First and foremost, I want to thank everyone who has read and contributed to the blog. I can't tell you how great it is to get feedback from our staff and find out how they are doing more than a month before camp is even scheduled to start. Katie, Tyler, Dan and I were all a little unsure as to how everyone would react to a blog. But I think it's safe to say that you guys are enjoying it. I, myself, am addicted :)
Anyways, I come to you with this weeks scripture. Well, I couldn't really decide on just one. So there are a few verses for you to take in.
Everyone has had someone in their past who has done them wrong. Whether it be a friend, an ex girlfriend/boyfriend, relative, classmate, co-worker...etc. We've all been there.
In staying with our camp theme for this year "Let Go", I dug up some verses that relate to forgiveness.
Luke 6:35
The Message (MSG)
35-36 I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You'll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we're at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind.
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Ephesians 4:32
The Message (MSG)
31-32Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.
And, for those times when you are struggling to forgive those who have done you wrong, or you want to move past those "not-so-bright" moments in your life, know that He is there to give you strength and to guide you along the way.
He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath.
And he knows everything, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired,
gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,
young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don't get tired,
they walk and don't lag behind.
I hate to keep going back to Morgan's post earlier, but think about the many ways he could have handled his situation. Instead, he chose to go his own route, forgive those who bad mouthed him behind his back and he remained focused on the bigger picture.
So, whether it be a current struggle, a conflict from the past that you have resolved, talk about ways that you were able to forgive and forget.
Or, if you are currently dealing with a difficult situation that has held you down, feel free to discus that as well.
As always....Read. Digest. Discus. :)
Have a great week everyone!
And, for those times when you are struggling to forgive those who have done you wrong, or you want to move past those "not-so-bright" moments in your life, know that He is there to give you strength and to guide you along the way.
Isaiah 40
The Message (MSG)
29-31 He's Creator of all you can see or imagine.He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath.
And he knows everything, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired,
gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,
young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don't get tired,
they walk and don't lag behind.
I hate to keep going back to Morgan's post earlier, but think about the many ways he could have handled his situation. Instead, he chose to go his own route, forgive those who bad mouthed him behind his back and he remained focused on the bigger picture.
So, whether it be a current struggle, a conflict from the past that you have resolved, talk about ways that you were able to forgive and forget.
Or, if you are currently dealing with a difficult situation that has held you down, feel free to discus that as well.
As always....Read. Digest. Discus. :)
Have a great week everyone!
My new Brother-in-Law Kyle has this machine. It sits next to his bed and makes blank white noise to help him sleep. Aparently a little constant noise is good for productive sleep. (I think it would drive me nuts,) But last night I was laying in bed (after reading this post) and I decided to open all the windows in the bedroom to see if the sound of the night would lure me to sleep. I got up to open the windows and to my surprise they were already open. The night was silent. I mean very silent. Not a cricket, not a frog, not an ounce of wind in the trees. DEAD SILENT. So quiet I actually got up again to check if the windows were really open. SCARY QUIET.
ReplyDeleteWith no sound, I was left to just reflect on this post. As I tried to think myself to sleep a song that had been in my head most of the day crept back in. Suddenly I saw the correlation.
Josh Garrels (an artist we feature in The Shore soundtrack every year) wrote a song called Farther Along. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1wy6MGoG7Y
In the song he sings "I wondered why the good man died, the bad man thrives, And Jesus cries because he loves em' both. We're all cast-aways in need of ropes.
Get to the point Dan! Point being I have def had enemies in my life. People who have done me wrong. And although the specifics are not important, what is important for you to know is that even today the faces of my enemies are forever etched in my mind. Even now I am picturing someone in particular.
It's so hard to forgive isn't it. Why do I remember those who have done me wrong even more than I do the friends who have done right by me? I think God, in creation, designed us people to remember those conflicts even more than the good times because it helps us to better understand the MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL. The message of forgiveness and sacrifice. That even on my best, I'm just as evil as my enemies, as those who broke my heart. I BREAK JESUS'S HEART EVERYDAY and Still HE DIED FOR ME!
