Le Chemin, Le Verite, et La Vie.

A Little Creation for You All :)

I'm so sorry that I've neglected posting. I visit this blog every day (to check for comments and visit other blogs, you know, the norm) and I always feel a twinge of guilt for not posting. But then I never do. Ahh!

Well, about 5 weeks ago, my family and I went to our cabin on an island in Lake of the Woods, Canada. It's an incredible place and I always feel God's presence SO acutely when I'm there. It's very much in the middle of nowhere and there's no people around, except for the occasional boat. I love it, because it's the perfect getaway and the peacefulness makes me feel more content and ready to dive into God's word and worship. I had a TON of fun with my camera (I got it AFTER Canada last year so I hadn't used it there yet. SO exciting!) and with subsequent editing on Picnik. ;) Enjoy...and let's never, ever stop marveling at our Creator.

Just look at this sunset!! I couldn't believe how beautiful it was. Oh, those COLORS!!!

Every time I'm riding the boat out to our island, this is the song that runs through my head:

Indescribable by Chris Tomlin

From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creation's revealing Your majesty
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God

Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
Incomparable, unchangeable
You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same...
You are amazing God!

Always a Purpose

Has anyone ever had a billion self-defeating thoughts rush into your head at once, so fast that all you feel like doing is crying and saying, "I'M JUST NOT WORTH IT!" Because I sure have. Today was one of those days. I'm constantly feeling like I'm just, not, good, enough! I'll never have what I want because what I want is too 'good' for me. Thoughts like: That brilliantly intelligent/very attractive/very spiritually mature (whatever they happen to be!) guy will NEVER like ME! rush into my head. That's a good example, unfortunately, there's so much more. These thoughts are not only a worthless cycle, but I think it goes deeper. You know? There's some trust issues I've got to work on.

 My precious Father loves me and has the most wonderful plan for my life, but here's the catch: I'll be miserable with what He's got unless...unless I am in Him and He has helped me shape my desires to His. Until then, my whole life will be drudgery: Waiting for high school to end will seem like I'm a marshmallow that God is getting ready to toast for smore's, completing college essays will seem like God slowly putting that stick through my abdomen, and waiting for my husband to make his stellar appearance will seem like God sloowwlllyyy roasting me over the fire. Fun, no?

And yet, there is another option. As long as I am in Christ, there is no drudgery...there is beautiful purpose. There is time to grow in the Word, to get lost in prayer, to completely lose myself in my Savior! The Christian life always has a God-given purpose, whether single or married, full of babies or barren, rich or poor... How amazing is that??

 I feel like I'm not good enough for what I desire, which is a family, but I'm realizing that it's not about being "good" enough, it's about waiting for God to shape and mold you, and to wait for His timing while all the time getting to know Him better. This was/is a huge lesson for me! I'm going to pray that God would continue to help us all be content...whether it be with our singleness, or with our barrenness, or just with anything we may want but not feel ready or worthy of attaining. God is enough to satisfy!

"As for God, his way is perfect" - Psalm 18:30

"For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'" - Jeremiah 29:11

"The pain now is part of the pleasure later." - C.S. Lewis
 

"Our mentality is: 'God, tell me who, tell me when, and tell me how...and then I'll trust You!' What God wants us to see is that if He did this, our trust wouldn't be real. We want a definitive answer so that we don't feel weak, vulnerable and dependent on Him. But guess what? We are weak, vulnerable and dependent on Him. And it's only when we realize our true condition that God can demonstrate His love on our behalf." - Joshua Harris

Summer Camp Overview

 

Wow - what a week! I'm only just now getting to posting stuff on here. What can I say? It was a great time to grow in my walk. Our speaker was awesome - his name was Mike Salvati and he spoke about the gospel and how we can prevent becoming over-familiar with it and letting it become same-old, same-old.

He talked about how cultivating humility helps us in this fight. Realizing how insignificant we are compared to God's greatness gives us a humble heart, and we're more ready to open up our hearts and admit that we NEVER outgrow the gospel, we NEVER outgrow simple doctrine, and we NEVER stop needing God's grace, His grace that came to us because of the cross.

I'm not the only one impacted by his messages! I think the subject was perfect for our youth group...the majority of us have grown up in Christian homes and we are most definitely subject to become apathetic towards "simpler" theology and bible stories. I've come away from the week with, by God's grace, a humbler spirit. I've fallen into the pit of self-righteousness so many times. Growing up with godly parents (which has been a huge blessing, of course!) has sometimes tempted me to think "I know it all". But I don't know it all. I never want to let the gospel grow old.

Another convicting message was one of the workshops, given by Jordan F., our (hilarious!) game planner & leader. He really laid it out...his topic was on worldliness and materialism. I'm very much tempted by materialism. I rely on cute clothes and food to bring me joy more often than prayer and bible reading. It's hard to admit that, it's just so wrong! Why would I find silly, shallow things more joy-giving than God Himself?? Jordan did a great job of digging deep into our minds and unearthing our motives that cause our materialism. I feel more motivated to fight this sin.

