Praying for Teenagers

A while ago, I read an article from youth specialties on 10 thing to pray for dealing with today's teenagers. Over the past few years, I have either interned, or now have a full time job working with teens. I get to see on a daily basis what it is they are struggling with, but more so how I can help them. Call me crazy, but I believe with all my heart that this generation of students, from middle school to college, will have an amazing impact on our world and will pursue God with a greater zeal and passion than the generations before them. I feel like in order for them to do that, they have to be surrounded by people who believe in them, who invest in them, but most of all, who pray for them. Being intentional with students, will allow them to be intentional with themselves, God and others. Here are some things that the article from YS touched on: 1. Purpose: God has a plan for every single student. I want nothing more than to pray this over students asking God to always remind them of their whole purpose in life. I want nothing more than to have students who live a life full of passion and have a purpose for living. "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future" -Jeremiah 29:11 2. Friendships: My boss Todd, always says, "You are who you hang out with". I heard that a lot growing up but didnt really see it until I started working with students. I pray that students, including my sisters, will surround themselves with people who develop them and not destroy them. I pray that God will give students wisdom to discern friendships and I also pray that God will use students to build up and encourage one another like never before. "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing" -1 Thess. 5:11 3. Character: Today's teens have temptation thrown at them from every angle. I pray that this generation of student may experience an ongoing transformation by having their minds renewed and that they will be an example to the world. "Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity" -1 Tim. 4:12 4.Purity: I pray that God would give our students more of a hunger for righteousness than sexual appetite and they would see through the enemies lies. I pray for strength for every single teen I come in contact with. "Then you will know the truth and the truth shall set you free" - John 8:32 5. Passion: May God give this generation of teenagers an anointing of the power of the Holy Spirit to be the greatest witnesses for Christ. May they love, serve and live a life full of passion. 6. Spiritual Growth: I pray that God will touch the hearts of this generation and allow them to know he is there and doing a work on their lives. Not only do I pray for God to be known is students lives, but for the leaders as well. If we do not have a heart to serve this generation, students lives will not be changed from the inside out. We must be willing to learn, be taught so we can help these students. 7. Hope: May God help today;s teen take every thought captive for Christ. I pray he would also fill this generation with the hope of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and protect their mind and heart from hopelessness. May God also help them to cling to Christ during discouragment and soak up his strength when offering this same hope to others. As I leave OKC and head to FL, I pray that I will pray for my students every single day to allow them to know God loves them, and that he has such a great plan for their lives.

Happy Anniversary, Jarrod Cody!

A year ago today, I was talking with all my girls about what my wedding day would hold. I remember going to sleep really late and waking up at 5 am because I was beyond excited to marry my prince charming! I remember doing a Jesus Calling on the porch of Benedict Haid Farm, and thinking about how blessed I am, but more so how my dreams were coming true before my eyes. I will never forget waking up and it being a beautiful morning, and once I started getting my hair done, the rain came down. I remember being so stressed because we were having an outdoor wedding but prayed that the sun would shine... lo and behold, by the time the wedding started, it was the most beautiful day. I remember, taking pictures right before then walking outside on the porch to see all my guys and gals lined up.. and my daddy by my side. I remember when the music started, what my dad said to me, and exactly how I felt when I saw my groom for the very first time. Today, a whole year later, I am blessed to say that looking back over the past year, I have come to love and cherish my husband more and more each and every day. I am blessed to have journeyed with him, but more so to celebrate who we are and who we have become over the past year as husband and wife. I have learned a lot about myself over the past year, but most of all, I have learned how to love more. I have learned how to love and appreciate each and every day..I have learned to love the hard times and rejoice in the good times. I am beyond blessed to celebrate this day, as Jarrod's wife.. I thank God every day for sending me a man who is in love with God, loves his family and has a servants heart. God put the right man and family in my life for a reason. They have changed my life from the inside out and for that I am thankful. Happy Anniversary Jarrod Cody Bowman. I love being your wife and falling more inlove with you every single day. Can not wait to see what our next journey holds!! XOXO! Chelsie.

Going away party.

I find myself realizing just how blessed I really am... Tonight I saw what the community of God looks like on a very personal level, and I am so proud to know so many wonderful people. That was a status my husband wrote on Facebook this evening describing our time with great people from Skyline and Youth for Christ. Tonight was our going away party. Even though, we are leaving in a month, it was the last time ALL of us could be together. I have learned so much over the past year in OKC. I have been blessed to have been mentored by some of the greatest people I know. To serve along side of amazing interns and to invest in students who have changed my life. With everyone I have come in contact with over that past few years, I am forever blessed by you and your love and support not just in ministry, but in life. I am blessed to have been mentored by my bosses who have challenged me, who have loved me, and who have encouraged me along this journey. I want nothing more than to impact someone's lives like they have mine!

One of my greatest memories has been getting to know and work alongside great interns! I will NEVER forget the intern retreat and all the fun times on the lake and how God has made a difference in our lives. I have been encouraged weekly by how God is showing up in each of your lives. Thank you for being such great friends!

Our students have been such fun! I am lucky to say that I have had complete JOY watching you grow. So proud of the journey God is taking each of you one. You will forever be a part of my life.

