June 18th

If there is one truth that is reoccurring in my life.... it is that God has a sense of humor. Today is June 18th. What's the big deal? Well June 18th, 1997 my grandfather passed away. I was almost 10 years old and was completely devastated. I remember that specific day like it was yesterday. I remember where I was, how it smelled, who I was around, etc. That day there was a HUGE thunderstorm. You know the kind where the sky turns green, the lighting sounds like its ripping through the sky, and the thunder shakes you entire house? Ya, it was that kind.

I, personally, LOVE thunderstorms. For some reason they are comforting to me. I love the smell and sound of rain and the nervous/excited feeling you get when it thunders. I don't really have favorites because I think its such a hard decision to make, but I do know that thunderstorms are definitely a favorite of mine.

Back to my story, there was a big thunderstorm the day my grandfather died. There was also a big thunderstorm the day of his funeral. Nothing seemingly coincidental there right? It was the summer time and that's what normally happens. Summer = heat and storms. However, since 1997 anywhere I am, there is a huge storm on June 18th. I thought it was weird at first and kind of ignored it for a few years. But the last three years of my life God has been completely evident in his power and his humor. Last year on June 18th I was at camp. It was a normal morning....hot, humid, and sunny. We went to breakfast just like we normally did and slowly but surely the sky began to turn green and black and looked super stormy. Before breakfast was over it started to pour down rain and thunder like no tomorrow! We took the campers back to the cabins and had to wait out the storm because there were tornadoes in the area. Really? Any other day it could have done that....but no.

And to no surprise, currently it is storming outside. Yes... its June 18th

It may seem crazy or like I'm making it up.... but I am not the only one that has noticed this insane reoccurrence. Since I've told people about it they also notice it. I think multiple things about this crazy happening. I think God uses these storms to remind me He's there. He does it to remind me that He is ever present and He hasn't left me. As a matter of fact, He will never leave me. Secondly, I think that my grandfather is saying hi. Hahah...that may sound strange but I think God provides us with things that remind us of those that we've lost to give us comfort and peace. I am reminded of my grandfather when I see hot air balloons and when it rains. Yesterday my sister saw a hot air balloon...and today it rained.

Weird? I think not. Coincidence? Heck no! God is bigger and more powerful than I could ever imagine. Heck! The ground shakes because of His power. He also is super funny. He comforts me and reminds me of who He is and never forgets to give me His gift of rain. Every. Single. June 18th.

It may seem simple or coincidental... but I challenge you to look around in your everyday life and see if God is trying to communicate with you. He always is...it just takes us to be quiet and listen to Him. We're the ones that make this whole communication thing difficult.

All I gotta say is God is good. He reminds me of it all the time.

"At this my heart pounds and leaps from its place. Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice, to the rumbling that comes from his mouth. He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth. After that comes the sound of his roar; he thunders with his majestic voice. When his voice resounds, he holds nothing back. God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding."

Job 37:1-5

R.I.P. Alan C. Kamplain October 31, 1924 - June 18, 1997

Life Shaking Truth

Holy moly has the Lord been at work in my life this week. This week was supposed to be a stressful and really busy week but the Lord used it for good!

I always went to church growing up. We went to church regularly, but I don't think anything really stuck with me. Easter is this coming Sunday! I know what Easter is and means, but I don't think that I REALLY know what it all included. I knew that Easter was the day the Lord rose from the dead...but that was about it to be honest. At Bible study this week we watched "Passion of the Christ". I had seen it before and had felt the raw truth from it and just how serious that all was, but I can't definitely say that it didn't change me in anyway. But this time was definitely much different than the first time I watched it. Not only was it an emotional time for me, but it really shook my little world. Jesus suffered so much just to save me. He saved me and he saved you. It's not a simple thing... its actually the biggest thing ever! During the times that Jesus was getting beaten, I couldn't help but get mad. Like REALLY mad. I wanted to jump in the T.V. and do something about it. But that is not the appropriate response. The guards that whipped him, those that nailed him to the cross are people just like me. I am no different than them. We are all equal in the Lord's eyes and all fall short of His glory.

It really shook me how much Jesus suffered. He did all of it just so we could spend eternity with His father. That is the ultimate sacrifice... and something I forget about on Easter. Not only that... but Friday, Good Friday, is when Jesus was actually hung to die. I think that gets forgotten about. Good Friday is when all of the prophecies were coming true and Jesus was going to pay the ultimate sacrifice. Good Friday needs to be a bigger deal I think because it is the biggest deal.

