Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Top 40: Reasons I Am Thankful for My Dad

1.  Most of my best childhood memories come from you--memories like wrestling, special breakfast noodles, and hiking in Spokane, and you reading to me.
2.  You sometimes (try to) pick out my clothes.
3.  You introduced me to the Bible before I was even old enough to understand it.
4.  Going through books with you has strengthened my faith and spiritual knowledge.
5.  You prayed for me every night. 
6.  You introduced me to some of my favorite songs.  Number one is a toss up between "Split Screen Sadness" and "I Don't Want to Be."
7.  You taught me to never go on a second date with a guy who doesn't get the door.
8.  I still don't like the Westerns (or "The Straight Story"), but I'll admit you've picked some winner movies in your day.
9.  You taught me not to worry.
10.  You run with me.
11.  I feel comfortable talking with you about just about anything.
12.  It isn't exaggerating to say you get my humor better than anyone else.
13.  I laugh harder at you than at almost anyone else.
14.  I learned to love reading from you, and I love it to this day.
15.  You taught me how to teach.
16.  Your preaching continues to convict me and inspire me to Christ-centered living, Sunday after Sunday.
17.  Your preaching has profoundly impacted the lives of people I deeply care about.
18.  Your high view of God's word inspired me to hold it in esteem--and to base my life on it.
19.  You are really, really smart.
20.  You hate sin.
21.  You are humble.  You brag about Jesus, not your talent.  And you don't take all the credit you could for the reaches of your ministry.
22.  Your discipline has saved me from dangerous paths I might still be on otherwise.
23.  You have helped me to be firm in my convictions--and to have the right ones.
24.  You've always had high expectations for me.  Especially in these teenage years, you've treated me like an adult, even thought I act so immature sometimes.
25.  You make it a priority to study the Bible as a family multiple times a week.  You are washing us in the water of the Word.
26.  You said you're proud of me.
27.  Your love for the lost moves me to care about them more.
28.  You taught me how to say "no" to things, in order to focus on what's truly important.
29.  You've instilled in me a respect for the classics.
30.  You've given me a passion for ministry.
31.  You would rather suffer yourself than see me be hurt.
32.  You will never sit by silently if I choose to wreck my life.
33.  I know that any guy who really likes me will need to go through you.  Makes me wonder if there's any guy brave enough, but I'm thankful for it nonetheless.
34.  You say "yes" to things that aren't your favorite, for the sake of letting me enjoy life.  You are selfless towards your family.
35.  You are wise, and you have made wisdom look desirable to me from a very young age.
36.  You are a hard worker, and have taught me to respect diligence and abhor laziness.
37.  You encourage me to branch out and do things I might not choose on my own.
38.  I don't need to wonder what a godly man should look like.  I have the biblical model with me every day.
39.  God's glory is more important to you than anything else.
40.  Jesus is your life.

Friday, November 26, 2010

12 Things I'm Thankful For: Thanksgiving Week 2010

3 People

3.  Rebecca Jeanson.  I really like Rebecca's no-nonsense attitude.  She is fun to be around, but she also doesn't waste a lot of time or words on foolish things.  She has an appetite for God's word, so conversation with her is almost always edifying.

2.  Megan Williams.  It's always fun talking with Megan, but it took a while for me to realize why.  Megan is really selfless in conversation.  She will ask you a ton of questions about yourself, and genuinely care about what you say.  Among other things, I'm thankful for Megan's selfless attitude.

3.  Rylie DeBurgh.  My youngest brother Rylie and I went on a date this week.  Lately, I've been enjoying his company more and more.  Living in the same house with him, I don't always appreciate him as much as I should.  He is growing in love for the Lord and for others, and in patience with me.  I am thankful to God for this sweet younger brother.

3 Things

3.  Mrs. Ladd's stuffing.  I have always been a fan of stuffing.  It might be my favorite thanksgiving dish.  But Mrs. Ladd's stuffing (via Guy's mom's accidental secret recipe) takes it to another level.  The other people at the table were probably wondering why I would take a bite and then just close my eyes and smile.  Killer stuffing.

