Pay It Forward

So, I'm halfway through my first week back to the real world after campout and I'm trying so hard to keep my new positive outlook on this journey to you. Today I had my first moment / test where I could've easily slipped into pity-party mode, but I fought the temptation off! I instead rejoiced in this journey and became prayerful that God would continue leading us to you.

I also decided to do a little reading tonight. I need to get better at drawing closer to God so that I can continue to stay strong in this journey. I can't pray that He keeps me strong and faithful and expect Him to do all the work. So, I decided in this time of positivity to thank Him by studying His word (that's another area to work one -- I can't just read when I'm feeling down and need help. I need to know and study His word in good and bad times.)

And wouldn't you know that our awesome God rewarded my small and insignificant efforts! I decided to start with 1 Corinthians 10 (since the verse that struck me Sunday came from this chapter). I began reading, highlighting, and enjoying a quiet evening on my back porch listening to some Christian music in the background. I found several verses that I loved and learned a lot tonight. But I finally came to the verse that I know God had just for me.

2 Corinthians 1: 3-4, 6
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. And whether we be afflicted, it is four your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

I do not find it a coincidence that this would be what I would read tonight. Leaving campout, I told myself my focus needs to be less about me and my pain in this journey to you and more about the glory of Jesus Christ.  

As I read this verse, I found myself shaking my head in agreement. Of course. I have to pay it forward! This journey to you is not in vain. This journey has so many purposes. I first think the purpose is to prove the power of Jesus Christ to Keal. But as I was reading this verse, I realized that this journey is so much bigger than our family of two! The comfort God has given us throughout this journey, and will continue to show us, is so that we can pay it forward! I have been comforted through this trying journey and I have felt the peace of Christ. But it cannot stop with my own peace of mind. I must now seek out those who are also in pain and in need of comfort. I must now share the love and comfort of our Lord and pass this gift on to others. It is so easy to get caught up in our own pain that we forget about a world that if full of others dying and in pain.

So, I will continue on this journey to you with my head held high. I will continue on this journey to you thankful for the comfort Christ has shown me. And I will continue on this journey to you and share that comfort I have felt with others in the world. Christ's love cannot stop at me - I must pay it forward!!

Happy Birthday 07.09.00

Twelve years ago, I began my walk and commitment with Christ. It's funny how it can seem like such a long time ago and yet just like yesterday all at once. I am so thankful for the life I have been given. Twelve years ago, I was just starting high school and hopeful for what life would hold for me. I am grateful for all of the experiences I have had and for the growth I have made in my spiritual life.

Sunday's message was "follow your senses." And while the message came from 1 Samuel, a verse was referenced from 1 Corinthians that really hit home for me and our journey to you.

1 Corinthians 10:13
"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

This was such a comforting verse for me. God will not give us a challenge that is too difficult for us to handle. He gives us challenges that He knows we can bear. So, as I continue my walk with Christ, I will continue walking with my head held high. I will continue forward knowing that He is holding our hand through this life. I will continue living my glorious life and this wonderful journey to you.

Glorious Life

Today wrapped up our week at campout. We talked about keeping this momentum we regained at campout and staying more consistent. We talked about the importance of finding the glorious moments in our daily lives; that just changing your perspective the slightest can be all the difference and you will find the glorious things.

We then watched a fabulous clip from The Lion King to remind us to stay focused of our purpose:

"You see, He lives in you!"

"You have forgotten who are you and so you have forgotten me. Look inside yourself. You are more than what you have become. You must take your place in the circle of life."

"How can I go back? I'm not who I used to be."

"Remember who you are. You are my son. Remember who you are."

"Father. Don't leave me."

"Remember who you are."

So as I get ready to leave here, I will continue to look for those glorious things in my daily life. I will continue to have a glorious hope in things to come. And while I absolutely include you in that hope of things to come, I know there is even more to come as well. I feel rejuvenated from this week. I feel a complete peace with this journey to you. While I still think of you often, it is no longer with the longing sadness or pain. I now think of you with a glorious hope. I now think of that glorious day when we will finally meet you. I leave campout feeling healed and anew. I leave campout with a new perspective in which I will seek out those glorious moments in my daily life. I leave campout not being so focused on myself (and even on you) and what I don't have, but focused completely on Jesus Christ and what He has given me. I leave campout with a spirit of gratitude and pure thanks. I will remember who I am. I have an absolutely glorious life and I know that is only because of Christ.

Glorious Hope

Today was another spectacular day. Today was filled with hope, connecting on personal levels, and a continuing healing for me. Today I realized that I will continue to have hope that this journey will end with you, but that there is a bigger hope in this world. Jesus Christ is my hope and my purpose. I need to do a better job of serving Him and making Him proud. We saw another video presentation about the hope we have in serving a living God and the hope that we will one day meet Him in Heaven. It was such a powerful video to watch. I know that Christ is real. I know He will continue to do amazing things in Keal, mine, and one day your life. And I will continue to serve, praise, and keep my hope in my Savior!

A hope that Christ says this about each of us, "Perfect. They are all perfect."

Glorious Re-Birth

Today was day 2 of seminars and the theme was "glorious re-birth." Today was such a somber, healing day for me. We began by watching a beautiful video with some incredibly powerful pieces of scripture, pictures, and The David Crowder Band's, "How He Loves." It would've been enough for me, but that was only the beginning.

We then took a walk down to the fountain where we had our own rebirths. One-by-one we walked into the fountain where we had our own healings, cleansings, and rebirths! It was such a powerful experience for me. I truly felt washed of all fears and doubts.

To top off this beautiful morning, we all then gathered for a communion service. It was a spectacular and powerful experience and I truly feel faith-filled today. I can truly say, it is a glorious day!

Glorious Birth

Today kicked off seminars. Today we discussed four words: birth, life, death, and resurrection. We then applied these words to Christ and debated which word was most important.

The seminar ended with a beautiful slide show of faces young and old and baptisms while the song "Stay Gold," played. We must remember to stay gold in our daily walks. We must go back to that time of innocence and continue to stay clean in our walk. I cannot let this journey to you taint my outlook on life. I can't let this journey get me down. I can't let jealousy seep in and get me discouraged. Others may not have the same long journey that we have to you. But this journey will make us stronger, make us appreciate you more, and make our faith in God stronger. So until that glorious day when we meet you, I will continue trying to daily stay gold, I will continue thanking God for what we have, and I will continue to rejoice in the glorious days God gives us!

Glorious Day 1

Today was the kickoff to campout. This week's theme is "Glorious Day." Sunday's message really hit me. The Lord wants us to have a glorious day every day. Glorious days aren't conditional on what is going on in our every day lives - we have to choose to focus and serve God every day and make each day glorious!

This was a great wake-up call for me. I can't get caught up in the pain I sometimes feel in our journey to you. I need to keep my eye on the bigger picture. I need to continue serving God every day, thanking Him for what I have, and making each day glorious.