I think this process of really understanding what Easter is, means, and does in the world has radically rocked my boat. I think of Jesus in a different way. I think of grace and God's beauty in a different way. It makes me think about the cross I wear around my neck in a different way. I'm learning that God is all powerful and the all powerful God loves me. Its so simple, yet so completely complex that I can't even fully understand it. I'm just amazed by God this week and can't stop talking about it. I want everyone to know the love I feel from the Lord and how truly incredible having a relationship with Him is.

God has fulfilled His ultimate promise and because Jesus was hung on the cross I get to live free in God's grace and have eternal life. How cool is that?!

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Mark 8:34

Beautiful

Goodness gracious, it has been incredibly beautiful outside lately! The sun has been out and I can actually feel its warmth! It's been so long since I've actually felt the sun's heat. The sun automatically puts me in a good mood. I am fully aware that the sun naturally gives us vitamin D, we all need vitamin D, and that leads us to have good moods... but it also it just so awesome to sit in awe of God's creation! Only an awesome God could make the world as beautiful as it is. Sometimes I like to just go and sit on a nice day like today and look around. I have found that I experience that Lord when I am outside and through music.

Phil Wickham is one of my most favorite Christian artists. Take a listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhL5SDwp88c

"You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you." (Nehemiah 9:6)

oh and ps: if you don't know the Lord.... go outside. you can't miss Him.

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Lent

So today is the first day of Lent. I am participating in the traditions of Lent not because I am Catholic, but because I feel the need to rid my life of a few things to provide myself with more time that I can focus on myself and the Lord. During this season of Lent I will be giving up Starbucks and Facebook!

Well, giving up Facebook will be more a momentary thing. I have been blessed to lead such an amazing group of women in Bible study. Last night we talked about discipline, and that conversation quickly turned into a conversation about Facebook and how much we use it. It gets in the way of doing homework, spending time with the Lord, and it even changes the way we relate to others. We decided, as a group, to make a Bible study challenge and not get on until we meet next week. So far today, I'm going strong. I haven't had the urge to check it! That's crazy awesome because on a normal day I check it about 10 times. True facts. It's absolutely ridiculous! I have become so consumed by Facebook and staying connected to others. Don't get me wrong. Staying connected to other people is what I love, however, when I check it so many times a day and don't communicate with anyone or look at the same things multiple times it gets a little ridiculous. Self-control and discipline are huge participants in this. Without self-control, I check Facebook or get one too many Starbuck's drinks a week, and it turns into chaos. I'm not saying either are bad things, but like "they" (whoever they are) say, all things in moderation. There's a verse in Proverbs that I think totally makes this clear for me.

"Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control." Proverbs 25:28

So by me lacking self-control, I'm like a city who has been broken down. That screams chaos to me! Without self-control, I do whatever I want, whenever I want. I have no boundaries, or nothing of importance to guide my day. Sounds fun? Think again. With self-control we can manage our days, find some structure, and make the most of our time. We can find glory in the things that we wait for. It's kind of like a meal. If you eat dinner you wait to have dessert last. You eat the nasty things you don't like first because you want to get it over with. But you know at the end of your meal you get some delicious dessert. You control yourself and eat the good for you things first because when you eat your dessert last you will enjoy it ten times more. That's the idea at least. Self-control effects our entire lives. It's kind of crazy actually.

I've been thinking a lot lately and today especially, while I wasn't on Facebook, about discipline and self-control in my life. Incorporating those more into my life is something I'm going to add to my life during Lent. I hope it sticks. I think there can be a happy balance with Lent. You can give things up to give yourself more time in your day, or to become healthier. But I also think adding things to your life makes it even better.

The whole point of Lent is to rid yourself or add something to your life so that you can have a closer relationship with the Lord. It's not about diets or plans of your own but to add to your relationship with Christ. I hope you get to experience that and remember the point of Lent.

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7

Attitude of Gratitude

Every week I get emails from "Christ Notes" which sends me daily Bible verses and Weekly Wisdom. Today's couldn't have been more on point! It talked about having an attitude of gratitude.... which is something I definitely didn't have today.

We've been getting crazy amounts of snow lately, and frankly I'm over it. I want it to be spring so bad my soul aches. I want to get outside and feel the heat of the sun. No coats necessary! I also had an exam today that I as hoping would be canceled because of the snow. But alas, I still had my exam. To my surprise is went really well which was much to my relief.

It was hard to be grateful and joyous today for some reason. The snow made things a bit difficult today which made my a bit grumpy. When I got my Weekly Wisdom it brought me back down to reality and made me realize I was not having a grateful heart. The Bible talks about being grateful all over the place. God loves a grateful and thankful heart and life.

Ephesians 5:20 says, "always giving thanks to God the Father for everything...". I was not doing that today. Even in the midst of bad days, doing things I don't like, or things I am uncomfortable with, I still need to give thanks to God for everything. That's a humbling truth. Even in the midst of bad things, hard things, and things I don't like, I need to thank God for that. How crazy is that?

