Encouragement

Dear Readers,

   This is now my second week of being put on video production at LLBC and I am enjoying it immensely.   I pretty much work for David Jackson and do whatever he wants me to do.  My job usually consists of recording (audio) chapel every morning and evening, and this week I am also recording (video) the new dish crew orientation video.   On the side I am also helping the bible speaker and his wife (Mollie and Nathan Jones) record interviews and other things for chapel.  I have learned so much doing these things and more.   It is so much fun!  

    I would encourage you to go to the camp website and check out the changes we have made and the new things we have added.   You can download the chapel sessions now and then you can listen to them on your computer, ipod, or you can burn them onto a CD.  

    Over the past few weeks God has really encouraged me to work hard at each one of the jobs put in front of me.   In my position that can be (and most often is) very hard.  My job is new.  I am the only one who has ever had this actual job before, so I'm kind of a gopher as well as videographer.   I am starting to find my place among the staff, but at first it was really hard.  I'm used to  different schedule, I'm used to knowing exactly what I'm supposed to do and when.   But in this job things are totally different.  I have to ask questions about what to do.  I have to be flexible to record at different times, I have to be willing to stretch my mind to do things I've never done before.   And I have to be ok with the fact that no one knows what I do.   That last one is the hardest for me.   I love being praised and acknowledged.   In this job hardly any one sees me because I'm behind a computer most of the time.  The coolest part is, I'm ok with that now.  God pulled me beyond what I thought I could do and now I'm a better videographer because of it.  I'm a better staff member because of it.   I'm a better person because of it.  

   So now I want to encourage you to work hard at each and every job God puts in front of you.  Even if you don't like it at all.   He could make you into a better person because of it.  Strive to be all you can be, but without any praise.  Be a servant to all, but don't let anyone know.  Sing praise to God for all he has blessed you with, but don't let anyone else hear it.   

    A few things you could pray for if you have a chance:

-Health

-That I will pace myself and not work my legs to much

-That I will glorify God in all I do

-Campers

-The heat (it has been super hot and just please pray that no one will get dehydrated)

-Chapel (that God will speak in mighty ways)

God Bless and I love you all!

Megs

His Eyes

Dear Readers, 

As I write this I am praying that God will give me the right words to express my point today.  The challenge I am going to share with you today is very dear to my heart and I fight to follow through with it every day, though much too often I fail.   Over the past few months I've been going through The Truth Project with my church small group and we went through the final tour last week.  On this tour I pulled some very important points, but the think that struck me the most was opening our eyes.  More like asking God to give us His eyes.  Let me give an example of why this needs to be carried out with a story.

  Melyssa stepped down the walk and onto the sidewalk giving herself pep talk all the way to the mall.  Once she arrived she searched for her friends. As soon as she spotted them she also saw her reflection in the windows lining American Eagle.  I look awful! She thought to herself and made the decision to just leave.  Before she could run the group of girls waved at her and she knew she lost her opportunity.  She pulled her shirt straight, sucked in her stomach and walked over the the group.  One of her friends squealed in her ear, "Did you see the sale at Target! We have to go over there!"  Lyssa tried to act excited, but she wasn't really looking forward to comparing waistline sizes.  

  They got to Target and she calmly followed the group wishing that she could be somewhere else.  They reached the jeans and the girls started picking out there sizes.  Zeros, and twos.  She just stood there trying to blend in and not have to grab her size, "Thats soooo cute!"  She said trying to distract them to another item.  "It's not really my thing...." Her friend Rachel said and then paused. She reached for a pair of jeans, "These would be so cute on you!  You have to try them on!"  Lyssa froze and searched for an exit.  Out of the corner of her eye she saw a bathroom not too far away. She ran for it but had to stop abruptly to dodge a red head.  She quickly got back on track and locked herself in a stall.  She looked down into the toilet and then shoved her finger down her throat.  Her throat started to burn as she barfed up her lunch.  As soon as her sickening deed was done she ran home and did it again.  Day after day she became skinnier and skinnier.  She soon reached a size two, but wanted a size zero.  Now she is wasting away, but she is stuck in a spiraled trap.

Give me your eyes for just one second

Give me your eyes so I can see

Everything that I keep missing

Give me your love for humanity

Give me your arms for the broken hearted

The ones that are far beyond my reach

Give me your heart for the once forgotten

Give me your eyes so I can see

~Chorus to "Give Me Your Eyes" by: Brandon Heath~

Can you see what I am pointing out here?  There is so much going on around us and we walk around not even seeing it!  Oh please ask God to give you His eyes and make the decision to do so.  Look around you for the unwanted for the left out, and for the needy.  I know that pretty much covers every one at some point or another, but God will present the opportunity for you to not only be His eyes, but His hands as well.  Just by being willing to listen to what they have to say, being willing to be a friend when there are no other friends around.  Please take time today to see through God's eyes.  Make that your prayer and strive to fulfill it.

