Wow, God did so many amazing things for me this summer. I'm going to try to recap it all....
Graduation and the after party with my grandfather! OMG!!! LOL!
Six Flags with some high school buddies!!!
Mexico Mission Trip which was absolutely life changing!
MTSU Customs which was oh so boring! LOL!
The Matthew West and Sanctus Real concert with Amber and my sister!
No dating for a year ended!
Hawaii for a month...favorite trip of the summer by far!! LOL!
Chick Fil A and staying in the parking lot after work until 1 a.m.
Belle Aire youth group! OH SO FUN!
Mercy Me concert....rocked my socks off
Leadership Camp for MTSU
Hanging out with so many friends for the last time, and of course hanging with my best friend Amber!

It was a good summer, and now God has extended an invitation that I have finally become receptive too. For my entire life, God has been crying out to me. Michael, I want to be intimate with you....What an amazing cry. In this intimacy, God is molding me into the man he intended me to be, and that blows me away. I can't wait to see where he takes me, and where he takes all of you guys as well! So that's it...In 3 days, MTSU campus will be my new home. An old chapter has finally come to an end, and a new one has begun. Alpha Omega has become my new home, and new friendships have begun. God's going to do amazing things this year! It's time for school!! AHHHH! LOL!

I had to update because Michael Gibelu's grandfather has gotten in a motorcycle accident. Michael is such an awesome guy, and he's been an encouragement to so many people in the youth group. I believe that God wants him to know that even in his time of trial, God is right by his side. He wants to communicate that through his friends at youth, and he's already doing that. From what I heard, his grandfather is doing okay, but if you guys will lift his family up in prayer that would be great. It's awesome to know that so many people care enough about someone to encourage and be there for that person when it's really hard! Michael, we love you buddy!

Consider it pure joy my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
James 1:2

Praise God for the valley days! He only desires to see us become the men and women he wants us to be!

And we know that in all things, God works for the GOOD of those who love Him, who are called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28

I was sitting in my car one night worrying about where I was headed. Have you ever done that? Have you ever asked God for reaffirmation that he's in control of your life. I know when I'm riding with a friend, I often want to take control because I'm so insecure of his maniac driving. Guys are crazy drivers, girls you can account for that. But when are we going to stop listening to the world who tells us a walk with God is disaster? I spent half of my life ignoring God because I wanted to fit in at school and wherever I went. I tried to meet the standards of so many different people I was around, and it just brought me brokenness. When I finally discovered that I had always been acceptable in the eyes of my Creator, my life changed. Part of a surrendered life with Christ is allowing God to gradually take control of everything inside of you. Satan tells us that by doing this, we are becoming abnormal, and we are just following a road that will become a dead end. But what he doesn't want you to know is that you are on the right road. By being hand in hand with Christ, a passion is ignited in your heart that only makes you want to follow Him that much more. It feels so good, and what's amazing is that by allowing God to take control of our lives we become involved in an eternal plan far better than our temporary plans. I mean think about this...You probably desire things that last how long...2 months, 2 years, 30 years. God is crying out to us. He wants you to be with Him. He wants you to enjoy a plan that never ends. We have an amazing Creator, who created you so that you could enjoy the love he has to offer you. Allow God to share his plan with you bit by bit. Walk hand in hand with the man that will never leave your side. He only desires to see you happy, even if that means changing some uncomfortable areas of your life. Remember, that just because your plans may not be his, doesn't mean that he's not dying to give you far much better than what you want right then. Know that he loves you, and just wants to see that smile on your face. He longs for the moment when he can finally embrace you face to face...How exciting!!!

Wow....this is the first time I have updated within one day of another update! LOL! I really wanted to get on here, and just thank God for the call of intimacy he has made in my life especially with starting at Belle Aire. Guys, I grew up in another church for 12 years, but I sensed that God was calling me to Belle Aire. I was a little worried that I hadn't made the right decision, but God really has met me. God has worked in so many wonderful youth, college students, and adults to make me feel welcome there. Dean's message this morning really affirmed that leap of faith for me because for so long I felt like my parents would never respect the decision I made to leave. I told them in January that I was sensing a call to leave everything I had known to join Belle Aire. Like any loving parents would do, they tried everything to keep me where I was, but as time went on I felt like God was still tugging on my heart. When my parents finally did let God take me away, they realized like I did that God only had good intentions for me. What God showed me this morning was that when we enter that narrow gate as his disciple without any other influence, we become the person he intended for us to be. I feel like each day God is continuing to mold me into the man that he intended for me to be, and that excites me! I just want to again thank my new family at Belle Aire for just being by my side to encourage me. I realize there will be weeks when I miss being where I was, but the feeling I have by living in God's heart and his calling for my life, is a feeling that I never want to release. I'm right where I need to be. Thank you Daddy....

