June 5, 2009

This summer I am a counselor at Dry Creek Baptist Camp. So far I have spent a week of training and prep work around camp for the summer, while bonding with the staff. We definitely are becoming a family. I am now friends with some of the most amazing women I have ever met. They are such an encouragement to me and I truly love every one of them. As I have gotten to know the male counselors and staff, their love to serve the Lord is evident. I am so proud to see Godly men step up and lead. They make me super excited for the summer and ready to work alongside them.

I spent the next week with seven girls who came to DCBC for Girl’s Opportunity Camp. This camp was such a a blessing in disguise. Girl’s Op. Camp is for less fortunate or troubled young girls (ages 12-14ish) who are invited to attend camp by their social worker, foster parents, pastor, or parole officer. While preparing for Girl’s Op, we were told several times that although this is by far the smallest camp of the summer, it is the most physically and emotionally draining camp. Let me tell you, it WAS a challenge. Not a challenge in a negative way, but a positive challenge that grew my faith and made my heart more tender to the struggles my fellow sisters go through. I was able to get a glimpse of life through the eyes of these girls and relate to them through a lens I never knew I would be able to see through. During camp we went on an eight mile canoe trip- which included me paddling my precious twelve-year-old camper Michelle the whole way We also had a makeover/spa/dress up/photo shoot night. The girls were able to get pampered and loved on by women who love the Lord so much and simply want to share that love with them. SO MANY funny things happened those few days I spent with the girls. Everything from learning the “stanky leg” to hearing Michelle confess about how she sinned by “throwing peace” at the cross– aka making a peace sign in front of a wooden cross in the prayer garden. So by completely looking like a fool to learn the stanky leg and explaining that making a peace sign by a cross is not a sin, I was able to connect with the girls.

However, more than anything else, the most remarkable aspect of the week was the worship times. Mary Evelyn, an absolutely beautiful woman, led us in worship. The girls were so into the songs we sang. They clapped. They raised their hands. They lifted their voices. They learned how to worship the Lord. And it was beautiful. I was moved. No concert I have ever been to or song I have ever heard has sounded as sweet as their voices singing. It was truly a precious moment that I will never forget. Not only did the girls sing during worship, but they sang on the bus ride to got canoeing, during free time, on the way to the dining hall… You can definitely see they love the songs. I believe that they love the songs so much because the songs spoke of pure, perfect truth. There is no doubt about it- God is so good. 

God’s goodness and glory were clearly displayed this weekend. Praise Him for ALL He has done.

All or Nothing January 8, 2009

So, it is a new year. New. Fresh start. New. I love that word new. It rings of something better. The cliche thing to do at new years is make resolutions, but will the empty resolutions I make actually make this year better? Or will they simply get lost in the hopeful promises to “go to the gym”… “make strait A’s”… “spend more quality time with my friends and family”…

No, I think for this new year, I need a heart change. What I desire truly has to change. So, God’s been teaching me about this whole love thing lately, and I’m really trying to love Him. In this process, I think He will change me. Actually, I know He will. The thing is, God doesn’t just want part of me; He wants all of me. He longs for all of my focus to be on Him. This is such a hard thing! I get busy, I get bogged down, and I get to where i feel like when I have free time, I just want to spend it on myself! But none of that matters. I serve a relentless God who loves me and desires for me to love Him back. I serve a God who is into me. I want to be into Him. So I have to serve wholeheartedly. My leftovers are simply not good enough, and that’s fine with me. I’m ready to embark on another chapter of my spiritual journey, excitedly waiting for what He is going to show me. I know it sounds cheesy, but sometimes all I’m going to have is God… and I am so glad! He will never disappoint me. In fact, I hope He surprises and astounds me more than I can ever imagine. 

