What the Gospel allows us to do!

Ok, sorry it's been so long, but Summer Project is just super busy and I hardly have any free time. We have been really immersed in the Bible and I have spent so much time with God in His Word and through prayer. I am learning so many new and exciting things but I am also re-learning a lot of things that are really helping me with my walk this summer!

So, for a Summer Project update:

The project itself has officially started; we are past the training week and into the normal schedule. I have gone sharing on the beach twice so far and the very first night, with the help and guidance of God, me and two other girls shared the gospel with two young girls and they accepted Christ! It was so awesome and we should celebrate the new sisters we have in Christ! Yesterday, me and my discipler went sharing and we were able to talk about the Gospel with one girl who said she already believed in Christ but isn't living for Him. We are going sharing as a group again tomorrow night, so prayers for that!

I also got a job! I am working at McDonald's (don't laugh) this summer full time! The mission of this project is to bring Christ to the work place and I am super excited to show Christ's love to all of my co-workers and customers! I start tomorrow at 9:00am, at least my training part. I will not find out my schedule until after tomorrow, I'm sure. But what's really awesome is that if we want to have 40 or more hours a week, we can get it! I will probably try to work 40 hours, but maybe a few more hours if they really need the help. I am just super thankful to have gotten this job and the very first day of job searching! There are so many people who have started work today and who have jobs, but there are still a few people who are really searching, so I've been praying for them and I hope that they will have jobs by Wednesday!

I've been making so many friends and I am really starting to get close to my apartment roommates and my Bible study ladies! Also, there is another girl, named Rachel, who I have been really getting to know and I am just so blessed that God has allowed me to connect with all of these wonderful Christian ladies!

So, last Friday night, we had women's time and we really learned some awesome things! We learned three main points of what the Gospel allows us to do. So, I am going to post just some of the notes I took for you all to read! Enjoy!

The Gospel:

1. Proclaims us to die to self (Phil. 2:3-8)

• we are called to to others' center
• we need to be selfless
• we need to have an interest in others
• we should have the same attitude towards others as Jesus did

2. Proclaims for us to be clean (Romans 6:5-11)

• we have died with Christ
• death has happened once--no more yearly sacrifices
• sin has lost all of its power over us (AMEN!)

3. Proclaims we're valuable (Ephesians 1:3-8)

• God chose us (how awesome is that!?)
• we've been blessed spiritually
• He bought our freedom
• all of this made Him happy

I really love the last point. For me, I struggle with feeling accepted and my body image. But this verse really helps me to remember that God loves me for me and He doesn't care how I look because He CHOSE me, even when I was ugly with sin. I often compare myself with other women--I usually think, "they're so much prettier, or they're so much skinnier, etc." but God doesn't like that. He calls us to compare ourselves with Jesus. God created everyone so uniquely, that it is impossible to compare ourselves with each other, and I really need to remember that! Instead of finding our value in others, clothing, looks, etc., we need to, as women, find our value in Christ. I just LOVE this verse and I am so happy that He did chose me and I am entirely grateful!

So the journey begins!

Well, here I am. I am finally in North Myrtle Beach! After a very long 20 hour drive, I am finally checked in, unpacked, and sitting my in my super cute and cozy beach apartment that I am sharing with 5 other wonderful, beautiful girls! I am super excited to begin doing God's work starting tomorrow! I am also really thankful that I and the three girls that I rode down with made it here smoothly and safely, along with the many other students who are here!

Out of today, my favorite thing that I have done (besides finally getting here and out of the car) has been going down to the ocean (which is literally across the street from where I am) and stuck my feet in! I cannot wait to spend time on the beach and share my faith with people who really need to hear the Gospel! I just hope and pray that God will give me strength and the right words to speak!

So, since I am super tired, I am just going to do a brief outline of the study and scripture I did tonight--Enjoy!

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:6-16

These verses really talk about wisdom from the Spirit, hence the italicized subtitle. I really liked the beginning few versus because it talks about how we are to speak of the wisdom of the Spirit and NOT of the wisdom of the world because we haven't been given the spirit of the world but the Spirit of God. I really liked this part and it really applies to me right now, obviously, because I am going to be sharing the Gospel to so many people and I really have to make sure that I am sharing the right Spirit. Through God's Spirit we have been given so many things and are able to know so many truths! But when we do not accept the wisdom and knowledge that God has given us, we are foolish and fall for all of the wrong things. But what is awesome is that we have the mind of Christ and the Spirit will help us to make the right decisions and make us wise in all that we do! I am so thankful for this because without the Spirit nudging me in the right directions, I would have made some pretty foolish mistakes! I think that I don't thank Him enough for the wisdom and guidance that He gives me!

I have to continue to ask for the Spirit's guidance throughout this entire summer so I can do everything that He wants me to do and I do it to honor Him!

Touched by God.

Ok. Today was my last Sunday in my home town's church for the rest of the summer and to celebrate my journey into missions this summer, they had everyone circle around me. People closest to me held my hands and placed their hands on my shoulders while everyone else surrounding them placed their hands on those people. Then, people led in prayer while others prayed silently to themselves. If there has ever been a moment when I have truly felt God standing right next to me, it was then. I am just so blessed to have such an amazing church family who supports me! It is super reassuring to know that I have an entire support team of prayer warriors who will continuously pray for me and my work in Him. God is so good!

AND! There is only one more full day before I depart on a 22 hour drive and then spend my entire summer serving Him and doing His work! What an awesome summer this is going to be!

