I had probably the best spring break of my life and I can't even explain all that God did in one week, but I am going to try anyways. I went to Kentucky and Tennesee with Navigators. We spent most of the time working at an amazing camp that shares the gospel with urban kids during the summer. I don't even know what made me decided to go but I know it was part of God's plan. He did so much in one week and taught me more than I could have expected to learn. I don't know where to begin...
The first lesson learned was not the easiest. But I learned to appreciate life and to never take it for granted. You never know when He is going to call you home. You never know when He is going to take someone you love home. Take time to mourn with those who mourn and rejoice with those who rejoice but never stop praising God. Life is short and if you are living it for yourself it is meaningless. Live for the glory of God and you can find enjoyment and satisfation in all you do. Life here is short. Make it count. Rejoice in the fact that Jesus gave us eternal life!
Life can be hard and I have often felt what I do is pointless. Nothing in this world will last, nothing we do will matter. But God gave meaning to life. God gives meaning to everything we do. God tells us to work like we are serving him not man. When you are on a mission trip it is easy to serve God. But back in Greeley I know I can continue to serve him while I work and in school. I can find enjoyment in what I do because of his love and the love he has given me to share with others. Praise God there is more to our existence than life on this earth but while we are here God has given us a gift, the ability to find satisfaction and enjoyment in what we do. Do not waste that gift. God wants our heart, He wants us to be joyful. Eccleiastes 2 and 3
Not only can we find joy in all that we do, but we don't have to do it all alone. God made us to have relationships with people and we were created to be in fellowship with others. I am so thankful for fellowship. There is nothing better than a community of believers coming together to praise and glorify God. The biggest thing I learned was that as people we are all different, but as Christians we have everything in common. Jesus is our everything and because we of him we have everything in common. (Acts 2:44) Our pasts don't matter. Our differences don't matter. We can all come together as beleivers.
The highlight of my week was seeing the way people came together to serve God. Not only did we all work together to finish projects, but we everyone made an effort to really get to know everyone. This sometimes is a struggle for me. I am really bad at going out of my comfort zone and I was really nervous to spend a week with people I don't know. I am slow to open up to people and I am shy and awkward around people I don't know well. This is something I have been working on all semester and God has been teaching me alot. He has revealed to me so many insecurities and anxious thoughts I have. I am learning to find my confidence in God and reminding myself I am his creation. I have also realized that I am insecure when I put myself first. If I put God and others first I won't be concerned about myself or my insecurities. I still need alot of work and I have alot of insecurities I need to let go of, but this week showed me how much God has already started chaning me and freeing me of some of those insecurities. Never have I felt so comfortable around a group of people I just met and I truelly enjoyed getting to know each and everyone of them. They are a great group of Christians who are passionate about serving God and desire to grow deeper with him. I am so blessed to be part of an amazing community.
I met so many amazing people. Not just in our group, but at the camp, on the road, in Nashvielle. It is awesome the way God can bring people together! You never know who you are going to meet, be intentional about loving the people around you! They are all God's creation. Be a light in the world.
Another important lesson I learned...how to dance! Pretty much everynight after dinner we had worship then danced. I was so impressed with how good all the guys were at country swing dancing. Even if I am not good at it I love dancing! It was too much fun! I also learned to use power tools. Cool.
I could go on and on about the trip but I think I'll stop here. It was an amazing week. Not because of anything I did or anything that happened, but because of who God is and all that He did.
