Český Krumlov: Our Last Youth Trip

    The next couple of weeks were a whirlwind, and to be honest, everything happened so fast that my memory is a bit patchy. Plus, I must admit, that something happened in the small window of time between my parents visit and the next trip which sent me into an anxious spiral that occupied most of my headspace. I was trying my best to enjoy my time while also struggling with anxiety, panic attacks, intrusive thoughts, and also a ton of school. :( But, I don't want to focus on that, because there were also a lot of great things that happened in my last month of school! 

   After I got back from my trip with my parents, I had a trip to the Czech Republic planned for the next weekend. Our youth group was going on our last spiritual retreat. We were staying at a little airBNB next to a lake and we were going to spend our time swimming and having evening worships by the campfire, but it ended up being pretty cold and rainy. We still had a good time though. 

My friends and I squeezed in as much time together as we could, because
within the next four weeks, most of us were leaving. At this point, everything was beginning
to feel very bittersweet and like we were grasping for more time. 

We visited an old town called Český Krumlov, that is entrenched by a river and 
has maintained its medieval layout. 

The rain jacket was too small, ripped, and was being held together with a safety pin.
(courtesy of me).

The month of May, yet I was drinking hot chocolate to warm up.
I swear the weather never warmed up and stayed consistent the entire time I was in Austria.

You can't imagine how jarring it was to be walking through a European town and see Steamboat. 

   Our youth leaders, Larissa and Gerlando, asked me to give the devotion before we headed back to Bogi. I thought that it was both very touching, and also very mean of them, because I think we all knew that having the honor (and responsibility) of giving what would be our last worship as a whole group was going to = make me break down in tears in front of everyone. But as revenge, I made Larissa and Gerlando cry too. 

   Just for the sake of having it on record, I'd like to attach the notes from my devotional below. Our theme was "serving and being a blessing to others" and my devotional was titled, "The I Problem".

- Recently society has went the direction of "Self-love" & "empowerment". 

- Now, there's nothing wrong with that, per-say, but it's been taken too far self-love has become self-worship. 

- It's all over the place:

           - "Main character energy"

           - People saying, "I'm in my villain era"

           - And people putting up "boundaries" that are selfish & uncompromising. 

- Maybe you can think of people in your own life who live this way. People who couldn't be bothered to help you because it put them in an uncomfortable or inconvenient situation (even though you're already in that situation yourself). People who went so far to protect their own peace that they took away or forgot about yours. 

- There's a major problem with this thinking. It's selfish. You're idolizing yourself. Think about it. The Bible says, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." We tend to think of these gods & idols from Exodus as things, but if I think the world revolves around me, then I am calling myself God. 

- This mindset has snuck in to christianity as well, and it sounds really nice. We tend to treat Jesus as our personal hype man. He is always there to pick us up when we are down and tell us that were are loved, valuable, and amazing. Now, I'm not saying that Jesus doesn't do those things but if that's all christianity is to you, you must ask yourself, who are you really worshipping? 

- People are taking the crown & not the cross. They want a savior, but they don't want a king. 

- What's ironic about it, is that we're worshipping ourselves, putting  ourselves in the place of God, but God Himself does not think of Himself, or treat Himself, the way we've begun to think and treat ourselves. 

- If He did, if He cherished & loved self the way we do today, then He would have never died for us. 

- That's why the Bible says in 1 John 3:17, "If any one has material possessions and a brother or sister in need, but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in them?"

- Because God's love is not self-love, it's self sacrificing. 

- And here's the thing; if even the God of the entire universe, who has the most right to love Himself & preserve Himself, doesn't; instead giving his life for us, what gives you or me the right to deny service to others?

- It's a harsh reality. I'm not sitting here telling you to go serve others because it will make you feel warm & fuzzy inside. I'm telling you that if we really serve the God we say we do. If we serve the God we read about in the Bible, then we don't have a choice. And if we don't, maybe He's not really the God we are worshipping. 

- Proverbs 3:27 says, "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act." It's time to act. 

- But I think a lot of us are scare to act because we get hurt. It is easier to keep our walls up and protect ourselves. After all, when Jesus acted, He died. 

- But when Jesus took that step, He had someone protecting Him & He rose again. And think of His reward!

- Luke 15:7 says that there is a celebration up in heaven for each soul that is saved by his sacrifice. Jesus's sacrifice brings Him joy, not pain. Think of the fulness that must be in His heart knowing HIs one act saved billions of precious people. 

-The same can be true for us when we choose to serve & make sacrifices for others. We don't need to be afraid of it; and here's how I know; it's by looking around me. 

-There have been few times where I have seen such love & sacrifice then when I am with all of you. 

           - The acts of service

           - The prayer

           - The support

           - The hospitality

           - The teaching

- To me, and I hope to you as well, it is clear that each person here has served this group in some way. I have seen each of you put self on the line & sacrifice your security to serve the other individuals in this room.

- So look around & see what you have gained. I want you guys to take that encouragement with you as the end of the school year approaches and we go our separate ways. 

- Lastly, I just want to end with a couple more encouraging verses that make me think of all of you.

- Galatians 6:2, "Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ." (not man, not self, but Christ.)

-Hebrews 10:24-25, "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love & good works. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."