MATTHEW 5:44. But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
Mumford and Sons has a song in which the lyrics state "In these body's we will live, "in these body's we will die. Where you invest your love, you invest your life." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7DcySekLKY
Let me tell you, Listen to this song a few times and it will have you screaming the ending in worship!
Jesus died for all of us. My enemies included. And like the white noise that helps us all sleep, the constant mememory of our enemies helps us to have the opportunity to act as Jesus would. I pray for them, and pray I never forget them. How crazy is that?
Blessed to be married to you! God loves these moments when we finally step back from "our world" and we truly see the bigger picture. ALL FOR THIS GLORY!
DeleteThis post reminded me of Psalm 4:4.
Delete"Don't sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent" (NLT)
Another verse in Psalm 63:5-7 (also by David)
"my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help" (NIV)
I've been a night owl my entire life. These words of David have a significant meaning to me because I've wrestled with God the most in prayer right before bed or late at night. For me, it’s been a time set aside by God to silence and strip away all worldly distractions and expose the sins rooted deep in the heart. AKA it’s my time to “LET GO.” All the lies that have been secretly eroding my faith throughout the day are revealed by God every night in the silence. Lately, it’s been being deceived and losing confidence because I compare my accomplishments to peers and always falling short in my mind.
I try to end every night in review of the day with Psalm 90:12
“Teach us to number our days right, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (NIV)
How’d today go? Did I live it for Him? What do I need to leave in the past in order to live God tomorrow?
Then every morning start with Psalm 90:14
“Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days” (NIV)
If I don’t cling to His unfailing love the minute I wake up, chances are I’ll cling to something I’ll have to “Let Go” of that same night.
(PS for the record “the sound machine” sits at Jen’s bedside)
So as some of you know this topic hits home for me. This summer and this new part of my life I see through completely different lenses. The theme "Let Go" for me is like standing up against this huge wall knowing that I have to get over it but the pain to climb is too much. My ex wife left me back in September for someone else. I have felt used, worthless, abandoned, ashamed. At times I have felt like I don;t want to wake up in the mornings. My life was rocked harder than ever. The tragic thing was that it didn't end there. I will save that story for camp, but in reference to Chad's topic of forgiving, I have to be honest and say right now I can't do it very well. Do I need too? Yes, I do, but I have so much hate in my life for her that it shows on me sometimes. I pray for strength and patience, I see counseling, but yet something happens where it triggers more hatred. There has always been people that I don't like, so the whole idea of loving your enemies has been something I can handle because I feel like I have never really "hated" someone. I can honestly say, and it's wrong, that I "hate" someone now. I am being perfectly honest because that is what I feel I should do. I am trying to take care of it and look at it as being another trial and season of suffering. In James 1: 2-8 it talks about endurance and how it brings forth perfection. I cling to that right now in faith that I will be released of this hatred and can forgive. Pray for me. I challenge each of us to read that scripture of James 1: 2-14. Meditate on it for it is very powerful.
ReplyDeleteOne of the hardest things I have ever done was forgive someone that I did not think deserved forgiveness. But when you start thinking about it, I did not deserve it either and Christ forgave me.
ReplyDeleteLove and forgiveness is at the cornerstone of Jesus' ministry on Earth. This is a very SIMPLE concept, but not at all EASY.
Love it.
With me, there is an eye-for-an-eye feeling I get when dealing with forgiveness. The reason I do not want to forgive is because I want that person who hurt me to feel the same hurt I felt. Here is the point; they will not feel it. AND it is wrong for me to try to make them feel it.
Forgiveness is not actually a "spiritual" word. It is actually most used in the idea of debt/debtor relationships. It is a financial word. To forgive someone is to relinquish their debt, to pay it in full, to erase it. Though it is not a "spiritual" word, it does not make it less important. I think the financial portion of it makes sense. When someone does something to hurt me there is a debt that has to be paid. They took something from me and I want them to pay it back. The truth is, you cannot pay back time (that you spent either hurt or talking to a mirror about it or thinking about it) and they cannot probably pay you back for what they took if it was a physical thing (money, girlfriend/boyfriend, 1st place in that sport...etc). To truly forgive I think you have to look at the margin of debt honestly, acknowledge it, and then forgive it, knowing it cannot be paid back.
