All In.

Lack of time and abundance of homework, among other things, has kept me from updating here, but I am beginning to wish I had kept it up so far this semester. A lot is happening here.

This summer I learned a lot--about a lot of things, especially about my relationship with God and what it means to be a follower of Christ. This summer I read Katie Davis' book, "Kisses From Katie" which is about her journey from the U.S. to Uganda. Katie is not much older than I am, but she moved to Uganda and has her own business and 13 Ugandan daughters. As I read story after story of how the Lord is using her and what it means in her life to be fully committed to Jesus Christ, being a Christian suddenly wasn't just doing the church thing, spending time every day in the Word and prayer, and living the typical American life with a Christian worldview. Suddenly I saw a picture of how one person has literally given everything to go where God has called her. By no means do I think everyone must leave everything behind and leave the country (though I believe God calls many people to that), but Katie's story gives me a new perspective on what "all in" includes when we give our lives to God.

Katie isn't the only one who has influenced my perspective, but so have some missionary friends that I have in East Asia, and my friends, new people I am meeting, organizations I am learning about, classes, professors, speakers, and how all of it (no matter what class or context) seems to be meshing together to create this overwhelming understanding that I never had before.

My eyes are continually being opened to the dire need for the Light of Christ to be taken to all the nations. As I interact with real people I can see how real the need is for people to know they can be free from the darkness that enslaves them--it's not just distant concepts anymore, but the real lives of real people. And, with that, I am also seeing how what I am learning in almost every single one of my classes relates to this need, and it amazes me that we are so often so quick to forget the purpose for which God has created us: to glorify Him by telling the world about Him so that they can glorify Him and tell others so they in turn can glorify Him.....and on and on it should go.

 I feel like what I imagine the kid who sees Disney World for the first time must feel like; eyes glued open, taking everything in. I feel like I am learning so much and yet I still know so little, but for now I'll just keep learning and moving forward one step at a time.

Freedom in Discipline

For the last few weeks I have been trying to figure out how to write this post and to be honest, I still don't know. I'm not sure how to articulate what I've learned. I can see it in my life; I've gone from being in bondage to rules and expectations to being free in them. When I have tried to explain it, others have said they understand, but that must be the grace of God because I don't feel like I can accurately explain what God has taught me in this matter. What I do know is that it has to do with my heart and my mindset. When my focus is the rules, legalism results. When my focus who God is and who I am in Christ by His grace, some of those same rules that felt so much like a prison before, I now find freeing. In teaching me His grace, God has taught me freedom in discipline.

Sweet, Sweet Time

I am amazed at how sweet it is to spend time with other believers. I was at a camp last week where one of the Wellspring teams from Spring Arbor University led worship for the week. When they aren't playing music, the team spends time hanging out and helping out with the camp. Between sitting in on practices and the worship arts class they taught, hanging out during free time, zip lining, tubing, creating a sweet skit, chatting, and spending time in prayer together, my time with them was just so sweet. Typically I come home from camp and crash, and I did, physically. But I also came home energized and refreshed, which I know is only from God using Wellspring in my life this past week. There is just something about spending time with other believers, whether it be recreational things, talking about God's Word, or spending time in prayer together (which many times all happened simultaneously) that is incredibly refreshing and so sweet to my soul. You can just tell when you talk to them that they love God so much, and everything they say and do drips and oozes God's love and grace. I pray that God would use me in that way, too. That my words and actions would also drip and ooze the love and grace of God, as I experienced from Wellspring this week.

So Wellspring, if you're reading this, thank you. And keep focusing on Him this summer as you serve, because it is His light that you are shining in all that you think, say, and do.