The Joy of the Lord is My Strength

Last week I enjoyed for the first time the role of being a camp counselor and I loved it. I know it was only successful because of God's power and the prayers of many family and friends back home.

The well known, Philippians 4:13, became so real to me last week. I did many things I could not have normally done and I was placed outside my comfort zone many times, but because God was my strength I was able to accomplish much for Him.

I loved everything about being a counselor: directing, counseling, and discipling five sweet girls, making awesome friends, meeting with other counselors for prayer 6:30 in the morning, meeting and getting to know many campers, learning about God and His Word, participating in fun camp activities, helping campers memorize Scripture, eating the delicious camp food! etc. etc.

But the most joyous part of my week was leading four campers to Christ. Of course it wasn't I who did it; God just happened to use me and put me at the right place at just the right time. And they were so ready. Through the sermons and nights of devotions, their hearts had been softened to the gospel and they were ready to give Christ their life. I listened to them pray and they sincerely asked Christ to be their Savior. It was such an exciting time!! I never helped lead anyone to Christ before so I couldn't help to be moved. I was so thankful for God's working in these girl's lives and the others who surrendered their lives to God.

God did so much last week and answered so much prayer. He not only worked in the camper's hearts but mine as well. I give Him praise for that.

Philippians 4:13 is almost a cliche' among believers, but I want to encourage you to really think about and believe in its meaning. Without God you can do nothing (John 15:5), but with Him you can do anything (Phil. 4:13). You can do all things with Christ if He is your source of strength (Ps. 27:1). And when He is, it's endless of what you can accomplish.

Excerpt From My Journal

As I pack away my Bright Lights material tonight, my heart overflows with joy and gratitude of all that God has done. I can't help but smile. I did it...with Him. With God's help I started a group that I have always prayed about and now it is finished. I finally got to discipline young ladies and teach them the truths of God's Word! Oh Praise You Lord! I was so uncertain at first but God has blessed. Indeed God doesn't call us to do anything that He won't help us with. And oh, I could have never done this without His help. There's certain things that are totally out of my power, like the working and changing in the girl's lives. That's the Holy Spirit's job. And there's other things that I rely on Him for, such as the boldness and words to speak for each lesson. It's so easy, though, to occasionally assume I can do the little things---or at least something---without His help. Yet the Bible says, "without me, ye can do nothing."

There's been many times I have sat in front of my laptop ready to write but my mind remained terribly blank--the one thing I thought I was capable of accomplishing myself. I've had to call on the Lord many times for inspiration and He's showered me with ideas and thoughts that I would have never thought of. He's the one who has wrote the lessons, not I.


From what I've learned from leading Bright Lights, the thing that stands out the most would be learning to have a greater dependency on God. This has strengthened my faith and relationship with Him as I've had to seek Him many times to help me. How foolish I am to think I can handle things on my own. When I rely on myself all is fruitless. Leading this group has helped me to see how much I need Him for the big and small things.


Prayer. Oh, how important it is. This has become more real to me over the past few months. You see, prayer has not only been the preparation for the ministry; it is the ministry. A work done for God is only as powerful as it has been soaked with prayer. Every week of Bible study God has answered prayer, and in the process He has grown my faith in the true effectiveness of it.

God is so gracious for each girl He has sent my way and I am so thankful for the opportunity He gave me to be apart of their lives. I love them all so much and they are all so special in their own way. I do pray that the things that they learned will be used in their life and that God will continue to grow them to be strong and godly young ladies for the glory of Him. May I never forget the things He has taught me too, and I pray I will always choose to put my dependency and strength in Him in whatever I do.

Simple Exercise That Will Change Everything

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

I have been striving lately to apply 1 Thess. 5:18 to my life and in doing so I have found it does wonders.

My sister and I went to an amusement park with a group of friends and the most aggrivating thing occurred. I put my cell-phone in my pocket before the ride (like I have done a million times before) and when I hopped off the coaster I checked my pocket and my phone was not there. I was so upset. The absence of my cell-phone was not what essentially bothered me (since it can be replaced) but the fact that all my contacts, numbers, notes, and pictures were forever gone.

I couldn't get the senario out of my head when it first happened. My information was lost and my phone probably in a million pieces. How could I be cheerful and enjoy the park again? At that point I had a choice to make. Either I could dwell on my regrets and ruin my whole day, or I could be thankful.

Be thankful?? Yes, when I finally took the time to dwell on what I was thankful for in the situation I realized there were many things.

First, I was thankful that my cell-phone had fallen out of my pocket and not the money and credit card that resided in the opposite one. Between the two I would have definitely given up my cell, so I was very grateful for that.

Second, I was grateful I had some of my numbers written down so not all of them were completely gone.

Third, I was thankful I had a spare phone at home (even though it's not so great) which I could transfer my number immediately incase anyone called.

