now on to Nashville!

As i stated in an earlier post i spent Jan 1-5 in Nashville, TN. at a Huge College-aged conference called Passion. It was incredible!!
I stayed with Jen and Alison...but rarely saw them because they were volunteering during the day, so i spent most of the time with Bethany and Tara.

we had excellent seats at every main session. and it was great to spend the time getting to know the girls! The first day we went to the Country Music Hall of Fame (i was in Nashville!! so i had to!) and they even took my camera on a bus tour the next day while i looked around the passion venue (the missions booths and store)

here they are in front of a state park or something...

The messages were amazing!


Louie Giglio spoke on the bigness of God and yet how incredible the thought that He still loves us unconditionally!


John Piper spoke on suffering. Christ's suffering and then our own, when we join Him in life. He spoke on how the maximum demonstration of the greatness of the glory of God's grace is in the suffering of the Son. He was a fantastic speaker!


Beth Moore spoke on sowing the seed (the word of God - Bible) and not just digesting it.

The music was also incredible!
Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, The David Crowder* Band plus many others lead the musical worship part...


and we had this really neat time of worship on the last night, where it started out as silent worship and we ( all 18 000 of us!) left the arena singing, and praising God!!

my favourite time of the week was family groups! Since there were so many people there, they had us split into groups of about 1000 (called community groups) then within that 1000 you met with the same (originally randomly picked) group of about 9 people, twice a day (called family groups). during this time we would share about what we were thinking about the week and what things we were learning and prayer requests. My group got pretty close, and it was cool to see how 9 people from all over North America could get so close and encourage each other in such special ways. I miss them! :)

here is the group! :)

I really don't know what else to say... just so much was learned and experienced and enjoyed!if you have any question please feel free to ask! :)

These verses were kind of the theme of what God was speaking to me about that week:

Isaiah 55: "Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in abundance. Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen that you may live; and i will make an everlasting covanent with you, ... Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the LORD, and He will have compassion on him, And to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. 'For My thoughts are not your thoughts Nor are your ways My ways' declares the LORD...So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth, it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. For you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace;..."