1 Thessalonians 5:12-15

This summer, I knew that the ministries that I was involved in wouldn't be meeting as much reguarly. In fact, FCA doesn't meet at all, nor does College Life. Collide meets some, but I didn't get a chance to go to the first few and they are going through a book... so yeah.
At the beginning of the summer I decided to check out Campus Christian Fellowship (CCF). They meet on Wednesdays from 6-8... they have dinner then, do a bible study for an hour. I had been asked to go during the school year, but the time conflicted with FCA...
The first few of the summer were great. I met some new people, who quickly became friends, and the bible studies were always great. We would discuss a topic dealing with our faith, and they always would bring up a bunch of bible verses in relation.
I haven't been able to go much these past few weeks because of other meetings, work, or being out of town, but tonight it randomly crossed my mind, and I decided to go. Let me just say, way to go God. It was fantastic. I didn't go for dinner because we had something with work, but I got there around 6:45 expecting the study to begin at 7. At 7 we sang some songs... Marvelous light, Mighty to Save, and Inside Out...awesome. We were waiting to begin the lesson because a woman had stopped by the house who was in need of a place to stay, as well as some food. Those were her physical needs at least. Kyle and Martha were able to provide food, some love, and listening ears. What a blessing...
While we were waiting for them, we decided to pray for the woman, sing some more songs, and then we began lifting up praises to God. Time passed quickly, and with Martha Grace and Kyle came back upstairs it was almost 8. They had planned a study though, so we dove into it. They presented the question of "why are we here?" Saying, what was our purpose in coming to Wurship that night. And on a broader scale, what are our purposes in meeting with each other? They read James 5: 13-16, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15, and Hebrews 10:24-25. These verses tell us why we should come together as believers, and what we should do for each other when we meet. The floor was opened for discussion on this subject, as well as to offer up encouragement or concerns that should be shared with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Great discussion followed. One thing we brought up was that we should go out into the world and share our hope with others who don't know Christ. But as a cycle, we must be "refueled" in a sense by meeting with believers and encouraging each other after being out where Satan can beat us down.
I was very encouraged about our meetings with christians and gaining christian friends. When we come together we should always ask how each other is growing and how they can be lifted up. It is easy to hide our spiritual life, so if we are faltering, and no one is asking or challenging us, we can easily continue a downhill slide.
Martha Grace had a great quote tonight. She brought up the verse, "Where two or more of you (believers) are gathered, I am there also," and said that we shouldn't make God show up for no reason. --If he isn't discussed or honored, we wasted that gathering of his faithful.--

I am meeting tomorrow with my South Central girls from camp. I am going to discuss some of these verses with them as a way of introducing campaigners and our reasons behind encouraging one another in faith. God prepared me well tonight, but please be praying that they are open to sharing their growth and faith and struggles with one another and myself. It can be tough.

Sharp. Top. Cove.

I punctuated between the syllables because the dramatic pauses will add to how amazing it was. Or so I hope.
Folks, this past week 8 Pitt County Young Life leaders peaced out of Greenville with 41 of our high school friends to head to Jasper, Ga. The hills of Jasper, Ga. actually. To Sharptop Cove. I tried to have no expectations going into the week, but was also so super excited because 3 years ago I had just had my first YL summer camp experience, so I knew the amazingness that was in store. Oh, but wait, I actually had NO IDEA what amazingness was in store. Coming to camp as a camper is one thing. Going again as a camper is another. Going as a leader is not even in the same realm of thinking. Learning the purpose behind little things at camp and the timing of activities was so awesome. Young Life's camping experience is like a science. They've learned what works, and what best expresses Christ to lost children throughout the week.
I absolutely loved this past week. Spending precious time with precious girls. Growing closer to them and watch them take those steps to get closer to their Lord and Savior was a blessing beyond compare. I had 9 of my South Central friends go, and we were in a cabin with the 2 Conley girls and Sandra Anastacia.
Serving those girls and showing them the love that has so freely been bestowed upon me was so sweet. The little things that they'll never notice were the most rewarding. They were amazing to be with, and amazing to talk with.
By the end of the week, hearts had been softened, ears and eyes had been opened, and secrets had been shared. 15 Pitt County folks stood up at say so to proclaim to camp that they had accepted God's proposal to them. 16 met or recommitted their lives to Christ this week after seeing God in an amazing new light .
Brian Summerall was the speaker, Ryan Clark was the special music. They were both fantastic. I've heard a lot of camp speakers, but I know that even as a leader, the things that Brian said will stick to my heart. He had a great way of talking to high school kids on their level and expressing Christ in a way that is important to their struggles now.
God worked in amazing ways bringing me closer to these lovely ladies that I am excited to spend the next few years (and hopefully on after that) loving on. They are God's children, and my constant prayer is for them to know that and His love for them. But also to recognize the work that He is doing in their lives now.
I hope that many more of you will be able to experience camp this coming summer as we take more and more kids to a place where they encounter Christ on every level, every second of the day.