When I thought about it, I realized the situation wasn't as bad as it seemed. Dwelling on the good instead of the unfavorable changed my whole perspective around. I knew according to 1 Thessalonians 5:18 that God has a reason for what occurred and I was to give thanks anyway. Because I did, I was able to enjoy the rest of the day and have a blast with my friends even though I was cell-phone absent.

If only I could remember and apply this to all parts of my life! It makes me wonder that if I can't apply this to the small areas, how will I respond when trials come my way? Will I be able to give thanks (1 Thess. 5:18) or count it all joy (James 1:2)? I need to make the practice of giving thanks in the disappointing things a natural part of my life. I know it would be so much better if I do.


*Note: I recommend an excellent book that focuses on this verse: A Thankful Heart by Carole Lewis. It will change your life.

Something I hope I Don't Forget

For some reason, April was a very dry writing period for me. Last month my blog was empty and my journal bare. When I occasionally had a subject I would sit with pen in hand and my mind would go blank. No inspiration whatsoever. Don't you hate intense periods of writer's block?? I'm not sure if it was that or if I was just too busy to think but it's funny because now I'm going through some kind of writing phase. My mind has been racing with thoughts, my pen running at furious speeds, and my journal filled with pages of cursive writing almost daily. Writer's block is way behind me. It's a great feeling since I love to write and hopefully this month my blog will have way more entires.

Before I conclude this post I must share a story with you.

Back in January, my Dad and I were driving out of our driveway when I noticed something brown escape into a ditch inside a tunnel. We stopped and I went out to check it out to find a timid puppy's face looking back at me. Finally after a long attempt of graceful puppy calls, the nervous thing finally came out. Amber and Autumn were on the scene now and he took to them quickly. I guess we just adopted him from there because he never left.

After a few months of keeping this pooch lets just say I discovered he wasn't my favorite dog. When a dog always tries to jump on you every time you exit the house, you're bound to be annoyed. Especially when he does manage to get mud on your Sunday clothes. With an occasional drooling face and bounds of hyper energy, you just never know when he'll attack by throwing up his paws or either licking you on the leg. Perhaps by now if you called "get!" he'd come running and think it was his name. This is one dog that will drive you crazy.

Well, last night I was driving home from a Bible study and my headlights revealed a dead dog close to our driveway. Brown and short, it was our adopted pet. It must have been chasing a car and finally met it's doom. It lie there lifeless, all alone, gone forever. I almost cried. Yes, he was annoying but deep down I'm sure he was just looking for love and I never gave it to him. I felt pretty bad and decided I'd better give special attention to the dogs that were left. Walking up the driveway I called for our beloved dog Sugar when out of no where the crazy, brown mutt appeared. What? I thought you were dead! I was pretty surprised to say the least. He furiously wagged his tail and looked at me with his big eyes and obnoxious grin. I honestly wasn't sure what to think but I decided to do something I never did.........I petted him. The first time he tried to lick my hand but after taking interest in a nearby crawling bug, he let me pat his head. He was soft and he didn't seem to notice. I slipped inside the house and pondered what had just happened.

All I could conclude was the simple fact that we don't appreciate things until we don't have them. Isn't this true in all of life? We take so much for granted and when they're gone from our reach is when we finally realize how much we actually needed, appreciated, loved it. The simple solution is gratitude.....gratitude for all we have. It makes me want to examine my life for everyday things I don't thank God for giving to me.

I don't know what my relationship will be with the pup from here on out. I'm sure he'll continue to attack and I will continue being irritated, but you know, I was reminded something valuable yesterday which I hope I don't forget. It's a life long lesson we all should keep close to heart. And because of that every now and then I'm gonna try to pet that crazy brown mutt...That is if he doesn't jump on me first :)

Solution to Anxiety

The ultimate remedy for worry is prayer. Philippians 4:6 is very dear to me and has been proven true over and over again. Life has been so hectic and overwhelming as of late that sometimes my head has felt like it's spinning; yet God's promises never fail me. 

I joined a women's Bible study last month on the book of Philippians and I have been so blessed as we have studied and discussed God's promises together. Discussing Philippians 4 last night opened my eyes further to what a privilege 4:6-7 really is.

I am to worry about absolutely nothing. Whatever concerns my mind and heart I am to bring it before God with thanksgiving. It's not just a matter of prayer but a decision to have a grateful heart and to look at the bright side at the same time. This is not always easy to do--to find good when all is a mess or all seems hopeless--but it's really eye-opening when you do seek to find the good even in the difficult. It reminds me that God's goodness is evident even in the most complicated circumstances. 

So when we do this what is the result? "The peace of God which passeth all understand, shall keep you hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (4:7)." There's nothing more sweet than receiving such peace that God is in control and will work everything out for good. Worry truly melts away when you bring your concerns to God. How this bring so much peace to my heart! 

