On a mission from God

           When I read the Wednesday section of this final week’s devotion, I immediately thought of Romans 3:3-4, which I don’t believe coincidentally was the focus of my daily devotion today.

            Romans 3:3-4 says, “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Jesus is testing me to the good big time right now by giving me the opportunity to serve this summer up at the lake. By giving up control of my life and what I think it should look like or what I think I should be doing, I’m putting my full faith and trust in God’s will and plan for me. So far, walking “God’s road” for my life has been absolutely blessed! There have been ups and downs, with many more to come no doubt, but remembering these simple verse has really helped me to understand that God takes everything and uses it for my good, to mold me into the man He intended me to be.

            I truly believe with everything in me that God has called me up to Sonshine this summer. That belief, along with the word of God, has and will continue to encourage me through any trial that presents itself this summer and beyond. We all have a huge opportunity to see God work not only in us, but also through us, to touch countless lives. I’m expecting blood, sweat and tears, but also laughter, joy and communion with each other and God as well. God has put us all in this position for a reason, let’s make the most of it!

-JDK

Out of Body

Week 8:

            The two that really stuck out to me were the Tuesday section on Communion and the Friday section on being simultaneously in and out of your story.

            In thinking about what the union of community looks, sounds and feels like on houseboats this summer, I couldn’t help but be excited. All of us staff who will be up there this summer are at different points on our respective walks with Christ, and we have an awesome opportunity to come alongside each other in times of struggle, to really act as a support system for one another.

            I also really dug the being in the now idea. “In the now, you are simultaneously in your story and yet simultaneously outside of your story observing your own story.” Crazy! This helps me to remember that I’m saved, that I have my place in eternity after I die already for me. In a sense then, because we already know where we’ll end up, we can step outside our present lives and watch them unfold because we are saved. I think worship experiences are especially good at getting us to feel that out-of-body-ness, especially awesome experiences like this past weekend!

-JDK

The AAA Code for Living Like Christ

This past weekend was extremely eye-opening to me. I have been at an impasse with God for the past year (since I was a Barney actually) and I couldn't figure out what was creating this growing gap.  It wasn't until I began to identify myself with Paul did I realize what was wrong.

I realized that I was like Saul, I persecuted those who I viewed to be wrong regardless of their reasons.  Like Saul I avoided God's truth and held tight to my version of His law.  And like Saul I observed Godly people but ignored their nobility all because of my stubbornness of wanting to be right. I manipulated God's will to become my own only with Gods title plastered on it.  Granted I haven't been like this completely since I gave my life to Christ 5 years ago, but I have still struggled with my stubbornness sense then.

Now I am like Paul (with remnants of Saul of course,) I am redeemed, saved, and valued.  I turned from my laws to minister with my language.  My standard rules grew to accompany my new found faith.  Even if my personality is hard to understand I use my words to describe me as best as I can. Like Paul I over explain my statements, and gratefulness in order to not create misunderstandings. I also tend to only believe in things I see and not in just words alone.  Like Paul I've done a 180 and constantly fall into pitfalls. (Like Paul describes in Romans.) Regardless of my shortcomings as Saul/Paul, I am SAVED. 

This identification that I discovered led me to understand my 3 A's.
Admit = Admit to God your sins and understand (mostly) why they were wrong.
Allow = Allow God to break you of your sins, and begin to change you.  If you don't He will never try to change you.
Admire = Admire God for His grace and rejoice in Him.

I was stuck in the Allow part, my issue of stubbornness got in the way of allowing God to change my stubbornness.  I have come to realize that I must constantly drop my stubbornness and pride in order to grow and let God refine me into gold.

I AM SAVED! :)

The Blood that washes!

As Troy Lee and Nate guided us through that powerful time of worship Sunday night, I was reminded of the words we shouted to our King at the top of our lungs.  "What can wash away my sins?... NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS!"  The Sacrificial Lamb's Blood spilled all over those boats as He is preparing them to do a mighty work this summer, So does That Blood wash over us daily! Thanks All for joining in that moment! One I won't soon forget! Campers are coming!!!!!

Stay Shiny Sonshine

At the supermarket. The grocery clerk was scanning the items. As were chatting, he chimed in cheerfully - "I just got back from Tennessee.  I went to church out there and they had a forecast written on their sign. "God reigns and Sonshine." I wear my blue Sonshine shirt 20 to 25 days out of the month usually.  I completely forgot that people actually read the shirt and sometimes think about what it says.  Really caught me off guard in a good way.  I'm excited to see all of you on the water again soon. Keep Shining!

Live in the now man/Lowering Ourselves

Hey guys!
My last two blog entries will be combined. Week 8 was very cool. Reading Fridays entry when it had a CS Lewis thought saying," in the now you can observe from outside your body that your in your body." Reading that after singing on top of the houseboats really stood out because I feel like I could see all of us singing outside of us singing (if that makes sense). I could picture God listening to this amplified worship, and looking down so pleased to hear his name. Such a great experience!

Week 9: I really liked the sentence, "Amazing! He who made the angels and the stars, is now lower than the angels and the stars!" This helps me prepared my heart this summer as we lower ourselves further and further too become his servants, because God did it, He created everything yet he lowers himself to everything that is his. Powerful Stuff!

Wow!

The selfless service, inspiring words, and encouraging conversations this weekend got me so pumped up for the summer.  Thank you for sharing your hearts and answering the Lord's call for this summer. This is an incredible team that God has called out to serve Him and I simply cannot wait to watch the ways in which He is going to work through all of you for the Glory of His Kingdom this summer.  Let's continue to go above and beyond with our sharing and fundraising to send kids to encounter the beauty of the Lord!!!  Thanks for an amazing weekend!  See you soon!!!!

