Things To Do While Waiting On God: Shop

Shopping has always been a great escape for me. When I’m upset, depressed or just plain bored, a good ol' trip to the mall can do wonders on my mental state. They say spending money releases good endorphins in your brain -- until, that is, you check your bank statement the next month!

There is one shopping trip you can take that won’t cost you a dime but will, however, fit you with new threads for where God is taking you. In Ephesians 6, Paul speaks of five must-haves in your wardrobe if you are going to stay strong while waiting on God. When doubt starts to fill you and trouble starts to cause you to doubt God's love and plan for your life, there is only one person to blame and that is Satan himself.

“Put on all of God’s armor so you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11. The devil wants nothing more than to trip you up and hinder you from bringing glory to the Lord. He doesn’t play nice and seems to step up his antics the more you focus on living a life pleasing to God. I have always wondered why it is easier to believe the words the devil is placing in my mind than it is to believe God and his written word.

As I sit here right now typing this blog and thinking about an area I’m trusting God with (I can multitask in my mind), Satan is driving me batty with thoughts that make me want to run from the very situation I’m believing God to work out. I guess I’m getting a true lesson on what I’m trying to convey to you.

The words the devil says can seem oh so real at the moment. When God speaks, it seems so distant. Though he speaks truth, it is hard to see the unseen. So why is it so important to wear the wardrobe Paul speaks of (the belt of truth, shoes of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation and sword of the Spirit)? You need them to battle the devil.

So I rip out my sword of the Spirit and point it straight at Satan and say, “I am a child of the most high God, and I believe my God is working in this situation and great glory will be brought to him through me, so get behind me, Satan.” Sometimes that is all I need to say and then I’m filled again with God’s peace. When I need more than just my sword, I bring up my shield to protect my heart from Satan's continued attacks and put on my helmet to keep God’s word running through my brain. There are times when you start your morning off in your bedazzled wardrobe, but it feels as though it is not protecting you. That's when you remember true warriors, even though they get knocked down, keep fighting and win the war. God will reward you for your battles.

Lindy Biglieni

411 Dec. 18

Things To Do While Waiting On God: Run

So you have grown tired of waiting on God and what little patience you had is long gone. Oh, that horrible "P" word. Patience. The one gift the majority of us were not blessed with when God handed out his gifts.

When we seek to live a life that is pleasing to God, it means life does not always follow the timetable we have planned out in our minds. At so many times, I have felt the leading of the Spirit in an area of my life. I would begin to move with God, and a great peace would fill me as I moved along. But then I would hit a bump or someone, like in "Forrest Gump," would throw rocks at me. From there, I would question the path I was on. I would ask myself, "Why, if I’m following God, are things not going smoother?"

I would turn back to God, seeking his guidance, but all I wanted to do was run from the rocks or, in my case, run from the unknown. You want to throw your hands up and say, "I’m done," and run as far as you can get from the situation, the thing or the person you are praying for, placing as much distance between self and God's plan.

But that is the last thing you need to do. Running away from God’s plan will give you temporary relief, but, long term, you miss out on the blessings he has in store for you.

Instead, you must run to God for peace as you wait on him to move you. He is a faithful God and will not leave you hanging. Trust in him to guide your every step through his word. "Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and not delay.” Habakkuk 2:3

Lindy Biglieni

411 Dec. 11

Things To Do While Waiting On God: Introduction

So, you have been praying for a person, a situation at school, or a potential college. You have seen a little movement from God, but the BIG movement has yet to happen. You start to wonder if God has heard you or even if you were seeking him right to pray the way you have been praying. Then, the Spirit reminds you to wait on the Lord, that his ways are not our ways, his timing is not our timing.

“I don’t think the way you think. The way you work isn’t the way I work. For as the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work and the way I think is beyond the way you think.” Isaiah 55:8-9, The Message.

So how do you handle the down time while God is working his sky-soaring magic? Starting Monday, I’m going to spend five weeks giving you the five things to do while waiting on God that have brought me peace during the waiting.