Valentines Day Challenge

Today is the celebration of love, chocolate, and romance. If you're like me and don't have a "significant other," then Valentines most likely means nothing to you. It's very easy to see deliveries of love letters and stunning bouquets to another's open arms and in return be submerged in feelings of loneliness and self-pity. Well, before you pull out the tissue box this supposedly romantic holiday, I have a special challenge for all you "singles". Instead of loathing the absence of a special guy/gal in your life, I'd encourage you to especially lay aside today to focus on God's love, which is the greatest gift we could ever been granted.

I was talking with a dear friend this week and during our conversation she directed me to God and His great love for me. I caught myself thinking as she spoke; "yeah, God's love; He loves everyone. I know. I've heard it a million times before..." I quickly stopped myself realizing how lightly I was viewing it. I was so ashamed! It is because of His love that I am complete. He not only is the God of love (Jn. 4:16) but He loves me personally even when I don't deserve an ounce of it. God's love is the only love that is so deep and so sure!

Man says "I love you." But God says "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." (1 Jn. 4:10 NIV)

...the love of the God who is spirit is no fitful, fluctuating thing, as the love of man is, nor is it mere impotent longing for things that may never be; it is, rather, a spontaneous determination of God's whole being in an attitude of benevolence and benefaction, an attitude freely chosen and firmly fixed. There are no inconstancies or vicissitudes in the love of the almighty God who is spirit. His love is 'strong as death...many waters cannot quench it' (Song, 8:6). Nothing can separate from it those whom it has once embraced (Rom. 8:35-39).

Man says: "I'll love you as long as I live." But God says: "I have loved thee with an everlasting love." (Jer. 31:3)

Man says: "I will always love you as long as we're together." But God says: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or sword?...For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature , shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Man says: "I'll love you as long as your lovable." God says: "But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us up together with Christ (by grace ye are saved.) (Eph. 2:4-5)

God's love is an exercise of His goodness toward sinners. As such, it has the nature of grace and mercy. It is an outgoing of God in kindness which not merely is undeserved, but is actually contrary to desert; for the objects of God's love are rational creatures who have broken God's law, whose nature is corrupt in God's sight, and who merit only condemnation and final banishment from His presence. It is staggering that God should love sinners; yet it is true. God loves creatures who have become unlovely and (one would have thought) unloveable. There was nothing whatever in the objects of His love to call it forth; nothing in man could attract or prompt it. Love among men is awakened by something in the beloved, but the love of God is free, spontaneous, unevoked, uncaused. God loves men because He has chosen to love them... -Knowing God by J.I. Packer p. 112

God's love is the only the deep, abiding, definite, unchanging, personal, pure, everlasting love we could ever have the privilege of being the recipients of. This is reason to rejoice and take great fulfillment. Though God loves the whole world (Jh. 3:16) not everyone has accepted this great love. Only believers know the great depth and price of such a love---which cost God His life.

God's love to sinners was expressed by the gift of His Son to be their Savior. The measure of love is how much it gives, and the measure of the love of God is the gift of HIs only Son to be made man, and to die for sins, and so to become the one mediator who can bring us to God. No wonder Paul speaks of God's love as "great", and passing knowledge! (Eph. 2:4, 3:19.) Was there ever such costly munificence? -Knowing God by J.I Packer p. 114

There's so much on God's love to be dwelt and meditated on. My encouragement to you this Valentines Day, whether you have someone special in your life or not, is to do three things...

First, realize the gift you have been given. Because of His love and the death of Christ on the cross, you have been freed from the power of sin and have the blessed privilege to come boldly before the throne of grace. Your greatest debt has been taken care of and you now enjoy the greatest blessing of being God's child. It cost Him His blood. Realize what love it took to grant you such an honor.

Second, understand that you have what most people are still searching for. Even on this day while many couples express their love to one another, many are still empty and searching for unconditional fulfillment. This is only to be found in Christ. No man/woman could ever complete you and make you happy, no matter how great or wonderful they actually are. Cling to Christ who is the only one that can love you fully and satisfy the deep longings within your soul. Be grateful because so many don't know what it means to be truly loved.

And last, but not least, make it personal. God loves you. He loves you just the way you are there's nothing you could ever do to earn it or make it grow. He chose you and you are precious in His sight. Believe it; meditate on it; thank God for it!

If we take a different viewpoint on Valentines Day, it doesn't have to be a burden for those without a "special somebody." Perhaps the roses, chocolate and love letters will come in the future, but I urge you to don't let Valentines pass by when you already have a "lover of your soul." Dwell on the Lord's love today and take some special time to be with Him. With the kind of love He has granted, continues to give, and will always bestow, we have only reason to be completely satisfied.

How can true love be?

Where can unconditional devotion be met?

