When everyone is doubting my actions, God shows me that I'm ok. Last night at camp we had our final chapel session as a staff. That will be the last time all of us will be together until we see each other in heaven. In that room relationships were built thanks to God who brought us all together.
Morgan McRay is part of the Leadership staff this summer. If you don't know him, you should. He will change your life. I haven't been able to spend a lot of time with him this summer but the time I have been around him, I have seen the example of Jesus. Last night he simply said, "Relationships are beautiful. My heart is full." This is exactly what I needed to hear.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Even when my relationships are separated by 1,800 miles, God reassures us that it is going to be ok. We need to thank God in all circumstances.
God will always reassure you that what you are doing is right, if it is His plan. He will find a way to let you know. Whether it is through Morgan McRay or through a song on the radio, He will find a way to prove to you that you are doing exactly what he wants you to do. However when he does show you, thank him for the reminder.
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Sunday, July 20, 2014
What Do You Think You Are Doing?
A month before I left for Maryland, I was introduced to a very special man. The month before I left, we spent quite a bit of time together. The day before the big move, we decided that we wanted to try and make it work.
Immediately people decided to put in their two cents. "Why would you start a relationship when you leave?" "Do you know what you are getting yourself into?" However my favorite was from a close friend. She said, "You realize it isn't going to work out, right?" It's hard to be exited for something when the people around you, including friends, are doubting your relationship. Keep in mind, most of these people do not know him at all which made it even harder.
Day after day, I tried not to question my decisions. Every night I was reassured this was the right thing when my phone rang and on the other end was a man who reminded me that everything is going to be ok, that we are going to get through this together, and that he misses me.
There is clearly a reason God put this man in my life.
My biggest regret would have been not trying. Not a single relationship is perfect and not a lot of them start out 1,800 miles apart but God has us meet for a reason. Whether it is to show me that this man isn't the one for me or that he is the one. All I ask is that instead of putting our relationship down, pray for it.
My questions to you is why do we question each other? We constantly ask why people are doing the things they are doing. "Why are you going back to school after 12 years?" "Why would you move away from all of your family for a job?" "Why are you having another child? You already have 4!" There is a reason God has them doing it.
Immediately people decided to put in their two cents. "Why would you start a relationship when you leave?" "Do you know what you are getting yourself into?" However my favorite was from a close friend. She said, "You realize it isn't going to work out, right?" It's hard to be exited for something when the people around you, including friends, are doubting your relationship. Keep in mind, most of these people do not know him at all which made it even harder.
Day after day, I tried not to question my decisions. Every night I was reassured this was the right thing when my phone rang and on the other end was a man who reminded me that everything is going to be ok, that we are going to get through this together, and that he misses me.
There is clearly a reason God put this man in my life.
My biggest regret would have been not trying. Not a single relationship is perfect and not a lot of them start out 1,800 miles apart but God has us meet for a reason. Whether it is to show me that this man isn't the one for me or that he is the one. All I ask is that instead of putting our relationship down, pray for it.
My questions to you is why do we question each other? We constantly ask why people are doing the things they are doing. "Why are you going back to school after 12 years?" "Why would you move away from all of your family for a job?" "Why are you having another child? You already have 4!" There is a reason God has them doing it.
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Christian or Human?
Why is that as humans, we filter what we say and do when we are around Christians but the second we are around others we no long filter ourselves? Why do we expect perfection from Christians?
Micah J. Murray, a writer, says it perfectly in his article "I Don't Have My Shit Together." He writes, "I don't want to be a Christian writer if it means that we need to act like we have all our shit together. Because the truth is, we don't."
I have never understood why people think that Christians are perfect. Christians are humans too. Everyone is human.
Most days, I don't have my shit together. I snooze my alarm 5 or 6 times, forget to brush my teeth, often times find myself complaining about things that really don't matter, and the list goes on and on.
I am not perfect but I will proudly say that I am Christian. Please don't expect Christians to be perfect. We are all human.
"Perfect people aren't real and real people aren't perfect. So, you can either love people for their flaws or hate them because they're real."
Micah J. Murray, a writer, says it perfectly in his article "I Don't Have My Shit Together." He writes, "I don't want to be a Christian writer if it means that we need to act like we have all our shit together. Because the truth is, we don't."
I have never understood why people think that Christians are perfect. Christians are humans too. Everyone is human.
Most days, I don't have my shit together. I snooze my alarm 5 or 6 times, forget to brush my teeth, often times find myself complaining about things that really don't matter, and the list goes on and on.
I am not perfect but I will proudly say that I am Christian. Please don't expect Christians to be perfect. We are all human.
"Perfect people aren't real and real people aren't perfect. So, you can either love people for their flaws or hate them because they're real."
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Summer
What does Summer mean to you? For some it means spending the weekend at the cabin with the family. For others it means four wheeling through trails or a picnic in a field. Maybe it means swimming at the beach or having a bonfire at night with all of your friends. For me, it means Camp.
Camp is packed full with late nights and early mornings, dinner runs, laying out at the pool, working odd hours everyday, and God. Often times at Camp, I needed to reminded that God's the reasons I'm here. I didn't get myself here, He did.
Every Tuesday we are offered a Chapel session for all the staff. Since it is at 10pm, it is often times very hard to stay for it when I have to be awake and alert by 7am the next morning. Last night, I had decided not to go and instead sleep. Come 9:45, I was still wide awake so I decided I would go for the beginning parts. The first worship song was Open Up the Heavens by Meredith Andrews. One of the lines says, "You're the reason we're here. You're the reason we're singing." It was the perfect reminder that God is the reason I'm 1,800 miles away from home. He's the reason I have my wonderful job. He is the reason for this amazing Summer.
I have one person to thank, God. Revelation 4:11 says, "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." Remember to thank God for today, He's the one who allowed you to breathe another day.
Camp is packed full with late nights and early mornings, dinner runs, laying out at the pool, working odd hours everyday, and God. Often times at Camp, I needed to reminded that God's the reasons I'm here. I didn't get myself here, He did.
Every Tuesday we are offered a Chapel session for all the staff. Since it is at 10pm, it is often times very hard to stay for it when I have to be awake and alert by 7am the next morning. Last night, I had decided not to go and instead sleep. Come 9:45, I was still wide awake so I decided I would go for the beginning parts. The first worship song was Open Up the Heavens by Meredith Andrews. One of the lines says, "You're the reason we're here. You're the reason we're singing." It was the perfect reminder that God is the reason I'm 1,800 miles away from home. He's the reason I have my wonderful job. He is the reason for this amazing Summer.
I have one person to thank, God. Revelation 4:11 says, "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." Remember to thank God for today, He's the one who allowed you to breathe another day.
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