Changes

Its funny to think back over the past three years. Three years ago I was looking forward to my senior year of high school. My dreams and aspirations are so different from what they are now. I just looked back through my xanga postings at this time in 2005. One cool thing is that I had recently gotten back from my first trip to a summer Young Life camp. Now, three years later I am about to go on my first summer camp experience as a leader! So exciting.

I have been reflecting on where I was with my walk at different stages in my life recently in hopes to connect with more of my South Central girls where they are. We've been where they are, so we need to reach down to them and try to lead them on the path that has served us in such an awesome way.

Even looking to last year or two, I can see how much of a change has taken place in my life and those around me. College is crazy in how much you mature.... or don't mature.

I encourage you to look back and see what has led you to the place you are now. Reach out to those who are where you were recently. Ryan Eaton and I talked about this the other day---how we look up to the elders in churches and older Christians to model our lives after theirs. We get the honor of being that to those younger than us. So talk to the Lord and ask him to prepare you in ways that you can't even imagine. Ask him to point out turning points in your life that you can share. Our lives define us. You can't just push your past away.

here are two great pictures from November of freshman year. Mike and me out to dinner for his birthday. :)

And Aaron and I at West End for a Friday Night Hang Out.

Funny how these guys were both fun people to hang out with freshman year, but who would have guessed that became so important in my life??

Awesome.

Camps: Caswell and Sharptop!

This past weekend was fantastic. :) Aaron and I went to Caswell, hung out with amazing people and had some great times. Thrift store hopping for decade dance outfits, funny photoshoots, running on the beach, decade dance, and other fun times with the Caswell Staff of '08 were fantastic!

On the way home, we stopped to see friends in Wilmington. Scott Brewer and Jason Pogue. Oh those kids. We hadn't seen each other since the lake, and it was a fun reunion. Then the little miss Ali Jo Forester came to join us! Oh that was just wonderful! I love love love seeing people from school. She's so fun. The visit was short lived because I had work that night, but its okay. Little reunions+ice cream=unbeatable. :)

Can I just express to you guys how awesome life is?? I am getting so stinkin' excited for camp. William (my younger brother) just got home from Crooked Creek yesterday and was raving to me about how awesome it was. I haven't gotten to hear the full story yet, hopefully that will come later today, but I know it was a great time for him with friends, new people, awesome enviroment, and the big man upstairs. How cool is it that I get to be a leader for kids experiencing these same things this coming week??!?!?! I have done nothing worthy of being put in this position, but wow, what an honor to serve My Creator and Savior like this! Its giong to be one heck of a week. Please pray for Pitt County at Sharptop Cove! I have 9 girls going with me from South Central and am so so blessed in that aspect!

Things that make me smile

Soo, sometimes our emotions run away with us. We get caught up in the little things in life and loose control and find ourselves on an emotional roller coaster. I know that when this happens to me, I am always very shaken up... I am not normally a very emotional person. But the good news is that when anything gets us down, we all have so many blessings that we can think about and rejoice in.
some things that I always remind myself of are:
*I am a beloved child of God
*Nothing is stronger than my savior
*My true friends will always be there to help me up
*My family is amazing
*Encouragment can be found in any avenue of my life

Renew is one of my favorite words... we must renew ourselves daily with our walk and discovery of Christ. Doing this can allow us to find that the smallest of blessings can brighten the worst of days. I hadn't had a great day the other day..things seemed to keep piling up on me. One of my recent, constant stressors has been that I have lost my camera. To destress, I decided to clean my room, and in one last sweep, I decided to check a place that I have looked multiple times since I lost my camera, and sure enough, it was there. Oooh kids, you may not understand how big this was for me to find it. I didn't even care that I may have had to buy a new camera soon, but I had just taken some pictures that were precious to me, and I just wanted those back. Great news for me. :) I'll share some of these pictures soon.
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