Stronger Man

I know this is late but I am trying to get caught up on my blogging =]
"Chain's be broken, lives be healed"

These past few weeks I have felt chained and imprisoned. I know that might sound weird but seriously. I have this picture of me sitting in this dirty prison cell with shackles around my wrists, my wrists completely raw from the chains. This place is familiar because I find myself here so often. I continually come back to this prison even after Jesus has set me free.  I come back to this place where I can do everything on my own and at first it feels like I can and then I end up back in the prison. I don't know if this analogy fully works but the point is Jesus sets me free again and again! I just think of one of Jesus amazing miracles in the gospel when he heals a blind man. He first touches the mans eyes and asks him if he can see anything. The man replies with "yes I think I see people but they look like walking trees." Then Jesus touches his eyes again and the man's eyes are fully open. I feel like this can be us sometimes. Jesus has to touch us again, and again in order for us to truly see. He is so loving that he will always break my chains or touch my eyes again just so that I can see his face and feel his love.

Jesus defeated death. he defeated the one thing that satan could for sure hold over us. He defeated it for all of us, knowing that we needed to be set free? He is the stronger man. As a human, being humiliated and beat down usually means some sort of bitterness or retaliation and Jesus did neither of these. He simply did what he needed to do. He did it so you and I could be let go from prison. So then why the heck do I keep going back there?
I don't think I really have an answer except for that I am a very prideful person. However, I always get pushed back down to my knees in front of his cross and let me tell you I am learning how to "boast in my weakness" and it is so hard. Jesus is the stronger man and I am so glad I do not have to be strong. I am so glad that I don't have to handle this life on my own.
Now, in order to gain strength from God I have to spend time with him, yet I rarely make him a priority except for my 10-15 min "quiet time" where I am usually thinking about all of the other things I need to do or complaining to God about how stressed I am. Now the maker of the universe, the man that doesn't retaliate is not my priority?! I am sorry I am just astounded at my own humaness and overwhelmed with a sense of love. God loves me enough to be the stronger man and continually break my chains, because he loves me. I am going through the book of Mark in my Bible study and Jesus' compassion for people is crazy! He loves everyone he comes into contact with and wants them to know the Father's love. He doesn't call us to be perfect people he calls us to be faithful. So I hope I can remember this, this summer. Jesus is the stronger man and I so desperately need him. I need his strength because I am weak and sinful. But He loves me and I will never fully understand that. And that my friends is the coolest thing in the entire world. Our Father loves us.

Bridge Builder

I really liked the part about how priest/pontifex means bridge builder, and how Jesus is the ultimate priest. In order to build a bridge, an engineer must know both sides of where the bridge will be placed. In regards to the bridge between us and God, all humans know plenty about humans, but we all fail to know enough about God to build our own bridge to him. But, Jesus knows both sides completely. He knows human nature, because he was human, and he knows God because he is fully God. He is the only one who can bridge the gap between us and our Father. We cannot do it ourselves, we need Jesus each and every day, to build the bridge and help us across.

See you all in 2 days!
Amanda

the Great Bridge Builder

Hebrews 2:18 says "For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted."

Jesus has fought every battle we will ever fight. And he was victorious! Jesus is completely God and completely human and because of this he can perfectly relate to us and to God. I think of Jesus like the ultimate interpreter, speaking to us through the Holy Spirit. He is The Great Bridge Builder who constructed the perfect connection between humanity and God. Sometimes I get scared of the bridge..I don't think it will be reliable enough or I'm afraid to put my entire trust there. I think that there is another way or a better way.
In church last Sunday we talked about Jesus being the way to God. My pastor said Jesus isn't the best way, because if we say he is the best way, then we are accepting that there are other ways. Jesus is the only way. There is only ONE bridge to God and that is Jesus! He is the perfect mediator, the great bridge builder, and the ultimate overcomer. Praise Jesus!!

Bridges...

Q: Is there a bridge that Jesus has established in you heart that you'd like to abandon or not walk down?  A: My Pontifex is currently showing me how to still be a Christian in extremely secular settings.  For example I have a friend in my growth (who stopped attending some months ago,) who came out on Facebook as being a lesbian.  Another example is at work, I've realized just how difficult it is not to cuss when everyone around does, and it's also difficult for me to be humble and respectful to my coworkers/managers when no one else is.  I'm slowly understanding how difficult it is for Jesus to see his people act so un-God like on a daily basis, and although I'm grasping this concept of being a Christian in the world I'm still hesitant to completely cross that bridge for part of me still wants to hide in my shell and not even acknowledge those around me.

I Want You To Stay

Q: What Is so special about Jesus?  A: To me His healing power is the most important aspect of Jesus.
Q: How is He miraculously pouring out His spirit on you?  A: Reminding me that I'm not in control, to worry less, and to constantly lean on Him.
Q: What does the fiery light of Christ in you look like, feel like, smell like at work? at home? at school? on floating tabernacles?  A: It looks patient, kind, direct, capable, loving, wise, and humble.  (Granted I do not embody these characteristics perfectly.)
Q: Can you think of a time where you anticipated the immediate presence of Christ? Where are you feeling an emptiness right now that longs for the light, life, & presence of Jesus?  A: I have, usually when I'm in a dark place and wish to escape my reality. I'm currently longing to feel Jesus in order to be comforted in my life when it comes to my future, and currently the problems I'm having financially in regards to my car. 
Q: How Does it feel to be so passionately loved by the creator?  A: At times it feels miraculous, and at others it makes me feel inadequate like I need to over compensate for His love.