2.  Left Behind Series.  This Christian fiction series by Jerry Jenkins and Tim Lahaye is really something else.  It's loaded with cheesy dialogue and 90s technology.  But somehow, I've come to actually look forward to the few minutes I spend reading this series before bed every night.

1.  "While You Were Sleeping," the movie.  The first time I saw this movie, it instantly became a favorite.  I still love watching it every year (usually multiple times a year).  Especially as Christmas draws near, this movie is an absolutely must see at my house.  Probably because I watch this movie so often, it gives me good feelings every time, and I always laugh all the way through.  Especially memorable, for me, are the Joe Jr. quotes: "Who told?!"  "I know that trick!" and even "Nice....(tongue click).....sweatah!"

3 Events

3.  Basilisk War.  In the Ladds' TV room, an epic battle was fought between Sam, Rylie, Christian, and myself.  The only weapon was the basilisk--a snake you make with your hand that makes anyone who looks at it go blind.  Under normal circumstances, the goal is just to get someone to accidentally look at your basilisk.  This particular battle, however, culminated in Christian's basilisk chomping down on Rylie's upper thigh.  Over the laughter that ensued, Christian could be heard saying, "Got you there!"

2.  Scattergories Game.  Katelyn and I joined together to form the dream team in a game of Scattergories at the Ladd's house.  She was "The Brains" and I was "The Brawn"--and together, we were unstoppable (enough to win third place).  It's a fun game, and it was fun to spend time with the DeBurgh and Ladd families together.

1.  Thankgiving Day Prep.  On Wednesday, I went to Racine's Festival Hall to help "set up" for a huge, free Thanksgiving meal that would take place the next day.  As it turned out, they had an excess of volunteers and didn't really need us after all.  Still, we had fun sweeping out two little rooms and eating free sandwiches.  On the way out, we overheard the woman in charge telling a newcomer: "If you see something that needs to be done, jump in.  If not, just enjoy yourself."  I didn't work too hard, but I sure did enjoy myself.  Hard not to in a place as exciting as the Festival Hall!

3 Verses

3.  John 12:25  Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.  This may seem like a funny verse to be thankful for--who wants to hate their life?--but I am thankful for how God is working it out in me.  Things that used to be too important are, little by little, losing their grip on my affections by His power.  Eternal life is becoming more precious to me.

2.  John 13:15  For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.  I am thankful that I have a Savior who lived the life of a servant, so that I can copy Him.  If only I were better at this!  I am one selfish girl--and if you don't believe me, it's because you don't know me.  But that just brings me to the other thing I am thankful for: Jesus grace!  He never "gives up" on me, despite my stubborn heart.

1.  John 13:35  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.  I am thankful for the love I have been shown.  It is the mark of my salvation, and God is helping me to have real love in my heart for other people, too.  I am amazed that He can actually live in me to the extent that other people know that I am His.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Looking at Jesus: 10 Things From John 13:1-20

1.  He suffered willingly to depart this world to the Father.

2.  He loved His own to the very end--even when they fled or denied Him.

3.  He greatly trusted His Father.

4.  He humbled himself like a servant

5.  He was patient with his disciples.
6.  No pain or sacrifice of earth was too low for Him.

7.  He set His followers an example.

8.  He promised to reward obedience.

9.  We have access through Him to God the Father.

10.  In Him we have salvation, forgiveness, cleansing, and a relationship with the Most High God

Monday, November 22, 2010

Unbeautiful

I am humbled. Both the Grand Canyon and the oceans are a good bit more beautiful than I am. This, instead of bolstering self-esteem, ruins it. I am not living beautifully. My heart is too often compromised with concerns about my glory rather than God's. The hurt from this humbling, however, is exactly what I need. It feels a lot better than any temporary puffing up of my ego.
Ed Welch in "When People are Big and God is Small."  Pg. 106.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

The Greatest Honor

Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.  If anyone serves me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there will my servant be also.  If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor Him.
--John 12:25-26

Following Christ is harder than it sounds.  Following--it's not just like follow the leader in a neat little line for a short little time.

