Leave No Doubt

 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." - John 15:5

This past week I was at River of Life with a fantastic staff, going through training sessions, doing work projects and bonding as one staff, united through Christ Jesus. Now, as this week is over, camp is just about to begin!

Throughout training week, we were all presented with many facts, ideas, biblical truth and questions that challenged us. A few of these include the following: "If you love God, then you can love people", "God uses broken people" (Hebrews 11), leave no doubt as followers of Jesus Christ, and "what is my purpose here at River of Life this summer?"

I want to depend on the Lord fully for His strength, power and patience to love those who come to this camp with all that I am through Him. Therefore, I must leave the boundaries of my comfortable setting, be transparent, put others before myself and trust in the Lord. So, one thing I ask is for prayer. Not just for myself, but for all of the staff to continue to be united, and for the parents and campers who we will be serving.  Thank you for you love and support! I am hoping to update this blog with all that the Lord does over the following weeks at camp!

God bless!


"To be a leader you must follow God's lead" - may this be my prayer to remain in Him, and follow His lead.

Where to begin

When your pen doesn't write as fast as the mind can race...

Yeah, I'm having one of those weeks, where every moment of a new experience, a thought from the past, or just being in the present causes me to stop and think. These pauses are filled with gratitude, remembrance of struggles, the Lord's faithfulness and just all around joy of the blessings and trials the Lord has brought me through. This past week my little sister graduated from high school. Words cannot express how proud I am of all she has accomplished this past year, and the woman of God she is becoming. It has been a crazy week as we celebrated yesterday at her graduation party. Then today, was Father's Day. I thanked God for my Dad and what a great example he is to me. Then my mind wanders...I remember many special moments with my family. Going to the beach (or lake), jokes that no one could understand why they're so funny to me, old photographs of when I was just five and Marissa is one, my dad's endearing smile toward my family and I and the list just continues. Just as the time I spend with my family increases, tomorrow it begins to decline for a season of camp ministry. Though I my heart and body long for a summer of relaxation and especially time with just my family, the Lord continues to call us to do His work here on Earth. I am beyond excited for the next eight weeks of working at River of Life, as I can feel the Lord ready to move within that camp, and amongst His people. I can feel it within my soul, the refreshing waters of the Spirit ready to overflow and renew by heart, mind and soul. His Love is doing great things and will continue to do so because His love endures forever!

Continue with me as I embark on this journey as the camp season begins tomorrow.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all you ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

People

Men go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motions of the stars, and they pass by themselves without wondering. -Saint Augustine

            People literally amaze me. Each day, I find myself thanking God for how He has made every single person I encounter unique and themselves. Take for example, my RA. This semester the Lord used her to bless all of us on W3N through her genuinely loving spirit. She brought together many of the women in my building to work on a dance together. This dance would be performed at our rec-IM basketball game since we were competing against our “sister” dorm. She spent many hours to teach those of us, who putting it lightly, are not talented in the dancing department. She has shown me much love this semester, staying up and encouraging me in joyous times and rough nights of what seemed like never-ending homework. Her love for others is inspiring and her love for dance is striking.

            Another person who I saw almost every day, who brings joy wherever she treads, is my RD. Her hospitality and openness are admiring. I praise the Lord for her and thank Him for all the qualities He has established in her. My relationship with her has encouraged me a lot. We can laugh, dance, cry and be totally crazy in each other’s company. I love walking into her apartment and seeing an array of either homemade food, fresh cut flowers, or a lovely group of smiling faces.

            This semester I made some of the best friends I could not think possible and strengthened many other friendships. The girls on my floor this past year are all individual blessings. I could go one for pages describing the beautiful work the Lord is doing in and through them. To each of you, thanks for everything :) Now that I'm home, I reflect daily about the people the Lord brings into my life. People come and go for a season, multiple seasons, or stay for extended amounts of time. I thank God for my family. And I need to learn to thank Him even more for such a loving, fun and interesting family. My parents and siblings make me laugh more than anyone, and they love me more than I know. Such a blessing

This is to You, Lord. Thank you for creating such friends and family members!

Goodness.

His goodness abounds?

Yet suffering is all around.

What do I do now?

Darkness wants to play

The world tells us not to pray

Death wants you today.

Unsure what to do

I just feel broken in two.

But what’s this I hear?

A voice calls: “come forth”.

Remove your blindfold and bandages!

Give them over to me.

A struggle takes place

His love is a sweet embrace

My child, you are free.

Look always to His face.

You must keep running the race.

His goodness abounds.

How Great is our God

 Set aside 40 minutes of your time. Watch and reflect :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtpTk2ENq7o