So, this new year, I’m going to focus less on resolutions, and more on loving my amazing God. The world may consider this foolish, but boy are they fooled.

big big big January 6, 2009

God has been teaching me a lot lately. More these past few days than in the past month. Maybe it is because I am actually slowing down to listen, slowing down to indulge in his love, slowing down to focus on Him and in turn take care of myself. Reminders of God’s love simply astound me. There is no other love that can even compare to His, yet more often than not, I fool myself into thinking that those other things can satisfy. When I rest in His arms it is evident how big His love is. Big and unique is His love. Unique in the way that it is so different from any love I’ve known here on this earth. I do not think I fully comprehend how He cherishes me. You know,  I tend to think of love only through my eyes– human love. Yes, God is my friend, but if I take it a step further to say the creator of the universe, the God who just IS cares about ME, is into ME, and takes care of ME as well as all of his creation loves me… wow. He doesn’t just care about me, he loves me. That huge, unimaginable, incomprehensible love! He loves us even though when we are illuminated by His glory, being displayed for what we truly are: unworthy, the one and only God of the universe considers us precious. He knows our every thought and our deepest desires, and still loves us. When I am standing in His glory, comparing myself to Him, I realize how much I need Him. When I come to grip with that need, that is when I can start loving God. I may begin loving Him because of my need, but soon it will be in spite of my need. I love God because He loves me, but also because I realize how much want to know Him. His love is fulfilling! Once I’ve tasted and seen that the Lord is good, why would I ever go back to loving worthless things of the world?

Why DO I turn back to the worthless things…?

I can only hope to know this love more and more. To experience it, to obtain it, and try to share it. I feel like I need to love people more. But the truth is, when I truly begin to love God, my heart is going to grow more and more like His. I am going to see people and situations as He sees them, and the love and joy is just going to come naturally, from the overflow of my heart. Bottom line: You just have to love God. I truly believe that if Christians focus in on loving God, everything else will fall into place.

October 20, 2008

Love. Marriage. Romance. 

Painfully complex, nevertheless sought after. I long to be loved, longed to be appreciated, validated, and needed. These desires remain in my heart, yet do they not remain in everyone’s heart as well? Are we all on this earth searching for love, truth, peace, and understanding? Constantly searching (whether we realize it or not) everyday. These thoughts do not consume my life, they merely concern my life. I want to give love and in turn be loved.

John Piper describes true love as the overflow of satisfaction and joy in God, that transcends to meet the needs of others.

This kind of love is groundbreaking, life changing, and a little intriguing. To think that loving means being so satisfied in the sweetness of our Lord, that one simply cannot help but please others. It cannot be tied down or held back.

Wow.

A Little Tug Can Go a Long Way September 11, 2008

I was sitting here reading all my previous posts. It is so interesting to remember all the things I was going through at that point in my life. The pain sprinkled with moments of joy and understanding. Thinking bout those times, I am reminded how much God has grown me. I am not the person I was two years ago- thankfully- I am not the person I was six months ago. I’m not even the same person I was last month.

About six or seven months ago, God really started working on my heart. Tugging and nudging at my soul. Into the depth of my being, He was whispering for me to listen, Asking me to surrender my life, and let Him take control. The self-destructive path that I was beginning to go down was not the life He had in store for me. The thing that I claimed to be Lord, had not been Lord of my life at all. I was ruling my own life, and in doing this, nothing was fulfilling. Something was missing. You see, He longed for ME to have a deep and meaningful relationship with HIM. He desired for me to have everything good and everything pleasing. And this pleasure and goodness was and is in Him. All I had to do was change my heart, yet the only way to do this was to allow Him to work in my life. 

In the Christian walk, there is no instant gratification- everything is a process. Following Him is a daily decision. Everyday I have to choose to ask for my desires to be the same as God’s. As I am faithful to the Lord, He fills me up! As I dig deeper into who He is, He gradually grows me. My faith is stronger now than it was a few weeks ago, and even stronger than a few weeks before that. And as I look how far I have come, I realize how much more I want to grow. 

It has been a while since my last post. Now, instead of being a high school junior, I am a freshman in college! WOOP WOOP! I attend Louisiana College in Pineville and I absolutely love it! I really think God has much to teach me here. I am still dating my high school sweetie, Brandon and I absolutely love him too!!

Here I Am, Once Again September 11, 2008

It’s been forever since I have posted on this blog. I journal, but for me, I find it refreshing to write here, also. I don’t if anyone reads this, but if you do… look out!