Speaking of how I handle His love the song Stay by Rihanna comes to mind. The lyrics go like this...

All along it was a fever
A cold sweat hot-headed believer
I threw my hands in the air I said show me something
He said, if you dare come a little closer

Round and around and around and around we go
Ohhh now tell me now tell me now tell me now you know

(Chorus) Not really sure how to feel about it
Something in the way you move
Makes me feel like I can't live without you
It takes me all the way
I want you to stay

It's not much of a life you're living
It's not just something you take, it's given
Round and around and around and around we go
Ohhh now tell me now tell me now tell me now you know

(Chorus)

Ohhh the reason I hold on
Ohhh cause I need this hole gone
Funny you're the broken one but i'm the only one who needed saving
Cause when you never see the lights it's hard to know which one of us is caving

(Chorus)
I want you to stay, ohhh

When I first heard this song, I hated it... It just irked me that someone could find so much comfort in a human when in reality we aren't perfect at all. It wasn't until a few days ago I had the line "Funny you're the broken one but I'm the only one who needed saving," stuck in my head did I realize just how true this line is in regards to my relationship with God.  I always regard God as broken because of the fact that He simply loves me, but in the end I'm the only one who needs to be saved.  So I now love this song and constantly think to Jesus, "I want you to stay." :)

Broken Hearted

Dear Friends,
I have been having a rough last few months from starting a new job that is the most challenging yet rewarding job I have ever had and also burning out at the same time. Ever since I started this new job in March, God has been molding and shaping me in the fiery furnace of His workshop. However, the story I want to share happened this past Friday and was, as they say, the straw that broke the camels back. I have been having many amazing conversations with my non-Christ following co-workers, and many have left me broken hearted. This last Friday, I was working and my co-worker told me his boyfriend is another co-worker and he showed me a picture of them. He knows I am a follower of Christ, and he said that I am the only person that knows out of all of his friends and everyone at work and for me not to tell anyone. So it is interesting that he chose to tell me..he must be attracted to something (aka JESUS). He had the biggest smile on his face when he was talking about how much they love each other and how they treat each other. He said he is the happiest he's ever been. He asked me if I was okay that he told me, and I said of course, and told him that I was happy that he has found something that makes him happy.. And he told me that I am the first "religious" person he has ever met that is loving and that isn't going to judge him for his choices in life. We can share with each other our personal beliefs or non-beliefs, and respect each other which is very unique and I treasure this mutual respect.. However, on the inside, my heart was breaking.. my heart breaks for this love that he and my other co-worker have found in each other because it is a cheap version of love..this love is twisted and disguised by the evil one as true and lovely. My heart breaks for them because I desire them to know the perfect, full,and complete love of Jesus. I talked to my pastor yesterday about it and he told me to look at John 4: the woman at the well. Jesus talks in this passage about the water that will come back empty and always quench our thirst and then Him as the living water which will quench our thirst for eternity.
My prayer for Josh is that every avenue he tries to find love and fulfillment in will come back to him empty, quenching his thirst for more. I pray that he would realize the only water that quenches his thirst is Jesus.

Also, this quote makes me think of this cheap love and how it blinds us from knowing any greater love that is the love of Jesus:

"If we consider the unblushing promises of reward … promised in the Gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at sea. We are far too easily pleased."- C.S. Lewis  

Also, this quote:
"Sex, of course, is not the only drug that intoxicates and numbs the mind to spiritual reality; the same can be true of money and career and power and romance novels and soap operas and TV advertisements and fishing and coin collecting and computers and rehabbing and gardening. The point is: know what numbs your mind to God and avoid it. Stay sober for the sake of full and passionate hope in God’s grace." -John Piper  

EVERYTHING ELSE BESIDES JESUS WILL LEAVE US THIRSTY. As we are a team this summer, I just wanted to share this struggle with you all and to pray for me to perservere in the love of Christ with my friendship with Josh. I want to not approve and people please with people that have different beliefs, but show them the love of Jesus through being a friend and respecting them. Jesus has placed me in such a beautiful and unique place in my relationships with my co-workers and even though it is a hard road, I am thankful because every day I am getting the privilege to show Jesus to them.

The Stronger Man: Being Vulnerable

When Jesus showed His true strength through humility by DYING, He shows me every day that I need to die to myself for Him to step in and do His work. The devil has so many schemes and strategies that keep Jesus at a distance from entering into my brokeness and weakness.. The devil tells us we should have much pride in ourselves and put up walls so no one will think we have anything wrong with us. And from those walls, he tells us not to share our struggles and not to be vulnerable because that is embarrassing and humiliating...this binds us in chains and makes us live in those hurts, alone, away from Jesus, in slavery.. So to prevent this vicious cycle from happening, WE NEED TO BE VULNERABLE WITH EACH OTHER. We need to let down our prideful walls to let Jesus be the stronger man and put the devil's schemes TO DEATH!  Be aware of areas in your life where the devil could be trying to root selfishness and pride. Instead of trying to be funny, witty, and the "cool" staff, let us show our weakness and struggles. I'm not at all saying that being funny and witty are inherently bad things, they are so good, but they are not the end goal..I am saying that we just need to be aware and open to the Holy Spirit moving on your heart to share or open up to another staff, youth leader, or camper..It also doesn't mean we need to be a constant open wound sharing our struggles with every person we see..again, the Holy Spirit is our guide and counselor, He will lead us. We need to be aware of His voice and obey and follow through when He speaks.

Wandering God

(This is the Week 7 entry that I missed.)

