The Simple Things in Life...

Tonight I am thankful that God has given me a voice! I love to sing more than most anything on earth! It is one of the simplest, yet greatest joys in my life. In my car it's singing along with Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood with the windows down for everyone to hear as I drive by. On road trips it's Glee and Wicked and Disney and Phantom of the Opera with whoever is lucky enough to be with me (sorry to all of you who have experienced that! lol.). In the kitchen it's old hymns and worship songs with my family as we make Sunday lunch. In my bedroom is Colbie Caillat and Needtobreathe and Jon McLaughlin while I clean or get ready for the day. Whatever the occasion, wherever I am, and whoever I'm with I love love love to sing!

For anyone who's known me very long, you know I'm a fairly dramatic and emotional person with plenty of attitude and personality. Yeah, yeah...I'll admit it! Singing is a huge outlet for that for me. Music speaks to me. I feel it...I don't just hear a song.....I can literally feel the emotions that music brings on. I started singing when I was little and it has become second nature to me in the way that I just do it without even realizing I'm doing it. I'm always walking around the house with a song stuck in my head singing or at the very least humming it. And every now and then I feel the need to break out into a concert in the kitchen sliding up and down the floor in my socks with a hairbrush in my hand. Yes, I'm 20 years old! And yes I still do this! haha. I think I probably always will? :) But I was just thinking about it tonight (after one of these concerts..lol.) and realizing how much I love it and how much joy it brings me! Not because I'm the best singer out there or because I want to become famous from it or anything like that. It is purely just enjoyable to me and something I often take for granted but I am so thankful to be able to do. So yeah....that's my little thought of the evening. Just thought I'd share! :)

All I Have is Christ

Last night, I was blessed with the opportunity to go to the Pulaski County Juvenile Detention Center with a group of people from our church that goes twice a month to minister to the kids there. Blake asks me to go every time I'm in town and I've always had a reason why I couldn't but last night I didn't, so after he begged me a few times I finally said yes! And I am so thankful that he didn't let me say no....

We got there and the numbers were lower than usual. There were only two girls in the D-Center and we had brought six girls. So we were blessed to be able to have three of our girls to their one! The girl that I talked with was confused because she has been in there for 3 months now so she has heard the gospel message from our group multiple times and on top of that she said that her uncle is a pastor and her mom is a Christian, but she grew up with her cousins who are Muslims. She said it's all just so confusing. She is hearing different things from different people and comparing the two religions and I think she was thinking about it all and kinda trying to sort through what she believes, but I didn't get the feeling that she had a sense of urgency about it. We got to talk with her a good bit and Rachel D. did a great job asking her questions, but I don't know how much of it she was really getting and thinking about and how much of it she was just saying "the right answers" because she knew them. Please keep her in your prayers and ask that the Lord would use these last 8 days she is there to work in her and stir the desire and need for God in her heart while she has this time to think and to really wrestle with it!

My heart was truly touched last night. As Jason shared a powerful message I was overwhelmed with the magnitude of God's love for me, that he would send His son to die the most shameful and painful death of all for ME. As we walked through the hallways leading out of the building we passed the rooms that the kids were locked up in. Many of them were just standing at the doors watching us out their small square windows in the door as we passed by. At one point, I looked over and saw the face of a boy probably not much older than 13. We only shared eye contact for a few seconds, but for some reason those few seconds penetrated right to my heart and I haven't been able to get his face out of my mind. It brought tears to my eyes and my heart longed for Him to know the saving power and precious love of Jesus Christ. Why was I the one freely walking out of the building while he stayed behind, locked away for his crimes? I am no different than him! I deserve to be locked away in that building!

God used those few seconds...that tiny little moment that seemed like any other ordinary few seconds to stir in my heart. I was once locked up and chained to my sin the same way that boy is. He has no hope. He will be there until the judge sees fit to let him go. On his own he can do nothing to escape from that place. In the same way, I was once lost and broken with no hope of saving myself. I could do nothing to break away the chains or to break out of that place of sin and hopelessness. But Jesus, my precious Savior and Redeemer, saw me and took the chains upon Himself. He put himself in my room where I deserved to be locked away and allowed me to walk away freely. He hung upon the cross, was whipped, spat upon, mocked, and murdered....for my sinful, ugly heart. What a sobering realization it us when Jesus brings us to our face in humble recognition of His great love and mercy that was displayed on the cross.....

"I once was lost in darkest night

Yet thought I knew the way

The sin that promised joy and life

Had led me to the grave

I had no hope that You would own

A rebel to Your will

And if You had not loved me first

I would refuse You still

And as I ran my hell-bound race

Indifferent to the cost

You looked upon my helpless state

And led me to the cross

And I beheld God's love displayed

You suffered in my place

You bore the wrath reserved for me

Now all I know is grace

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ.

Hallelujah! Jesus is my life.

Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone

And live so all might see

The strength to follow Your commands

Could never come from me

Oh Father, use my ransomed life

In any way you choose

And let my song forever be

My only boast is You!"

All I Have Is Christ

Sovereign Grace Ministries

It's our last official "camp night" here for the summer. I'm working in the office with Laurin, Claire, and Alexis and Kendyll and Ambrose are just chillin' with us. As I sit here listening to the sound of my music playing and fingers quickly typing away plans for family camp I can't believe how fast this summer has gone by. There have been days when it seemed like it was just creeping along, but honestly, it's been a pretty fast summer for me. God has brought so many precious people into my life--children who have captured my heart and taught me more than I taught them, counselors who have been my best friends and encouraged me, and staff members who have stirred me toward a deeper relationship with Jesus and loved me like their own daughter. It's a bittersweet feeling knowing that in 2 days I'll be back at home, but away from this spirit-filled place and precious people! I'm honestly confused as to how I'm supposed to feel. My heart is eager to get back to school and share what I have learned with others and love them with the love of Jesus, but these people have become like family this summer. How am I supposed to leave here and go back to life without this constant Christian community and people who are focused on Jesus and striving to know Him more? This has been a regular struggle for my heart to undestand and be content with where Jesus has me, but my prayer as we finish our final day tomorrow is that God will give me grace as I transition from this place to the next. I am excited, sad, thankful, and eager all at the same time! More thoughts to come later....