How I know there is a God

Here I sit at the same Starbucks/hair salon/ show theatre in Branson, that has now become somewhat of a home away from...kamp, reflecting on my last few weeks spent at the closest thing to Heaven on Earth I know of.  I am very aware that it is a Kanakuk bubble that I live in and that this bubble is in no way a bit like the real world. But I love that kids can come to kamp and get a taste of what I believe is closer to the world God intended for us before a certain Adam and Eve ate that bloody apple...

You know what's funny? The most humbling part of kamp has not been doing something radical and world changing. It has simply been learning how to obey the easy things God called us to do as His followers. First and foremost, I have learned that I cannot save anyone, and I was not asked to. I am nothing more than a tool that God can choose to use if it fits into His divine, beautiful, holy, thought out, determined, and perfect plan. Each day I must begin with a prayer more desperate than the one I prayed the day before because after I realize that I cannot save anyone, it forces me to be DESPERATE for the real and only Savior.  I truly believe that that's what God wants from His people- that they would just surrender it all as the desperate people we all are, and get out of the way so that He can take our burdens and our heavy loads and do a good work.

 Just like in Mark 14:36, I pray, "Abba, Father...everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." I continue with the coolest part of it all...Mark 13:11, "Just say whatever is given to you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit."...y'all, I can say now that I finally know what it is to have the Holy Spirit put words in my mouth. To have the perfect piece of  scripture for that certain situation and conversation literally pointed out to me. Scripture that I have never seen before! 

I had the privilege of seeing God's creativity working before my very eyes as He worked to call home one of His children. Sometimes it's hard to put your faith in someone who you can't have a back and forth conversation with or see face to face, and I have definitely felt that way before. But I know that it's OKAY to be afraid! If there wasn't any mystery of the "unknown" to it all, it faith wouldn't be real. After DAYS of the hottest weather I have seriously ever experienced, Jesus sent a mighty rain down and watered his thirsting Earth. It was no coincidence that He chose the same day to reveal Himself to a very special, and very thirsty kamper of mine. God sent a symbolic representation of the way He washed her clean with rain that was absolutely needed and refreshingly satisfying- "the old has gone, the new has come".

 I am convinced that God is aware of how hard it is for some people to just believe. I also believe that He goes out of His way to reveal Himself to those He is fighting for the most! I ALSO believe that I saw Jesus that day. I didn't see his face or Him in physical form, but I saw Him pull out all the stops for ONE girl. It is a sweet, sweet reminder of what a romantic Father we serve. One who knows all of His children by name, and more than anything, desires an intimate relationship with us. 

Me and Amy, my co from last term, at the highly dreaded swim competiton...Go Kiowas! (because I'm their sage) and Go Kickapoos! (because I'm a kick by blood). The way I see it, it's a win-win situation for me :)

And below, me and Jordynn, my other co form last term, waiting for our girls while they did the tree tops ropes course. No one cried and no one peed their pants- therefore it was a success! We were in charge of snapping action shots of Shea and Laura from below...so we snapped a little "selfy"action (as 14 year olds refer to it)

I can't wait until I have some pictures of my cabin 11, 17 year olds and my new co.'s Brittany and Libby, with whom I am obsessed. I laugh more with those two than I do with almost anyone! It's impossible to compare my experiences with the two different groups, but both have been such sweet experiences I will forever treasure, and both have taught me more about faith, friendship, this life and the next than I could have ever imagined for myself. 
So, back to explaining how I know there is a God. It's simple- I know there is a God because, even though He doesn't need to, He proves Himself to me over and over again, and is faithful to His people by pursuing us even when we push Him away the most. My God is a God of purpose, a God of grace, creativity, persistence, perfection, forgiveness, acceptance, and unconditional love that NO part of me deserves or is entitled to. He offers a free gift of eternity in paradise and asks for nothing in return, but desires and CELEBRATES when we stop filling voids by reaching for  the things of this world we see to our left and right, and open our eyes to look UP and reach for His hand that has been there the entire time. So, dear readers, my world has officially been rocked.  I'm desperate... and it feels so good :)