Matthew 7:13-14: Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a FEW find it.

Surrender All by Crosse Clay
(Take a minute and read)
I have wrestled in the darkness of this lonely pilgrim land
Raising strong and mighty fortresses that I alone command
But these castles I've constructed by the strength of my own hand
Are just temporary kingdoms on foundations made of sand
In the middle of the battle I beleive I've finally found
I'll never know the thrill of victory 'til I'm willing to lay down
All my weapons of defense and earthly strategies of war
So I'm laying down my arms and running helplessly to Yours
Chorus:
I surrender all my silent hopes and dreams
Though the price to follow costs me everything
I surrender all my human soul desires
If sacrifice requires
That all my kingdoms fall
I surrender all
If the source of my ambition is the treasure I obtain
If I measure my successes on a scale of earthly gain
If the focus of my vision is the status I attain
My accomplishments are worthless and my efforts are in vain
So I lay aside these trophies to pursue a higher crown
And should You choose somehow to use the life I willingly lay
down
I surrender all the triumph for it's only by Your grace
I relinquish all the glory, I surrender all the praise
Bridge:
Everything I am, all I've done, and all I've known
Now belongs to You, the life I live is not my own
Just as Abraham laid Isaac on the sacraficial fire
If all I have is all that You desire
I surrender all

These lyrics pretty much wrap up the point of surrendering ourselves to God. The line between becoming Christ's disciple or the world's lays at your feet everyday. God asks you to give up your plans so that he can create in us a heart that comes straight from Him. In my experiences, I've noticed that I have set up this wall of refusal in different chambers of my heart. Do you do that? What's crazy is that I set them up because I'm afraid of what it might be like after God changes them. But WHEN HAS HE EVER LED ME ASTRAY?? God only has amazing intentions for my life and for yours. We shouldn't allow our intentions to get in the way of what God has for us. Do you desire for an unquenchable passionate fire in your heart? We just need to go to the foot of the cross, and surrender the chambers of our heart. The ending result will be eternal, something our desires could never fulfill....

When I wander through the desert
And I'm longing for my home
All my dreams have gone astray
When I'm stranded in the valley
And I'm tired and all alone
It seems like I've lost my way

I go running to Your mountain
Where your mercy sets me free

(chorus)
You are my strong tower
Shelter over me
Beautiful and mighty
Everlasting King
You are my strong tower
Fortress when I'm weak
Your name is true and holy
And Your face is all I seek

In the middle of my darkness
In the midst of all my fear
You're my refuge and my hope
When the storm of life is raging
And the thunder's all I hear
You speak softly to my soul

There are so many times when I forget that God has an unbelievable plan for me! It's so easy to forget that God has this incredible life planned for us, and we want to take over because we lack in trusting God, or we don't like the direction he is taking us. In my life lately, God has been really breaking me, and taking me in a direction I'm scared of. He's bringing a storm into my life, and I'm so afraid of being broken. But what I realize even though this brokenness is headed for my heart is that I become more intimate with God and I am strengthened because of the storm. We all need to trust God with our lives because we should all remember that he orchestrates all things for our good, not our harm. Even though I'm going through a time where I don't understand things, I know the overall plan will be so incredible. Even though I remain in the dark about so much, God simply wants me to stop and listen to his still voice. I know that if I finally stop and listen to his voice he will invite me to a call of intimacy. God desperately longs for a deeper relationship with us, and if we just give Him the time of day, he will blow our minds with his loving and eternal characteristics. Remember that just because the world tells you God's intentions for your life aren't good, doesn't mean that it's true at all. God wants to be our refuge and our strength. He wants to provide a road that very few will follow, but I pray that all of us will discover that narrow road. Passionately travel it, because in the end the only road existing will be the road you and God are standing on. How exciting to know that our Father loves us that much!

