Get Smart 2006

Get Smart 2006 is cranking! 23 of us are respresenting the deep south. The road trip up here wasn't too long and we all managed to arrive safe and sound - well safe anyway.

We have joined with other youth from Outram and Dunedin Apo so there are approx 80 of us staying together. We are staying at Burwood Lutheran Church- otherwise known as the church on the roundabout and we are having an amazing time - although it seems that my duty team is always on dishes - however it is great to be serving such an amazing group of people.

The opening meeting was pumping, we arrived a little late so the threat of the overflow room was looming..however most of us made it into the main auditorium. Reggie Dabbs was absolutely amazing. He played the saxaphone, sang , taught us how to speak black then shared some of his testimony - He went on to flip the script and boom the power of God was so intense..people were laughing one minute then crying the next. Young people responded from their hearts, God has truely impacted their lives and when we arrive home the lives of those around them.

Chris Hill preached tonight and as usual we tried to contain our agreement, but the odd hallelujah and leaping out of seats occurred.

Well guys there is so much more to tell you, but its late, i'm tired so I will talk to you laters

Love Cattie
xx

Natisha's Testimony

For those of you who don't know me, my name is Natisha. I have been a Christian for almost four years- although I believed in God and went to church before then, God only became real to me after both my parents turned away from God. It was from there I developed my own faith and commitment to God.

My life growing up hasn't been easy. Both my parents had me at a young age, although my father had already had a daughter previously he said he wasn't ready for another one and my parents separated to live their own lives before I was born. My dad now has six kids counting me and a lovely wife, my mum- she has three kids counting me and a boyfriend.

There have been many times in my life when I have struggled with who I was because whenever I needed someone to talk to I could never talk to my parents about it because it was as though they had a competition going at who could be a better parent so they would try to give me a huge explanation I didn’t understand so it would sound better than the others and this caused me to feel more confused and so alone.

At first when I became a Christian I always believed God only ever wanted to hear the good stuff in life so often when it came time to pray I would be lost for words. At times I have felt like it wasn’t worth living any more and I started to let my heartache control my life, but during this time God revealed himself to me - He showed me He wanted to comfort me and also to guide and direct my life - He showed me I would never be alone. He was always there.

All my life I tried to be someone I wasn't just so I could feel accepted and like I fitted in, but I became this person I didn't even know myself . I had a split personality - at home I was someone, at church, at school, hanging out with friends, I became a completely different person at each surrounding. I was trying to live up to everyone else’s standards and I wasn't true to myself and what I believed in, inside the real me was screaming to be let loose to show people a glimpse of who I really was. I wanted to know myself who I was - my purpose for life I spent so long trying to be someone else I forgot who I really was.

Being a teenager isn't easy, I know - I am one! But don't make the same mistake I did by not letting people know who you are and what you believe in, you'll find more people understand and accepting these days. Louise is a great testament to this. She was open to what I believed and now she's a Christian. All I had to do was share God’s faithfulness and love with her and God did the rest.

In my life so far I have struggled with depression, rejection and the longing desire to feel loved. I was willing to settle for any kind of love and I made some decisions I regret but finally someone taught me I didn't need to earn love with God. He loved me no matter what I had done or what I was going to do, I just had to accept him and turn away from my sin.

If there’s one thing I have learnt in my life so far it’s this: even though God’s people might feel depressed and bummed out we should not give into it. Instead we should learn to honour God and do what is right regardless of the mess we're in.

Becoming a Christian was the best decision I ever made and my life has changed dramatically since I did. The most awesome thing that has happened to me since I became a Christian would be the Youth Service we had at the Invercargill Christian Centre. I attended a youth group called Revolution there and this one Saturday night during the youth service the old youth Pastor Lyle Pennisula called Revolution down the front. As he walked along the front praying and seeking God he called me forward from everyone else out of Revolution and prophesied that I was going to sing and lead God’s people into worship a week later this prophesy was fulfilled when I was asked to join my church worship team. Before that night I had only met Lyle a couple of times so I didn't know him personally- he didn't even know my name. It was then I realised God’s awesomeness and power it boosted my faith so much.

As a Christian and a person, God has given me an endless and overwhelming love for those who are broken and hurting. At times it's as if I know and can feel their pain and I just want them to be relieved from it. I know this love was a gift from God as I only received it after I became a Christian. I know god has purpose for it and I pray every day that I can share it with others so they don’t have to feel the pain I have known.

If this testimony has done one thing today I pray that it has touched someone that is hurting and broken. I pray that this enables you to understand that you are never alone - trust God with your heart and your life, He wants to nurture and care for you - remember no heartache is more significant than another in God’s eyes, no matter how big or how small God wants to take it from your shoulders- just let Him lift that burden. You will never regret it - I haven't!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NATISHA LUSTY 11RT 27/06/2006

Wow!

Have you ever been in that situation where there are so many things you would like to say yet the words just don't seem to go from your brain to your mouth (or keyboard in this instance).

