camp and such

We've enjoyed a week back on base-time flying as usual. Camp was an interesting experience but still good. We stayed a catholic school and spent a week ministering to about 30 kids from southern Australia. As a past FCA camp counsellor, it was cool to see how different a camp can be run but how the same God in the US in the same awesome God here who desires to reach young people. The australian youth were so passionate and ready to just go for it. On the first day they learned about hearing the voice of God and I was completely blown away as 14 yr olds were stepping out in faith and sharing words for us leaders. For one exercise, we all picked a name out of the hat and w/o looking at began to pray and ask for an encouraging word to share with that person. i figured they would be skeptical and freaked out by this idea, b/c i defitely was when my DTS had to try it but I was so encouraged to see them step out in boldness. And later on in the week, God used that same 14 yr old to minister to me and pray for me with some of the stuff i had been struggling with. and it all just strengthened my faith to know that God does choose and desire to use all of us, no matter what the age or ability.



another cool thing from camp was having the chance to hang out with another YWAM base. The peopl in charge of the camp were involved in dance and singing ministries and shared a lot about passions and God putting certain desires in our heart for a reason. I was really encouraged as they shared about the journey God put them on to where they are now, serving God and loving what they do, and where He is calling them as a band. This area of my life-future and passions- has been on my heart a lot lately as i contemplate what God's will for me after this all. and I was able to talk and pray with these girls, and one of them shared with me the story of moses in exodus where God asks him "what is in your hand" and it was a staff and how God told moses to throw the staff down and it turned into a snake etc. And she just felt God was asking me "what tool is in your hand for me to use?"....So I'm still praying about it all-I believe God is def. leading me into some form of minsitry with soccer, but the specifics are yet to be discovered :)...



I may not have a spotlight on my path, but we were never promised that. We were promised a "light unto your path", so I'm praying that I can trust in the little light that He is streaming! And I'm excited as I'm seeing more and more just how much our un-boring our God is. :) what fun would it be if He gave us all direction and insight all at once?

my friend gave an interesting analogy on this-- on our way to camp, we drove along the "great ocean road" which sounthern australia is known for. we could have driven straight to camp in 5 hrs, but instead we took a longer, 10hr route to enjoy God's wonderful creation. and my friend encouraged us that you gotta enjoy the journeys God puts us all on. If we take the short-cuts, we miss out on the beauty of the journey, the experiences God gives us.

So I'm pluggin away! :)
ephesians 2:10-great reminder to us all of God's plan for our lives!

intimacy

The past 3 weeks have been quite crazy emotionally, spiritually and physically.

I think the biggest thing to sum up the 3 weeks is the need for intimacy with Christ first and foremost. I feel like I have hit that "burnout" point of trying so hard to apply everything from lectures to my life, reflecting on what God is doing and teaching and change habits and start new disciplines etc etc....I'm tired and worn out. But something that really kept hitting me hard last week when talking about missions is God's desire to just be with us. We spent a lot of time looking at the gospels and studying how Jesus and his disciples lived. He spent three years just building relationship with his team of society misfits and dropouts. He hung out with them, He taught them and he revealed amazing insights to them, all in preparation for them to "go" and as our speaker put it, "bleed for the nations". He so impacted them, that they would do anything to see Him return...and it was a powerful testimony that we too, are called before we "go" to spend time with Jesus, build intimacy so we are compelled to "go" instead of going out of obligation or duty.

I have also been challenged and encouraged the past few weeks just in boldness. I find it funny (somewhat) how the devil tries to discourage you in one area and God just opens multiple doors for you to try again. A few weeks ago we talked about "the kingdom of God" and about what it means to bring God's kingdom down to earth and what that looked like for Jesus and his Disciples. We heard some crazy stories of people rising from the dead and healings etc and were really rocked in our thinking about the power of the holy spirit living in us and our role here on earth to see healing on all levels take place. so, at the end of the week, we were sent on a "Treasure hunt" in melbourne city to try and reach out to people. I was pretty excited and felt pretty optimistic about talking to people, but I didn't feel my group stepped out too much. We did get to talk to a few people and prayed for them, but I personally felt like I kept walking past opportunities b/c i was too afraid to freak someone out if i approached them. and it was hard not to compare and feel discouraged about my lack of boldness when we heard all the other groups talk about the great conversations they were able to have with people etc etc. And Unfortunately, I dwelled on this a little too much, but praise God, I am surrounded by encouraging and wise people, and a God who doesn't give up on us. He continued to speak to my heart and encourage me that He just wants to spend time with me, and the boldness in my weaker areas will come.....

And boldness comes in different forms, as He went on to affirm later in the week as I was given the chance to lead out in a prayer intercession time for one of our leaders. It was unlike any other prayer meeting I had ever been to, and as a DTS student and someone not used to all the warfare going on, I wasn't sure I was the right person for the job. But when the bible says the spirit will intercede for us when we dont' know what to pray-IT SPEAKS THE TRUTH! :) So, all I can really say is, God is good and He continues to use us amidst our inadequacies no matter how big or small.

so, if nothing else, the past few weeks have really challenged me to just keep my face in the word and let God show me new things about Himself, His love and plan for my life instead of me "trying" so hard. He and his disciples led some crazy lives and what's even crazier is how he left the same mandate for us in 2010. But above all, He promises to be with us every step of the way, and through every mistake or opportunity we miss, He is offering us a hand to stand and continue on.