  Below I've listed two awesome organizations that I have fallen in love with because of there amazing love for God and His children.  I just wanted to share them with you because they have given me inspiration to continue in this battle for Christ and I'm sure they will inspire you as well.

Mercy Ministries of America 

Compassion International 

Psalm 119:33  (The Message)

God, teach me lessons for living so I can stay the course. Give me insight so I can do what you tell me— my whole life one long, obedient response. Guide me down the road of your commandments; I love traveling this freeway! Give me a bent for your words of wisdom, and not for piling up loot. Divert my eyes from toys and trinkets, invigorate me on the pilgrim way. Affirm your promises to me— promises made to all who fear you. Deflect the harsh words of my critics— but what you say is always so good. See how hungry I am for your counsel; preserve my life through your righteous ways!

Megs

I'm Guessing

Dear Readers,

So you all know that I am on crutches because of surgery in January and I was hoping to be off of them by now.  Unfortunately that is not going to happen.  I'm going to have to be on crutches for another six weeks and I cannot use my left leg for much of anything at all due to a hairline fracture in my pelvis.  I would explain more, but it's somewhat hard to explain and I will spare you the boredom.   

  With this new development in my legs I am struggling to see what God is doing.  I thought He had given me enough patience by now, but their must be something else that He wants me to learn from all of this.   My mind keeps telling me to take over and make my life MINE, but when I can't even walk without sticks on each side of me God pretty much has me tied down and listening.  I am continually having to give myself over to Him and trust that He will heal me in His time, though I wish with all my heart it could be my time.  Everyday, every morning, I have to put myself at the feet of God all over again.  He has blessed me with some very cool God moments and taught me some pretty awesome stuff when I make that decision and give my future over to Him, but the human side of me always seems to wake up in the morning and override His plan.  How crazy is that!  No really how many times do we go through our day and we try to override the God of the universe!  When I think of things that way it makes me realize how much more I have to learn.  That is my prayer as I write this tonight.  That I would lay myself before God and let Him be who He is, my God and Father, and I'm guessing that His plan will be way better than mine.

  

   Over this summer I am challenging myself to post at least every other week with an update on what God has taught me that week.  Along with that I will post an update on how God has been working at camp as I will be out there serving most of the summer.

  I will be praying for all of you and I would greatly appreciate your prayers for my healing as well.  Stay strong for Christ and have fun guessing where your life will go, but let God take control.  ;)

Megs

And I don’t know how the story ends

But I'll be alright cause you own it

I don’t know where the highway bends

But I’m doing just fine

Cause your in control

Even when I don’t know

Where my life’s gonna go

You’re keeping me guessing

~chorus of 'keeping me guessing' by Francesca Battistelli

Prayers, Songs and Sayings

Dear Readers,

For this post I just want to muse and share my thoughts with you.  I'm going to paste some of my poems, songs, and prayers for you to see and hopefully you will find inspiration and hope for your life.  There are so many things I could say, but I would rather share some of my musings with you because that is the easiest way for me to express myself.  I will be praying for you all.  Please enjoy and ponder these writings.  If you have any thoughts or challenges for me, or anything that you would like me to post on please let me know at megmusic1@gmail.com

Your sister in Christ,

Megs

~Reaching~

Reaching for the sky.

Watching the clouds go by.

I dream.

Of many days gone by,

Of many calenders thrown away.

Of many flowers hidden to remember days of completion and pain.

Reaching for the sky

Watching the clouds go by.

I remember.

The many days gone by,

The hours I wish I could take back.

The flowers hidden to remember days of completion and pain.

Reaching for the sky.

Watching the clouds go by.

I Reach.

I'm reaching for the days gone by,

I'm reaching for the times I wasted

I'm reaching for the flowers hidden to remember days of completion and pain.

I'm reaching for you.

A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart

and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.

-Unknown-

~Sweet Sixteen~

Verse 1

everyday I put up with my so called friends

I put up with myself, And somehow I still get played

They'll use me and I will accuse myself

Verse 2

every week I try to understand my so called friends

I listen to what they say, but somehow I still get hurt.

They'll neglect me and I will reject myself

Pre Chorus:

God I need your help to remember that this is not the end

Chorus:

Cuz Sweet sixteen is only the beginning

You have better things ahead then

All this pain, all these lies

I'm ready to hold on, to what you say

Cuz Sweet sixteen is only the beginning

The life You planned is more than 

The things they say, The people they play

Ephesians 4:25

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood

and speak truthfully to his neighbor, 

for we are all members of one body.