Where Jesus was, you will be.  Among the needy, the demanding.  Jesus went where suffering was worst.  The suffering was often His own.

Following Jesus, these verses tell us, is equivalent to "hating your life."  It takes pain, suffering, and denial of your very self!  Death might even be literal

Yet this great price also leads to a great reward--"If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor Him."

Can you just imagine what that could mean?  Jesus telling you: "My Father will honor you."  Imagine a big honor that you have--or could--receive in your life.  Maybe someone you really like paid you a great compliment.  Maybe you found out you graduated with a 4.0 or made the top something for being smart.

God's honor--what's that all about?

Psalm 91:14-16 tells us:
Because He holds fast to Me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows My Name.
When he calls to Me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
and show him My salvation.

Know God,
Follow God,
Hold fast to God in love.

When you call, He will answer.
When you are in trouble, He will be with you.
The "honor" that He gives is more than just "props to you."  It's rescue.  It's satisfaction in the life He
gives.  It's salvation.

He who hates his life will find it.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Losing It--Keeping It

Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
--John 12:25

God is helping me to love my life less and less.
I've always really loved all the good things in life God has given me.  But the longer I know Him, the more I can say: I'd take heaven over all that.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Top 5: Evidences of Grace, Wayne and Carol

 Enthusiasm for spiritual things
1. There is one thing you will never hear at the end of a conversation with Wayne Beilgard. You will never, ever hear someone say, “That guy is really boring.” What is it that makes Wayne this way? Having an engaging personality helps, and and so does being willing to talk about other people (both true about Wayne). But the contagious excitement in conversations with Wayne goes beyond either of these things. With him, it's never boring because he's excited about God. He raves about what God is doing in other people's lives. He'll tell you what he sees God doing in your life—and just try to to tell me that doesn't make you excited by the time he's done! The joy of the Lord just seems to radiate from of the Beilgards, because they are genuinely thankful for what God has done. And they don't just thank the Giver of all good things. They bring everyone they know along with them, surrounding themselves with a crowd of thankful worshipers of Christ.
Honesty
2. Every time I talk with Carol Beilgard, I am impressed with her straightforwardness. She isn't overbearing or rude, but she refuses to be fake. It is so refreshing to hear God's truth applied to your situation without cotton candy or bubble wrap. Carol tells it like it is. Besides this, she is honest about her own mistakes. Hearing Carol's personal testimony for the first time was impactful on my heart. She didn't spare the listeners from the truth of her own sinfulness--so she didn't keep us from the full weight of God's marvelous grace in her life. Carol's honesty allows her to be a vessel of God's grace and truth to everyone she speaks with.
Generosity
3. The Beilgards give generously, as God has given to them. To illustrate this, let me tell you a little story that took place last Sunday night. Church was over, and everyone was leaving for the night. On my way out the door, I saw Wayne coming out of the church offices, putting a book in his bag. I asked him what it was. His face lit up and he told me how much he liked it. “Do you want one?” he asked. I said, “Are you serious?” He was, so one of my friends and I followed him into his office while he told us about the book, then took two copies off of his shelf and gave us each one. Three other girls meandered towards his office, and he gave two more of the books away. Now, this is all fairly understandable, since Wayne gets some books on the church's budget for the sole purpose of giving them away. But then, the 5th girl told Wayne she had already read the book he was giving. He showed her another one, and she already had that one at home, too. So Wayne said, “Just pick one off my shelf.” Now, I don't know about you, but I like the books I have! I have a small stash of my favorites, and I like to keep those off limits, if at all possible. But here Wayne opened up his entire bookshelf for someone to take from. What's more, he lamented that his favorite book was at home; he actually wanted to give her that one! Wayne has already enjoyed what his books have to offer—so he's willing to give them away. It's all so that God can bless someone else—even through the sacrifice of a favorite book.
This isn't just a one-time, isolated event. The Beilgards are giving people, period. You are far more likely to find Wayne and Carol spending their time and energy on serving others than on serving themselves.
Selflessness
4. Wayne and Carol are truly others focused. Last year, Carol found out she had some cancer. I remember being shocked by the news, and worried for her. I expected to express this in conversation the next time we talked. I should have known better. Carol wasn't interested in talking about herself. She refused to let even this serious trial in her personal life keep her from being truly selfless. In good times and in bad, her focus is on making other people see Jesus better. And if that means they see Carol less clearly, that's alright with her. I long to be like this!
Boldness
5. Wayne and Carol beat about everyone I know when it comes to evangelism. Here's why: they love the lost more than they love themselves, and they love Jesus more than they love anyone else. Wayne and Carol have both endured persecution for being sold out for Christ. Have I? I've undoubtedly suffered less than they have, yet I worry far more. This is because I fail to see the eternal value of winning souls for Jesus. What could be more important than that? Wayne and Carol live this joyful calling every day, with a boldness I desperately want for myself. I am challenged and convicted by their example. But most of all, I praise God for His work in these two lives, for as they'd be the first to tell you, all glory goes to Him!

