Impact Summer Camp!

It was a blessing to attend Impact Summer Camp this year in Hillsdale, MI. It was my second time at camp and I didn't expect to compare it to last year, each camp was unique and both impacted me in different ways. This year God reached my heart on a different level, I cant really explain how as i'm still trying to unravel what God impressed on me while I was there. Honestly, last year I felt the focus of camp was more on myself while I was there, (myself recieving the Holy Spirit, myself getting healed, myself being led to altar calls, etc.) It was definitely a great time for me to recieve all that God had for me as one of His children. But this year I went to camp as a much more mature christian. I loved the theme of camp which was re-charging your heart and Josh Joines gave great revelation into what it truly means to love and renew your heart. I enjoyed the first night service but by the second day I felt a little strange, like why didn't I feel led to the altar every time like pretty much everybody else did? Why did it seem like everyone was being amazingly changed and I wasnt?

I continued to check my heart about this. I figured I better get things straightened out because camp only comes once a year and I wanted to be overflowing with what God had for me by the end! Soon enough I figured out just what the problem was. I was limiting God! He had me there for an important purpose just like everyone else. I realized that all week, I had really helped some important people in my life along in thier walk with God! God used me to encourage and help so many people while I was at camp. I also saw the fruit of my labor, the past year was such a year of training for me and I had been merciful and compassionate in some hard situations but at camp God freed the souls of some people that I had been praying soooo hard for all year! I couldn't stop praising Him for everything He has done, and will continue to do!

Josh Joines was excellent while speaking on true love and compassionate hearts towards others. He said "compassion is not a feeling it is an attitude inside of us (from Jesus)" We already have the gift of compassion inside of us, we must practice that constantly even when we don't feel compassionate because feelings don't matter. I think what hit me the hardest at camp was that we need to live out what we believe every day because He shed every drop of blood for us! Think about it for real! Jesus knew he was going to be crucified and that it would be intense, terrible pain and suffering to go through so that we would be right with the Father. He got nails drilled through him so that we can LIVE! He died so that we wouldn't have to go to freaking hell! I don't deserve that...nobody does. But He had so much compassion for us that He didn't care what it took to save our lives so that we could have freedom and joy and peace. Psalm 147:3 says that God heals the brokenhearted. He heals our hearts and re-charges them so that we can continue to love Him and love others. Camp was such an encouraging experience, I know I will definitely take what I learned and have it in my heart to express outwardly every day of my life, hope you do too! :)

Our Awkward Generation

I've noticed, and i'm sure you have too, that "awkward" seems to make its way into almost every conversation or situation. It's usually unavoidable and can come by means of silence or words. We say awkward/odd things, we text eachother while were in the same room, and we spend hours living computer generated lives (facebook, twitter, farmville, etc.), we seem to connect better with people online rather then face to face. Is it that we are afraid to get to know someone because we don't want anyone to truly know us? It may be a scary question to ask yourself.

We have the newest fashion trends, we have the most advanced cosmetic surgeons, and we (America) have enough money to feed the world twice. We have more today than the world has ever had, yet we still choose to be empty and insecure. We are the awkward, non-committed, insecure generation. I don't know about you but i'm sick of it! We should be a generation of change! I think i've really been learning about people and thier fears. I think this awkwardness stems from people being afraid of real relationships. Some thoughts:

1.) Maybe because the divorce rate is higher than the marriage rate (over 50%). These days, kids see so many failed models of love and relationships and fear the same thing for thier lives.

2.) Maybe because we're so rich, others are out for our money and material things rather than our personalities.

3.) Maybe because we are so cosmetically enhanced, we don't believe other people like us for who we are but instead what we look like. We find ourselves tricked into these mindsets often.

Maybe. It seems like many people around me are afraid to be vulnerable. They would rather be cold and put up a wall, or take control of each situation to their benefit...usually because of the fear of rejection or being forgotten. Do you find yourself doing that? I know i catch myself doing it sometimes. This is what creates the perfect environment for "awkward" to fester in. So what's the answer to all of the "awkward" and what can we do to avoid it? This leads to bigger questions: what are these fears and what can I do to make it better? This might be blown out of proportion and deep thinking but I think sometimes people get so wrapped up in the ways of the world and lose sight of the most important: God. To be honest I've been here and there, done this and that to make myself happy. Before I knew Christ I would let my friends influence me, party, blow money carelessly, extreme diet, and try to walk in Paris Hilton's footsteps...all that stuff makes you feel more empty. The great thing is that God will leave you with real fulfilling joy and an amazing purposeful life! And when you know you're here living for something bigger than yourself, it's easy to let people in and love again.

So challenge yourself to let down that awkward guard. Talk to someone you wouldn't normally talk to, or be the one to start conversation when you're standing in a group of people doing the "awkward nod." The bible says to love your neighbors, building relationships with good people can bring awesome joy in your life. I hope you have some food for thought now :)