To end the search for true love's key,

That every human searches to get,

The one True God of heaven and earth,

Has shown us love like no being can,

His affection was proved from His birth,

As God was born a man,

Giving one's life is the ultimate gift,

How could a soul give more?

From Jesus' death sins from us lift,

It's slaves we are no more,

Jesus loves me; His love is true,

To Him my love is forever due.

-Brooke, sonnet written February 14th, 2008

A Love That Lasts

My family and I went to go see the movie Fireproof last week and what a fantastic movie it was. I am thrilled to see such godly stories and messages projected onto the movie screen! If you haven't seen it I'd highly encourage you to go see it soon! It was very well done, God-glorifying and the movie's message greatly touched me. I think the movie portrayed many ideas but the one and that spoke to me most was what true love is all about.

True love is a subject the Lord has been teaching me this year. I've known the fact that love is much more than what most boyfriends and girlfriends have for each other these days but I don't think I have understood what it truly indicates for awhile now.

I really got to thinking about the true meaning of love after I read a novel earlier this year by Karen Kingsbury. It's rare that I read fiction but I happened one day to spot it sitting in our bookcase and I had to finish it after reading the first few pages. The story was about a godly woman's husband caught up in an affair. Biblically, Katherine (the main character), had the right to leave her husband because of his adultery, but instead she was determined with God's help to restore their marriage because of the commitment she made to him many years ago at the altar. She realized the seriousness of the marriage covenant when she had promised to love her husband no matter what happened. She didn't have to seek restoration but she wanted to. It was a beautiful and powerful story of forgiveness, love and redemption. It demonstrated the kind of love the Lord would desire us to have to one another and it really left an impression on me.

It was so refreshing to see the same message in Fireproof. It greatly touched me because the concept of true love is so rare today. It is one thing many of us lack and I do believe if couples knew the price of it before they married many divorces could be avoided.

The world has a very shallow definition of love. Romantic love between a man and woman is the only form that most are acquainted with. We have been greatly deceived by this unrealistic interpretation through the movies, television and songs around us. But instead reality and common sense reveal that couples who love each other don't always feel ooey gooey about the other person! Sadly, most people don't know love any other way because the world's ideas is all they've ever known and experienced. And once those "lovey-dovey" feelings leave, they automatically assume that love must not be there anymore.

Many of us commonly use the word "love" flippantly these days. We hear dating couples repeatibly throw the words "I love you" around without seriousness or commitment. "I'm in love" and "we've fallen in love" are popular declarations. Everyone frequently and casually uses the word in exclaiming such things as, "I love going to the beach," or "I just love pizza!" Perhaps this is the same attitude we have many times in how we treat other people. Why do we "love" pizza? Because it satisfies our cravings. In the same way we usually love others only because that persons pleases us, makes us happy, and benefits us in some way. Do we really have any idea of the actual meaning and price of this four letter word?

Let it be known that the world has no idea what love really is. They absolutely have not a clue. Because it is equated frequently with romantic feelings it's no wonder marriages one by one are breaking apart at rapid speed. Marriages cannot be built upon feelings and fairy-tale butterflies. If they are they will not survive through the storms. And difficulties will come. No marriage is promised romantic bliss throughout the entire covenant.

This is what real love is:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
—I Corinthians 13:4-8a (NIV)

The Word of God is the only way we can identify true love and 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a is the ultimate test. I think we as Christians have read this verse so many times that we've lost the meaning of it. But these are the characteristics of what real, genuine love actually looks like. These qualities are clearly portrayed in God and in our Lord. I really like what John Coblentz said:

"Contrary to popular thought, one does not "fall in" love. One can easily enough fall head over heels into lovely-dovey feelings. One can fall into sexual sin. But the love that holds marriages together through years of good and bad times is cultivated through wise choices and faithfulness to one's commitments. God not only tells us what love is like, but He also has shown the meaning of love by the way He relates to us. He is committed to our good even through great personal sacrifice. He is faithful. He is patient and kind. He shows us respect even when we do not deserve it. He stays true to His standards and true to His commitments to us even we fail Him. God's own example defines love for us and shows us how we are love in the covenant relationship of marriage."

God is the ultimate example of sincere love! The Bible tells us that He IS love! (1 Jh 4:7) The way that God shows love towards you and I is how He wants us to love other people.

Biblical love is:

-The act of one person seeking the good of another
-Unselfish concern for another's welfare
-Sacrificing for the good of another
-Selfless giving without anything in return

It is:

-Patient
-Kind
-Does not envy
-Does not boast
-Not proud
-Not rude
-Not self-seeking
-Not easily angered
-Keeps no records of wrongs
-Does not delight in evil but in truth
-Always protects
-Always trusts
-Always hopes
-Always preserves
-It never fails

God has shown and continues to show all of this to us even though we don't deserve any it. That is TRUE love!

Knowing what true love is I would now like to briefly dispel the world's lies by examining what true love is NOT.

