Just Within Reach ...

I know it's been a few weeks since I've blogged, but I've had so much going on in my life that there's no possible way to focus it into a blog post. Right now, I'm sitting here thinking about what to tell you. I'm laying on a bed in Nashville that is not my own, because my apartment isn't ready yet. So my incredible friends, Nic & Meredith, have taken me into their home for a few weeks. I'm sitting in "my" room looking around and realizing everything my life consists of right now is within 5 feet of me. Don't believe me? Let me illustrate this for you... on my bed is a CentriKid Camps OMC shirt, a wallet, a cell phone, and letters that I'm in the process of writing to my amazing CK1 Dream Team. Right beside me on the floor is my suitcase and my "big girl" bag I take to work everyday. Finally, on the night stand is my Bible, devotional, and a few books I've either finished reading or am just about to start. This is my life. A life where everything I need is within reach. A life that isn't cluttered. A life that is simple... at least for now.

While times like these should encourage us and give us moments of rest, do we cherish them? Probably not. It is in these times when we relax and think... and good gracious, we analyze. We muddle. We mull. We think of what-if's and why-not's. I've been doing a lot of this lately. Have I been the best person? Am I using the gifts the Lord has given me? Am I being encouraging? Most importantly, do people see Christ when interact with them?

I was talking to one of my staffers the other day and they were talking about how they were trying to get through this school year so they could get to camp again. At that moment I challenged them not to let camp become their only place of ministry, because there are 10 other months in the year where camp isn't there. Ten other months when kids aren't right side you 18 hours of the day. Ten months where your quiet times aren't the 20 minutes before the 8:15 am staff meeting. Ten months where kids aren't tugging at your shorts to buy a Sno Cone or play Ninja. Ten months where people yearning to hear the Gospel aren't "Just Within Reach..."

Not only was this a challenge for that staffer, but for me as well. I don't want to be a person who only ministers when it's 5 feet away from me or when it first comfortably into my schedule. I want my ministry to be at my job, my church, my grocery store. I'm called to be an example of Christ where ever I go and whatever I do.

So, I ask you, are you seeing things that are just within reach or are you looking AND moving past those things to see more?

Laughing, Crying, Hurting, & Healing...

I'm sitting here on the cusp of the next stage in my life. I move to Nashville in 3 days and begin my "big girl job" in 4. While I have a nervous stomach fueled by uncertainty and anticipation about my future, but I am compelled to write about the past--this past summer, in particular. I feel I'm ready to share about this summer with CentriKid. I'm ready to share about how the team grew me and how their stories encouraged me and usually made me laugh. I'm ready to share how I was blessed by them and by seeing them truly live out the Gospel. But, more importantly, I'm ready to share how amazing our God is and how He was evident this summer.

This summer was filled with a lot of things... Intense laughter until I almost peed my pants; tears that I felt would never end; hugs that couldn't possibly get any tighter; hearts that, seemingly, couldn't be more burdened.

This summer, I laughed so hard that I didn't think I would survive. CK1... let's face it, we were full of some truly hysterical people. There were guys who would dance and act ridiculous; there were girls who's laughs were infectious. One time that sticks out in my mind was when a bird pooped on my head at training week. Here I am, I've been with my team for maybe 24 hours, and this bird poops on my head as we're acting out counseling scenarios that they might encounter with kids. Let's just say, my squeals and freak-out moment provided everyone in the room a nice break from finding out how to deal with the kid who has been"saved" 2987 times.

This summer, I cried more than I had in an incredibly long time. People that know me know that crying is not something you will see me do very often. I just don't. Call me heartless. Call me insensitive, maybe. But it doesn't happen often... or so I thought. I cried the first night of worship. I was literally pleading with the Lord to save the kids. Yes, pleading. I had NEVER been burdened for a group of 3rd-6th graders like that before. I cried when I felt like I was doing a horrible job. I cried when I didn't feel like I was encouraging enough. I cried when I didn't feel like I had prepared the team well. On one particularly emotional day, I began to tally... I cried 7 times. Why? I have no clue, other than the fact that we had 900 campers and adults, 45 staffers, and 2 camps to run simultaneously. Ok, so I freaked out a little. In that, though, I was reminded of the story of Moses in Exodus 17: 11-13,

"Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword."

During that time was when, yes, I felt my weakest, but I could also feel the strength of the team--the Dream Team.

This summer, the love present on CK1 was amazing. We had some tough situations to come through--deaths, struggles at home, differences, exhaustion. But, through it all, we found time and energy to love and invest into one another. From 10 hour budget rides to 2 am talks under shooting stars in the south Georgia sky, I came to know their hearts. My team's hearts. Their hurts and their successes. I came to LOVE their youth. and their questions. and their apprehensions. and their fears. and their wisdom. But, more importantly, I came to absolutely cherish their hearts. I loved this team. They were a great first go-around for me as a director. All this was unexpected. I didn't think I would form as great of friendships as I did, and for that I am ever grateful because the Lord provided what I needed.

