About 10 years ago, I was standing towards the middle of a Youth service with about 75-100 people there. When the invitation time came, and the music started to play, one of the leaders looked at me and asked if I would come up to the front to pray with those in need. My knees were shaking, my hands were sweaty, and I had a death grip on my Bible like no other, yet I said yes and took a step towards the front! I was terrified and had no idea what to expect.

One by one people were kneeling at the alter to pray. It was packed! God was moving in people’s hearts and I knew he had a purpose for me standing there awkwardly. About the time the music was ending, a young girl named Grace came up to the front crying. Her mother was holding her hand, but she looked right at me and said she wanted to know Jesus was in her heart. I knelt down, held her hand, and talked to her about salvation. That day, the Lord let me be a part of His plan. I was able to lead Grace to the Lord and honor my Father in Heaven by fulfilling His plan. When I spoke to her, God gave me the words to say and the confidence to overcome my fears.

““When they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.” Mark 13:11

“When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say” Luke 12:11-12

The moment the Pastor looked at me and called me to the front, I panicked, and a million questions ran through my head. “Why me? I’m just a new Christian! I don’t know what I’m doing! What if someone asks me a question I don’t know! How will I ever be able to lead someone to the Lord?!” I doubted myself and my abilities when all I really needed to do was TRUST in the Lord.

“I can do all things THROUGH CHRIST who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

That day, God showed me Grace and my Place in His plan. I trusted Him, took that first step, and He showed me His love.

To be honest, I don’t know what happened to Grace after that service. Her parents were not believers and wouldn’t allow her to get baptized or join the church. I never saw her again, but I know that God saw her that day and changed her life forever. Grace has a place in Heaven and Jesus in her heart. She received Christ that day not because of me or the prayer that I lead her in, but because of God. God had a plan all along and He knew exactly who would be a part of it.

Don’t let fear hold you back from serving the Lord.

Whatever your fears or doubts may be about yourself, give them to the Lord and take that first step of serving Him.

You never know whose life you could change!

Grace, wherever you are, thank you for being brave and stepping out on faith and receiving Christ as your Lord and Savior! I pray that God has blessed your life tremendously and changed the hearts of your family members.

May God Bless you and Show you His Grace every day!

Kayla

“ For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” 1 Corinthians 12:12-27

So often we get wrapped up in the fact that we are members of different churches, but in reality – we are all members of the same body. Just as it says in 1 Corinthians 12, you are the body of Christ. Whether you go to the biggest church in the Upstate or the smallest church in Six Mile, you are all connected by the One True God and members of the same church.

YOU make up the body of Christ. YOU have a purpose. Together, with the rest of the church, YOU can make a difference.

Join your church family next month at this great event! Al Harris has an amazing testimony and I promise you will be blessed if you attend!

If your youth group has an event you would like to share with others, send me an email or give me a call and I’ll be glad to share it with our email list! KaylaRampey@yahoo.com

May God Bless you and Show you His Grace every day!

February 9th, 2018 7pm – 9pm at The Bridge Church

“It’s okay to be different.” – God

I’ve heard it before and I’m sure you’ve heard it as well. Maybe even you’ve said it about yourself. There’s always that moment in life where you look around and just think, “Man, that person is weird! Or maybe you just look in the mirror and say it about yourself. Either way, being weird or being different is okay in God’s eyes. As a matter of fact, the Bible tells us to be the “weird kid.”

That doesn’t mean you have to wear crazy clothes or talk in a funny voice or something “weird” like that but it does mean that you aren’t supposed to  “fit in” in this world.

The Bible says in 1 Peter 2:9, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light;”

The ESV version says, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

We are set apart to be different, to be weird, and to be “peculiar” in this world. In my small group, one of the new members said that the reason he started coming to church was because he saw a difference in Christians and he wanted to know why they were so happy all the time. He noticed how different they were, and his curiosity led him to Jesus. Needless to say, he started to go to church, then to a small group, and now he is a joyful Christian serving in the church as well. All of that happened because he noticed the something “different” about Christians and wanted to know more.

It’s not always easy being different, but remember that Jesus was (and still is) different than EVERYONE! He was/is perfect, He performed miracles, and He was sent to save us all, yet people still didn’t accept Him. He didn’t fit in anywhere, yet He died for the very people that hated Him. Can you imagine what His life was like? Where did he fit in? The truth is…He didn’t fit in. He stood out…just like you should today.

