Christian Education Europe - Weekly Blog #determined

P R E S S I N G O N

Thu, 30 Jan 2020 12:30:00 +0000

A Final Thought on Being Determined

Determined is a character trait embedded in our Scriptures. It is not in aimless isolation of God’s purposes. It is not banging our heads against a brick wall to prove how macho we are -- how ridiculous that would be! Nor does it mean being pig headed. Pharaoh was certainly determined but only to the pathetic end of making his name great. His efforts simply led to a few crumbling remains of tombs on a small patch of desert on a planet which itself is a dot in the vast expanse of the universe. How sad to put in so much effort to no end! A fleeting shadow for one moment in eternity. Not so with those who hearts and minds are devoted to the eternal God who created everything.

To them (to us) there is a robust basis and purposeful objective that drives us. We are justified by faith in the Word of God. We have peace with God, we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, we glory in our tribulations. We know in Whom we have believed, persuaded that He is able to keep what [we] have committed to Him. We are working towards an eternal weight of Glory. We haven’t yet attained the resurrection from the dead, but we press on forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward. We plough the fields and scatter the good seed on the ground knowing that it is fed and watered by God’s almighty hand. How wonderful that we are not alone in our endeavours, with the Holy Spirit empowering us and a great crowd of witnesses cheering us on!

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:14

Read all the January Blog Posts Here!

V O L U N T E E R

Thu, 16 Jan 2020 13:58:43 +0000

Is volunteering for me?

Sometimes there are points in life when you think,

"I have something to give, but I don't know what to give, or who to give to, or how to give."

The answer for you could be: volunteering

You may be under the impression that what you have to give as a volunteer is not enough.

If you do think this way, look at the current situation of the world. There are so many areas of need.

If you have been privileged with things like -- education, Godly upbringing, life experiences, finances, time to focus on talents, supportive family and friends -- then you have most certainly been equipped to give something back to your world and your community.

So where to start?

Seek God

This is pretty much the first thing you should do in every situation, but we often forget this and then get all flustered when we don't need to, so this is a great reminder.

Seeking God gives clarity. If you are thinking of volunteering, then His guidance will be beneficial for you as you make your choice. He knows what you are capable of and what you need to learn and experience. He knows how your talents will benefit others. He will lead you to the right opportunity.

Do some research

There are LOADS of organisations that would happily take you on as a volunteer, and there are so many areas you can choose from.

Ask yourself these important questions:

Where can I volunteer? Community, overseas
What skills do I have that will help? Creative, tech savvy, good communicator
Who do I want to help? People, environment, wildlife

Remember, when researching, Google is your friend.

Prepare yourself to be pushed out of your comfort zone

One of the harsh truths of life is -- you will rarely feel ready for the unknown.

Volunteering will take you to places where you are sure to be uncomfortable.

You will get new responsibilities that you don't feel prepared for, and you will have to get to know and work alongside new people.

The best way to look at this is: this IS preparation. There always has to be a first time for everything.

This may be the first time you have to jump into a new experience. So trust God -- and jump.

You will be surprised to see how much you are actually capable of and how much you learn.

Volunteer with us!

Here at Christian Education we have a few opportunities for those who want to volunteer (for people of all ages).

The 24-7 Team

The 24-7 Team is a group of ACE graduates and young adults who want to give back to the younger students who are still using the ACE programme. The team comes together to support our big events, TEACH Camp and European Student Convention.

The 24-7 Experience allows a Team member to:

Support and be a Godly example to the current ACE students
Use their skills and talents to help run big events
Meet and create friendships with other members of the team
Enjoy the experience of being at TEACH Camp and ESC
Learn new skills and make great memories
Oh, 24-7 team members also get a free hoodie!

Request a 24-7 Team Application Form!

Educational Assistance

This is an opportunity for ACE graduates to go to another country and volunteer in an ACE school. This is a great option for new graduates who are not sure about what to do next and are thinking about taking a Gap year.