In any case, it was an awesome, awesome week. The place we were - Conference Point Center in Lake Geneva - was BEAUTIFUL. We were on a peninsula surrounded by the lake and there were these swings dotted around the camp. I loved sitting to do my TAG (Time alone with God) time on this bench, right outside the gorgeous Victorian house all the girls stayed in:

I LOVED it! If I wanted Liz or Rachel or another friend, I could just call for them instead of trekking to their cabin. Hah!! It was an amazing week!

I'll leave you with this picture of a chipmunk that was running around - I'm really grateful for my camera's zoom! Hehe!

He's a cutie!

"...Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified..." 1st Corinthians 1:22-23

Tomorrow...

...I leave for Summer Camp!! I know it'll be an amazing, amazing week (it always is). I'm on Green Team just like last year, so I had fun this week scrounging around for all things green in my house! (And the mall...) Please pray that we would have great fellowship, growth, conviction and encouragement this week.
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On a completely unrelated note, the other day I was outside with my camera and I saw this little guy:

 

I came a little bit closer to I could get some good shots of him and his nut:

 

Heehee!! I LOVE his face!!

When he saw me coming closer, he ran up the tree to eat his nut in peace.

 

I LOVE this - I think it looks like he's praying!! Hah!!

See you all next week - I'm sure I'll have LOTS of stories, encouragements and pictures to share!! :)

Carnal and Unbelieving

It's been so beautiful here lately. The weather has been warm, but not too hot, and sunny. I'm beginning to realize how much it affects my mood. I'm so much happier when it's nice outside. It's like my brain and sun are somehow connected...when the sun is behind the clouds, my own mind clouds over. 

And when my mind clouds over, it's like I'm a different person. I'm impatient, sometimes rude to my family and I'm just not very happy. Worst of all, I'm less motivated to meditate on the Word. I'm less motivated to honor God in all I think, say and do. I just want to curl up with a blanket and play spider solitaire, shunning all of my schoolwork and chores and devotionals. And then when the clouds clear, and it's sunny and bright, and warm...I take my dog out on a walk, turn on the worship music on my iPod and I feel alive again. It just depends on outward circumstances. Does anyone else feel this way? Does anyone feel like they can't motivate themselves to be on fire for Jesus when the weather's bad? Or they're sick? Or they're in a bad mood? 

I'm realizing that He is who He is, no matter where I am. God is still the same even when I'm not. Still, it's a struggle to get into this mentality. I need Him so much!

It is not the distance of the earth from the sun, nor the sun's withdrawing itself, that makes a dark and gloomy day; but the interposition of clouds and vaporous exhalations. Neither is thy soul beyond the reach of the promise, nor does God withdraw Himself; but the vapours of thy carnal, unbelieving heart do cloud thee.-John Owen

This quote is very encouraging to me. It reminds me that no matter how I'm feeling, God is still the same. He never forsakes me. In my sinful, fickle nature, I just refuse to seek Him.

Just some thoughts. It's a little bit gloomy today, and of course, I'm feeling a little down. But writing this is helpful. It's good to admit when we're struggling. If we act as though sin doesn't exist, we're denying ourselves and lying to others. I've been feeling convicted of this, too. It's so hypocritical to pretend like everything's dandy when we obviously need accountability, fellowship and encouragement each other. I don't know what I would do without these things! :)

...

On a different note, I need some prayer. In two weeks and 4 days (I'm so excited!!) my youth group is leaving for summer camp. I LOVE summer camp, but the past two years my team has gotten 4th place. Now, I'm paranoid that it'll happen 3 years in a row. This is so ridiculous!! It's so prideful to let a silly little thing like THAT get in the way of my feelings during camp. With all of the teaching we hear, the songs we worship with, and the fellowship we have, that's all I'm concerned about?? I need an attitude change!!

...

I'll leave you with this song: (Again, rather unrelated...I'm in an eclectic mood, haven't you noticed? Hehe!)

Isn't this boy amazing?? I love his version. Be Thou My Vision is my absolute favorite song in the world, no question about it. This gave me so much joy. :)

For You and You alone

In our hearts, Lord, in this nation
Awakening
Holy Spirit, we desire
Awakening

For You and You alone
Awake my soul, awake my soul and sing
For the world You love
Your will be done, let Your will be done in me

In Your presence, in Your power
Awakening
For this moment, for this hour
Awakening


I need this often. I wake up in the morning, I wash my face, I drink coffee. I go about my day, I pray, I read God's word, I listen to my praise music. I feel His presence all the time...I know He's always there. Yet I still need an awakening. My natural inclination is to sin, to not please God. I need an awakening sometimes, and I think we all do.


Like the rising sun that shines...
From the darkness comes a light...
I hear Your voice, and this is my
Awakening.