June 22, 2007

Being a typical Thursday, today was dull. I went to four different stores to shop for shoes and earrings. Normally when i go shopping, I buy something- most of the time not even what I set out for. But today was different. Borederline scary. I did not buy anything. Yay me, I guess, Saving $$. I also went to work. Fun times. Mallory, Jana, and Callie worked also, so it wasn’t a total drag. I’m definately working to live right now, which is exactly why it’s probably a good thing that I didn’t buy anymore clothes, shoes, jewelry or other girly items. I need to save.

 I sure am glad I work to live, because if I live to work….that would be a pretty sucky life I suppose.

We Live For What We Believe In June 21, 2007

I read this the other day in Donald Miller’s book, Blue Like Jazz: We Live For What We Believe In. Once I start to truly believe things, I am going to live it, no ifs ands or buts about it… Which makes me reflect on my walk with God. If I am whole heartedly believing in Him, I should be uncontrollably doing His will- doing the things He desires for me– which is everything good. I want to live for God. I want to feel loved, be fulfilled and show that to everyone around me. What I belive is what I do. And the things I do and say reflect the condition of my heart. Man, it is so hard to figure this whole life/God/Lizzie thing out. I don’t know if I ever will, or if I am ever supposed to, for that matter. I am hungry, but not in a physical sense. I want something to drink, but there’s no liquid you can give me that will quinch the lingering thirst. Only one thing can, and it is so elementary yet so complex. It’s God. GOD. GOD! He’s the one. As I hunger for Him, the amazing thing is that He fills me up. The more and more I run after Him, He runs after me a million times faster. And the more I am buried inside of Him and when I yearn for Him, He reveals Himself to me. Just a glimpse of how deep He is, but oh what a glorious glimpse it is. The thing is, He gives us a choice. He does not force me to dive into His mercy or swim around in His grace. He wants me to, Heck He loves it when I’m obediant to Him. And the reason is because obediance brings blessings. Obediance brings joy- joy that never goes away during the hard times. Deep burning joy that gets one through life. My God is madly in love with me, and I want to be madly in love with Him.

I STINKIN HATE DIETS!! April 25, 2007

So yeah, I previously went on a diet for about six weeks losing a total of 30 lbs. It is called a no carb diet…or extremely low carb diet. I eat about 20 carbs a day, which is pretty much nothing. No carbs…for all you people who don’t understand the depth of torment of this diet, I’ll explain it by saying what I CAN eat, because this list is much shorter….

MEAT

Cheese

Eggs

Green Beans

Salad

MEAT

Cucumbers

Celery

MEAT

Cheese

oh, did i mention MEAT…?

 The End, That’s it.

NO Bread. NO Candy. NO Chocolate. NO Rice. No Potatoes….ect. ect. ect….

So I’m really craving chocolate right now. That’s the only reason I posted this…I’m craving some milk chocolate horribly…

Ahh..the cost of beauty.

A Breeze Can Be More Than A Breeze April 24, 2007

So, I’ve definitely decided that I don’t post enough. I don’t know why, because I love to write blogs. It’s funny, because some of the things I love in life are also some of the things I do the least and take for granted the most.

So I’m sitting on the front porch, flowers and plants all around me. The wind hits my body and blows my hair across my face, so now I have to put my hair up… moments like this make me realize that life is good. God is good. God makes everything glorious. Simple times like these make my greatest problems seem pointless, my loftiest goals seem attainable, and my God seem even bigger. God is so big. Enormous. Gigantic. I can’t even begin to describe how huge He actually is. Yet, He cares just as much about me. He cares that I had a good day, He helps me when I’m having a bad day, He listens to me when I talk to Him, He wants to know my dreams. Wow. I’m glad we’re on the same team.

A lizard just scurried by my foot. Yeah, God likes lizards too…

 Some things I’ve been thinking about lately…

Why won’t school just END

What am I going to do with my life?

Should I join the National Guard?

I really love singing!

How can God love me so much?

Should I try out for American Idol?

I want to pursue God. He is pursuing me.

Why can’t the school change the rules to Brandon can go to Sadie?

I’m so happy.

How can my mom put up with me?

Why can’t other people be happy for me too?

Log Rhythms are FUN!

 Ok. So  there’s what’s filling my thoughts….I just give them to God, after all, He IS in control.

 This post is stupid, but I don’t feel like stopping.

But I guess I will.

If I have something important or significant to say…I’ll post again.

Untill next time, folks…