Transformation through growth

The last 7 months that I have spent at the Emerge Leadership Academy have been some of the most challenging, stretching, enlightening, and transformational times I have had in my life. When I first came to campus, I had this idea that I wanted to get to know God on a deeper level and I wanted Him to reveal His plan for my life so that I could get busy making it happen. I look back now and can identify how "me" centered that was. God has revealed to me that my life is indeed not about me, but about Him. My love for Him and appreciation for the transformation He has done in my life has developed deeper than I could have imagined. Being at Emerge has really helped me open up and begin to trust others and ask for help. A month into our journey here, I had to undergo 2 surprise brain surgeries within a twenty-four hour period. While recovering, I witnessed just how loved and cared for I am by the people God has placed in my life. Everyone around me reached out and wanted to help lift me up when I was not strong enough to lift myself. I learned that weakness does not come from asking for assistance or needing people to be there for you. My weakness stemmed from my inability to ask for that help in the first place. I have formed relationships here with people whose paths I would have never crossed without Emerge. The leadership staff and support teams that have been placed around us have been absolutely amazing. I love that we have such a sense of "family" at Destiny Worship Center that have all chosen to support us and cheer for us during our journey here. I would highly encourage any student who has a desire to grow deeper in their faith and walk with God to check out Emerge Leadership Academy. While getting to know Him better, you will get to know yourself and your God-given potential in ways you never imagined.

Lindsey Dargusch

Favorite Scripture

Lately I find myself exploring the Psalms and really digging deep into them.  I’ve been reflecting on Psalms 125 and standing on it as a daily declaration for my life and where God currently has me.  My favorite verse right now is Psalm 125:1 -- “Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever.”  When I read that scripture it has this feeling of power, trust, and loyalty that jumps out at me.  Knowing where to put your trust is a hard decision to make.  Sometimes people put their trust in earthly things that bring them a temporary, often false, security.  This scripture shows us that true eternal security and the ability to victoriously endure both come from trusting in the Lord.  Trusting in God is key to living a truly surrendered life.  It also allows Him to open more opportunities for us.  Don’t let the things of man lure your trust away from God.

On My Heart

God is constantly moving on my heart and teaching me to listen to Him.  I put my trust in Him and follow Him wherever he leads me.  Recently, God has really put it on my heart that the next generation is struggling to get along in this world and with what they believe. I feel He has called the next generation to rise up to the challenges the world presents so He can help them overcome them.  In everyday life there seems to be more and more obstacles that teens and young adults must navigate in order to have a relationship with God and pursue Him.  You know your obstacle, you know your situation, and God is there to help you overcome these things.  I believe He has called each and every one of us to rise up, be bold, and confidently lead our generation.  He has created each of us with our own set of strengths and skills.  What has He placed in you that will make you stand out in your generation?

Yes...But

“Lord, I will follow Thee; but….”  Luke 9:61.

Supposing God tells you to do something which is an enormous test to your common sense, what are you going to do? Hang back? If you get into the habit of doing a thing in the physical domain, you will do it every time until you break the habit determinedly; and the same is true spiritually. Again and again you will get up to what Jesus Christ wants, and every time you will turn back when it comes to the point until you abandon resolutely.   “Yes, but—supposing I do obey God in this matter, what about…?” “Yes, I will obey God if He will let me use my common sense, but don’t ask me to take a step in the dark.” Jesus Christ demands of the man who trusts Him the same reckless sporting spirit that the natural man exhibits. If a man is going to do anything worth while, there are times when he has to risk everything on his leap, and in the spiritual domain Jesus Christ demands that you risk everything you hold by common sense and leap into what He says, and immediately you do, you find that what He says fits on as solidly as common sense. At the bar of common sense Jesus Christ’s statements may seem mad; but bring them to the bar of faith, and you begin to find with awestruck spirit that they are the words of God. Trust entirely in God, and when He brings you to the venture, see that you take it. We act like pagans in a crisis; only one out of a crowd is daring enough to bank his faith in the character of God.

MY FAVORITE EASTER ENCOUNTERS

I love Easter and the reality of the resurrected Jesus.  I am still learning truly what it means to allow His resurrection to live fully in me.  One of my favorite things to do is read the scripture passages that give accounts of the resurrection.  I love putting myself in the context of two of my most loved portions of scripture-The Road to Emmaus in Luke 24 and Christ’s Visit to Thomas in John 20.  Both of these passages find their context after the event of the resurrection takes place.  It is mind blowing to think that Jesus defeats death, hell and the grave.  Period.  But then, after all of those history changing events, he has some of the most human interaction recorded in the New Testament.  

I want to encourage to take some time the next few days and read Luke 24:13-32 and John 20:24-31.  Reflect on Jesus’ interaction with the two men on the Road to Emmaus as well as his interaction with his disciple Thomas.   After reading, place yourself in their role in the encounters.  See Jesus, hear Jesus and experience Jesus.  Following our weekend of celebrating the resurrection, let’s look at these passages together and unpack deeper truths.  We’ll pick up here in our next post.  Get ready!