Thoughts on Paper

Like I said, I'm a terrible blogger. It's so much easier for me to write my soul down on paper than it is to type it out for the world to see. However, I've had quite a few life changing moments that I feel the need to share.

First off, Skyline Christian Youth Camp. A week of heat, bugs, crafts, friends, and oh yeah, the most important part - God. In all honesty, I dreaded camp. This was my first year to go as a counselor, and wasn't sure how I would adapt. Here's the little fact I was forgetting - I was at camp for a reason. God wanted me there for a reason. And I grew so much spiritually from those 4 days. So here's a huge thanks to the folks that listened to me ramble about life, the people that held me when I cried, the people that put up with me complaining, and the people that reminded me just what a true, honest Christian looks like. Y'all rock. I'm blown away by the fact that God is so real and so loving. I'm blessed beyond measure.

"Heart so hard, soul so weak. The ways of evil cut so deep. I need you Lord to come inside and gently break my heart."

I went from singing this song at the campfire to truly making it my prayer. A prayer for me to be broken down to see that I can't live this life on my own. A prayer for God to come inside and show me how much I depended on him. You know what else I was reminded? God answers prayers. 

xoxo 

Without Love..

"If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing." -1 Cor 13:1-3

In other words, it does not matter if we do the greatest of things; if we do these things without love,

we are nothing.

Ever realized just how important love really is? There is nothing in life that means anything without it. And guess what..

"God is love..." -1 John 4:16

So, without God, we are nothing.

Its so encouraging to see so many people coming together in a time like this, doing whatever needs to be done to help one another. And doing in with love. The April 27th tornado outbreak will forever go down as a day to remember for the south, and it breaks my heart to see so many people in need - so many people who lost everything. One thing that brings me back up, though, is seeing communities coming together to make a change, and to help all those affected. It's incredible to see how disasters bring people together, as well as bring people to God.

Yes, God is so incredibly good. I am so thankful for all that he has blessed me with - and times like this can really humble me. I'm lucky enough to have somewhere to sleep at night, with my family - and really that's all I need. Its amazing that so many people turn to God in times like this.

BUT,

God is good everyday! All the time! Sometimes it takes a disaster to realize this, but He was just as good last week, last month, last year. 

But I'm thankful of the opportunity that this disaster has brought with it. Hopefully, people hurting will turn to him and stay with him from now on. Keep praying. Yes, it'd be great to actually go out and volunteer. So many people need so much right now. But more than anything, they need prayers. Prayers can keep families together when they have nothing else to stand on.

Alabama, as well as all the other states affected, will get through this. God is mighty, but He is loving, and will give help, if we only ask.

So ask! & thank Him. For everything. If you're even reading this post you are so much better off than so many people right now. I will leave you with a quote from an old man that worships with me at Antioch Church of Christ. 

"I reckon that prayer is the only thing that works in this crazy world. It's the only thing to keep us together."

xoxo

God is Mighty

Praying so hard for all of the tornado victims. I can't even imagine how hard it must be for so many families tonight.

this is the first tornado I have ever seen in person. 

And yes, I was terrified. It was the strangest mixture of feelings - everything from terror to excitement. Thankfully, however, it broke apart before it ever got close to us. Unfortunately, so many people weren't that lucky. Pray, pray, and pray some more for these people. God is in control.

"I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder. Thy power throughout the universe displayed...My God how great thou art."

xoxo

The Calm Before the Storm

If "April showers bring May flowers", I'm expecting next month to be full bloom. My big plans of sleeping in this morning were ruined with a big bang of thunder, a strike of lightening, and a phone call from Dad. The only thing that got me out of bed was my love for storms. Oh yeah, and something to do with the fear of a tornado coming right through my room...

Anyways, I spent a while out on the porch, then in the basement, and then out to check the fences for Dad. Sounds fun, right? Driving around in the rain and mud? 
WRONG. 

Or so I thought. It was actually an incredible sight. A beautiful mess - sad to see all the damage that had been done, but amazing to see just how powerful our God truly is. The best part of my morning was the miracle that every tree that had blown over had fallen away from the fence. No more work for me!

That's how I got to where I am. Sitting at home with nothing to do....but blog! So yes, I'm going to give this thing a shot. Again. For the millionth time? 

Keep praying for everyone that was affected by the storms this morning, and take cover for round two this afternoon!


xoxo