Tall Trees and Lovley Souls.

Summer has come to an end once again. Isn't it crazy to think that you spend most of the year anticipating the warmest three months of the year, and then with a blink of an eye, it's over. Summer has indeed come to an end, which meant that summer camp yet again came to a close. Imagine your most favorite place in all the world, now leave it. Each summer I experience that heartache leaving Fort Wilderness, the place I call my second home. 

Each summer I contemplate whether or not I want to go back to camp, mostly because the logical side of me says that I need to make as much money as I can. ( I am now a poor college student, so every little bit adds up). I convince myself that every year I finish camp will be my last, which has yet to be followed. Somehow, I end up going to the place that my soul years for in all seasons of the year. I crave the wilderness. The smell of waking up every morning that nearly takes my breathe away. The mirror effect that lake displays on a sunny day. I yearn for the friendships I have built in past summers and the future ones yet to be built. Being able to be surrounded amidst God's most lovely creation, serving alongside of amazing people will forever be dear to my heart. I know that each summer I spend there is a gift from the Lord, and he continues to show his purpose with my time there. 

The people I have met and relationships I have formed are such a blessing in my life. They define what it means to be a friend. Now lets make one thing clear, I do not keep in touch with every single person I have met, because that would impossible. However, the staff at Fort understands that to a T. The kindness and respect people have for each other is precious. It truly is a little slice of Heaven. And to all you Fort people reading this. Thank you, for simply being you. 

Each summer spent at camp is spent serving those who come to camp. But a lot of time is also spent growing my relationship with Christ. I use this time to reflect on the past school year and to have the Lord prepare my heart and mind for the next season of life. Well He has been doing just that. Not only has God been a provider of my physical needs, but also my emotional and spiritual ones. He has been constantly reminding me that He is greater than me. I can't "do life" without him, because if I did I would fail miserably. His word reminds me that I am given grace over and over again, and that I need to give grace to those who have hurt me. I am reminded that when I have my life planned out, He is going to take it and make it a beautiful mess. I cannot lean on my own understanding, I must acknowledge Him ( Proverbs 3:5). I have to submit my wants, my needs and my plans humbly before the Creator of the world. Only then can He lead and I'll follow. 

So thank you Jesus for your word. Thank you for seasons of life. Thank you for grace and mercy. 
And thank you for the tall trees and lovely souls. 

Old before New.

I leave for college in 10 days. I am getting rid of old things, packing up the remaining items & moving to a completly new state full of new people. I'm leaving the central time zone and trading it in for the west coast time zone. I'm trading the changing seasons of summer spring, winter and fall for all of my school days of warm weather. I'm leaving behind the people I love more than life itself. Yet, my God goes with me wherever I go. I'm not leaving behind my laughter nor my faith. That will be constant. Maybe different but constant.

As Iook at all the old clothes and things that I have decided to throw away I can't help but sit here and ponder what old things I need to leave behind in order to start this new chapter of my life. Old things like being self centered and bitter. Things like not caring or giving my whole effort. 

This summer I counseled at a girls camp, where we talked about taking off our old self and putting on the new. This is exactly what The Lord is speaking to me about right now. Just like me throwing out my old clothes,Jesus has given us the chance to exchange our old "clothes" (which are dirtied with sin) for a brand new pair which are clean. We no longer have to wear those old rags with our painful past, because we have been redeemed in Christ!? 

What things do you need to "throw away"? Re-evaluate what old "pieces of clothing" are hindering you from fully accepting the new self He has offered us? Jesus takes our old clothes, and trades them in for brand new. What an awesome God.