True love is not selfish. It is almost impossible to genuinely love someone when you are self-centered. True devotion will always lead to action for what's best for the other person and you can't do that if you are being selfish. At the beginning of the movie Fireproof, Caleb and and his wife were very self-centered people and that's a great reason why they were having so many problems. True love is not selfish.

Premarital sex is not true love! Our culture teaches that love and sex should go hand in hand but this is a deceptive lie. Sex is only allowed by God within the covenant of marriage. Outside of marriage it is not only a sin but it is purely selfish. It breaks my heart to hear of couples committing fornication in the name of "because we love each other!" It's far from true care and devotion. Premartial sex is not patient, it is not kind, it does not protect and it is selfish. It is not love!

True love is not a feeling. It is very grievous because love today is considered primarily an emotion. "I love you because I feel love towards you and when I no longer feel that I don't love you anymore." It's a weak foundation which doesn't endure. Do you think Jesus felt like dying on the cross for us? No, He loved us so much that he chose to do so. Although real love can be and is often accompanied by strong feelings, love cannot be based exclusively on how we feel. It is not entirely an emotion; No, it's not void of feeling but it is not lead by it either. Rather it is an action or a deliberate choice. You choose whether you want to love or not show love to someone. Jesus CHOSE to die in our place. When couples say, "I don't love him/her anymore. We fell out of love with one another..." in reality they made that choice to stop loving and it was most likely never really love in the first place.

The feelings obvious weren't involved when Caleb first starting showing kindness to his wife in Fireproof. She was cold, unresponsive and showed no feelings of affection back towards his caring gestures. But he didn't give up and instead continued showing her unselfish love even when she didn't deserve it. That's what Biblical love really boils down to: it is loving the person even when they don't deserve it. It means giving without anything in return.

This is exactly what Christ did for us. Do we deserve his gift of salvation? Of course not! Did Jesus deserve to die? Absolutely not! But Jesus truly loved us and suffered so we could be reconciled with God. Jesus didn't need the cross but we did and because of that He died for us. That is Biblical love. I don't think I'll or anyone else will ever truly understand the cost and debt of that kind of love.

In a marriage or any relationship there will be bumps in the road but it is the choices that get you through not the feelings. This is the foundation that solid marriages and relationships are built upon. It's not easy but it is much more sacred and long lasting that romantic feelings will ever be. It is the kind of love that God has portrayed and continues to give us and that we need to share with other people.

Is it hard? Yes, it is. It certainly doesn't come naturally. The Bible tells us to love our enemies! Do you think that's a part of our nature to do so? Certainly not. And if we were to wait until we "felt" like loving the people we don't really care for do you think it would ever happen? But since we are children of God, loving others (whether that'll be our spouse, future spouse, family, friends, strangers or enemies) is what God has called us to do. We are to love as He loved. Aren't you so thankful for that kind of love that God faithfully shows toward us? I sure am!

Conclusion:

Let me end by sharing a quote by Harriett Sun:

Only after experiencing and knowing the unconditional love that God has for us, the love that drove God to send his Son to die for us on earth, can we begin to love others with the same quality of unconditional love.

We can only genuinely love by God's example and with His help. It is my prayer that as we experience the love God continues to give to us that we will desire to give it out to others. It is the only kind of love that lasts and survives through the highs and the lows. May we be persistent to choose to love others as God is so faithful to do to us.

• Extra note:

Test your relationships and take the "Is it really love?" test:

Ask yourself these questions:

▪ Are you patient with each other?
▪ Are you kind to each other?
▪ Are you never envious of each other?
▪ Do you never boast about yourself?
▪ Is your relationship characterized by humility?
▪ Are you never rude to each other?
▪ Are you not self-seeking?
▪ Are you not easily angered with each other?
▪ Do you keep no record of wrongs?
▪ Are you truthful with each other?
▪ Do you protect each other?
▪ Do you trust each other?

Keeping Short Accounts

One morning, I had baked blueberry biscuits for breakfast. Afterward, the cookie sheet contained a mess of biscuit, flour and blueberry remainders. I put it in the sink and went on to something else.

Later in the evening, I found Mom in the kitchen vigorously scrubbing the sheet where the scraps were now stuck on as glue.
"You know Brooke," she told me, "you should had let it soaked or had washed it earlier when it was easier to clean."

I apoligized and then it dawned on me how similar this is to our spiritual lives! If I had washed the pan that morning I could have taken a sponge and could have cleaned it effortlessly. But the longer I waited, the more stuck it became, the harder it was to clean, and the more elbow grease had to be used. This can be easily compared to our walk with God. When we sin we should take care of it right away and should never wait to get things right with God and other people. So many times I have caught myself thinking, "I can deal with this later," or "I will apologize when I feel like it," or, "before I go to bed I will be sure to make restitution." But instead we should never wait to get things right. Some of the best advice my pastor has given me and that I have kept in mind is to keep short accounts with God. What does that mean? When you mess up get it right then and there. Acknowledge your sin and ask forgiveness. If we wait our sin can easily become worse which could include further problems, bitterness, or a hardened heart.