The Tuesday portion of this devotional was the one that really resonated with me, especially when talking about how God is not confined, but restless. I relate to that because I’ve always found it easiest to feel close to God when I’m out camping, hiking or something outdoors away from the distractions of “normal” life. I find it easiest to commune with God when I am not around all of the comforts of home life and have to rely on finding peace through Him. Amazing things happen at camp for a reason; God definitely loves and blesses those experiences because He’s a huge fan!

-JDK

Today

I like how Friday talked focused on today, what is God doing in me today? Sometimes I tend to look at my life in the future and think of all the things that I feel like God is calling me towards then, like serving this summer, and forget that I'm still called to do things today. I'm called to serve those around me today. God wants to work through me today in whatever I may partake in, not just on special occasions like serving on houseboats. I work at a preschool during the weeks and I've really been hit with this idea that although they are really young and often difficult to handle, God wants me to each day show them love and patience. Instead of always thinking ahead, I need to look at what he's placed right in front of me. What I do today, God can use to prepare me for what's to come, I just need to focus on remaining in the present.

Like Father Like Son

I had a rather interesting week filled with the good the bad and the down right strange. I found my self being temped, pulled, stretched, torn in so many directions I was starting to loose my way. So me in my brokenness looked the for the first thing to blame. Of course i went through the normal check list of things, but I kept feeling worse and worse until I talked with a friend of mine who brought up some very interesting things. He told me about Jesus being tempted by the devil to do evil, but all so Jesus tempting, or Honing his followers to believe in him and do there Fathers will. So I realized that in my brokenness and hurt and sinful nature God was honing me to do his will, but as I am getting closer and closer to this summer and the task that he has presented me my life has become a battle field. God not only wanted to hone me but also to prune and trim me to fit the ideals he has for me. I have never felt so excited and free in my life.

CommUnion

Re-reading through this week's devo's, Tuesday's honestly stuck out the most to me. Union + Community = Communion. It's in Communion that I feel most myself. When I am happiest, most at peace, most vulnerable, most broken, most challenged, and most blessed, I am in the presence of my community who are all united by God. I think that as quiet time with Jesus and a personal relationship with him is of the utmost importance, having a community to support and encourage you to grow is incredibly important as well. Drifting away from my union of community these past few weeks has blinded me to the glory of God. I've been feeling alone, discouraged, stressed out, and most of all inadequate to drive this summer- I feel that I haven't prepared myself enough which in turn makes me scared. But I refuse to be bound by these chains Satan has wound around me, and instead rejoice in how much my weaknesses can be my strengths. Rejoice that in Jesus, I can celebrate communion.

Whether you're on Shasta or on Delta, I like to imagine that your union of community, your communion, will be each other. Your fellow Drivers, Trainees, and Barneys. We will become vulnerable with each other, as well as challenge each other, encourage each other, and push each other toward Christ each and every day. Now that, for me, is heaven here on Earth.

Julia

Walking by faith and not by sight.

Friday's lesson really reminded me of how incapable I am of comprehending God fully. This is a wonderful thought when I think of the times I have felt so known and feel that I know God so well. There is so much more beauty, grace, peace, joy, and love that I don't see in those moments! This is also a wonderful thought when I feel desperately far from God. As himans, we are so driven by what we see, feel, touch, taste, and hear. The Holy Spirit is constanty at work in us and among us, loving us in ways we dont understand. God's thoughts towards us number more than the grains of sand, and they never change. He is eternally in us, in relationship with us, calling us to Him. When Jesus died, he was completing what was set in motion for all of eternity. His works will last forever. I love that when were on houseboats, drained and empty, we can remember that eternity has been set in our hearts, and in that moment being transformed by Christ begotten in us. In those moments God calls us to trust that He is forming us, preparing us for loving Him forever.
Even if we can't see it!

Jesus the author of our story

FRIDAY

I love how we can be both IN our story, and also OUTside of it, aware of the story unfolding. I think Jesus gave us this ability to recognize where were at on our personal journeys and how they're unfolding. Without this perspective, we would be lost, just going through the motions, unaware of His labor in us, and how He is writing our story...

Im so grateful that God has made me aware of my story, no matter how broken it may be. He's making me aware of how He's transforming it, and constantly revealing himself to me and in me.

Filling up with Jesus

I Am He

At the end of Thursday's devo, it asks the question "Where are you feeling an emptiness right now that longs for the light, life, & presence of Jesus?"

It's so easy to just read right over that without any thought, and I almost did. But I was challenged to really step back and look at my heart and see where I am empty. Honesty hour..I've been having a really hard time with putting my worth in Jesus and not in people. He is teaching me everyday that I have my identity in Christ and that other people's opinions mean nothing! My identity longs for the "light, life, and presence of Jesus." If you didn't already, I encourage you to think and pray about what areas of your life are empty. Especially as we get closer  and closer to summer, we need every part of us to be filled with Jesus.
One week people!!!!!

blog catch-up

THE STRONGER MAN

Jesus was the stronger man because amidst oppression and injustice and physical abuse, he knew, trusted, and obeyed the will of his Father. Strength comes with his evident humility. Jesus lived a life on earth that seemed undignified. He was born in a cave with animals to unwed parents constantly on the run from Herod—a dependent, vulnerable, defenseless and at risk child. But strength is evident in people who aren’t concerned about appearing strong.

Strength is evident in those who humbly and willingly do what they are called to do with the proper mindset and attitude. In the same way, strength is best utilized when Satan has been bound. We are weak when we allow him leeway and footholds in our lives. We are also weak, not only when Satan is prevalent, but when we try to do things out of our own strength. What a relief it is to know that though we are incapable on our own, our capable through the power of Christ. It’s a daily struggle to realize and acknowledge our weakness and choose to live in the humble, selfless strength of Christ.