Watch This!

Ok, I wanted to post this really awesome video that NEEDS to be watched. Everytime I see it and listen to the song, I am touched and I just want to fall to my knees. Not even kidding, everytime. So, watch this! Please!

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyheJ480LYA

So True. So Unbelievable. It's Awesome.

So, as I was reading in 1 Corinthians today, I was reading into the section of scripture entitled, "Christ the Wisdom and Power of God". Here are the versus that really stood out to me and really made me think:

1 Corinthians 1:25

"For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength."

Wow. This just really proves how wonderful and strong God is. No matter how smart and wise we think we are, God's foolishness is still wiser than us. And no matter how strong we become, God's weakness is still stronger. I can't even wrap my finger around this! This is just too awesome! It is so nice to see this and remember that we can't do anything on our own and we really need to rely on God's strength. So many times I have tried to do things on my own and have become so frustrated and I ultimately fall short of what I was trying to do. But as soon as I give whatever it is I am trying to do on my own to God, I can get it done because He gives me strength! This is just so awesome!

The last two versus were just as awesome!

1 Corinthians 1:30-31

"It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: 'Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.'"

Once again, how eye opening and convicting! Nothing that we have accomplished and succeeded in is because of our own efforts, but it is because of what God has given us and we are to give the credit to Him and NOT boast in ourselves. He has made us wise, He has given us success, and He deserves everything!

So far, I am loving 1 Corinthians and it is really opening up my eyes and reminding me of things that I have forgotten. It is just so refreshing to know that I do not have to deal with anything on my own and know that God will always be there to back me up! So, thanks God, for making me strong and giving me all of Your strength! You're so awesome!

Bible Study--1 Corinthians: 4-9

Today, I started reading 1 Corinthians and I wanted to share with everyone what I have read and learned today. This is my first Bible study entry so I hope you all enjoy. Oh, and P.S.--there are only four more days until I depart of North Myrtle Beach! I'm so excited yet nervous at the same time. I just cannot wait to see how God is going to use me this summer!

1 Corinthians: 4-9

"I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way--in all your speaking and in all your knowledge--because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful."

Wow. There are so many things in this verse that stand out to me and call to me. The first thing that stood out to me was this: for in him you have been enriched in every way. God hasn't just given certain people abilities in some areas of their life and nothing to others or He hasn't only allowed us to be good at one thing, but He has enriched us in every way possible. Isn't that awesome? Everything that we can do has been given to us by God and He has made all of those things good. It is only when we start to compare ourselves to others that we feel as though we don't have any abilities or that certain people are better than us at it. Everything that we do is good in God's eyes because He gave them [the spiritual gifts] to us. God enriched everyone equally. God enriched everything we do, so why is it that we continuously only pick certain abilities to focus on? Further into the scripture, we are told, therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord. God has given us all of our abilities in order to honor Him, but when we withhold any, and all of our efforts are poured into one gift, we are denying God our full potential to honor and please Him. God wouldn't have given us everything we can do if He meant for us to only pick and choose one or just a few.

Maybe we do this because we are afraid that we will not have the strength to do everything we are able to. But here's the thing, God will keep us strong to the end. He will be there, holding us and He will never let us fall. When we rely on ourselves to accomplish all of these things, of course we will fall and struggle because we cannot do it alone. We have to call on God and He will provide for us and help us along the way. God is faithful. He has called us to do so many great things and He will always be there for us. Always.

The overall message I want to bring forth from this text is to be thankful for all of the gifts and abilities you have been given. God has blessed each and every one of us, equally too, so that we can use these gifts to honor Him and do His will. We cannot look through the eyes of the world at everyone else's gift and start comparing ourselves to them because then we will become lost and we will fall short of what God has called us to do and has given us. Instead, be thankful for these gifts and know that God gave them to you and you alone. Remember, too, to call on God because He is very faithful to use, even though we are not so faithful to Him.

Dear God,

We cannot thank You enough for everything that You have given us. We may not realize at this point that you have blessed us in so many ways and that each of us has been enriched with all kinds of unique abilities to honor You. Help us open our eyes to see what You have given us and allow us to humble ourselves to You with these gifts. Also, Lord, please help us to remember that You are faithful and that You will never let us fall. It is so easy to try and do things on our own, but then we fall so fast and struggle so much. Let us first call on You so we can do everything You called us to do. Thank You, Father, for never giving up on us. Thank You, for everything You do. In Your Son's precious and holy name, amen.

All Things Are Possible....!

Yes indeed they are! God is just soooo amazing and I can't even describe how much I am loving Him right now! When you ask God for strength and guidance, He will always provide and today, He certainly has. The sun is shinning, my eight-page paper is finished, and I am smiling! I just want to tell the world that I am in LOVE with Jesus and God and I am super excited to be living for Him and doing His will this summer on summer project! In nine days I will be in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina sharing God's awesome and true Word! I want this summer to be all for God and I want Him to use me in anyway possible! I am so ready to be broken and then made completely whole because of His deep love for me!

So, my intentions of this blog are as follows:

• share my thoughts on life, God, and Jesus
• for the summer, share what God is doing in my life and how I am fulfilling His will
• post Bible Studies and Journal entries to help guide my friends and family and possibly even inspire them to keep their faith strong

I want this blog to be as God honoring as possible and I hope that you enjoy! God Bless and know...

"Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26