Sometimes it can be discouraging because we fail so often. I know I do. I remember one week I was striving to keep "short accounts" and was finding myself apologizing to my family members many times in a day. But how blessed we are to have a forgiving God that doesn't expect us to be perfect (because we can't!) but rather to get back up and try again.

Proverbs 24:16

For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again.

I think the most important thing to remember in "keeping short accounts" is that sin is destructive and separates us from God. The sooner we take care of it, the better things will be including our relationship with God. We can't approach our Lord with sin and usually the longer we wait the sticker it becomes!

James 4:8

Draw night to God and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands ye sinners, and purify your hearts ye double minded.

Keeping short accounts---it's a worthy goal. It may times takes humility but it's worth it. Believe me, it will save you lots of pain and problems in the long run!

A Whole Heart For God

One day at camp last month, I laid in my bunk-bed in the middle of the night wide awake. Light from the hall-way trickled into the bedroom through a half-shut door and it was keeping me up, so I got up to shut it when I heard sobbing in the girl's bathroom. I gently opened the curtain to see a friend from my room sitting on the bathroom floor with a roll of tissue in her hand and a pile of used ones next to her. I sat down beside her and there we talked for a very long time...

This particular girl had told me earlier in the week that she had been going through some really tough times in her life, starting last year. She's still struggling with many hard things, but she told me that the trails she has been through so far has only made her stronger.

I listened to her and tried all I could to comfort her. Our conversation led to what God had been teaching in our lives and then about God Himself and what a great God we serve.

Something I will never forget is what this girl told me. She told me that she didn't want to be the "average Christian," and that she had fully surrendured her life to God and would live for Him no matter what. She said that before camp she had made God a promise and commitment that she was willing to do whatever it took to give Him the glory, even if that meant suffering for Him. She told me that even if she had to be crushed by other people, forsaken, abused, put down, no matter what, she would do whatever it took to make the Lord famous. She would do it for Him so He could be exalted.

This girl has a fire burning for the Lord within her that is not hidden. She inspired me so much and only made my fire within me burn the brighter for the Lord! What a blessing to meet a young lady who wants to live for God without reservations!

Making the Lord famous, is what she kept telling me was her purpose, her promise, her goal for the Lord.

A song by Rush of Fools reminds me of this girl's ambition. It is entitled "Fame." The chorus says:

I raise my hands

Just as I am

I'm letting go

Of false control

I lift my voice

I have no choice

My life is yours

Use me for your fame

I'm letting go; My life is Yours; Use me for your fame. God is so perfect and holy. Full of love for His people. He deserves all of us. Not half. Everything.

One of the main messages at camp was having a full heart for God. Not an empty or half-hearted one, but one without set backs. God wants all of us! He doesn't want us to be cold or warm in our Christian faith: He wants us to be on fire! Lukewarmness is not an option. Remember the verse in Revelation?

"I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I
would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art
lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of
my mouth."
Revelation 3:15-16

This girl from camp really inspired me. I have heard about young people on fire for the Lord, but I've never met one like this particular girl. Especially one like her who was willing to suffer for God who had a desire to do whatever it took to give glory to HIM.

It makes me look at my own life: how much have I given and am giving to the Lord? Would I be willing to suffer for Him?

The Bible is clear that if we are His child, we will suffer for Him. There's no hiding that fact.

2 Timothy 3:12

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

Philippians 1:29

For unto it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.

But shouldn't this be a privilege? Look what He did for us!

The conversation I had with this particular girl sitting on the bathroom floor for an hour or so started with tears and ended with smiles and laughter. Talking with her about her commitment to the Lord and about God Himself, and how good He is, really blessed my heart and hers as well. Living for God is her greatest joy. Oh, if only every Christian, including myself, had such a deep desire to live for God with their whole hearts and without holding anything back!

I strongly encourage you to look at your own life as I look at mine. Would you still be faithful to God through suffering or persecution? Is there anything you are holding back from God? We're not truly living for God until we give Him everything. We were made for Him and Christ has given His life for us---what excuse do we have? We not only should surrender all but we should desire to do it because of what He has done for us! God deserves every ounce of us. Strive to give Him your full heart. Life is not about us. It's about HIM.

Desire to live for God without reservations.

Things I Take For Granted

During camp there were sore throats going around and two kids had even lost their voice for a few days. I remember walking with a young girl to the girl's cabin and she could barely talk and I felt so sorry for her. Little did I know that I'd later be one of them...And can you believe that of all days it had to be the day of our family reunion? Talk about torture!