Before I made you in your mother's womb, I chose you. Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work.
Jeremiah 1:9

When you think about heaven and the amazing things in store for you, doesn't that excite you? I know I often find myself thinking about Jesus smiling calling the names of his sons and daughters who accepted the gift of love that he had to offer, and beyond the gates that Jesus stands at lies the eternal praise and fellowship of the Almighty Father! Now I know that everyone has an opinion of heaven, but I just get excited at the fact that right now in heaven, those people are thinking about us down here. They know soon we will be joining them, and God is anticipating the day when we will arrive and embrace Him face to face for the first time. But I think God sits on the Almighty Throne, and consistently thinks about those who haven't accepted the gift he has to offer. Even though he is all knowing, I think he often begs us as instruments to communicate to these people. There are so many people that God loves just like you and I that won't listen because Satan distorts what God has to offer to these people. God put a hole in all of our hearts, and some of us finally came to the realization of who completed that hole. But there are still millions of people, that naturally drift to other things that can only satisfy them for a short time. I believe God has called us to be so much more than we could ever realize. God's love letter to us (bible) mentions the fact that we are all called to ministry. Ministry=the introduction of a relationship with Jesus. We have been chosen to reach out to the people who are being taken away from God, and we are to pass a message of hope to them. It doesn't matter what field he calls us to (they are all important!), we are his instruments. We shouldn't be afraid of what people say to us, because they are only confused. They don't understand the gift that God has to offer, because if they did they wouldn't act like that. WE CANNOT GIVE UP ON THE PLAN THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US BECAUSE GOD NEVER GAVE UP ON US, AND HE'S NOT GIVING UP ON THOSE OUT THERE WHO WE ONCE WERE!!! Accept the plan that God has to offer you! Begin to understand how much God loves you, and then ministry comes with pleasure!

So I'm back here in humid Tennessee! God has blown me away with his presence. I think if I just flat out shared with you everything he did, it would take me so long! Also, what God did in my heart is going to stay inside so that he can grow me into the person he wants me to be. Don't get me wrong, His works will be shared, but only to an extent. The experiences I had were specifically for me, and I love that about our Dad. He gives us all intimate moments, and for me, this is just the beginning of an eternal walk with God. He deserves my all. Check out this song...God gave me this song on the beach when I was talking to Him. God...I won't forget the eternal list of experiences you gave me. I made so many friends, and I can't wait to be worshipping you with them forever! I love you, and this is only the beginning of you and me. You know that...

Take my heart, I Lay it down
At the feet of you whose crowned
Take my life, I’m letting go
I lift it upto You who’s throned

And I will worship You, Lord
Only You, Lord
And I will bow down before You
Only You Lord

Take my fret, take my fear
All I have, I’m leaving here
Be all my hopes, be all my dreams
Be all my delights, be my everything

And It’s just you and me here now
Only you and me here now

You should see the view
When it’s only You

GOD MAY THIS BE MY DAILY CRY TO YOU. FOR YOU ARE WORTH EVERY OUNCE OF ME, AND I ONLY HOPE I CAN PAY YOU BACK IN A VERY SMALL SENSE!

Okay, I stand in awe of what God has done for me here in Hawaii. I am looking forward to telling you guys all about it soon. He has blessed me beyond imagination. There have been so many opportunities, but anyways... I have put some awesome pictures in the gallery. After much prayer, God has told me to spend the last 11 days without focusing on home, so no more updates. Know that I love you guys and that I'm praying for all of you. I will see you soon...
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

So I just got out of worship at the Ohana Court here in Hawaii, and it was so incredible! The worship here is very free, and it's really funny to watch people giving glory to God through dancing around. I couldn't help but smile at all of these people willing to give everything for God! I was standing next to a guy from South Korea. What was amazing though was that I looked over at Him while we were worshiping, and tears were flowing down his face. This man was just like me, and in some amazing way God had reached out to this guy and changed his life just as he had mine. One of the pieces of God's love that captivates me is his consistency with us. The one man that has never given up on me no matter what is God and I am blown away by that. I found myself crying out to God this morning asking Him to forgive me for turning away from Him, and going after my own plans. I can see Him with a big smile on his face saying, "I love you, and I don't care what you've done. It's history. I have so much planned for you." Isn't that exciting? To know that the plans God has for us are huge and awesome! God's love is so complex, and I love it because we can spend eternity consuming it in our hearts with unique changes everyday! I pray that each day all of you in Tennessee are consuming God's love to the extent that you are moved. I pray that we would take the boldness already given to us and proclaim his love to the nations. I pray that all of you are moved at the fact that God has simply never left your side. He loves you more than you will ever understand in this lifetime! How great is our God!!!