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” John 15:18

Stay encouraged in knowing that you are never alone and being “weird” or being different in this world is exactly how God wants you to be! If you can’t tell a difference between yourself and this world, you need to re-evaluate your walk with Christ and remember your purpose. “YOU ARE A CHOSEN GENERATION, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A PECULIAR PEOPLE.”

YOU ARE STRONG. YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. YOU ARE ENOUGH.

14 Days until Christmas, 25 days until Empowered Jesus Girl 2018!

Can you believe Christmas will be here in 14 DAYS??? Shortly after Christmas, Empowered Jesus Girl will be here in 25 DAYS!

In 25 Days we’ll see you at Potter’s Clay Fellowship in Easley, SC for Empowered Jesus Girl 2018! This event is for Teen Girls ages 10 and up. Alicia Ivey is going to be our speaker and she has an exciting night planned with a Make-up Tutorial and a Word from God about finding joy in the true beauty God has given you!

Savannah McCollum will be leading the music with the praise band from Potter’s Clay Fellowship. We’re excited to see what God has in store for us!

Don’t forget to come early for pizza and desserts! Dinner starts at 6pm and tickets are FREE! Just register online so we can be prepared for you and your group!

I don’t know about you, but I’m getting pretty excited!

Our speaker, Alicia Ivey is getting ready for Empowered Jesus Girl by posting videos weekly on her Facebook page and the event page on Facebook. Make sure you Like, Follow, and Share these videos with your friends!

Registration has already started so Register online at WildernessGrace.org. You can also order T’Shirts and Hoodies online before the event!

To guarantee your shirt size, shirt orders are due by DECEMBER 17^th!

I hope you all had a great snow day and have a wonderful week! See you soon!

Kayla

Rejoice in knowing that you are Empowered by Jesus Christ Himself. You are blessed, you are adored, you are a child of the One True King.

Ask your friends and family one simple question, “What do you think is important to me?” What will they say? Money? Friends? Being loved or appreciated by others? Looks? Your job? Your family? What’s important to you?

As the Holidays approach, don’t let the rush of Christmas overshadow the true meaning. Your importance doesn’t come from how many presents are under your tree or how much money you can spend on Cyber Monday, it comes from the One who created you. God created you and those around you with an important task, a task to love God and to love others.

The Bible says in Matthew 22:36-39 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

There are more ways to show love than there are to buy to love. Don’t let money consume you this holiday season. I think we all can agree that you can’t buy love. No matter how many presents I buy for my boys this Christmas, I can guarantee you that they’ll enjoy running around with their cousins more than the gifts. (and they’ll probably love the boxes more than the gifts)

Love is not a dollar sign, love is something as simple as a smile. This season, share love by showing the love of Jesus to others.

On Sunday at East Pickens Baptist Church, Pastor Jamie handed out envelopes to every person at the church. Each envelope had $30-$50 in it and a card from the church sharing the Gospel and showing God’s love. The greatest gift in each envelope is not the money, it’s the love of Christ.

He challenged us to take the envelope, pray over it, and give it to someone in the community.  I still have mine and I’m not sure who God will lead me to give it to, but I do know that through this act of kindness, we can reach people that may have never known the love of Christ.

When we are asked to give our own money…especially during the Holidays, it’s hard. But when someone sets the example, hands us the opportunity, all we have to do is follow through and share God’s love.

Giving is just one way to show God’s love. If you can’t give money, you can always share Christ in other ways. Jamie challenged us to give of our treasures, our testimony, and our talents. Each has their own place and each is a blessing to the Lord. I challenge you to do the same thing. Write a card, draw a picture, post an encouraging word, or just simply smile at someone at the store. You never know what a blessing you can be when you just smile.

This season may be the best season ever for you, but for some people, it can be very hard. There will be some people celebrating the season alone in a nursing home or sick in a hospital bed. Some people will be overseas far away from the ones they love most. Others may be home with family and friends but still feel completely alone. People everywhere are hurting and need the love of Christ and others to encourage them. Whatever your situation may be, remember those around you and remember to share Jesus and show His love wherever you go.

When you ask yourself what is important to you? Let it be Christ. Let Christ be most important in your life and others will see Him in you. When Christ is important you, your life will share His love and be a light to others.

May God Bless you and show you His Grace every day!

Love and prayers!

Kayla

***Don’t forget to sign up your group for Empowered Jesus Girl 2018 at WildernessGrace.org  This is a FREE EVENT on January 5^th 2018 at Potter’s Clay Fellowship in Easley, SC! Alicia Ivey will be our amazing guest speaker with music by Savannah McCollum and the Praise Band at PCF! We can’t wait to see what God has in store for 2018!***

For more information about the Love Loud Project at East Pickens Baptist Church visit:

SomeoneLoves.Me

Do you suffer from Nomophobia?