I AM HE

One of the most special things about Jesus is that he is a tangible expression of the Father. I love Colossians 1:15 where it says he is the “image of the invisible God.” Christ gives us a way to visualize and understand the Father. I also love John 1:1-5 when it says “in him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” Isn’t it so true? When we don’t have Christ in us, we are dead. We live purposeless, hopeless, meaningless lives, but when we are filled with the spirit we have LIFE—abundance, joy, hope.

God pours his spirit on me through the avenue of people around me. It’s amazing how much I am getting to know God more as I deepen relationships with the people that love him. We are made in his image and are given specific characteristics, and when we use our gifts for his glory, we point others to him and we understand a little bit more of his character in a tangible way. I hope this is true for the kids on the houseboats—I hope that more people get to know us, the more they learn about Christ, and his character. I hope that they understand Him a little bit better because of the way we live and act.

The fiery light of Christ in me is joy in all circumstances. I remember a few years back I was told by a close friend that I’m a lot like Job—that when everything seems to be going wrong, when I am treated unjustly, when I lose things that are dear to me, I still am able to praise the name of the Lord. I know it is not my strength or power that allows me to do this but the power of the Holy Spirit, and I count it a blessing from the Lord. I am so firmly established in my understanding of his goodness that I trust everything he does in my life, even though it makes no sense to the people around me.

Knowing how passionately loved I am by the creator, the I AM, the Word, the light, the one who holds all things together, makes my heart ache. It aches because I know how unworthy I am—how sinful and broken I am. It makes me aware of how much I take for granted what he has already done for me and what he daily continues to faithfully do for me. But it also aches because I long for intimacy with him. Knowing how desperately he loves me and how he has eagerly adopted me as his child is so exciting!! 

Pretty Lights (also a good band btw)

Hey People!

After reading last weeks journal entries and reviewing each day I've come to really relate to Wednesdays entry. "It celebrated the God who can guide because God is light", and that life is so miserable when we do not following in His Light! Coming up on this summer I want to make sure that I'm following in His light everyday every step of the way, celebrating the life He has given us and giving Him his deserved glory.

See ya!
Alex Thulemeyer

Prayer

God I am tired broken and beaten down, I have no way to make it right or fix my brokenness. Only you God king of kings can save me from my sinful self. I ask that today you show me your glory and open up my heart completely to the love of your son Jesus, let my eyes be bright and my body be full of energy too spread your love. God in your name I pray Amen. 

Real Raw, Real Quick

Hey all,

This weeks devo's have been so cool/challenging in being an every-day thing. It's been so cool being able to take a step back and look at the basics of the ceremonies and Tabernacle's. How cool it is to remember that it is God who pours into Jesus, Jesus into us, and us into each other/our campers. How cool it is to remember that our God wants to guide us, not just drop us off somewhere. And for me, how cool it is to be utterly convicted by just one statement (or two).

"He is WORTHY of our impassioned worship. HE is worthy of our impassioned love." (110) (Johnson)

This stopped me cold in my tracks Wednesday night. I couldn't go on, because if I tried, I was blinded-I wasn't really reading anymore. I am told, over and over again, "there is nothing I can do that will make God love me any less." And I believe that, I truly do. That WE are worthy in His eyes. But, is God? Is God worthy of our worship? Is God worthy of our love? And my initial answer was no. I didn't believe that He could be anything near worthy of MY love. And this really confused me; that I felt this way, this heartbroken. I desire to call Jesus my best friend, but why do I feel that I fall short in loving God? In praising him? Not even through my acts, but through my passions, thoughts, and heart.

Tonight, I finally gave in. I sat down in quiet time with Jesus-something I have been avoiding for 3 weeks, because I was scared of this: Jesus ripped me apart, leaving me raw and broken at the foot of His cross. He revealed such an unloved, ugly, sheltered part of me I had no choice but to willfully give it over for him to heal.

It got real raw, real fast. And as you're reading this, I pray that Jesus reveals to you what has been on your heart to give up to him..whether it's something you're bound to, hiding from, or hiding Jesus from. Or whether you're just plain scared of letting Him take it ALL. I invite you all to embark on this journey with Jesus and allow it to get real raw, real fast. Please don't wait until you're standing on the roof of a houseboat worshipping Him, or breaking down with your coordinator or director. Let Jesus, the Son of Man, who was crucified to have a real relationship with you, break you NOW. If He can dig deep into us now, imagine how much deeper He'll be able to in the summer?

Jesus is alive.

Jesus is here.

Jesus is now.

Love you all.

Julia

Who are you?

I feel like whenever we meet someone new, we sit in anticipation to see who they really are (or maybe I just do this haha). But I feel like whenever I am hanging out with people, talking to them, and growing with them, the question that is always on the back of my mind is, who are you? who are you really? in the deepest part of your darkest place who has the Lord created you to be?

I love that Jesus doesn't mess around when I ask Him this question, He doesn't even hesitate when He answers, "I am who I am". BOOM. Jesus isn't going to change. He isn't going to going to be the class clown one day, and the shy kid the next day. He is who He says He is.

Lately I have been really bitter at God for these certain situations that keep coming up in my life. I feel like I keep going through the same situation over and over again which really makes me angry at God if I am being fully honest. A friend encouraged me the other night that regardless of my situation, the character I know to be true of God has not changed a bit. God is still love, still my Abba, still good, still pursuing me, and still calling me child...

I know that is a bit off topic on such a small piece of the reading this week, but this has just been a huge source of encouragement for me this week, and I hope it encourages all of you as well.