This morning before I had to go to work, I had a couple of hours to go to the beach. It was so beautiful, and I couldn't help but think about the fact that God created the Earth just for us. He created it all because he loved us. I truly came face to face with God this morning. All I could hear him saying to me was "I hope you know that I love you truly..." This story we live called life isn't about us. Yes, we are small in comparison to our Father, but he chose to unconditionally love us. We are all chosen through God's grace, and he is preparing a home for us. Isn't that exciting to you? Oh how exciting it will be to arrive and come face to face with my Daddy....

I'm working out here with so many awesome people, and I know God has put me here to serve as a leader. I've had a great time growing more and more intimate with God through time alone, and through fellowship with people from ALL OVER THE WORLD!! I just want you guys to know that I love you, and that God loves you guys so much. He has so much planned for you if you will just release your plans to Him. I'm having the time of my life because God has placed my little heart into his!

Hey guys! I'm in Hawaii! It's so beautiful here! Right now I am sitting in the Mission Builders office. I have the day off, and I am just resting up this weekend. God has already done amazing things! Yesterday on the plane ride from Chicago to Kona, I met a guy from Nashville who was doing a DTS. Then, I talked with the guy behind me who was a pastor from Iowa. It was so amazing! I'm excited to be here, and God is already richly blessing me. The worship this morning was so incredible! I hope all of you are doing well. Pray that I won't get homesick, but that I will enjoy the fellowship that I have, and the beautiful beaches and volcano around me. God has done so much for me, and I don't deserve this opportunity. But praise God for letting me come out here! It's good to be out here! I love you guys!
Michael

P.S. I have met people from: China, Korea, Germany, Canada, Switzerland, Brazil, Australia, Africa, Fiji, and all over the U.S. I had a roomate for one night from Germany, but he's leaving today. Also, I actually got to meet a little boy from Australia! My dream has finally come true! Now, if I could only meet a girl from Australia! LOL!

Well guys my plane leaves tomorrow morning at 6:21 a.m. It's time for me to leave! I'm going to try my best to update on here if I can. If you would like to email me while I'm there, feel free and I will write you back. Also, you can write me while I'm out there, but you have to send the mail Priority Mail. Do you know what that means? LOL! It means you have to go up to the man at the post office and send it priority mail. So here is the address...

Michael Dillon
Mission Builders-Box 247
75-5851 Kuakini Hwy
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740-2199 USA

There it is...I love you guys so much! I'm going to miss you guys...I know God is going to do awesome things though, and I'm going to be in a beautiful place! I will be back July 26th so if anyone would like to hang out that's when I get back. I will see you soon! God bless you guys!

God,

Thank you for calling me to do such a small thing like this. You cared enough about me to request a simple year for me to give myself to you. When I did, my whole world changed. God, I want you to know that this commitment isn't over. I don't want to date until you send that right person. I want to devote myself to your calling for my life. God, you are so huge, yet you love me in an intimate way. I can't believe you cared enough about me, but thank you for changing my life forever... I love you Father....

Guys, no matter what God calls you to do,answer the call. People think that God is just looking to destroy our lives when actually he knows more about you than you do. He truly has a HUGE plan for your life. Pray about what direction God is asking you to travel down. This has been the best year of my life, and by NOOOOOOOOOOOO means is it over. This is my life now. I know I will get married someday, but I know that it will be a relationship God intended me to have. He truly has the best intentions for you. So who are you going to listen to when God asks you to step out of your comfort zone. In Louie terms, "Are you going to participate in the little story of you, or would you rather join a story that never ends." God's calling you. Answer the call and be forever changed.Your father only wants to be intimate with you forever. I think he deserves more than that. Each name in his character alone deserves eternal praise. He deserves our lives guys, and if you need proof that he does you can look at the guy who was pinned to a cross because he wanted you to live forever. We definitely don't deserve it, but he looked at you and smiled. You are so beautiful to Him. Just remember that God has a plan for you, and it may be uncomfortable but I guarantee you that if you trust Him, he will take your life and change it. We truly have an amazing Daddy!!