Lindy Biglieni

Lindy Biglieni is pictured on the right.

411 Dec. 4

Earn $ for Summer Missions

Interested in earning money for Summer Missions 2012?  

Sign up to help with the Choir Christmas Banquet!

Wednesday, Dec. 14

6-9 p.m., in the FC

Sign up starting now at the kiosk in the FC foyer!  Spots are limited so sign up soon!

Questions?  Contact Jessica at jstone@ridgecrestbaptist.org.  

December 2011 Calendar

411 Nov. 27

Summer Missions 2012

As promised, we've posted all the info about Summer Missions 2012!  To check out all the details, you can click here, or visit the Summer Missions tab at the top of the page.  Registration is open, but not yet available online at this point.  For a registration form, contact Nate, James, or Jessie at 887.2317.

We can't wait for Summer Missions 2012!  Begin praying now about how God wants to use you! 

411 Nov. 20

Summer Missions 2012

We know it's only November, but we can't help but get excited about summer already!  
Summer Missions 2012 is shaping up marvelously and we want to tell you all about it!

Check out all the places rbcstudents has traveled so far...

Parents and Students:
Join us on Sunday, November 20, from 4:30-5:30 p.m. in the Ridgecrest Room as we look ahead and reveal rbcstudents Summer Missions 2012.

Questions?  Call Nate, James, or Jessie at 417.887.2317.  

Winter Retreat Parent Meeting

Winter Retreat is only about 2 weeks away!  
Have you signed up yet?!  If not, you can do so here.  

With Winter Retreat comes the ever important Winter Retreat Parent Meeting.  Parents, please make plans to attend the WR Parent Meeting at one of these two times:

Sunday, November 27, 6:30 p.m. in the Ridgecrest Room 

-OR-

Wednesday, November 30, 7:30 p.m. in the FC

Students are asked to join too, if possible.  We'll have all the forms you need, a notary, and all the details you need to know to send your student to Winter Retreat 2011!  

Please contact Nate, James, or Jessie at 887.2317 if you have any questions!  

Girls Bible Study/Man Night

Hey, rbcstudents,

Just a reminder that Girls Bible Study and Man Night are not happening tonight, Monday, November 7.  Due to Nixa's district football game tonight, we pushed Girls Bible Study and Man Night back to next week, Monday, November 14.

Hope your week is off to a great start!

New feature!

Hey, rbcstudents! Happy November to ya!

We've added a new feature to our blog, to help make things more accessible for you! Keep up with all things rbcstudents month by month by clicking on the calendar tab at the top of the page. For a larger view of the calendar, simply click on the calendar and then zoom in or out to your heart's content.

For extra convenience, we're posting November's calendar right here too:

411 Oct. 30

Important Announcement!

In rbcstudents, we believe in continually improving and growing.  

So we're tweaking some things to better meet our needs as a student ministry.  

Beginning this Wednesday, October 26th, we are changing the start time for our midweek service.  midweek will now begin at 6:30pm, rather than 6:00pm.  From 6:00-6:25pm each week, we will hold a prayer and worship service in the FC for students.  If you can make it before 6:30pm, come and join us at any point for some low-key, extended prayer and worship time.  The doors are always open!  

We are so excited about this change and about what God is doing in rbcstudents! 

Come and join us!

Just a reminder..

The sign up sheet for volunteers for the Chili Cook-Off will be posted in the FC Foyer this Sunday, October 23rd!  We need 15 students to help with that event.  Check out the sign up sheet and get your name on it!

Also, start working on your chili recipes now!  We want your entry!

411 Oct 16th

Serve some food, earn some $

Are you interested in earning some $ to put toward rbcstudents activities and events?  

We need 3 students and 1 adult to help work the Kickapoo concession stand THIS Friday, October 14th.  Times are approximately 6-10pm and we are still waiting on final confirmation from KHS.  If you or your parents are interested and available, please contact Nate at nate@ridgecrestbaptist.org.  


We also need a handful of students to help work the Nixa concession stand Monday, October 17th.  Times are approximately 5-8pm.  Interested in helping?  Email Jessie at jstone@ridgecrestbaptist.org.