Do you suffer from nomophobia? Do you even know what that is? Nomophobia is the fear of being without a mobile device, or beyond mobile phone contact. According to statistics, 66% of adults feel extreme anxiety when they are without their phones. 77% of young adults 18-24 fear being without their phones for any amount of time. The same study showed that the majority of high school and college students sleep and shower with their phones and would rather lose their pinky finger than their cell phones! I’m not a psychiatrist but there’s something wrong with this picture. If you really shower with your phone…you may want to take a step back from your phone and disconnect for a few minutes.

Cellphones are great! I love the idea that I can be connected to anyone, anywhere, ANYTIME! But they also can be a HUGE distraction from the real world. Ask yourself these questions:

• Is your phone the last thing you look at before you go to bed?
• Is it the first thing you check when you wake up in the morning?
• Do you feel compelled to check your phone while waiting in line at the fast food drive through or checkout line at the store?
• Would you rather a mugger take your wallet than your phone?
• Do you feel lost without your phone nearby?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may want to take a break (even an hour or two) without your phone. Admit it, this world has a problem.

No, I’m not your Mother trying to get you to put your phone down at the dinner table, but I am speaking to  myself when I speak to you. Phones are addicting and if you’re not careful they will consume your life and distract you from what matters most.

Most of us, myself including, when we are bored, have a default, brain-off habit of picking up our phones and lazily clicking around. Whether you have a Facebook default, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, texting, snapchat, or whatever else you do…it’s all distracting you from the real world. To be honest, the real world can be stressful, and it is easier to focus on the “not so real” world of the internet than what’s going on real life. Because we are constantly allowing ourselves to be distracted, our thoughts become captive away from being obedient to Christ. Our minds are constantly racing and never shut down because the instant gratification of our phones so constantly distracts us. Our minds never rest because we never let them. God made us to be in a relationship with Him. Our hearts are restless until they find rest in Him.

Paul says, “I have the right to do anything, but I will not be mastered by anything.” The power of Christ in you should be stronger than anything else in your life. When you go to bed, Christ should be the last thing you think of. When you wake up, you should think of Him and how you can honor Him with your life today. When you’re bored in line, who could you talk to that might need a little encouragement? You should feel lost without Christ and without Him as your main focus. If you don’t, then you may want to reconsider your life with Christ. Are you a true follower of Christ? Are you letting your phone distract you from Christ? Christ in you is stronger than any addiction in you. Don’t let your phone be your master.

May God Bless you and Show you His Grace every day!

Kayla Rampey

Want to dig deeper? I strongly recommend #Struggles by Craig Groeschel. This is a great book for anyone at any age! It really shows the social distractions that we all deal with each day!

Communication is key in any relationship. Without communication, a relationship will die. But sometimes the wrong type of communication can be the relationship killer.

Today, I want you to evaluate you communication skills. Where do you stand? Is your communication cruel or Christ-like?

The Bible tells us in Colossians 4:5-6, “Conduct yourselves with wisdom towards outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.”

When the Bible speaks of outsiders, It means all nonbelievers. In today’s society, we are surrounded by nonbelievers and some that may believe but not truly understand the meaning of Jesus Christ.

It’s important for us to conduct ourselves with wisdom, Christ-like, at all times. Our purpose in life is to shine the light of Christ to others. When you commit to God, you have to learn to have Christ-like responses in all situations.

One thing I pray for each day is that God will help me respond in a way that Christ would respond no matter the circumstance. Life is not always easy, and people are more often than not, difficult to deal with, but by the Grace of God we are able to overcome our human feelings and treat everyone like Christ intends us to.

To speak with Grace means to speak with a friendly disposition/attitude and to be kind.

Grace means “receiving what we don’t deserve.” The ultimate show of Grace is shown when God sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins. Our sins are great but God’s Grace is greater. We all deserve death on the cross, but Christ took our place by Grace.

Although you feel your enemy doesn’t deserve love and kindness, Grace says they do.

“You just don’t know how difficult people can be! She drives me crazy! I can’t even deal with her.”

I’ve heard it all. People are difficult. But the Bible calls Jesus a friend of sinners. Even Jesus dealt with difficult people, yet He didn’t give up and leave them behind or yell at them and make fun of them. Jesus dealt with people with Grace.

