Today as I was reading my Bible I ran across one of my favorite Bible verses and was challenged by it once again! Here it is…
Acts 4:13 (NLT) “The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.”
Here’s another verse…
Exodus 34:29b (NLT) about Moses… “He wasn’t aware that his face had become radiant because he had spoken to the Lord.”
I feel challenged today to let my time with Jesus change me so that people can feel, see & sense something different about me. Am I bold? Is my countenance joyful? Would people recognize something different in me? Will they walk away thinking about Jesus?
One of my desires in life is that people will leave after a conversation or time spent with me and walk away more encouraged and more hopeful! There is enough discouragement & criticism & despair in this life, that I would like to offer something different…. I want to offer them JESUS!
It doesn’t take special training & I can just be ordinary “me”, but when I spend time with Him my life can impact people in every day life!
As I was reading in Jonah the other day, this verse jumped out at me… Jonah 1:17 “Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah.”
That word “arranged” really stood out to me. You see, I’m a “planner”. I’ve been involved in administration since I was very young. I’ve spent most of my “career” life as an administrative assistant. I love to look ahead in my calendar & plan things. I enjoy making checklists & checking things off. I live by a calendar & task list. I tend to get a little bit stressed out if I can’t look ahead to make plans & think through details.
Over the past few years God has brought me through a process of learning to “let go” more & trust Him for my future. But I still have a ways to go! 
This verse made me laugh at myself though… because God is the “ultimate administrator”. He “arranged” a whale to swallow Jonah. He created the universe in very detailed order. He orchestrates our lives & arranges for divine appointments & connections all throughout our day. There are 6 billion+ people on the earth, and he even knows the number of hairs on each of our heads. The Bible says he clothes the flowers & feeds the birds!
And the funny thing is that I still get nervous about little things in my life & how they are going to work out! God is SO able to work out things… and in even better ways than I could imagine! I’ve seen God work out things in beautiful ways time & time again in my own life!
So, as I read that verse today I was just reminded to again put my life into the hands of the “ultimate administrator”, my Father God! He has it all under control & He has great things in store for all of us! He can work out the details far better than I ever could! And, I’m very thankful for that! :)
Dear parents!
Thanksgiving week is here & its always a wonderful time to reflect on what God has done over the past year! It has been an amazing & eventful year at GU, and we’ve seen God change the lives of so many young people! We are so thankful to be part of what God is doing with young people in our church! And, we are very thankful for the wonderful parents we get to work with in the process!
Here are a few thoughts from the last month…
As a youth ministry we’ve spent the last several weeks preaching & studying the Book of James. We’ve focused on subjects like perseverance, the power of your words, humility & taking action with your faith. It was a great series with very practical tools for young people to use in their lives!
The next series we are beginning after Thanksgiving will be about hope. Our key text is Romans 15:13 “So I pray that God, who gives you hope, will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in him. May you overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” We are believing for many young people to truly embrace the hope that comes through Jesus Christ!
Here are a few upcoming dates to put on your calendar…
Nov 24- No GU (for Thanksgiving)- enjoy time with your family!!!
Nov 25- Thanksgiving Day!
Dec 15- GU Christmas party 7pm (at each campus)
Dec 18-19 CBC Candlelight services (at each campus during normal service times)
Dec 22 No GU (for Christmas)- have a wonderful Christmas!!!
Jan 3 Begin fasts (GU will be doing some fasts to join with our church in prayer/ fasting to start out the New Year & to prepare ourselves for the GU conference. We will have a few different ways for young people to participate this year! More details to come…)
Jan 8 9:30am-12 noon GU conference volunteer meeting (RB Chapel)
Jan 23 CBC Mega Prayer Night (end fasts)
Jan 27-29 & Feb 3-5 GU Conference. See the “Conference” tab for information & details, registration, etc. Also, we are still looking for host homes & volunteers. If you would be willing to open your home for young people to stay during the conference, or if you would be willing to volunteer during the conference, please let us know. You can call (503) 382-1783 and speak to Joe Garibay.
GU Wednesday night schedule:
6pm Jr High 222 Groups (on-site at each campus)
6:30pm Pre-service prayer in Sanctuary (at each campus & open to everyone)
6:45-7pm (& after service) Pizza café ($1 per slice of pizza, $1 for drinks, and free for visitors).
7pm-9pm GU service (Dynamic worship, powerful Word, prayer & regular age-distinctive break-out sessions)
Thank you again for everything you do & especially for being great parents! We are so happy to partner with you to see God do great things in the lives of your young people! Call, text, email or Facebook us if you have any questions, thoughts or concerns.
God bless you & your family this wonderful holiday season!
Pastor Poncho & Lora Lowder
Time is flying by… and sometimes it seems a little daunting to think about living a life with purpose. I want to be someone that dreams big, steps out in faith, faces fears, grows, sets a great example for the next generation (especially my kids!), serves the people around me, finishes strong, and uses the gifts God gives me for something bigger than myself! It can seem overwhelming sometimes to live that kind of life! For me, it becomes especially hard when the “practical” things of life can sometimes distract me!
But, I’ve been realizing lately that TODAY is truly all God is asking from me. I can’t change my past & it’s a waste of time worrying about my future (although I do my best to plan for the future!). But, TODAY is what God is asking of me! He wants me to give myself fully to TODAY- to obey Him, trust Him, love the people around me, speak words of encouragement, and live today to its fullest! And the sum total of my “todays” are what will make up my life!
A Scripture that I think of often in Hebrews 3:7 says “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts…” Today is my opportunity to hear from God & to keep my heart tender & open to Him.
Another great reminder about today is Lamentations 3:22-23 “The unfailing love of the Lord never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day.” No matter what I’ve done or how I may have failed in the past, TODAY marks a fresh start for me!
With that in mind, I’m choosing to embrace what God has for me today! It’s the only day I have to work with & it’s a representation of my life. Today is truly a gift that I’m so thankful to have!
Pastor Lora Lowder and her husband Poncho oversee Generation Unleashed, and specifically the Rocky Butte campus. Lora has her bachelors degree from Portland Bible College and is a great preacher and teacher. She serves in almost every area of the GU youth ministry. Along with all this Lora is the proud mother of two amazing kids, Hailey and Ezra.