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Believe and See

Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear Me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that You sent Me.” When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, His hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
--John 11:38-44

What is the glory of God?

When Jesus spoke about it here, and in many other places, He was referring to the most amazing of God's miracles: the giving of life.

“Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”

There's a problem with that: we don't believe. I know I have saving faith. Yet I often find myself not living as though I really have faith in God's ability to give life to the dead.

It's easy to say, “I believe in God.” But it's harder to live day to day expecting God to bring the miracle of life. Sure, I know that God saved me when I was dead in sin. But _(fill in the blank)_ is too dead. “He'll never turn away from his sins.” Wrong! No one will turn to God on their own, but anyone can be saved if God wills it! If He could save me, then of course He can save them. No heart is too hard.

I've also been guilty of skepticism as it pertains to myself. Sin is death. Jesus in me—now that's life. But at times when my struggle with sin is getting more intense, with no sign of letting up, I might think “I will never have victory.” Wrong! Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. Freedom is in my heart—freedom from every wrong thought, every mixed-up priority, every unhelpful word I say. Jesus is completing perfect life in me.

The miracle of my sanctification--the glory of God in giving me life--is not impossible. It's happening, right now!

The most amazing, God-glorifying giving of life happened a couple thousand years ago when a dead man named Jesus took a breath and walked out of the tomb He had been laid in. And millions of miracles have happened since, because of that one. Dead people in every place, buried by their own sinfulness, have taken in the breath of new life by His power. I am one of them. How can I possibly think that Jesus won't do this miracle again? He glorifies God by giving life—so we better believe He'll give more!

John 17:1-5
“Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son that the Son may glorify You, since You have given Him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I glorified You on earth, having accomplished the work that You gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify Me in Your own presence with the glory that I had with You before the world existed.”

Jesus glorified His Father when He gave me eternal life! What a thought—my salvation is part of the work that God gave Jesus to do. And I believe that making me holy is the other part of the work. I am so excited about this. Jesus is giving me life! He won't stop—ever.

I believe that I am seeing the glory of God.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

On Eternal Life

John 11:25-26
I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die.  Do you believe this?

John 5:21
For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He will.

John 6:40
For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.