Lately God has poured out his spirit in my life like never before, it is a humbling thought to know that a God as mighty and powerful as our God chooses to impart this into my life. This power impacts our lives in different ways, it enables us to do things that we are not capable of in the natural but when we step into the supernatural we cannot comprehend what lies ahead.
For me I now have a new confidence when speaking to Pre-Christians than ever before, I am bolder at my workplace about Jesus and what he has done in my life - I have learnt to speak up.

I guess I have always believed that this power existed and was avaliable to me, but I now understand what God has enabled me to do, that we have access to the same power that raised Jesus from the dead and that power is in us. "Greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world"

God continues to draw my attention to my mindsets and the power that these have in my life there is an amazing saying "If I believe I can or believe I can't either way I will be right" these words ring true for all of us and so often we doubt ourselves and our capabilities. Why?
God quite clearly in his word states that he will never leave nor forsake us, that he has a plan for our lives a plan for good not to harm us..yet we so often continue to say "I can't step out like that...I don't have what it takes to do that..." God has equipped us for all he has called us to do.

I understand that these faith steps are different for each of us and what requires a huge amount of faith for me may not for you. But I encourage you that as you step out and say Jesus I cannot do this is my own strength but I hand the situation over to you.

As Phil Pringle says...Stepping out with you

Cattie xx

Tres días después...

Well what can i say? Even after three days i am still blown away by the grace and power of God who moved so powerfully in the weekend. It was just awesome to have Dave Hall from Adelaide with us, who carrys such an anointing and passion for the Holy Spirit.

I am amazed at what God has done this past week through the people in our church. There is such a sense of unity and peace that has been building this year, and it is so great to see the church growing and reaching out to others in need.

For myself before the weekend I didnt really know what to expect, but i knew it was going to be beyond what i could have thought or imagined happening. I have seen the Holy Spirit move in the past but somehow this was new, different, more powerfull, more intimate. It reminded me just how much God has given to us - that his Spirit, who has the power to raise Christ from the dead, is alive and available in each of us! - Isnt that awesome!!

For this i am so thankful and privileged to part of this awesome bunch of people who make up The Cutting Edge and the Church. I am looking forward to what is ahead and the exiting things God will do in the coming months.. weeks.. days!!

Miguel

The day after the night before...

Ah, the day after the night before... what a phenomenal service!! It was just fantastic to see such a powerful move in the Spirit... my arms are still sore from catching people trying to walk through the prayer tunnel.

I really get the sense that it has been a significant weekend for the Church, and Cutting Edge in particular. Lives have been impacted, and I reckon we really need to talk about what God's been doing this weekend in more detail. It would be great to hear from other people and get them to post on the main page just what they felt God doing in their lives this weekend (Cattie and Mike, this means YOU). Testimonies are really one of the most powerful tools we have when share with others what impact God has had on our life.

It's funny. For me, I didn't really have any rhema words or aha! moments. In fact, on Sunday morning, when I fell over, it was simply because I couldn't stand up anymore!!! I remember kind of being aware of others around me and stuff happening, and thinking "I wonder if this is what it's supposed to be like..." I tried to get up and suddenly realised for the life of me, i couldn't move. I felt a pretty awesome weight, and then I realised I was completely peaceful, without fear or insecurity, and felt fully accepted. It was just brilliant. During the night service, it was pretty similar, and again I felt fully accepted.

Today (Monday 5 June) has also been a great day. It was just fantastic to be hanging out with all of the Cutting Edge group, and a real buzz to have people around even when we weren't there (oh yeah, sorry about having to go to lunch and tea). The sense of unity and community that is developing is just really encouraging, and I pray that we continue to make Cutting Edge a place of acceptance and fun where relevant and spirit-filled Christians are being developed and encouraged. Momentum is continuing to build, and we need to continue to stir things up.

Ray.

Lol, sorry there aren't any photos from last night - the Cutting Edgers weren't in too much of a state to take photos... props to the Lowe Street crew for staying up until three... hardcore socialites...

The big 3-0!!

Hey guys,
Will post about the craziness of this weekend when I get a chance (I want to get it right). Just to let you know, Cutting Edge has passed the 30 mark (these are people who regularly attend at least once a month)!!! It is just awesome to see how many of those are going on for God and serving the church in every capacity. This means a couple of possibilities. a) We are going to need to raise up leaders pretty soon. b) If numbers continue to grow, we will need another cell within the month! Not bad since we started a third cell on wednesday only a couple of weeks ago, and we have some fantastic adults already committed to going!

It's great to see that there are people from Cutting Edge going to serve as leaders in other areas of the youth ministry. I pray that as you go, you'll continue to keep your close connections with Cutting Edge, and remember, don't be strangers!! It would be cool to think that as you go into what might be your first "official" leadership role (after all, most of you have probably heard me blather on about how we are all leaders of OUR world); that you might consider continuing to come to Cutting Edge for some extra spiritual input, even if it is once a month. It's always good to continue your own personal development, as it gives you something to give out of in the areas you are serving.

Bless you guys, you are absolutely awesome, and I am honoured to be doing life with you (cheesy i know, but 100% true).

Ray.