Romans 12:17-21 states, “Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all mean. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for is it written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink, for in doing so you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Feeding your enemy? Being nice to the one person that is the hardest to deal with? Those things seem impossible, but with God’s grace all things are possible. Pray for God’s intervention, grace, and Christ-like attitude to overcome you each day.

Always remember, everyone is created in the image of God. Despite what you think about someone, God loves them anyway. He created them and they deserve grace just like you.

You’ll never win anyone to Christ by arguing and fighting. When you put your focus on God and trust in Him, you’ll start to see a positive change in how you treat others.

Galatians 6:10 says, “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially those who are of the household of the faith.”

Wherever you are in life, take advantage of the opportunity you have set before you. If you are in school, be Christ-like to your teachers, peers, and everyone you come in contact with. At home, be Christ-like to your parents and brothers and sisters. Remind yourself every day to be like Christ in your communication. When you find yourself dealing with a difficult or rude person, ask yourself, “how would Christ respond?”

Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.”

Edify means to lift up or encourage one another. Do your words encourage others?

I challenge you today to take time to pause before you speak. As yourself, is your communication cruel or Christ-like?

It’s easy to evaluate others and point out what you think about their communication, but what about you? You are responsible for how you treat others.

Pray that God will correct your communication and help you be a light to those around you!

May God Bless you and show you His Grace every day!

**Don’t forget to remind your youth leaders about Empowered Jesus Girl 2018! This is a FREE event at Potter’s Clay Fellowship in Easley, SC January 5th 2018! Order your T’shirt and Register online at WildernessGrace.org

For more info, text or call me at 864-915-8094! I would love to tell you more about it!

Empowered Jesus Girl Shirts are ready to order! Order yours online at WildernessGrace.org

ONLY   $12

Deadline: 12/17/2017

If you haven’t already heard, #EmpoweredJesusGirl is coming to the Upstate January 5th, 2017! Join us at Potter’s Clay Fellowship 6pm – 8pm for a great time!

Did I mention this is a FREE EVENT? Sign up today and invite your friends!

More information/registration can be found at: http://wildernessgrace.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/NEWEmpowered-Jesus-Girl-2018Flyer.pdf

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7

May God Bless you and Show you His Grace every day!

Ghouls, Goblins, and GOD? Where does God fit in this Halloween?

Halloween is a spooky time of year with costumes, scary movies, and lots and lots of candy. It’s also very controversial for Christians. As a child, I never thought about the controversy, but every year I grow older, I understand a little more. Is it wrong to celebrate? Should I let my kids dress up? This world is full of evil, and sometimes we are too wrapped up in everyday life to even notice it.

Before I get started, let me say this: No, I’m not against dressing up and candy. I love Reeses and cute costumes for my kids. But yes, I am against evil clowns and anything scary like that. It’s just not my thing and I don’t like nightmares.

Celebrate for the kids and candy – not to celebrate the evil in this world.

Halloween, by definition, is:

“the night of October 31, the eve of All Saints’ Day, commonly celebrated by children who dress in costume and solicit candy or other treats door-to-door.”

Anyone know what All Saints’ Day is?

“a Christian festival in honor of all the saints, held (in the Western Church) on November 1.”

Now, does anyone know why we celebrate a Christian Festival with Goblins, monsters, and scary clowns?

Me neither.

The truth is, the devil uses every chance he gets to distract us from God. Halloween started out as a celebration for Christians but the world turned it into a celebration of evil.

No, I’m not saying Fall Festivals and cute costumes are of the devil and Halloween should be taken off the calendar forever. But I am saying that Christians need to be careful and watchful for the devil’s schemes.

The Bible says, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand.” Ephesians 6:10-13

Every day, the devil is finding new ways to distract us from God’s will and way. At Halloween, people spend hours searching for the perfect costume but no one really even knows why we celebrate or what Reformation Day really means. At Thanksgiving, we stuff our faces with food but rarely remember to thank God for all that He has done for us. At Christmas, children cling to the fact that Santa is coming with toys and presents for everyone. But what about God? Where does He fit in at your Christmas celebration?

No, Holidays are not all evil, but beware of the devil’s distractions.

As for scary movies, evil clowns, and all that crazy stuff…you be the judge. Do you think it’s Godly? (personal note: there is nothing Godly about evil clowns…not a fan)

“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22

Instead of glorifying evil, let’s glorify God with our lives. Happy Reformation Day!

For more history about Reformation Day, visit: http://www.albertmohler.com/2017/10/30/here-we-stand/