John 12:24-25
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.  Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

Today I am praising God that He has given me this life, and praying for those I know who don't have it yet.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Thankfulness #3: Musical Talent

I am thankful for people with musical talent.  I know many people who fall into this category.  For example, let's see: my mom, my brother, my other brother, Jim Bergman, Patricia Black, The Guilty Person + 4given, Tim Haumersen, Katelyn Ladd, the rest of the Ladds, 5byFaythe, Jon Foreman, Corrie Ladd, Bryce Lenz, Dave McKeever, Pete Miller, Drew Papillon, The Carrying, Amy Papillon, Phylis Swigart, Maja Skoglund, and many more.  And I really do know all of those people.  Except Jon, who I've only met once.
The great thing about all the talented people at my church is that they use their abilities to glorify God rather than for selfish ambition.  I have been blessed time after time after time by how these people praise God, whether we are in the youth room on a Wednesday night, in a packed out coffeehouse, in my living room, in the sanctuary with a few hundred people on a Sunday Morning, or in the sanctuary early on a Sunday morning when it is just them practicing and me listening.  I'm thankful to God for these people and their gifts, but especially for how their gifts are used to give me and other believers a foretaste of the worship we'll experience forever in heaven

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Happy Anniversary: Evidences of Grace, Spencer and Amy

Happy anniversary, Mom and Dad! I am so thankful to God for you, every day. I don't know where I would be without you.  I'm glad I don't ever need to know, because God has blessed my life so much through always having you around. Thank you for showing me Jesus every day.

5. Anniversary. This anniversary represents more than just a good memory of the day my mom and dad expressed once and for all their commitment to each other. It represents 19 years of life as one person, serving God and loving God more deeply with each year through their unity in Him.

4. Wife and mother. “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord, For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, His body, and is Himself its Savior.”
We live in a world that thinks being a wife and mom is a waste of time. But we follow a God who says that being a wife and mom can represent the very glory of His Son and His bride to everyone around us. I have a mom who truly believes that, and who does an excellent job of portraying God's glory. She is quick to give up her own wishes in order to submit to my dad or serve her kids. I don't even want to talk about trying to follow her example—I have so far to go before I am ready for that. Nonetheless, I praise God for giving me her to show what marriage and family can be for His glory.

3. Husband and father. “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with His word.”
“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
I do not deserve the dad I have. I don't think I know anyone else in the world who is as committed to God's word as he is. His faithful teaching of the Bible to me has instilled the fear of the Lord in me from the earliest age. Besides this, he is a great example of a man biblically leading his wife according to God's will. Think there's another guy as good as him somewhere in the world? I sure hope so!

2. Sacrifice. I can't count the times when either of my parents has sacrificed something important to them. They give up their desires for the sake of their ministries, their kids, and each other. For example, even though they love to have us kids at home with them, they let us pursue other things that are important to us, even at the expense of what could have been family time. They've taught me from the beginning that true love (for anyone) means sacrifice, and I am often amazed by how quick they are to sacrifice their personal desires for the sake of loving one another, and me.

1. Love for each other. The world says that two people should fall in love and stay in love because they are attracted to each other and make each other happy. I am so thankful that God has put me in a family that is such a stark contrast to worldliness. There is no question that my mom and dad are totally happy with each other, but there is so much more to their marriage than a selfish world thinks there should be. Their love is deeper than that, because it stems from them loving Jesus first and foremost. Besides this, they are willing to forgive each other when they fail—meaning that when one doesn't make the other happy, the relationship can still thrive. My mom and dad love each other, not the way the world loves, but the way that Jesus and the church love each other.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Top 10: Fall Project Serve 2010

 10. Relationship building. It was wonderful for me to spend time serving alongside a couple of the girls who I didn’t know extremely well. In particular, I was truly blessed to see what God has been doing in the lives of Paige Williams and Rebecca Jeanson. On a service weekend, close proximity and hard work pave the way for you to learn about others and appreciate them more. I am so thankful that God blessed me with a time to strengthen my relationships with people in the group.

9. Sheets. Christian Ladd was a blessing to have on the trip. He is definitely one of the hardest workers of any of us. Besides appreciating his energy and diligence, I really enjoyed his cheerful attitude. Some of the funniest memories made on the trip (in my opinion) were jokes made by Sheets. For example, on the ride up to Fort, the four guys were sitting in the back seat. Colton, Sam, and Christian had joined together to beat up Evan. In one of the few quiet moments, Evan gasped out: “I need some air!” Christian replied: “I don’t give air…….I give……DEATH!!”