That is just my take on it.
Differnce between Punishment, Forgiveness, and Grace. (In Sports terms) Punishment - You messed up! Now go run 10 Laps! Forgiveness - You messed up! You owe me 10 Laps but I'm not going to make you do them! Grace - You messed up! You owe me 10 Laps and I'll run them for you!
DeleteWhat if we did the time for their crime! What if someone owed you $20 and you gave them $20 more? CRAZY GOOD STUFF BRENT!
Very nice take, Brent.
DeleteDan, thanks for the analogies. Loved it. Definitely an unique perspective of forgiveness.
Back in Biblical times, whenever Roman soldiers asked a civilian to carry their armor it was considered a duty to Rome. As you can see, conquered nations had trouble with this "duty" as Rome was not their nation.
DeleteJesus spoke of walking that extra mile. Dan, you are alluding to it here I think. Jesus spoke of a citizen not just going the one mile, but two regardless of who asked them. This is where that "go the extra mile" comes from. Just some food for thought.
So this past Sunday our pastor was talking about Mark 10: 46-52.
ReplyDelete46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” 50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. 51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” 52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
He focused on the part where Bartimaeus calls Jesus "Son of David." This is very contrary to the previous 2 stories in Mark (the Rich Young Ruler and James and John Request to be at His right hand in Heaven), in which they call him "teacher." Son of David is completely different in that it is acknowledging Jesus' genealogy and ultimately that He is the Messiah.
He then transitioned that to Matthew 6:9 " “This, then, is how you should pray: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,"
This is a HUGE statement. The grammatical usage of the word "hallowed" is an imperative, a directive. Not a directive from us telling God to glorify His own name, what's the good in that? Conversely, what it translates to is a begging, a pleading with God to do whatever it takes to our lives so that His name receives Glory through our life.
That smacked me across the face. I can honestly, and shamefully, say that I've never come close to praying a prayer like that: That God would do whatever He wants in my life to make His name glorified. Change my job, change where I live, change how I speak, change how I love, GIVE ME THE GRACE TO COMPLETELY FORGIVE THOSE WHO HAVE WRONGED ME.
Forgiveness takes more courage than you can muster alone, it takes more strength than you have, and it takes more grace and mercy than you can offer. You have to plead with God to do whatever it takes to make His name glorified in your life.
Well struck Tim. Well struck indeed.
DeleteB
Timmy your post hit home for me and I have no idea why but chills just went up my spine. I just wanted you to know that. #wordsmack.
DeleteHello Everyone!
ReplyDeleteOkay so I havn't really been on here yet because I have been beyond busy. But today I promised myself I would make time for this.
Now I dont really know if I should be sharing this story but im going to anyways and trust that it wont get me into any trouble!
So anyways... I'll get right to the point! This idea of forgiving and forgetting really hit home this past couple of weeks. To start off, my softball team has been VERY successful in past years. As we were this year. Two days before our quarterfinal game, one of the seniors on my team had a graduation party. Now idk why but people around the thumb like to think that underage drinking is okay once you graduate high school. So long story short, many of my teammates went to this party and automatically thought that drinking was okay. Another one of my teammates and I did not agree with this in any way. So we went to make an appearance at this party and came back to my house. The next day at practice all of the "party girls" were talking about how wasted they got and how much fun it was. My friend and I were beyond frusturated with these girls. We understand that they like to party and what not. But to do it two days before a huge game was what we did not understand. It was very frusturating to us! It caused alot of unneeded drama on the team. So by the time our quarterfinal game came, we had to learn to forgive and forget. This was extremely hard for my friend and I because in reality we didn' want to forgive them at all. But we had to realize that it was their life and we werent in control of it.
I praise God for keeping me strong during these times. It would have been very easy to loose my cool at practice but I didn't. Im thankful for the wonderful friends that he has given me!
Thats all for now!
<3
Couldn't have said it better myself lex. I was right there with ya.
DeleteSo now the challenge is ladies how do you continue to LOVE these teammates of yours without a judging heart!? How do you keep treating them as Christ would have you....He is attracted to weakness (words of Beth Moore), meaning He is drawn to these teammates of yours and loves them just as much as you! This is humbling...
