With all the dreams and visions we have for our lives it makes it hard to wait for the fruition of the things we desire. In Psalm 37, we see a consistent teaching to wait for God and commit our ways to the Lord and then He will bless us. Deepening our conviction on what we’re living for is extremely important. When we live for our plan it gets complicated and confusing. We get so stuck in the “how comes” and the “why nots”. And we forget that it’s not about us. In turn, we begin to think that it is about us. Every step we take starts to be for ourselves and we get hasty, impatient, and distrought. Eventually, with all these steps we’re taking, we leave God’s plan entirely. Sadly, I’ve been there. I wasn’t willing to give up my plan for the Lord’s plan; last year I walked away from Jesus. One huge cost I couldn’t count was a relationship. To me, I wanted to be married, right then and there. There wasn’t anything else I wanted. And when the challenge from God came to give up the relationship, I couldn’t do it. I wouldn’t because I was more important than God. I ended up leaving the Lord for my own selfishness. I got engaged and got my own apartment. Had everything I wanted. Over time, my life began to fall apart and my relationship crumbled with it. My plan failed before my eyes. It took losing my life to see I wasn’t who I thought I was. I didn’t know what was best. And I needed to wait for God. Today, I rejoice in the fact that I’m freed by God’s grace from my sins. June 19^th, 2011 I was restored to my Lord. I dropped everything for His plan; went from being engaged to being re-engaged for the Lord! Today I’m excited to be a part of what God has in store for all his people. Challenged by the call to ministry I pray we at ASU can always remember who we’re living for and to learn to wait for the Lord!

God’s plan is simple; 1Timothy 2:3-4. That’s it. Stop for a second and just soak that in. Slow down. Think about it. Why are we so affected by trivial situations? It’s so easy to get caught up in our life and what we want. With that, we forget the simplicity of our creator’s plan for the world. Every step we take, will lead us somewhere. What steps did you take today? Isaiah 48:17 is one of my favorite scriptures to recall when I begin to think it’s about my plans. This scripture reads, “This is what the Lord says-your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; ‘I am the Lord your God who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.”

God knows what’s best for you; I pray for you to bring your plans to the Lord and throw them in His hands and wait for him to place his in yours.

Thank you,

Marcel Turner

“The voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all people will see God’s salvation.”

When: Friday October 21 (Start 8pm – arrive as early as 3pm) – Sunday October 23 (1pm)

Cost: $70 (includes ALL food and lodging)

Where: Camp Whittle (39188 Rim of the World Dr, Fawnskin, CA 92333)

Who: Sold-out Campus and Teen Disciples from LA, Eugene, Phoenix, Portland and San Diego

The great spiritual revival led by John the Baptist started in the ‘wilderness’ around theJordan. Jesus was led by the Spirit into the ‘wilderness’ to be tempted. This year’s Campus and Teen Retreat will truly be a retreat in the ‘wilderness’. Camp Whittle, two miles off a dirt road near Big Bear Lake, is the perfect backdrop for drawing near to God. Sold-out Disciples from LA, Eugene, Phoenix, Portland and San Diego will be attending. It is set to be the catalyst for a great revival about to take place on all the campuses and high schools in Greater Los Angeles. All you need for a revolution is… ’the voice of one’!

Extra Info

- Heated Cabins (sleeping 12 each)

- Running water and large separate men and women’s restroom with showers

- Altitude of 7000ft so it will get cold at night bring a sweatshirt

- Each disciple needs sleeping bag or blanket and sheets plus pillow

- Each disciple needs to bring their own shower supplies (towel, soap, etc)

- Flashlight Recommended

- Snacks Recommended