A story from Passion

The Day Unending Life Began

If you've been anywhere around the Passion Movement in the last year you've come to know and love Ashley Akinns. Her huge heart for life, and her embrace of the grace we all so desperately cling to, has changed our lives forever and put a beautiful face on the mission we carry in our hearts . For those of you new to the journey, this was Ashley's first e-mail to us last year:


January 22, 2007

Hi, I feel kinda weird writing this email. And i doubt if it ever gets to Mr Louie Giglio. I am a Senior at The University of Florida. I got a new roommate this semester and she is a Christian and I have never really been into the whole Christian thing because every pastor or speaker that I have ever listened to didn't speak in a language I could understand. I have believed in God and Jesus, but never really understood it because the preachers at the church that I have always been forced to go to every Sunday of my life. They speak all high and mighty and I never really felt connected, and I felt like God was only for the perfect people.
Well my roommate went to this Passion Conference over winter break. And she came back and moved into my apt and she was real and genuine about all her Christian stuff, like I have never seen before in a person. She said that God changed her at this conference, so i was like what are you talking about. And she told me. She told me about how God was cool, and how God really wanted a deeper relationship with her, and she wanted to really love God the way he loved her, so of course I was like well huh? She then said you need to listen to Louie talk about God, so I asked who Louie was, and she put on the Indescribable talk, and then we watched the Passport talk. And in the Passport talk you said that Christians do not have to just hope for the best at the end, that they do not have to do enough good stuff. You explained how to get to heaven in a simple way, in a way that I have never heard before. I actually got it, I got it that it is not about being so good, cause I am not a good person. I have screwed up a lot. But then you said grace, and talked about how is was different than other religions. Because God is a loving and a kind God who wants to forgive me. My roommate then explained that he wants to forgive me.
Now for one of the reasons I am thanking you. One, I am now a Christian. And two, my roommate said that she had never really cared about telling others about how much God loved her before she went to this conference. So though I am not sure who will ever read this. Please tell Louie thanks from me, for talking about Christ in a way that a college kid can understand. I know that Jesus has changed my life and as I get ready to graduate college in May, I am gonna be a different person. I am sorry this is kinda rambling but I just had to tell you that I now know about the Grace of God, and I have life for the first time in my 22 years

Ashley

Well, I have to say reading those words for the very first time was one of my happiest days in the history of "everything Passion." Here was a student who had never come through the doors of a Passion gathering, yet because of someone who had (her roommate, Christa) Ashley found the embrace of the God who made her and gave His all so she would know how much He truly loved her and that He always would. It wasn't so much about Passion, but about the fact that one of the students we so desperately love had found the Savior, and, in her words, knew she had life for the first time in her 22 years on this planet.

Amazing!

Yet, soon our joy was mixed with tears as the news reached us that an accident took Ashley from us a year ago today. She only walked with Jesus on earth for three short months, but Ashley's life was forever changed. And through the kindness of her family, who have allowed her story to be told, God is using Ashley to touch the lives of people around the world. It would seem appropriate to title this entry [Remembering Ashley Akinns - 6/21/84 - 4/29/07], but how could we ever forget her? Her story is forever woven into the very fabric of our hearts, and not a day has gone by in the year so quickly passed that we have not thought about her and because of her thought about what it means to really live. Today is a difficult and precious day, in that it's the day Ashley first saw Jesus face to face. Yet, today is a hopeful day because of January 21, 2007...the day, for Ashley, unending life began.

When Ashley's mom wrote to tell me about Ashley's death she said, "I may never meet you here on earth, but I know that someday I will be able to meet you and give you a hug in heaven, but only after Ash does." Well, from the looks of things, I'm going to be one of many in a long, long line of people waiting to meet Ashley as we all celebrate the One who is mighty to save. Yet, we are all going to have to wait until she's reunited with the ones she loved the most, those whose wounds are deepest on this day... those who miss her more than we could ever know.

To Ashley's family and closest friends, our thoughts and prayers surround each of you today. May her life-loving smile brighten the sadness of this day, and may the arms that so tightly hold her now carry you until you hold her in your arms again.

Louie

Just Stop & Think.

my newest favorite song

...is by Eddie Kirkland, he's a worship leader for Northpoint Community Church. Listen to "how He loves us" What a wonderful song...

He loves us!

Shark Attack Stats for FLA

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/statistics/GAttack/mapFL.htm

this is a sweet site for checking the shark attack stats...

(NO MATTER WHAT)

God is amazing! Think about the promises He has made to us..

Hebrews 13:5 - He will never leave us! (no matter what)

He is coming back for us!

-my good friend Justin Locke shared that with me and I just wanted to echo this encouraging word from my heart to yours...

You can't lose your salvation.

The Bible teaches that all the redeemed and saved are kept by God's power and are secure in Christ forever. In John 5:24 Jesus says, "he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent me has everlasting life...and has passed from life to death"

be comforted that you cant pass from death to life and then back to death again..

Jesus has redeemed us in Him forEVER!

By Faith...

How amazing it is to know that through faith in Jesus Christ we can be forgiven, justified, saved, made right before God, become sanctified, get life and shine spiritual light. Through faith we recieve everlasting life, eternal rest, access to God, inheritance of the promises, become adopted children of God and are given the Holy Spirit.