DeleteLexi I have been in your shoes time and time again, letting it go is the only way to go. Why bring it up and destroy your team cohesion. I don't know if this is what god wants us to do but I would rather let it go and suffer in silence as it is just frustrating to me instead of let my whole team suffer.
ReplyDeleteI work at the local ice cream shop in Mount Pleasant, Doozie's. The owner, Clyde Dosenberry (that's his real name), is one of the most gracious men I've ever met and he daily serves the community, his church, his family, and his employees. I work with girls who are Christians and girls who are not, which offers an amazing opportunity to be an example of Christ to both believers and non-believers alike.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, these past few weeks, I've been very easily frustrated with many of them. No matter where you work, there are days when you take that job for granted and you allow grumbling and complaining and laziness to take over your attitude and your work ethic. It can be contagious some days and it spreads through the entire shift. Girls checking the clock, girls using their cell phones, girls complaining about other co-workers, girls leaving chores undone, etc. Some days, I'm one of the girls listed above. There are days when I'm right in the thick of it and I'm convicted of it instantly wishing I could rewind to do it all over.
The frustration reached its peak this week when I was working with a few girls who are non-believers and a few girls who are believers, you wouldn't have been able to tell the difference. I felt defeated. I was quiet for almost the entire shift. I was silently stewing to God... what do I do when I'm outnumbered, what do I do when I could so easily be right there with them complaining, why are they like that... I've carried that anger towards my co-workers for that last two days, holding it against everyone and adding up their grievances in my mind. I've judged everyone I've worked with my last two shifts, counting them worthy or unworthy of our job.
Last night, Kyle and I were reading through "50 Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die" by John Piper. We read reasons one through six and my heart was wrecked by the end. How can I hold anger or any type of bitterness against anyone? Am I so worthy and pure that I have the right to judge anyone? It's very easy to measure sins and it's even easier to measure our sins against others. I've read Romans 3, "there is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one (v.10-12"..."for ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (v.23)," but when I read this in the past I didn't count myself as ALL. Reason 6 in this book spoke from Galatians 2:20. Christ loved ME and gave Himself for ME! I am cut off from God because of MY sin (not the sin of my co-workers). I won't belittle Christ's sacrifice by saying it was for "those" people. It was for ME.
In regards to forgiving and forgetting...
DeleteIn the Lord's prayer (Luke 11:4) it says, "Forgive us our sins (or trespasses), for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation."
The Greek word for forgive here is aphiēmi, which means to send forth (active) or to let go (passive). It ties forgiving and forgetting together. When you "send it forth," you aren't sending it just out to the universe never to think about it ever again. You are sending it forth to the hands of God. You don't have to hold on to it anymore. You can be free from holding on to that unforgiveness. You can cling with both hands to the love of the Father.
For anyone who has been wronged in an unforgivable way, let that wash your soul today.
Jen, this post was astounding. I am surprised that almost everyone (myself included) mentioned people who deserved their forgiveness. However almost no one admitted a time in which they were wrong and. We'd forgiveness themselves. Gosh you really nailed it. It's easy to find situations where people hurt/let you down. But who do you need to ask forgiveness from? A friend? A coworker? An Ex? Who have you let down? Who have you hurt? Great stuff.
DeleteWell I think it's safe to say I need to forgive, forget, and let go. My best friend is not the best friend I have had my entire life. This year when we went off to school we both changed in many ways and I was super excited. When I got home I realized she had taken a different route at college then I had. We no longer have the best friendship we always had and I often find myself upset with the decisions she's making. These posts are reminding me to relax and pray.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever been in a situation/relationship and something or someone is hurting but you stay in it because you think you're going to fix it?! Yup! That's been me the past year. I had a close friend who is going through some rough times and I always thought I was going to be able to "fix" him or help him. Well, it's time I realize that the big guy upstairs is the only one who can do that. As for now, I will let go.
I want to forgive. To show the same mercy that Jesus shows my heart. To comfort like His hands comfort our falls. To show grace to those who've broken my heart.
ReplyDeleteBut I'm not sure that I want to forget. I don't want to forget the mistakes I've made that have hurt the person standing next to me. I don't want to forget the look of abandonment or disappointment or angst in someone's eyes.