To everyone else who has been a part of this great journey, THANK YOU!! I appreciate each of you and love you all!! My life is forever changed by each of you. Thanks for the great night of fun and community. We are loved by so many, and I can not be more thankful. CB.

New Adventure.

So, over the past month, Jarrod and I have been going through an interview process with Warner University, for an RD position. Well, today, we found out that we got the job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have never seen God move more in our lives than he has lately. He has constantly allowed us to see that we are not in control, but he is! In my anxious days, he has been a source of comfort, and a source of hope. To know that God's dreams and plans are bigger than my own is so cool, I cant even wrap my mind around it.

As we venture into this next stage of life, I am asking that God will allow me to know that he is going to do great things in and through me through this job and ministry. My heart is so overwhelmed and filled with so much joy! I am blessed to know that I am entering a place where I can continue to invest in students lives. I pray that my passion will be taken to the next level, and that his love will be evident to all that I come in contact with.

So, if you read this, say a little pray for us. We are so excited for everything God has done and is going to do!!!! We want nothing more than to be the light to the ones we come in contact with.

CB.

(Fun fact: the two dorms I will be over are behind us. :) Funny how God works)

Be still.

God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.[c]

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

8 Come and see what the LORD has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields[d] with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”

11 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. -Ps. 46

I love this verse and I have been simply reminded today that God is in control. He sees us, hears us and wants us in his will. I see this verse kinda like this:

In high school, I played, lived and breathed softball. There was this one time, that all the pressure was on me.. 2 outs, bottom of the 7th, bases loaded, full count... this next pitch decided the outcome of the game..but it also decided how the team would view me after the game.. Here it comes... last pitch... nervous as can be... STRIKE 3! Batter OUT! Man, my heart sank into my chest.. that was my last game, my senior year, during sectionals. Our season was officially over... and i blew it. I had this one team mate that said, "Good game, dont worry about it... let me be there for you"...

as simply and crazy as this seems, I feel like God is saying the same thing in this verse.. He is saying, you have done all you can do... sit down, breathe, just be, and let me take care of the rest.. When we trust, believe and pray to God, he will be there for us. always.

My prayer is that throughout life, God will continue to remind me to be still in his presences and that He will go up to bat for me this time.. maybe even score a homerun. :)

Be Still and Know,
CB.

Two.

This week as been a week like no other. From Jarrod being sick, to different opportunities and doors opening, the world is full of so many wonderful possibilities. I have been in a place where I wanted to know, what else is out there for the Bowman's? God has called 2 people to go and make a difference for the Kingdom of God.

I believe God didn't just call Jarrod and I to sit back and let our passions die. I believe when you get married, two worlds obviously collide. It's hard, but when you are both called, passionate about ministry, people and making a difference, our passions are so much deeper. A person can do anything, but when there is two, the world is at our finger tips.

We have learned and are learning that with our careers, we cant really say, we want to be here and there and all these different places... because when we do that, opportunities are limited. However, we like to take "The Blank Slate Approach". Meaning, God lead us. Allow us to trust so deep in his love, so we can listen. Where he leads us we are willing to follow.

"When you are called to a place, the calling will be affirmed in the other" -Dawn Meadows.

Greater things are coming..

CB.

If You Say GO!

I feel like I have been a blogging machine lately!! Today has been one of those days, where i am worn out, but thankful I had one of the most rewarding opportunities to invest in my students, and walk along side of one of my leaders tonight. I have been blessed with many ministry opportunities, that have challenged me, that have stretched me, but most of all ones that I look back and see just how much I have grown. Today was one of those days.

I feel like in the last year along, I have come a long way with my campus life/Skyline ministry. However, I still find myself thinking if I am in the right place, if I am doing enough, if I am called to be in OKC for the time being... all these things circle in my head each week.

I miss our families so much. I feel like one day, we will be able to experience life close to them. I keep reminding myself that God hasn't called us there yet.. that he is working an amazing masterpiece in mine and Jarrod's life. That he is saying, "This is where I NEED YOU!" I know he has a mission and a calling here and now for us, but i am so future minded, that I get caught up on where we will be within the next few years.

Tonight I heard a song that is a few years old, that spoke to me in a whole new way. It's called "If You Say Go" here are the lyrics:

If You say go, we will go
If You say wait, we will wait
If You say step out on the water
And they say it can't be done
We'll fix our eyes on You and we will come

Your ways are higher than our ways
And the plans that You have laid
Are good and true
If You call us to the fire
You will not withdraw Your hand
We'll gaze into the flames and look for You

I am learning to so content with where we are in life. It's a time to grow, to learn and to love. It's a time to dream and act. Its a time to either be depressed or find joy in life. If I go about each day wondering why things have changed, or wondering why I am not where I want to be, life is going to get dark. However, if i seek God in the here and now, and find his love and joy in my life currently, life is going to be so sweet that it is overwhelming. I am choosing to follow God. I am choosing to love the ones near and far, but most of all, I am choosing to serve him now.

If we need to wait, that is what we will do... If we need to move now, we will move our feet... If we need to do something challenging in order to trust Our God, we will. Knowing his ways are not our ways, and what he has in store for us is good and true, is comforting. I have a peace tonight that God is at work. He is doing amazing things, and all I need to do is trust, and follow.

Love radically,
CB.