Satan has NO place here...

The next two weekends are going to be crazy but awesome.

I've been excited and anxiously awaiting these two weekends for over 115 days (yes, I have a countdown on my computer) and it is FINALLY here. God has been so amazing in figuring out different aspects of the weekend: a) the fact that my schedule actually allows me to go b) transportation and c) costs (keeping them as low as possible!)

There are, however, two aspects in which I am nervous-anxious for (one each weekend). These situations are ones that I do not have not very much control over. I have control over my own thoughts, feelings and actions...but I cannot control the other parties thoughts, feelings and actions. I have probably dreamed up and imagined the most terrible outcomes possible (because I am a worry-wart) when it comes down to interacting with them. I KNOW that the situations won't be as awful as I have been imagining it, but in the back of my head I still allow for some worry...

Control is something I struggle with. That was one reason I fell for a few years, because I wanted to have control over my life, and only went to God in times of need. I have since given control to God, it's just hard when I don't know if the other person has given control to God (even if they "say" they have)...as it doesn't always show. "Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me." - [Psalm 54:4] I know that God has control over these situations, and I'm sure after the weekends are over, I will look back and think myself a total lunatic for even worrying...

This weekend, over 400 youth and leaders will be gathering at Muskoka Woods Sports Resort to learn more and grow deeper in their relationship with Christ. Satan is NOT happy (one would assume), and I can see how he's even trying to meddle in my life and my "worries" beforehand. He is trying to defeat us, and rattle our faith...before, during, and I'm sure even after we've experienced the weekend. But yet, the weekend is so covered in prayer and we're focused on the reason we are there, that the devil is resisted and overcome.

"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." - [James 4:7]

Please pray for this weekend, that the devil will flee and we will be able to reach hundreds of youth who are on this journey, or perhaps, may begin their journey this weekend. I will return with stories and pictures I'm sure!