I had to whisper to everyone at the reunion. It was really annoying. I never thought before how much I valued my voice until I lost it for the day. It was so hard! I am sure my sisters enjoyed it as long as it lasted though :-)

During the day I got to the point that I didn't say anything because I couldn't say anything. I went back to the guest room at Grandma's and pulled out my Bible. During that time I talked to God and it dawned on me---even though I could talk to no one else, I could still talk to God. He could still understand me. Wow.

I wrote the following in my journal:

This experience makes me think of two things. First, I take things for granted WAY too easily. How I thank God for my voice! Second, how I love God. No one in my life is better than He. Even when my voice is gone and I can't talk to anyone else---God can still hear me. How awesome He is.

Thoughts of who God is has been consuming me lately. There is no one like Him. And there will never be anyone like Him.

Psalm 77:13

...who is so great a God as our God?

God is all I will ever need. He is all you'll ever need. He fills me and completes me. He is my joy and purpose. He is always with me, loves me like no one ever could, promises to never leave me, and He gives me hope. I have hope because I am His child. There's no situation too complicated or deep that I can't have hope. God is more than enough for me.

A song that has been really speaking to me lately is "By Your Side" by Tenth Avenue North.

The lyrics read:

Why are you striving these days?

Why are you trying to earn grace?

Why are you crying?

Let me lift up your face,

Just don't turn away.

Why are you looking for love?

Why are you still searching?

As if I'm not enough?

To where will you go child,

Tell me where will you run?

To where will you run?

I'll be by your side wherever you fall

In the dead of night whenever you call

Please don't fight these hands that are holding you

My hands are holding you

Look at these hands and my side

They swallowed the grave on that night

When I drank the world's sin

So I could carry you in

And give you life.

And I, I love you

And I want you to know

That I, I'll love you

I'll never let you go

That song gets to me ever time. God is everything to me. He's always by my side and He'll never leave me. Why should I look elsewhere? It doesn't matter where I am; God is always there. If I wake up in the middle of the night and everyone else is asleep, He's still there to listen to me. If I am lonely, He's next beside me. Even if I am in the shower, it doesn't matter. God is with me and He promised to never leave me.

God really does love me. The death of His Son proved that. Selfless love. Genuine love. No one could ever do what God has done or be what God is.

I can't imagine my life without God in it. He is my purpose. Without the Lord my life would be such a mess. I'd be looking for love and affection in all the wrong places, trying to cram all I could in the depths of my heart to try to fill it up. Only God can fill me and satisfy me completely.

Back to the subject of taking things for granted (like my voice), you know, it can be easy to take God for granted as well. I have been thinking lately about my salvation. I was saved at a young age and have grown up in a Christian home, so God has spared me from a lot of heartache and pain including some things that other believers may have had to go through before they were saved. I never really experienced my life without God in it. He has been in it as long as I can remember, so because of that it can be easy to take my salvation for granted.

But when I think of what my life could have been, or what my life would be without God in it, I am humbled and more grateful than words could ever say. I could never imagine what my life would be without the Lord. It's a very scary thought. I honestly don't want to think about it. Hopeless, full of fear and desperate would be to name a few. I will honestly tell you that if I wasn't saved I would not want to live.

God is my everything. He is has saved me, given me hope, given me joy, given me purpose! I was created for His glory!! I have a reason that I am here on the earth. I do not fear death. I would die for the Lord if I had to. If you threaten me with a gun you only threaten me with Heaven. I will be forever with Him one day when I leave this earth at His choosing.

God is so good. He loves us and He is merciful. If anyone is reading this who does not know God as their Lord and Saviour, I only pray that they will. I wish everyone was saved and knew the Lord. If only they knew what they were missing. Without the Lord you have nothing. There's nothing like being God's child.

This life on earth is just a vapor and is as bad as it's going to get for the Christian. There's always hope for the believer. Anyone can have this hope if they'll just trust in Jesus. I just can't wait to go to Heaven and see my Saviour's face one day!!

I guess I got a little carried away in what I was getting to. I feel like my thoughts are a little jumbled, so forgive me if they are, but I feel like I really needed to share this. I guess my main message would be is this: if you are a believer, don't take God for granted. It has been said that you get as much out of God as you put into Him. James 4:8 says: "Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you..." It has also been said that many people are willing to die for Christ but few are willing to live for Him...

Don't wait to be saved if you are an unbeliever and don't wait to live for God if you are a believer. Like the song said, don't fight God's hands. There's nothing else worth living for. God is everything we'll ever need and He desires a relationship with you. Don't put it off. And don't take it for granted. We've been given a gift that money could never buy.

God is all we could ever ask for.

Great Week at Camp

Camp is over and I am back home. Last week is one I will always remember. I had the best time and God did so much in my life. I met some awesome people that I hope to always keep in touch with. God also taught me a lot as well. Oh, I miss that place! I hated saying goodbye...