When we were in Mexico, we decided on our last day we would travel to a small village in Matamoros. We went around to all of the houses, and we told them to come out at 2 o clock for a service. We parked in an open field, and waited for everybody to show up. At 2, crowds came pouring from every direction. We had a service, and that day alone we saw 100 people come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior. It was so amazing! At the end while we were handing out food though, I looked out in the distance, and there was this man who looked to be about 19 or 20. But this was no ordinary man, it was Satan himself. We all knew it. Even though this guy was normal we knew what we were facing. His face was dark, and he had a grin I will never forget. He took some of our tracks and ripped them laughing. We continued to hand out food, and God urged us to keep going. Satan tried to get our attention, and some looked. The majority kept handing out food, not letting any evil bother us. He continued to taunt us, but God in us reigned that day. As we pulled out of that parking lot all Satan could do was watch and taunt. But God protected us that day, and he gave us the strength to conquer evil in Mexico. I believe those people in Matamoros were truly changed forever that day. I know I love to talk about how much God loves us, but we need to know that with God comes Satan. Sometimes we don't believe we can conquer someone who wants us destroyed. But let me tell you that if you ask God to give you the strength, he will. I know that day in Mexico, God smiled upon us and said, "those are my children down there, I'm so proud of them." If we simply believe and open our hearts to God's strength, we become Satan's most dangerous opponent. Without God, we will FAIL!! Don't fall into the trap that Satan has set before you. Trust in the Lord with all of your heart. Don't allow yourself to be destroyed by someone who hates everything about you. The deeper your passion for God becomes the more he can't stand you! He knows with God you are so much more powerful than he is. Allow the God who loves you, the ability to control your heart. Become the dangerous christian that this world doesn't want you to become. There are so many people out there who are searching for completion where Satan is standing. But if we open our hearts, God will direct them in the right direction maybe through you..exactly what Satan doesn't want. Stay focused and stay dangerous!!!

From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creation's revealing Your majesty
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God

Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
You are amazing God

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
Incomparable, unchangeable
You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same
You are amazing God
You are amazing God

I love this song!! I love when people create these songs that paint a portrait of God's love in a deeper way. One of my favorite lines in the song is the last part when it says you see the depths of my heart and you love me the same. I have lived a life just full of thoughts that just weren't positive. I have been consumed in my sin, but God comes to me and says, "I love you and I want to erase all of this. You are mine forever." He does the same with all of you guys too. God sees the very darkest parts of your heart and he will never stop loving you guys because of it. God is truly amazing!!! I hope you guys are doing well!

Wow....I'm actually in college now. It was so crazy because today we had so much information to download into our little brains! It seems pretty cool right now though. Tomorrow I register for classes. God totally opened up a door for me to enroll in leadership development. It sounds pretty cool, and it will be a good way to meet new people. I also get to go to a leadership camp in August which should be cool. I'm definitely praying for all of you that will be going to college wherever! I pray that God would give you the selflessness and the boldness to reach out to the lost in our own town, and at other colleges. There are so many people that are empty simply because we are afraid to say something. It may change someone's life forever!

God tends to paint pictures for me of what his kingdom will be like. I love the creativity that he puts in me because I know that if it was just me, I would be so boring with stuff. He paints these ideas in my head though that I know come from Him. It's so cool. God gave me a vision of heaven. Imagine yourself walking toward the gates. The gates open, and there before you is Jesus Christ standing on a gold road. He's smiling and tears are actually flowing from HIS FACE!!! Both of you are crying. You run up and embrace him...It seems like years before you let go of him. You tell him about your life, and all of the experiences. He just simply smiles and says, "I'm proud of you and I love you so much child....You were worth dying for." After a while he says it's time you met the Father, and he steps out of the way....

I know everyone has their own idea of what heaven might be like, but that's just one perspective. When you guys think of heaven what do you think of? It will be cool to hear the eternal worship of a Father who is so intimate with us. We are like ants trying to understand the universe. It's beyond comprehension. God, I love you so much. Thank you for everything....

Well I'm definitely excited about getting ready to leave for Hawaii! I wish I had a little more time to spend at home with friends, but I know that God has some amazing things to show me in Hawaii as well. I have talked a lot about Mexico, and what God has done in my life. If you would like to check it out, you can go to my xanga site at www.xanga.com/mdillon2543! So what's up in my life! God has really been blessing me with a new perspective on life. He's starting to show me that as a servant and disciple of Christ, selflessness is a vital key to my walk with Him. I realized that God does enjoy me praying for things about myself, but he takes extreme pleasure when we lift up others before ourselves. Do you guys ever end up praying for your life in some way? We do that because we worry about what God has in store for us don't we? I mean God already knows the plans he has for us. Sometimes his road winds a little differently than where our road tends to go! I'm glad all of you Belle Aire peoples are home from Big Stuff, and I can't wait to hear more about it at youth. Let's hang out before I leave guys! For more updates on YWAM, you can send me a email, or you can just read this every now and then. I will try to update when I'm over there!