![]() ![]() ![]() My heart fills with joy when I think of the lightness and peace experienced by the students who shared their pain with Jesus and with others. ![]() I think that moving forward, it is important to focus on raising up leaders with the courage and humility to admit when they are struggling and where they need support and encouragement in their Faith. As Paul says, “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).” Living life with these students this week, really cemented for me the importance of vulnerability, accountability, and community when walking out a life of Faith. I found myself constantly reminding both staff and students that if they were the only person to ever walk the face of the earth, Jesus would still have died for them, so that they could freely live and walk with God, as He originally intended. The most impactful part of the week for me, was bearing witness to God freeing His sons and daughters from the chains of shame and condemnation through bringing them to a greater understanding of what Jesus did on the cross for them. Through these conversations, I was reminded of God’s faithfulness, grace, and power, as He softened hearts and opened eyes to His unconditional love. I was blessed by the opportunity to speak with students about the ways in which they experience and wrestle with brokenness and pain in their lives and in the lives of those around them. I remember commenting to a fellow leader during a quiet moment that I had never felt the Holy Spirit move through me so strongly and so tangibly. This past week has been one of the most transformational and Spirit-filled moments of my faith so far. This past week, I felt used in the most tangible ways and it has taught me how to truly abide in him. From the very beginning God wanted to partner and dwell with us to rule and reign over his creation. Who am I to be called a wonderful counselor? To be compared to God? God’s strength is made so evident in our weakness. What does it mean to abide in God? It means answering His call for your life and being used in all your brokenness to somehow bring glory to God. This statement brought me to tears knowing that God, my perfect and holy God, is described as THE Wonderful Counselor in the bible. ![]() As we all reflected upon the week and marveled at the ways in which God worked, I was reminded of a prayer one of the campers spoke: “Thank you for these wonderful counselors You brought to camp for us.” God met and surpassed our expectations! Deep understanding was formed, freedom was found and what was once only their parents’ faith, was finally made the campers’ own. After so much planning, the week finally came and went. I think that I was so focused on answering this question for others that I forgot to take time and figure out what it meant for me. Once we have recognized Jesus Christ as our Savior and make him Lord over our lives, what does it mean to abide in God? We earnestly wanted to see God answer this question for the youth coming to meet us and God at camp. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”Īs we took time to prepare and pray for the LIT Discipleship program, the concept of abiding or dwelling with God kept coming up. ![]()
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