An Endless Overflow Of Gifts

As I heaved my overstuffed suitcase out of the car and hiked my way up the hill to the tent, I had no idea what God had in store for me that week. My little, nervous self didn't realize that God would reveal the magnitude of His love and the overwhelming truth of his promises to me in just five days. But He did. And it was incredible. 

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Camp Alandale changed my heart. With the purpose of providing a safe, reliable camp for abused foster care children while continually showering them with the Lord's love and grace was amazing to me. To see them light up when you gave them a compliment, or the tears they cried as they shared their stories, was so powerful. You could just feel the walls and lies of the devil being broken in them as the truth of the Lord began to shape and reform their hearts.

But they weren't the only ones affected that week. I got the privilege of being a junior counselor which means my job was to serve, play and be there for the campers. I cooked, cleaned, sang, hugged, joked, danced, and cried with the kiddos who quickly found a nice little place in my heart.  Every day, us junior counselors were able to spend time in God's word and the more I read, the more I never wanted to put it down. I experienced the abundance of peace and pure joy that came from seeking the Lord and was moved like never before to keep advancing His kingdom.

I was able to bask in even the small things He has provided for me in my life and to remember that I am free. I am free from the mistakes I made five years ago and the mistakes I will make in the next hour. I am free from thinking I will never be good enough. I am free from the pressure of this culture and am free to start living into the joy and love and grace and peace that Christ wanted me to have all along. 

As we read a devotion by Charles Spurgeon, this quote stuck at to me saying, "Why shouldn't every year be richer than the past, in love, and usefulness, and joy?" 

And I thought to myself, "He's right, why shouldn't it?" 

So I'm done being mundane.

I'm done saying, "Well I'm an okay Christian, I do good things, and I don't get in trouble...isn't that enough?" 

No. 

So here I am, ready for whatever the Lord wants for my life, and resting in his endless overflow of grace, peace, joy, love, and freedom. 

Answering the Hard Questions

Relationships can be tricky. Sometimes their tragic, sometimes beautiful but where do we as Christians stand? Do we fall into the continuous cycle of the dating game or do we begin to ask the hard questions?

I myself struggle with the hard questions. Do I date the right guy at the wrong time? Am I dating the wrong guy? Does this fit in with the Lord's plan for my life? Do I risk my relationship with my parents for a guy that stole my heart?

Never have relationships tugged at my heart more then they have this year. More and more I see the beautiful design God created in two people laughing, crying, smiling, and living life together.

As a high schooler, I long for the kind of love my parents possess. I long for a relationship that knows no end to the grace that needs to be given throughout hard times. And I long for the time where these hard questions will all make sense.

Until then, my heart must be open to change. My heart must be willing to see the questions and evaluate them from where I stand as a 16 year old who's just on the cusp of life. Yeah, it sucks sometimes, but someday I want to look back and remember that I was willing to answer the hard questions.

I was able to look beyond my emotional state and fight through the struggle of what my heart is telling me and what my mind is telling me.

I was able to remember that God's plan is far greater then mine even when I don't understand where he's taking me.

And lastly, I was able to cling to the beautiful realization that there will be a time in my life where the pieces will fall together, the timing will be there, and the questions of why, how, whom, and when will fade away into something truly remarkable.

Lake Tahoe

 ~10 hours in the car and we finally made it to Lake Tahoe~

~no trip is complete without candy~

~sandwiches on homemade sourdough bread.. sigh.~

 ~bakery items that were overrated. Hand me a cookie please~

 

 ~My lovely family~

 ~Beautiful nature~

 ~Hiked up to Emerald Falls~

 ~My sister has got the poses down;)~

 ~The baby of the familia. Gosh do we love her~

 ~So Pretty~

 ~Viewpoint~

~Headed Home~

Psalm 119:28

A Night to Remember

Prom 2014.

 From the sparkly shoes,

 the hours of preparation the morning of,

 pictures with the best friend,

 a harbor cruise around San Diego,

 lots and lots of gorgeous dresses to photograph,

and friends to dance the night away with,

you could say it was a night to remember.