This summer, our hearts were burdened with the endless hurts of kids and adults, alike. I literally dreaded Monday nights because I had to inform the team of the struggles of the kids during staff meeting as we went over and prayed for the kids with special attention cards at camp. Some weeks, there were cards I couldn't bring myself to read because I couldn't verbalize what was written. I wanted to cry. I wanted to throw up. I wanted to help them. I prayed the Lord would change their situations. As hard as it was for me see these cards, it was even harder to have a staffer come to me with tears welling up in their eyes, their voice shaking, as they told me more details of the stories. Yes, these were tough moments. Yes, they hurt. Yes, I wanted to fix it. But the greatest moments at camp were seeing these hurting kids "get it." When a kid says, "this is the first time I realize I have a purpose and I'm not a 'nobody' like I've always been told.'" When I child realizes that the reason their mom is a drug addict is so the Lord can be glorified through their life. That's why we're called to do what we do. That's why our Redeemer, for some insane reason, chooses to use corrupt college students to proclaim His name. I am humbled by this. I am encouraged by this. by the love. by the sacrifice. by the GOSPEL!

I'll leave this incredibly long post with a story our site contact at Norman Park told me the day we left to come home.

There was a housekeeper there who said that no group had ever talked to her and wanted to hear how her day was before, outside of our team this summer. She asked what was different about us and if we were Christians. Brian, our amazing site contact, asked her if she was a believer. The response was, "no." At that time, Brian was blessed with the opportunity to share the Gospel with this lady. She became a believer! Another victory for Christ! Amen!!!

So, I ask you, are you showing Christ? Are you living Christ? Is every bit of your being exuding Christ?

A Story from Old...

So, I don't really have anything insightful to say from me personally. I'm working on a post about camp this summer, but haven't quite gotten it where I want it to be. I do, however, have some very insightful words from my great-grandmother.

Yesterday, when I went to visit my Mamaw, she gave me a few sheets of paper that my great-grandmother (her mother) had written upon almost 40 years ago. The following story was written by an amazing Christian woman with an 8th grade education. She grew up only going into town 3 times a year, but her words were eloquent and her heart was all for the Lord. The coming lines were written by Pauline "Mamaw Pauline" McGaha, my great-grandmother.



Stormy Weather in a Christian Life

We, as human beings, know life isn't smooth sailing as we sail upon the sea of life. Maybe some days will seem ideal, without any trouble. Then, we are prone to take our eyes off of the Lord--we forget from whence cometh out help, so on we go in out own way. Pretty soon a storm cloud arises and dims our sunshine. Then, we are in for trouble. our little boat may be tossed to and fro as the strong winds hit us--then, we almost sink into the deep. It it then we remember where out help must come from. Have you ever been so overwhelmed with storms of sorrow that you almost lost sight of the Savior? Have you ever let something else creep in, and you tend to take your eyes off of Jesus? Out little boat may overturn in this sea of life unless we cling to the One who is able to steer us through these storms; He is ever present.

Sometimes we as Christians let such things as hatred, malice, greed and selfishness get in our ships. We feel we don't want anyone's help. Pretty soon we will find ourselves miserable, unhappy, discontent. Then in shame, we bow our head and say "Lord, help me or I perish." Then sometimes our very busy life takes our eyes off Jesus--too busy to help with His kingdom work, but not too busy for our pleasure trips, or games, fishing, picnics or whatever we enjoy most than serving God. It is then we slip a little more downward in our ship. THen when we finally realize out standing with the Lord, we again are about to sink, then we have to say "Lord, I need you again today." When storms beat us and waves roll high, cling ever closer to the One who calmed the sea as He said, "peace be still."

Let's not forget Him when everything is pleasant and we are enjoying life for tomorrow another storm may arise. In our lifetime, there has been lots of stormy weather, but He has helped me someway through it all. So I'll continue to sail my little ship until He says it's enough. Through storms or fair weather, trying to keep my eyes on Jesus. Them when it's all over, I'll step on the gospel ship that will take me over the chilly Jordan. There all storms will have ceased. We will have perfect weather and join our dear loved ones that await us on the other side, where ever heaven is that is my goal.

... May we all rededicate and consecrate ourselves to trying to throw our a life line to some of our friends that are sinking deeper and deeper.


These are some amazing words and ones that reign all so true in our lives today. So, I challenge you to keep looking upward and try to keep your head above water, because you never know when you'll have to be on high enough ground to throw someone else a life line.