Does anything compare to this?

I want more faith!

in search of meaning?

"vanity of vanities, all is vanity" -Ecclesiastes 1:2.

So much under the sun was troubling to Solomon, but the reality of judgement for all became certain. He realised that the only fullfilled life is one lived in proper recognition of God and service to Him. Anything else is frustrating and pointless...

Surf the Nations!

wisdom & understanding

it's what i'm seeking & praying for..

right Way or wrong way?

Proverbs 16:25.. "there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death"

There are two ways you can go by.. The broad way may look appealing and even feel like a way to God(religion). But Jesus is the Way to life. Walking the narrow road by faith is pleasing to Him.

Why walk towards death when we can seek and find life in Jesus?

Where's your heart?

Mark 7:6, "these people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me... they worrship me in vain, their teachings are merely human rules"

-just coming from Passion '08 ive been confronted by this verse..

Do we worship to encounter Jesus in truth?
Do we lean on our own understanding and disregard the evrlasting Word?
Are our hearts far from God's will or growing closer each day?

We must examine ourselves daily and rely oon the Holy Spirit to lead us into sincere worship...

Psalm 9:10

"those who know your name put their trust in you"

...And Jesus we know your name!

we know that You are good,
You are gracious,
You are kind,
You are in control,
You never let go...

WE CAN TRUST YOU!

yesturday, today & forever

You are the same,
You never change,
You never fail,
You never fade!

Whats the difference?

Whats the difference in a dead body and someone with life?

Before we met Jesus we were dead in sin, "but God made you alive with Christ when He forgave our failures" Collosians 2:13

There should be a noticeable difference in someone who's been made alive by the power of the Holy Spirit and been forgiven..

Lets be different and point the dead around us towards life!

Another View of Passion

i was there!

Passion revisited

Reform < Transform

Reformation is all around us.. People keep saying,

go on a diet..
change your hairstyle..
wake up earliar..
exercise more often..

People try to reform themselves but Jesus & His Holy Spirit has the power to transform our lives!

"the Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit" -psalms 34:18.

Only He can transform a broken heart into a new creation and give new life to a crushed spirit. The Lord is amazing!

He loves us soo much!

TRUE LOVE never parts

In Romans ch8 the Lord reveals that nothing can seperate us from the love of God. This verse is so assuring, so unconditional and complete. Nothing is greater than knowing that you are loved and forgiven unconditionally.

So we hope in joy that soon, very soon, we will see Jesus in all His glory

Passion (cont.)

It was s-w-e--e-t

Back from Passion '08

still realing from the work God did in my heart this weekend. I am made alive in Christ!!! His spirit points me towards Jesus daily.. He is my peace when trouble comes... my sanity and clarity! I worship a God who is still changing lives across the world, who is holy and worthy of praise. It's the desire of my heart to make His name famous.. To live a life worthy of the calling i've recieved.

We are His!

"so God created man in His own image" -God wants us to know this! That we are made by Him for a purpose (to glorify Him)..

You are no mistake. Mark ch 12:16. Give to Ceasar what is Ceasars and give to God what is Gods.

If we are created in His image we must give Him all of who we are so that we can bring honor and praise to His name.

We are His!
We belong to Jesus!

at last...

Every relationship stars with a meeting.. Psalm 139 proclaims that the Lord knows me and He knows you, even though though u may not know Him.

You see we were created by God so this is the better question..

Have you met God?
Do you know Him?
Do you listen to His truth?
Are u thirsting for His guidance in your life daily?

If not MEET HIM today!

He will meet you exactly where you are and fill you with joy, purpose and life..

compassion and comfort

I challenge you to read 2 Corinthians ch 1 today.

It confirms that Jesus Christ is the father of all compassion and the God of all comfort.

Sometimes we may suffer for Him, but be assured that we are also comforted by Him. Where suffering overflows from Him to us, compassion also overflows.

Dont be misled that the christian life comes without hardships and persecution, but believe that God can calm any storm.

Do you know someone who is suffering?
Someone who needs compassion?

Let us pray for them, that our love may comfort them...

"the truth shall set you free"

The last time i saw charlie hall live he shared that sometimes when he feels low, weary and burdened he makes an effort to share the truth with someone. He said sharing the truth just sets him free.

Share the truth with someone today!

Proverbs 12:22 says that they who speak truth are the delight of God.

check this-

Truth should be acknowledged, believed, obeyed, loved and rightly divided by all so all can know Him.

and all of God's people said, "awe yeah"

grace wins every time!

Read Romans 5:20, "where sin increased, grace increased all the more."

Grace has conquered sin!
Jesus Christ has conquered death!

God's grace is a gift. I never want to get lukewarm to the fact that i have been saved by grace. It is by faith that we please Him, but by grace that we believe in Him!

He is gracious and holy, worthy of our praise!

an awesome proverb

"There are three things that are too amazing for me,
four that I do not understand:

the way of an eagle in the sky,
the way of a snake on a rock,
the way of a ship on the high seas,
and the way of a man with a maiden.