5th Annual Chili Cook-Off

Sweet, spicy, mild, chunky...  

However you like it, you won't want to miss this year's Chili Cook-Off!  We'll be taking entries soon and we want yours! Who knows, you could be the next great Chili Cook-Off Winner!  Stay tuned for entry details.

Mark your calendar now:  
Sunday, November 20th, immediately following the 10:30/10:31am services in the FC

Sign-ups to work the Chili Cook-Off will be posted beginning Sunday, October 23rd, on the rbcstudents kiosk in the FC Foyer.  We'll be taking 15 student volunteers this year to help sell tickets and work the actual event.  Don't miss out on this opportunity to serve and earn scholarships toward rbcstudents events and missions.

JH/SH Mix: Cornmaze

Come join us for an adventure in the Verona MAiZE!  

Friday, October 21st

6-11pm

Meet and pick up at the FC

$6 per person

For any and all 7th-12th grade students!

Hotdogs.  S'mores.  Campfire.  Maize.  Friends.  Fun.  

New rbcguys blog post...check it out!

Guys Night...this Friday Night!

rbcstudents Family Meeting Podcast Link

Want to check out the podcast from the rbcstudents Family Meeting on July 31, 2011? Check it out here!

Day 1 "A Person of Integrity"

A person of integrity must be a self-examiner.

What is integrity. What does a person of integrity look like? The bible says we must remove the logs in our eyes to see the specks in others. In order to see ourselves for who we really are, we must remove our blinders, flip the shades.

To be a person of integrity, one must test themselves, examine themselves, and change themselves.

Want to learn more? Join us this Sunday at 9 in the FC or 10:30 in the Ridgecrest Room.

-Brittany

rbcstudents Family Meeting

We are calling an rbcstudents family meeting! Sunday, July 31, 6:30-7:30 p.m., FC. We'll look at what God is doing through mission trips and CAMP, as well as talk about Ridgecrest news. The family meeting is for both parents and students.

Julie

SUM 11: Day 57 Purpose

CAMP Day 4 Pics

A glimpse of day 4 at CAMP 2011...

More CAMP 2011 Pics

Finger rockets and worship...ere are a few more CAMP 2011 pics.

CAMP 2011

Here are a few pictures of the day at camp....enjoy!

The 411 for July 17, 2011

CAMP Day 2 Recap

CAMP Day 1 Recap

CAMP Update #2

7:30 a.m., July 14

Email from Nate:

CAMP-ers have water activities at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., & 3:15 p.m. today. Tonight's message is "The Kingdom of God is for Anyone" (Mark 5:21-40). Please pray for safety and salvations!

To get daily updates and prayer requests, text Nate at 417.569.7888; tell him your name and that you are praying for CAMP.

Julie

CAMP Update #1

Great news! Our CAMP-ers have made it to Windermere and are preparing for their pool party. Please ask God to open hearts and ears and to give way for the Holy Spirit to move this weekend.

Questions?

Julie

The Willinghams

 

If this happened to your family, would you still glorify God as this daughter does?

The 411 for July 3, 2011

Jamaica team update

Just got a message from the Jamaica Team...

"We made it to Atlanta. Everyone is good and customs was much smoother this time. Now it's just a waiting game till 9. See ya soon!"

They are almost home!

More Jamaica Team Photos

Be sure to visit this link to see more pics of what the mission team in Jamaica is up to!

Jamaica Team Pics!

Hey All,
Check out this link from Won by One ministries! It has pics of our mission team serving in Harmons, Jamaica. Enjoy!

The 411 for June 26, 2011

Jamaica Team

The team has arrived in Harmons!  They are all doing well!
Nate

Jamaica Team

The team  has made it to Jamaica!  Jessie said that customs and immigration was rough but they are all doing great!  They will try to send another update when they arrive in Harmons!
Nate

Jamaica team

The Jamaica team reached the Atlanta airport on time this morning! They all are doing great!
Nate

The 411 for June 19, 2011