I don't like the phrase "Forgive and Forget" because I don't think we're created to forget things that touch us so genuinely and often shake us to our core. I think we forgive and then love - love like the greatest lover loved.
1 Peter 4:8 says, "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins."
It's interesting how some of us started reflecting on people who "NEED" our forgiveness or particular instances where someone has wronged us and they "NEED" us to let it go.....but notice the thread that is tying many of our stories together.
ReplyDeleteGod is bringing us to this hard place where He is calling us to reflect on ourselves and the tables are being turned. And now we are sitting at a table across from someone we thought was going to be a friend/enemy/whatever....but we find ourselves staring at OURSELVES! We end up being the one's who need a heart change, a heart alignment with God, a reminder that says HEY "I LOVE THEM TOO, YOU ARE NO BETTER!"
What, what do you mean God... they were the one who was wrong? And God is saying....Luke 6:41-42 (MSG) "It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, 'Let me wash your face for you', when your own face is distorted by contempt? It's this I-know-better-than-you mentality again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your own part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor."
In my head I see pictures rapidly flashing one by one of moments from my life where I needed to wash my own face!
Hey everyone, ok so this is my first time blogging not only on this site but ever. At first the thought kind of scared me trying to open up on the internet but with this topic something really jumped out at me. Two weeks ago I was at basketball camp at Bay Shore. As always we arrived Saturday night and as I saw most of faces from last year I got excited. I'm a little embarassed to say now but my mood instantly turned to anger when a guy named Alex Varney walked in the door.
ReplyDeleteAlex and I had kind of had a personal vendetta dating back to my sophomore and junior years in basketball, I mean he was a red hawk and I was a Patriot and thats enough cause right there lol, but we always seemed to have to out do eachother always foul eachother hard and just try to get under eachothers skins as much as possible. Typical high school rivalry right? Well once we watched that amazing Bob Ditter video I leaned over to Steffin and said, "dude I better not have to room with varney". :/ I know childish right? When we got our cabin numbers wouldn't you know, Alex and I were together.
Now the first night during free time our cabins counselors were all sitting around talking about basketball and ironically who we couldn't stand on the court. I eventually mentioned that I didn't like Alex and he agreed I wasn't his favorite person either. Now going along with the topic forgive and forget I feel God had us put in the same cabin for a reason.
As the week progressed I was shocked at how alike Varney and I were. We liked the same things, we had the same coaching techniques and philosophy, and then I realized that i had wasted so much energy and time hating a guy that I didn't even know. Alex and I faced or coached with eachother in every championship game that week and all three were just plain fun. Yes we were competitive and still hate losing to each other but that personal hate isn't there anymore.
With this occuring through out the week alex and I had an opportunity while Stef,Aaron, and Seth went to staff meeting to finish up devos alone. We brought up the question who can't you stand on the basketball court which the kids had plenty of answers to. We told them our story and how easy it is to judge someone without knowing them and ended up talking for about three more hours on all sorts of stuff. It was awesome.
Well point is, I learned to forgive and forget my past with Alex and "Let Go" our ridiculous hatred of eachother and now he is one of my best friends. I feel God always has a plan for our weeks at Bay Shore and not only for the campers. So I know it might be hard but I challenge everyone that reads this to go into camp, and into life with an open mind and to try your best to get to know someone before you judge them or maybe to mend a broken relationship. whether it's at camp with a fellow counselor or in the real world. Speaking from experience you will feel a lot better
NICK
Great stuff Nick. Thanks a lot for sharing.
DeleteGoing off of KT's "need" commentary, I have seen most of our posts have focused on our "need" to forgive, whether others or even ourselves. Jen mentioned about this "need" for forgiving being both an active and passive role; one cannot be true without the other. But more than that, if we reflect on Ephesians 4:32 (NIT) "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you," does anyone feel like to make our forgiveness whole and complete, there needs to be a sense of "desire and want" to forgive? We do not deserve God's forgiveness, nor will we ever but yet He desires and wants to forgive us. Through our FAITH and by His GRACE and LOVE we are forgiven, completely. I feel in that sense choosing to forgive someone becomes more than just a "need".
