ONE NIGHT

Every spring all the campus ministries come together once a year to join forces and have ONE NIGHT - one night of worship, one body/one united campus ministry, and ONE GOD! Tonight was SO AMAZING! I have been so excited about this for days. There was an energy, and excitement that was bigger than just leadership promoting it. God is moving in powerful on this campus! There are big changes coming to the hearts and minds of the students that walk around this campus. I wish I could tell you about every single God filled moment but I am just going to hit the high notes.

Community
The chapel was packed tonight! I LOVE worshiping in a huge community. The energy is just powerful in a huge group! There were people from all 7 campus ministries along with tons and tons of people who aren't involved in campus ministry but just want to come worship! As an extrovert  I am all about some community. Worshiping in a large group fuels me in a way I can't really explain. I feel God's presents and I also draw energy from the people worshiping around me. There was a girl leading worship who would jump around in a circle because she was just so happy to praise God. Her excitement made me more excited and more open to what God was telling me!

Communion
Before we started communion, Faithe talked a little about it. As she was talking, she said "every Christian through out all time and space has done communion. Everyone from the disciples in the upper room to us right now."  That really stuck out to me. I guess I knew that but I had never really thought about it. It is a really amazing thought! Communion ties people together. Not only the people that were worshiping at ONE NIGHT, but all Christians  throughout history. Isn't that the coolest idea?  It made me rethink communion and some important or really meaningful times I have taken communion. (I'm sure a communion blog will follow shortly....including the time wine came out of my nose during communion. But more on that later.) I love doing communion in a large group. I love getting lost in crowd, but not in a bad way. It is a reminder that communion is so much bigger than me and my life. But at the same time, it is also very personal and intimate.

SHINE
I was so proud of SHINE at ONE NIGHT! God has been moving and growing SHINE as a group and as individuals. As a group we have learned to put our fears aside and to know that God is the force that is driving this group! I feel like every week we as a group celebrate something else God has done for us, shown us, or taught SHINE at CU! I have also watched individuals  my friends grow spiritually! People in the group are struggling, rejoicing, learning, and following. It is amazing to watch week to week as God moves and molds their heart and their life.  At ONE NIGHT, several SHINE people participated in the service. Most campus ministries have a band and all the bands come together. We do not have a band, so some of the testimonies and scripture reading came from members of SHINE. They opened their heart and allowed God to speak through them! I am so proud and was sitting there beaming the whole time! I felt like a proud momma or something! This is an incredible group of women. They are special on their own, but their openness to God, to being broken, to reaching out, and to following when God calls is what makes them so incredible. 

Two days ago I wrote a blog about how much pain is in the world and how I don't understand that but desperately want to. I am in an amazing place spiritually. I feel like at least once a week I have a new story of something God has done or shown me! My friends laugh at me when I tell the stories because I start talking so fast, but I'm just so excited, I want to get it all out! Sometimes I feel bad celebrating my joys when I feel like everyone around me is hurting. Not bad as in guilty. I'm not and don't feel guilty about the fantastic things God is doing in my life. I don't really have an outlet though. I just have this excitement inside me that I don't know what to do with it. I talk to friends and they are truly happy for me. But God used ONE NIGHT to give me a place to celebrate! God also reminded me that he is WAY bigger than the hurt and the joy!

There were many amazing songs at ONE NIGHT, but the last one is one of my favorites! As the band started to play and I realized what song it was, I couldn't stand still! It had been such an amazing night and this song was totally perfect to send people out!

As we left and now the next day, my prayer is that the fire that was felt that night will continue! ONE NIGHT is awesome and one of my favorite events of the spring semester, but ONE NIGHT is not ONLY NIGHT.
Creator God,
remind us that we can always be excited to praise you. Awaken in us a desire to hear other people's stories and to tell our own journey! Give us a heart for those who are hurting and for those who are rejoicing. Most importantly, remind us who you are and the sacrifice you gave for us!