-Haley

A Restless God

" You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in. I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought Israel up out of Egypt to this day.  I have moved form one tent site to another, from one dwelling place to another." 1 Chronicles 17:4-6

Our God's work is never done. He is constantly moving in our hearts and minds. Always chipping away at our tough, rocky exterior to break us open and let love flow out like water.

Our God is restless and our God is good.

Jesus IS God!

What stood out to me from this week's devotional was that "Jesus reveals the Father's heart. On the cross we see the Father's heart bleeding in love for you." This is such a crazy picture of God's love for us. I think I often see Jesus truly as the son of God, separate from God, especially when it comes to him dying on the cross. But Jesus IS God! That means God, the creator of everything, died for me! He poured our his blood in love for me! How incredible is that!

Can't wait to see you all soon!

Amanda

Just a closer walk with thee

Reading this weeks section is very interesting to me, the whole "I am he" and "what is so special about Jesus?" is something that I have always heard and tried to wrap my mind around and I have yet to do it successfully without confusing myself in the process. Simply because Jesus (to me) is a very backwards person. He was a king who died? That is not how this is suppose to work. A king is suppose to lead me to victory and defeat all who stand against me. A king that washed my feet? What, that towel that you are wearing Jesus is suppose to be worn around your shoulder and not around your waist. You see what I'm getting at?

We all know Jesus was born from a virgin, Jesus was a gifted leader and impressive speaker and He did a lot of miracles and raised people from the dead but that's not what makes him special to me.

I think the reason Jesus was special to me is because he was every bit his Heavenly Father yet he was completely human. He experienced every human emotion that we face and yet still lived a perfect life and when I'm mean perfect I don't mean without sin I mean live a gratifying life of laying down his life to show others true life. He was special because he was a man like you and me. He grew tried, he cried, he hungered, and he thirsted: all human dispositions! Yet, he never let that get in his way, actually it made cling even closer to his Father. He is special because not only did he overcome being human but lead others to a place to be with the heavenly father. Much of the time I can't even lead myself to the father, let alone others. For him to walk the same path that I walk and live perfectly is inspiring to me, and I try everyday to walk that path. I think thats what he wants, we wants us to walk that path. he knows its hard and challenging. But thats why he laid himself down for us. So he can live in us, so he can walk beside us.

Jesus and Leona Lewis

This might sound a bit strange, but after reading Friday's section, I can not get the song "keep bleeding love" (leona lewis) out of my head. After reading "on the cross we see the father's heart bleeding in love for you", I think some lyrics are pretty applicable. 

{you cut me open and I keep bleeding love, keep keep bleeding love}

No matter what we do, or have done, Christ's heart was bleeding in love for us. His blood covers us, it doesn't skip over some people. Its already been done, and he continues to keep, keep loving us :) what an amazing love

it was GOD who died for us, and He who will never stop loving us! Such a great reminder for me this week.

Shine through us

Going back to Wednesday, I love the imagery of God being light since sin is definitely darkness. I am scared, lonely, and blind in my sin and in darkness. Jesus is the light that sheds love, peace, patience, and kindness in my sin and draws me into relationship with the Father. The fiery light of Christ looks like me being transparent, so vulnerable and honest I am see-through, so humbled I am nothing and He is everything so that His light can shine through brighter than ever. Just as a houseboat is a floating tabernacle, we are constantly moving tabernacles that carry His message. Can't wait until Memorial Day!!!

Weakness? No Strength?

Hmm it seems as if God is attempting to show me everything that I struggle with BEFORE I leave for the Delta.  Maybe I am to attempt to rectify these issues before the Delta, or maybe even during? Regardless of what is to happen with my acknowledgement of my issues, I feel like I need to, in some way, understand them more before I am fully able to attempt to change them (granted that just might be the Psychologist in me speaking.)

This chapter on weakness and strength almost caused an unpleasant taste in my mouth. I hate being weak, being taken advantaged of, and being manipulated. Granted many past relationships have caused this response in my life to become almost second nature to be distrusting and guarded towards everyone I meet.  It's almost unthinkable for me to be weak in order to be strong.  I mean that is why I play video games, it's a way of coping with my own mental and physical weaknesses.  Although in a way this chapter was able to help me understand that I need to be more trusting of God. 

By the end of the chapter I being to feel comforted instead of discomforted with this issue.  I realized that in those moments of doubt, when I'm feeling all alone, and I think that no one can see me, God is still there and He is being my strength for me.

Sorry I got so deep about these topics you guys! Can't wait for Memorial Retreat!

Flash Lights, Head Lights, Flood Lights, LEDs

I've often been told that Jesus is the light of world, and I usual dismiss it because it has been repeated to me so many times.  I have had many explanations for it but never have I heard Jesus being a light compared to a flame (usually He is a flashlight or something).  Needless to say I've never been told to grasp the light (or fire) so tightly that I might even get burned. I love this for not only do we see Jesus as a physical light for us to see but also as a dangerous and mighty flame. The one thing that we aren't often told is that God doesn't light up our entire surroundings only a small portion of it, and we have to be trusting enough to follow each small step not knowing where the path will take us.  This is a great, no, it is an enormous issue that I deal with.  I have a hard time trusting anyone unless I know the full picture and every tiny detail in between.

We are also considered to be lights in our own way.  Now our light does not guide in the way that God's does but we still have power.  Each of us have a light, and even though each light is different they are all equally important.  Some of us are flash lights, head lights, flood lights, and even LEDs. Even if we have a huge flood light that affects everyone around us, or if we have an LED that is the only light in the sea of darkness it is still a light.  So even when I do feel distrusting towards God, or think lowly of myself I always remember that even the tiniest LED light can have a great impact on the world.  In fact it seems that when my light is dim, and when my trust is gone I am always impacted by the most unexpected things that help me regain my trust and longing to follow Gods bright flame. 