With all this said, I thank God for the crazy amounts of snow, my exam, and my grumpy heart. I thank God that he has the power to change my attitude like he did today. God is so good and I hope you experience that in your life too.

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe" Hebrews 12:28

Free Will

God is so great!

Recently, the Lord has given me an opportunity to really understand what it is that I believe and try to relay that message. It is definitely a challenging thing... but it has been so great!

Lately I've been trying to understand free will and how that functions in our lives. It started with Adam & Eve. In the garden of Eden God gave Adam & Eve a choice. He said here is this perfect land and it's all yours! In this perfect land, you and I can have a perfect relationship. However, there's this tree that you shouldn't eat from. It will cause sadness, shame, and you will die. Kind of intense! He gave Adam & Eve the choice to either follow Him and trust in His goodness, or disobey Him and eat from the forbidden tree. He didn't force them to do anything, but gave them freedom in knowing Him. Sounds perfect, right?

Well because Adam & Eve are human, just like you and me, they disobeyed. They ate from the forbidden tree. By God giving them that choice to either obey or disobey is definitely free will. He didn't force them to believe in Him or necessarily obey Him. He said I love and I give you this land. We can have this perfect relationship. Here it is. It is a free gift from me to you. He never forced them into that relationship but offered it to them. They chose to disobey.

The story ends in sin, but I think the point of it is awesome! God has always given us a choice. He wants what is best for us and loves us unconditionally.... whether we truly believe that or not. He wants us to live in a perfect relationship with Him... but we have to choose to be a part of that. God loves us enough to give us the freedom to make decisions and chose to love Him. If He forced us...I don't think it would be that loving of a relationship.

1 John 4:19 " We love because he first loved us".

God is a loving God and wants what is best for us. He is what is best for us. I hope that you believe that is true. Walking with the Lord is a daily choice. I hope it is an easy choice for you.

Love God... he loves you back!

Courage

God is so good!

I have been blessed to lead such amazing group of young women. Tonight at Bible study we talked about courage and what it looks like to posses courage in our daily lives. It was really challenging and left me with a lot to process.

The book my co-study leader and I are using to guide this study is "Who You Are When No One's Looking", by Bill Hybels. It's a study about character and it rocks! Tonight the focus was on courage which Hybels splits into five separate sections: courage to follow, courage in the ordinary, courage to be vulnerable, relational courage, and courage to be moral. One of the sections of the study that really got me was the need of courage to follow. How could it possibly take courage to follow? Isn't following easy? Well, no, the truth is is that following is hard. It takes courage to have faith in the truth of the Lord and trust in his goodness. In the crazy world we live in today, it would be so easy to doubt the goodness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says, "we walk by faith and not by sight". By this courageous faith we walk alongside the Lord. Faith doesn't require a physical thing that we can touch or see. Faith is trusting in the Lord's goodness and walking alongside Him. So what would life look like if you lived with a courageous faith? Living without fear of other's judgement, willingness to be vulnerable in conversations or interactions with others, trusting God's faithfulness through everything you experience, knowing that by having faith in the Lord all things are possible! How awesome would that be...to love the Lord so much that you had a courageous faith and shared God's love with others.

I want to live the courageous life like the stories we read in the Bible. To live without fear of vulnerability, rejection, or insecurity. To love God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. How great life would be.

“You cannot sit still and expect courage to come and find you. You have to go after it.”

Love God. Love Life. Keep Walking.

Adopted

Adopt.

What does that really mean? Well, it means to choose or take as one's own; make one's own by selection or assent. So what does that look like in the context of the Lord and his kingdom? Well, a couple weeks ago I went to a new church while I was home and the message and majority of the service was dedicated to baptisms. Awesome! More brothers in sisters in Christ! What an awesome thing. However, that's not what really caught my attention that morning. A little boy, about 11 years old was being baptized. He was an absolutely adorable biracial little boy who looked ecstatic about his upcoming baptism. Before he was baptized, the minister read aloud a little story that they boy had written about himself and his journey leading up to his baptism. In his story, he told us about his adoption to his new parents when he was just a little baby. Later on in his story, he told us he had been adopted twice.

My first reaction was, "Oh my days, this poor child has been through two adoptions. How hard his life has been". Then the minister went on to tell us that the boy was adopted once into his new family and a second time into the Lord's family. How cool is that! It's a very simple idea, but it still struck me with full force. Just like that little boy who was adopted into the Lord's family, I am adopted too. He selected me, and you, to be apart of this incredible family.

"For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding."
Ephesians 1:4-7

How beautiful is that?! I feel overwhelmed with joy to be apart of God's family.

God is good. Keep on walking.