~UnNamed~

I bring this song to You

I sing this anthem from my heart

I know my voice is feeble and weak, but I am Yours.

The strength of who You are brings strength to my soul

The power of Your love brings power to my love

The awe of everything you are is why I live today

Though many voices sing around me

I raise this anthem from my heart

Though many more are stronger than I

I raise my hands to yours

The strength of who You are brings strength to my soul

The power of Your love brings power to my love

The awe of everything you are is why I live today

The passion that You radiate

The songs You brought to life

The life that You have given me

The dance You have arisen!

The strength of who You are brings strength to my soul

The power of Your love brings power to my love

The awe of everything you are is why I live today

Megs

Sweet Sixteen

Dear Readers,

Today I turned sixteen, and I am going to share a lesson God has been teaching me over the past month.   High school is a short period in my life.  Just because things may be going wrong now does not mean they will go wrong forever.  Like when we are in pain.   If we get a scrape the pain from that will go away, but when we have the pain from that all we can think about is the here and the now, "My finger hurts!"  and that sort of thing.  But if we remember that the pain from that scrape will only last a short while, it gives us a new hope and it almost decreases the pain instantly.  Life is the same way...many times we can only think of the here and the now.  Friends may reject us, that does not mean they will forever.  I am only 16,  life is not going to end because I can't walk well for a year.  There are many years to come and one year will seem like a blink of an eye.  So I want to pass this on to you, please remember that a bad day or a bad year is ok.  God has better ones planned.  Trust Him.  He is our Father and He loves us and is our best friend when no one else is there.   Sweet sixteen is not the end.  God has better things ahead that we could never imagine.  Sometimes we need that reminder to carry on.  

God Bless and I love you All!

Megs

Soldier

Just like a soldier you battle for my soul

More like a Father you come and take me home

~Chorus of Soldier by Bebo Norman~

Hey everyone,

Today I am going to focus on the first line of the quote above.   God is a soldier battling for our souls.  I just want to focus on that.  How awesome!  When I hear that (and read it) it just makes me smile.  It is so cool to know that God loves me so much He is battling for me, for my soul. 

   On the other hand I also think about that fact in a deeper way.  There is a war going on for me right now.  The spiritual battle is going on and I often forget that and give in to the temptations that Satan places in front of me.  Most of the time I give in to what ever he throws at me and don't even think about what I am doing.  I let my guard down and give the devil an opertune chance to strike.  

Eph. 6:13-15  (the message)

Be prepared.  You're up against far more than you can handle on your own.  Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so the when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet.  Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words.  Learn how to apply them.  You'll need them throughout your life.  God's Word is an indispensable weapon.  

  Right now I am fighting to apply faith to my walk with Christ.  As most of you know I had surgery in January and am in the recovery.  Let me tell you it is very easy to become discoraged on this long haul to healing.  Everyday I have to tell myself to keep going even when I don't see results right away.   I have to have faith in God.  I have to have faith that God will bring a full recovery to my body in time.  His time.  

  That is how I am growing into a better soldier at this point in my life. I am working hard so that I may fight for my soul right next to my Savior.  And win.  

~Megs

 

Falsehood vs. Truth

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor for we are all members of one body.

Ephesians 4:25

Dear Readers,

Have you ever lied when someone asks you how you are?  You know what I mean.  The old, "Oh I'm doing great! Did you know..."  And we escape the question quickly and efficiently.  How often do we do that?  Do we just answer everyone the same way?  Do we come up with a plan in our heads and act on it?   Really, how much would it hurt to just answer truthfully?   The verse from Ephesians that I posted above clearly states that we are to, 'put off falsehood.'  Why?  Because we are all part of God's body and when one of us mourns all of us are to mourn.  When one of us rejoices all of us are to rejoice.  But how can we do this if we are not truthful?   I know that I am asking a lot of questions, but I know that for myself they are much to often questions that I do not want to answer.  Sooner or later I know that I will have to face these questions and I believe that the longer I hide behind my lies the harder it will be to escape them.   So I am choosing to step out and break this sinful habit.  That does not mean I will start to bawl when someone asks me how I am.  It also does not mean that I will shriek my head off in church if I find out I get to meet BarlowGirl. :) What it means is this: I will share and be truthful, but I will also be aware of my surroundings and choose when to share and when to listen.  I know that God will give me the right opportunities to cry and the right opportunities to laugh.  And so I ask you, please do not wait if you also struggle with this.  The best friendships are always built on honesty and God's love.  So let us work together as a body.  Let us mourn together and rejoice together. 

Love in Christ,

~Megs