp--the sound of crickets--but we had good seats!), sqash, conversations, and a first time all out giving it up to the Lord feeling.

Over the next few days, pray for God to use this time to really work on you. Pray for a moment that He gives you a "whoa!" or "ahaaa" feeling. Let the Holy Spirit work in you to freely worship and give praise to Our Savior. Raise your arms, jump, and yell out.

We are looking forward to REFLECTION time also. We have some things planned out, but are really going to give the time to God and let Him run it. Let Him use the time to work on us all!

It's going to be great. We are excited!

Progressive BBQ

I forgot the camera...what!!! I can't believe I forgot the camera...I always get pictures :(
Sorry guys, forgot the camera---thus no pics :(
But, we had a BLAST with the Progressive BBQ= from hotdogs, to toss salad, to macaroni salad, to cookies and watermelon. We had a BLAST!

Then we had a final meeting for Kingdom Bound 2008. It was requested and decided on two more tshirts...so each day we will have group tshirts! Just ordered them in the requested tyedye and brite blue colors. Together, we also figured out the transportation and sleeping arrangements.

AND the next BIIIIIGGGGGG thing after KB '08! Campout at the Kolb's house on DeRuyter Lake on 8/22/08. To say goodbye to the graduates going to college and say hello to the new Vertical Connection'ers'. More details to follow on all this.

Mercy

At Wednesday evening's book study, we had one of our Teens open in prayer. During her beautiful, simple, heartfelt prayer, she thanked God for His mercy. Those words: " God, I thank You for Your mercy on us." have been stuck in my head for the past few days. I am making dinner and hearing thank You for Your mercy on us; I am mowing the lawn and hear thank You for Your mercy on us; and even typing this I can still hear her saying thank You for Your mercy on us.

What a great reminder. He IS merciful, forgiving, and compassionate. Our NLT Bible lists MERCY 24 times. His love is completely incredible and so hard to comprehend sometimes. We are sinners, we fall short, and we stumble through life. Yet unconditionally Our Redeemer has mercy.

I am so thankful for this week's Book study and this blessed reminder of His mercy.

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance-
1 Peter 1:3-4

Our hut was on fire

I received this recently and it had so much meaning for the Lefebvres. God even uses email to get His message across sometimes:



WHEN YOUR HUTS ON FIRE



The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out, 'God! How could you do this to me?' Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him! 'How did you know I was here?' asked the weary man of his rescuers. 'We saw your smoke signal,' they replied.

The Moral of This Story: It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of our pain and suffering. Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground It just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.

Todd and I were on that island, built a hut, and by God's mercy He burnt it to the ground! We have had recent spiritual growth.

AAAAHHHHHGGGGGHHHHH.....when going through it...aaaggggghhhhhh..... we wondered when is it ever going to end (Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut). Then we started to pray and give praise for this trial and tribulation (One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home). During the leeeennnnnngggggtttttthhhhhhh of this trial and thinking we can't go on ONE MORE DAY ....more "stuff" happens...(little hut in flames). Feeling defeated (ooohhhh that nasty Satan) we started to give up, (and Satan was thinking hahahahah) then we prayed again (smoke rolling up to the sky).

VICTORY!!!! He claimed VICTORY!!!! (Remember: Revelations=we win!!!) He sent us (the sound of a ship ) a good, clear message through friends, and Pastors, and Teens, and emails, and books, and strangers.

Is Satan trying to trick your head with defeat???? Is Satan giving you "stinkin thinkin" that there is no ship for you??? CLAIM VICTORY!!! God gives us all a ship. And the Comfort of our Helper sails us in His peace.

For everyone that is feeling defeated by something: Hi Father! Beautiful day and beautiful ways You have given to us! Oh Father, you know what lies so heavy on my heart right now at this very, very moment. And Father, I know that You are in control and I pray for clarity to this message You are giving to me. I hurt, Father, You know that I hurt. Father God, I give it all to You! My smoke signal is going UP! UP! UP! Do You see it Daddy???? I am ready for the sound of the ship. I am ready for VICTORY that will bring Honor and Glory to You. In the name of the Son that You gave us, I pray this today. Amen.