There are currently EA Opportunities in:

Honduras
Haiti
Mexico
Asia
Canada
USA

Apply to be an Educational Assistant via ACE Ministries

ESC Judging

European Student Convention is a massive event and there's always a need for people to volunteer to help with the judging in each category. If you have skills or experience in any area in the categories of academics, art, music, drama, or sports, and would like to be a part of our judges team, let us know. We'd love to have you on board.

Request to be an ESC Judge

D E T E R M I N E D

Thu, 09 Jan 2020 13:00:00 +0000

adj. having made a firm decision and being resolved not to change it

This time of year people are all about starting fresh. They make plans for their lives. Resolutions. Goals.

They rehash old dreams, conjure up new ones.

Hope for the future seems to appear out of nowhere.

All the mantra's get posted and paraded:

This year we will live a healthy lifestyle, this year we will achieve the grades we want,

this year we will travel, we will meet that creative goal.

Everything lost in the old year has been born again in the new.

Then real life happens.

The adrenaline-like effect of New Year wears off, and motivation becomes that mysterious character who lingers in the back of your mind as a nice idea. The school work you planned to crack on with with a new vigour has become a mountain of boredom that you don't want to think about. Money is tight in January, so you can't afford to buy those healthy meals, or pay for gym membership, and then it just doesn't happen. And so on, and so forth....

There is this saying: Without doubt, there is no faith.

Well, without determination, you don't have a realistic goal.

What is a goal or resolution? It's a challenge to reach further, to aim higher, to go beyond what you have achieved before.

And to follow through with that, what do you need?

Answer: Determination

Determination is KEY in being successful in reaching your goals. It is an attitude that you have to nurture, until it becomes part of you. It is the characteristic that will take you from being a goal setter to a goal achiever. In fact, goal setting and determination should go hand in hand, paired from the beginning, the perfect combo.

So, how do you nurture determination in your life?

Here are a few suggestions:

1. Be thankful for what you already have.

Setting goals should not come from a place of greed, but rather, from a place of hope.

Step back, look at what you have already received and achieved, what you have already been able to do.

Take some joy in what you have accomplished in the past.

Be assured by remembering what God has already enabled in your life.

2. Trust God to guide you.

Having support is invaluable when you are aiming to achieve something.

If you have people who are there for you and in your corner, you are #blessed.

Unfortunately, there are times when people let you down -- it's inevitable.

That's why before you go to people, go to God.

God will give you vision and fuel your determination in a way that nobody else can.

His limitless love for you will settle your spirit and always remind you how valuable and precious you are.

In every situation, whether you are at full steam ahead or on a downer (which happens), He will be there.

With every dream and aspiration, go to Him. Sometimes, what we want and what He wants for us are two different things.

One thing is for sure, what He wants for us is what we were created to do, and when we agree to do what we are created

to do, determination is never far away.

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him. - Psalm 28:7

3. Find someone to be accountable to.

Once you've got things sorted with God, find someone who you trust to share your goal with.

This could be a relative, teacher, mentor, or friend.

Being accountable to someone will help you to meet your goals.

Why?

Because you are human. There are times when you will want to give up.

Having someone there who is invested in your life and wants to see you develop will not only encourage you,

it will also give you a person who will motivate you when you don't have the motivation within yourself.

Remember, it is a privilege to have someone to be accountable to. Don't take this lightly.

Listen to them, accept their encouragement -- and their criticism -- and be thankful for the time they give to you.

4. Give yourself a break

If you are on the verge of giving up, take heart: Rome wasn't built in a day.

In any project you have, remind yourself that it takes time to become a master of something.

If you're tired or frustrated, don't give up on your goals; just have a break.

Spend some time seeking God, go for a walk, take a nap. Being burned out never helped anyone.

You are ALLOWED to rest. In fact, God encourages it.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. - Psalm 23: 1-3

In conclusion:

Nurture your determination by being thankful, trusting in God's guidance, having accountability, and giving yourself a break when you need it.

Then, with that determination, OWN those 2020 goals and resolutions!

Comment below on what you do to grow determination in your own life.