ReplyDeleteHowever let me clarify, we cannot and should not find ways to forgive one another because it MAY BE the "right" thing to do at the time, but because IT IS the right thing to do every time. It is impossible to do it alone and it's not supposed to be easy but as Tim so perfectly stated before,"Forgiveness takes more courage than you can muster alone, it takes more strength than you have, and it takes more grace and mercy than you can offer. You have to plead with God to do whatever it takes to make His name glorified in your life."
I am kind of all over the place but I hope this makes some sort of sense. Not the greatest at expressing whats all happening in the blob I accept as my brain.
I think this would be the most relevant place for me to put this. Showing emotion isn't really my forte... I'm not very good at "opening up". This is really tough for me to do, so bare with me. This is a very emotional thing for me, and is hard to even talk about. I haven't talked about it to anyone, but I guess I should get this off my chest. Here we go...
ReplyDeleteThis last weekend for me, has been one of the worst of my life. My on-again off-again girlfriend for the last three and a half years is gone. She cheated on me, slept with some other guy, and then proceeded to leave me for said guy. This girl was my first for everything. She was my best friend, and betrayed me. I haven't eaten a legitimate meal since Saturday and can't focus on anything long enough without thinking about her so badly, that my whole life is suffering. I played the worst game of my life at baseball Sunday, I'm not doing well at work, and I just don't want to do anything anymore. I break down so often throughout the day, because every little thing reminds me of her.
I can't sleep. I can't eat. I'm throwing up everyday. It's like I can't function normally. I've never felt like this before. I've experienced so much loss in my life, and nothing has hit me this hard.
But the biggest problem is, I feel so alone now. My friends are all busy with their summer stuff that they don't have much time to do anything. This girl was the one that I always talked to when I had a problem, and now she's gone. It's hard for me to open up. I don't show a lot of emotion. I honestly can't believe I'm even doing this post.
So now, it's like I don't know what to do with myself. I haven't done anything really but spend my whole day at work, then come home and mope around, until I finally drink some NyQuill at 3 in the morning just so that I can finally go to sleep.
On top of all this, I recently had to tell my Father (who I never see due to divorce) that I no longer want him in my life. He did nothing but bring me down, and I couldn't take it anymore. He's just your classic unemployed under achiever who blew all his money on drugs. My mom is the only thing I have left.
My relationship with God currently, is almost non-existent. For some reason I just can't turn to him yet after everything that has happened. I'm in a bad place right now.
I need to get away from life. Away from the stress. I look forward to camp all year. It's the only place where I don't have to deal with everything. I get one week, of true tranquility. It couldn't come at a better time. Thanks to everyone who read this. If anyone ever needs to talk about anything, I'm here. My phone number is 989.305.1803 - shoot me a text anytime.
-Rusty
Awhile ago I began reading Crazy Love. If I you have not had the opportunity to read this book, I will give you a fair warning it can change your outlook on your relationship with Christ. After just the first chapter I was moved. That night I just laid in silence, letting God do the talking for once. I prayed after awhile that he just have my life and that I wish to bring his name glory with it. Within the next couple of days I discovered that my family contribution for Ferris had increased greatly. The following Monday I had no choice but to attend my orientation to get to the bottom of the situation. They could do nothing for us but offer a parent loan. My Mom and I decided to leave my orientation after I scheduled my classes at Ferris.
ReplyDeleteIf you don't know me very well you should know that I like having plans and knowing what is going to happen in my future. Usually if anything like this were to occur I would end up in bed, watching chick flicks. This time I was more curious to figure out what was going to happen, I did all I could to hold it together. (Dan Rinke has a way of making your plan of holding it together fall apart and he ends up handing you tissues in his office)
This brings me back to leaving orientation to meet with Dan about attending CMU. It turns out that the money was right and God has plans for me at Central. Throughout this little change in plans I kept Isaiah 41:13 in the back of my mind. It says, “That’s right. Because I, your God, have a firm grip on you and I'm not letting go. I'm telling you. 'Don't panic. I'm right here to help you.'"
The situation demanded that I let go of my plans and let God step in and take control.