None but Jesus

So I understand that it's been while...

Summer camp has now come to an end. I'm sure you realize that the reason I haven't posted a blog entry in so long is that camp has been super duper busy! Even though I really want to fill you all in on everything I've learned and everything I've experienced in the last 2 1/2 months, I honestly just can't. There's been so much that I can't physically relay it all to you in a blog post. But I will tell you about the one major lesson God taught me this summer.

So, if I'm being honest, I had a really hard time focusing on Christ this summer. There was one thing that I was constantly putting before Christ. I knew it was wrong, I knew I was sinning, but I just couldn't seem to let go of this one thing. Then finally, during Senoir High 2, God threw a bucket of cold water on my face (so to speak, of course). This was the week that my body decided that it wanted to burn out and part of my heart decided that I no longer wanted to care.

On the Tuesday afternoon of that week, I decided to spend my free time napping. But that napping changed into tossing and turning for a half hour. I knew that the Holy Spirit was convicting me of this idol I had put up in my life. I admit, I tried to justify my feelings about this idol... but I mean, it's God. He's ultimately always right. Justifying my actions just tired me out more actually. It was kinda dumb, and I was being a baby about it.

I ended up running into one of the other workers, who asked me what was up. So I told him that the Holy Spirit was convicting me on something and that I was being a baby about it. When I told him that I didn't know what to do, his response was "well, just stop being a baby about it". I was scheduled to do worship during After 8 that night, so I went up to practice with the band. The music director suggested that I sing a song called "None but Jesus", which ended up cutting the last little piece of thread that was holding me together.

The lines in the chorus go:
There is no one else for me
None but Jesus, crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise

God taught me that week that there really isn't supposed to be anyone or anything above Christ. God also taught me that He can't just be first on some list of priorities, He needs to saturate every single little thing on that list. I learned at Capernwray that Christ is my life. I guess this summer I forgot that... but I've been reminded again and I will continue to be reminded of that every day because God won't let me forget.

Here's a few verses that God used to teach me this summer:

"For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified."
- 1 Corinthians 2:2

"To them [his saints] God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ."
- Colossians 1:27-28

"Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these things the wrath of God is coming."
- Colossians 3:5-6

I challenge you: is Christ #1 on your priority list or does He permeate everything on that list?

Staff Training Week 1

I've been at Cedarwood for about a week now. It's been really great so far. I've met some amazing people and learned soooo much about being a camp counselor and about God! I do admit that this week has been incredibly overwhelming... and next week is just going to be more overwhelming!

I'm teaching rock climbing as a skill at camp and I think this actually scares me the most! I'm so incredibly scared of heights or climbing, I'm not actually quite sure what it is. I have to actually be able to do the skill to teach it and I can't do it at all! I learned how to belay people yesterday, but so far I've dropped quite a few people (don't worry, they were okay... they only dropped about 10 feet). I'd have to say that this is probably the biggest challenge I've ever faced in my life. It scares me so much, you actually have no idea.

I've been going to summer camp ever since I could. I've never ever known exactly how much work gets put into it. It's amazing. I have a whole new appreciation for the camp ministry... now that I'm in it, I see all the hard work people put into it! I have a whole new appreciation for the camp counselors I had over the years.

Please, please, please, please pray for me, my belaying, my rock climbing, my fears, and the people that I'll be belaying. I'm gonna need it!

Looking Forward to Camp!

I apologize for my lack of posting since I've been home. I do, however, have something to blame it on... my house hasn't had internet access since I've been home. So every time I want to use the internet, I have to drive all the way to Steinbach (which, for me, is a 20 minute drive) to the nearest McDonald's.

I do really want to keep posting on my blog during the next part of my life. So here, I'll give you a little introduction to what I'll be doing. On June 17, I start the adventure that I like to call: "the crazy adventure of camp". Yes, that's right. This girl is going to Camp Cedarwood. It's something that I've felt God calling me to since the beginning of March. Initially, I was just going to work in the kitchen, but then, I accepted the offer of being a counselor during the summer months. This way I'll get the full camp experience. I still get super nervous about all this, but I'm starting to get really excited.

One of the things I absolutely LOVE about Cedarwood is that they believe after camp is just as important as the week of camp itself. I've so incredibly excited to actually build relationships with the campers! I look forward to doing life with them and discipling them for more than just one week at camp during the summer. I'm going to get the priviledge of seeing how much they grow in Christ after camp is done. I'm excited. You have no idea.

In other news, I finally have a new phone! My old one, which was severely cracked and had Ethan's name carved in the back of it, stopped working because of some sort of short circuit. The screen didn't work half the time. I am now the proud owner of an iPhone 4. Yippee! I am certainly not going to miss the Taylor Swift ringtone that was permanently programmed into my old phone, thanks to my brother.

Anyway, just wanted to update and talk about Cedarwood a little bit. Have a great day everybody. And thanks for reading :)

God is good, all the time.
All the time, God is good!