I don't know where to start!! Boy did I fill my journals up...

I awoke each morning at 5:50 a.m. and started working in the kitchen at 7. I set the tables, helped prepare the food, served the food and helped clean up. Serving the food was my favorite part. Three times a day I served the campers and staff. So, three times a day I was able to see everyone's faces and get to know some of their name's because of their name tags. So, even though I wasn't a counsellor and was in the kitchen a majority of the time, I still got to know some of the campers. I love all the kids that came. They all were precious!!

I know I would have been really lonely stuck in the kitchen all day if Carolina and Jonathan weren't working in there as well. Carolina works for Mrs. Gail, and Jonathan mostly does jobs outside but helped serve and clean up. I got to know them both by working with them and they are both just grand!! I also met some great girls in my room, both counsellors and campers.

Between breakfast and lunch Mrs. Gail gave me about an hour and thirty minute break where I usually went back to my room and read my Bible and journaled a bit most of the time (I am addicted to journaling.)

After lunch I helped in the snack shack, which I really enjoyed. The snack shack is a little building full of snacks, candies and drinks where I helped Carolina work the "cash registers." (I put that in quotations because there were no cash registers but we worked with the money.) The little thing quickly filled up with campers ready to purchase something. I enjoyed it...

Between that and dinner and after dinner I was free to do whatever. I enjoyed doing different things: watched the kids fish, tried my hand at some archery, went canoeing with Carolina (that was fun), took a walk, danced with Austen (to praise music), talked to the kids, watched any special activities, slipped into chapel (I was only able to do that once, but the message really spoke to me), took a nap, journaled, took a little swim in the lake, and I even had the privilege to go to Carolina's house one day (I love that girl!).

Wednesday we had a shaving cream war. That was sooo much fun!!! Ahh, I loved it. Austen was helping Jonathan and I in the kitchen that afternoon and we were rushing furiously to get it clean so we could participate in time. Thankfully we did. Jonathan (great guy and great friend) got us there fast by driving us down to the field in the golf cart.

Basically, everyone was handed a can of shaving cream and in a marked off area everyone sprayed each other and whatnot until not one person was left unconvered. So, random people were spraying and slapping shaving cream on each other. After that, they had an slip n' slide. I didn't have the nerve to do that...

This picture is of Leslie and I. The fun wasn't even over when we took this pic ---------->

Rinsing off was torture as the water was freezing!! The camp has a tradition that if you don't scream you are part of the "polar bear club." Guess I am now a part of the club :-) It was so funny because as I was walking off Alex (my fishing buddy) called me and goes, "Brooke! Don't forget that the polar bear club rules," and gives me a high fist. LOL--I couldn't help to laugh.

We had a very worshipful time at the campfire Friday night and it really touched me. I don't think I could properly describe it...Slowly and quietly each person in the dark walked to the campfire on a path lit by candles. Once at the campfire kids one by one gave their testimony as they felt led. That was really special. After that we had an lovely time of talking to God Himself. Oh, it was amazing!! Each person took turns as they felt led to tell God one of His attrobutes by saying, "God you are ----." It was beautiful and I know it must have blessed God's heart. Everyone kept going around describing something God is.

God, you are love.

God, you are my Shepherd.

God, you are merciful.

God, you are my joy.

God, you are unchanging.

God, you are powerful.

God, you are forgiving.

God, you are faithful.

God, you are my rock.

God, you are the only thing worth living for.

It kept going on and on and on and on. He's undescribable! Oh, it touched me so much just to know what a great God we serve. I could strongly feel His presence and I was very humbled of how wonderful He is. I will never forget that night.

We then sang praises to the Lord. Anyone (again as they felt led) would start a song and everyone else would join in.

The last part of the campfire was real significant to me. It was a time of surrender. You picked up a pinecone (which represented something in your life) out of a bucket then you threw it onto the campfire as a symbol of letting it go. I knew exactly what the Lord wanted me to surrender, something that I had been wreshling with through most the week at camp. But that's just between Him and myself :-) I threw the pinecone unto the fire and watched it burn until it turned to dark ashes. It is His now. It was hard but I know that He knows best.

I know the kids must have learned a lot last week. The main message was about the two greatest commandments: loving God and loving others. The missionary taught about having a full heart for God, not an empty or half-hearted one. It was so neat because I only had the privilege to sit in on one chapel messages but what the man spoke I knew God was teaching me as I had read the same verse he referred to that very morning. I could feel God basically tugging on my heart the whole week at camp.

I am very thankful that I was able to be a part of this camp last week in some way. This post was just a short summery of my week. Man I had a blast despite the hard work in the kitchen. I am so grateful I was able to go!!

Thank you to all who prayed for me. God is good!

Hopefully I will write more at a later time. Below is a slide show :-)

God bless.

~Miss Brooke~