DELTAoids, LAMBstrings, GODriceps, ABBAdomimals!

Over the past few weeks Jesus has been weakening me in many different ways. He is dethroning my pride, reminding me that I should proclaim to nothing but Him and Him crucified, that even with bread and water I am weak, and that no amount of sleep, work, or food will ever fully satisfy me. To be satisfied I need to become dissatisfied with the things that the world says are satisfying. I need to be completely and utterly weak, defenseless, and poor in order for Him to be Strong. I always try to be MuchoMachoMan when really I need to, as Reid/Andy mighty say, Mucho-take-it-easy and rely on His strength in my infinite weakness. No matter how strong I think I am (which, let's be honest, isn't all that much-o) there will come a day when I have no strength left, only weakness. Then what? What will I rely on? I need to start relying on the power of His holy name and the strength of His crucifixion/resurrection that daily renews me by the transforming of my mind. I need to fall before Him, as the Samaritan leper did after being healed, and thank Him for His strength and goodness because without it I am nothing!!! So forget deltoids, hamstrings, quadriceps, and abdominals! Give me DELTAoids, LAMBstrings, GODriceps, and ABBAdominals!!!!

Your Love is Strong

One of my favorite worship songs has over the past years has come to be "Your Love is Strong" by Jon Foreman. The chorus is simple, yet direct.

Your love is
Your love is
Your love is strong

We are amazed by this heavenly strength that provides simple things like birds outside composing little ditties to the insane power in delivering us from the Evil One. "Jesus had just robbed the strong man (Statan) of his greatest weapon: the fear of death."

We are given strength through the power shown to us by God and through his son Jesus.
"For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."
 2 Timothy 1:7 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=301S7NgAkLs

finally made it to the blog!!

Hi friends! Can't wait to meet you all.. Andy mentioned that I should share one of the ways I am planning on raising more funds for this summer.. So, I am having a HUGE dinner at my house and inviting everyone that I can think of (as a facebook event). It will be a good chance to share my excitement with them about what I am doing this summer, and it will give me an opportunity to ask if they would like to contribute to the cause! Hopefully I get a good return on my investment.. Anybody else have creative fundraising ideas??

Also, I'm a bit behind on the blog.. So here are some of the responses I've been writing in my journal--just wanted to share even though they're a bit late!

The Bread of Life:

One of the first phrases that caught my eye in John 6:25-40 was, "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you." How often do we work for food that spoils? It seems like it's so easy for me to quickly fill my day working for things that are good, yet they will spoil one day.. they're earthly things. The funny thing is, even when we try to work for things that don't spoil, we fail because those are the things the "Son of Man will GIVE you." What a blessing it is to have the Holy Spirit. Jesus uses the analogy "bread of life" to give us something tangible to associate with. It helps us realize, we can physically muddle through life without guidance (the Shepherd), without truth (the Word), and without light (the Son), but we will physically die without food. We have a great need for Jesus, and I think that's why He chooses to say He is the bread of life first; his first emphasis is that we can't live without him. One thing I know is that I can't be satisfied and live full of the Spirit when I am not spiritually nourished.. How many opportunities have I missed because of a lack of discipline in my spiritual nourishment? It's easy to tell when our bodies are physically hungry, but is it just as easy to know when our spirit is hungry? How often do we try to fill our spiritual needs with physical things?

Some verses I love pertaining to this topic:
Lamentations 3:22-24
"Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
²³ They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
²⁴ I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
    therefore I will wait for him."

Psalm 42:1-2
"As the deer pants for streams of water,
    so my soul pants for you, my God.
² My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
    When can I go and meet with God?"

Light of the World:

The beauty of light is that even the smallest amount can conquer darkness--darkness can never conquer the light. There is nothing better than walking in the light--knowing the Light of the World and walking with him.. One of the ways to continually walk in the light is to ask God to expose the obstacles, the things, the destructive patterns that keep us walking in darkness. I think in order to keep walking in the light it is important to know the Word, the truths about God--what he says about himself, and what he says about us. It's important to not just know, but to believe those things and let them guide the way you live. I think that it's also important to ask God to continually reveal himself to us, and ask him to make us more like Christ. Our human condition can be so discouraging.. Living in a world of darkness is hard, but we are so blessed to have the power of Christ in us--power that conquered sin and death and raised a man from the grave. Yet, it's so easy to disregard that power and still walk in darkness; sometimes we don't even acknowledge the light. In his word, He says, "You know the truth and the truth will set you free." The truth is what sets us free, but first we have to know it. What a relief to know that our incapable selves don't have to do anything! That yet again, it is the work of Christ that does stuff for us--that's some pretty great love. 

// amy

Strength re-defined

God has been redefining strength in my life. I have been told that strength means: I cannot cry, I have to have a hold on my life, I must have control and convince others that I have it all together. The lie is this: I have to BE Jesus when I was intended to be His servant. This breaks my heart because I know that so many are being told this same lie. It is a heavy burden that we can never succeed at. It becomes a prison of failure and disappointment. Over this last year, God has been showing me that strength is to be broken, crying even!, at Jesus' feet, wishing that He would take over all control in my life.

I now find myself closer and closer to this image of true strength. As the lies of this world have battled with what Jesus has demonstrated in His life, the truth has victoriously preserved itself in my life.

The line stood out to me to "Let Jesus be the Stronger Man." It is hilarious because when I first read this I could hear that lie saying to me, "no, you got it kevin." What a lie! Me?? psh! What a joke, that is a scary thought. I am so thankful that God has brought it to my heart to give Him control and He has even given me true strength in this... Mind blown... But, it is still a daily and joyous battle and will always be. I often find myself gripping at control in different aspects of my life, but I can only pray that God would reveal those places to me and take them from me. This has been a painful process but so new, so incredible, so much joy, so freeing, and enlightening on who God is and who He asks me to be. He doesn't actually ask me to be anyone, except to realize who I already am and have been created to be.

I love our God. He never gives up on us. He never ceases to pursue us. We live in victory.

Love you guys!
-Kev

catching up!!

hi friends!!

I am getting SO excited about summer... it is coming up SO SOON! ahhh cannot wait to get to experience life with y'all on the water and get to share in the joy of Jesus together! This is my "catch-up" blog post, as I have been able to keep up with the studies on my own but have not been so great about posting on the blog... so here are my thoughts from the past couple of weeks! I have been SO encouraged reading all your thoughts!! :)

The Son of Man:

The main thing that this study reminded me of was the fact that when Jesus came to earth, became fully human and endured all the trials, hardships, and daily rountines that any other human would encounter – he was tempted by sin and suffered the same burdens as we do today, yet he chose not to sin and follow his Father. He came down as the Son of Man, to set an example of what it looks like to live a life following and serving the Lord. His full humanity also highlights his humility of being willing to step down from His throne in heaven in order to serve people who were not worthy of his love or grace, yet He freely gave it to them--- UNREAL. He was in no need for forgiveness since He lived a perfect life yet He still died in our place so that WE might be forgiven. And even though He assumed this lowly position, the Lord sets Him on the right hand of the Mighty One, whose domain is everlasting and whose Kingdom will never fade away… that’s the King that I get to serve this summer on the water… UNREAL. I just pray that we can all reflect the humility and love to our campers this summer that the Son of Man freely shows us every day.

The Bread of Life:

This study made me really reflect on what I think gives me sustenance and what things of the world I look to in order to bring me life, such as TV, getting good grades, spending time with friends, really loved and accepted by a group of people, especially campers, etc. When thinking of all these things that I believe bring me “life,” it was kind of like a giant wake up call of how temporary these things satisfied me and how I continually throughout my life am looking for something else of the world to fill me up and satisfy the needs of my heart, while Jesus is just simply standing there, arms open wide, saying “come to ME, I can give you everything you need for life and godliness, I am the BREAD OF LIFE, the only one who can satisfy your deepest longings.” And not only that, but it also made me take a step further and see what think I attribute my success to, such as my study skills, my ability to connect with people, etc. and how none of that success is because of myself or my abilities but is all because of Christ IN me and how I’m missing out on living life to the FULLEST, as Jesus states in John 10:10 by looking to all these other things to fill me up. God has designed this unbelievable life for me with Him being the one who satisfies my needs and HIM alone being my sustainer… this is the life I’m invited to be a part of every day when I wake up… why do I so often choose to be a part of an unfulfilling life of this world when Jesus longs to meet every single one of my needs, as HE is the only bread of life? Definitely making the prayer of this summer to be to only desire HIM and to never hunger, as Jesus will be the one sustaining me and meeting all my needs.

Light of the World:

Something that really convicted me about this passage was the idea of whether I choose to live in the darkness because it’s easier to be in the dark rather than in the light. As hopeful and promising the light is, I think I get nervous being in the light because then Jesus can see the depths of my heart, all of my sin, and how I am SO unworthy to be called a follower of Him. Even though it is still hard being in the darkness, which is just filled by aloneness, aimlessness, confusion, and fear, I think I believe that Jesus can’t see all my faults and imperfections in the darkness, which is completely false. And I think I’m learning that that’s the beauty of the light: the fact that Jesus does see the depths of my heart but loves me the same, the fact that I am so unworthy to be a follower of Jesus with all my sin and yet Jesus sees my sin, forgives my sin, and calls me His daughter. And by choosing to live in the light, we not only get to experience the indescribable, mysterious, unending love of Jesus, but we also get to experience life to the FULLEST, where we never feel alone, confused, helpless, or in fear. With being in the light, we get to now BOAST in our weaknesses, as we know that then the Creator of the universe is working and moving inside of us – so even though it may be scary and sometimes intimidating walking in the light, we now get to enter into a life fully surrounded by Jesus and fully immersed in His presence and love… what a blessing that is!

Stronger Man:

As I was reading this passage, I was getting extremely fired and pumped up thinking “YEAH, this is the God I serve, this is my King!”… the one who defected death, the one who sets captives free, the one who doesn’t destroy the enemy but binds the enemy up and relinquishes any power He has over us by forcing death to let its captives go… I serve this powerful, almighty God, who is the stronger man. He took away Satan’s greatest weapon… the fear of death itself and now we get to place our hope in the LORD and in the truth that we get to look forward to the future with joy, as we know now confidently that we will be back with our Father in heaven forever – we get to place our hope in THIS. It is so critical as a follower of Jesus to not only realize the hope we have in Jesus and all that our Savior has conquered, but also now the power that we have with Jesus, the Stronger Man, the Living God, choosing to dwell inside of us. Why would be afraid of anything knowing that HE, this almighty, powerful God that makes darkness tremble at just the sound of his name, lives inside of us and that we are made strong by HIM? We have NOTHING to fear with Jesus; we have no reason to live in fear – a life with Jesus now means a life of strength provided by HIM, a life full of confidence and JOY, where fear is completely casted out of our lives. THIS is the strength, hope, and power that we have in a life with Jesus – what an unreal blessing the Lord offers us in a life with HIM