8. Stars. On Friday night, after we broke off into small groups and prayed, Todd Kellner led us on a walk to the beach. Standing out on the dock, we looked up at the stars as Dan read from Genesis 1 about the day when God created them. One day. All that huge, immeasurable expanse, and my God did it in one day.

7. Rowing. On Saturday, our group had to move all the oars, life-jackets, and beach toys from Fort’s beach area to a small boat shack. The shack was a bit of a walk from the beach, and the path was narrow and hard to navigate while carrying heavy objects. Todd Kellner had the bright idea to load up one of Fort’s rowboats with beach stuff and row along the shore to the boathouse instead of walking down the path. Despite common consensus that he didn’t know what he was doing, his plan was a success. I hopped on Cap’n TK’s ship for the ride back from the boat house and he let me row the ship back to shore for the second trip.  It was fun learning how to row from a pro.

6. Isaiah 55. For this weekend, there couldn’t have been a better passage to focus in on. Each morning, we all spent time praying through and meditating on the chapter. Hearing later from different people about what they had learned from the passage helped to further cement these truths in my heart:
-Jesus is THE ONLY source of true joy
-Seeking the Lord through His word is the path to freedom from a discontented life
-God is not only infinitely greater than us, but compassionate to forgive and pardon
-God’s word will never return void—not only when it is shared with unbelievers, but when it is placed in my own ever-sinful heart

5. Luann Purdy. I can’t tell you how thankful I am that Luann came along as a leader to us girls. The longer I know her, the more I appreciate her level-headed, genuine love for the Lord. The trip would not have been the same if Luann didn’t come along. Her easygoing and affirming attitude is exactly right for serving in a group setting. Besides this, she spurred me on towards godliness and deeper thinking about who God is. Her thoughts about fighting sin were refreshing, challenging, and encouraging to me—exactly what God knew I needed to hear for my own battle.

4. Waking up. On service projects, the little sleep that you get is precious. At 6:30 on Saturday morning, I was dead to the world. Katelyn and I agreed she would wake me up at this time—but she wasn’t sure if I was in my bed. She climbed the ladder to my top bunk and, instead of patting around softly to find out if I was there, dropped her hand nice and hard so it landed with a startling thud in the middle of my rib-cage. I’ve never gone from dead slumber to gasping awakeness in that short of a time!

3. Dan. I am so thankful that this trip took place under the leadership of our youth pastor, Dan Miller. To us as students, Dan is an example worth imitating. He is a hard worker who spends his time caring for other people rather than complaining about what he has to do. His attitude is contagious, making it a joy to work with him. Besides this, and most importantly, Dan gave the trip a spiritual focus. I was personally blessed by time spent praying with him, and talking about Jesus’ work in our hearts.

2. The girls. I don’t thank God enough for the young women of my youth group. I am so thankful that I belong to such a sweet, growing set of people. Time spent together as girls this weekend was something to enjoy, hardly tainted at all by complaints or crankiness about the hard work. We had a great talk on Sunday morning (led by Luann) that was like a breath of fresh air for me. We discussed together, constructively, what we would like to see in our youth group in the near future. It wasn’t a complain-fest, like “changing the youth group” conversations often are. Instead, I heard the girls express a passion for reaching out to others, and for personally growing closer to Christ. Especially encouraging was my friend Katelyn Ladd. She is a senior this year, and our youth group is blessed to have such a Christ-centered girl as one of its “leaders.”

1. Repentance. I know that weekends like this one are not all about what I get out of them as an individual. Yet what God did in my own heart was really the highlight of this trip for me. God was gracious enough to reveal some sin to me that needed to be dealt with. He didn’t just show me my own failings, though. He gave me a hope-giving passage from His word to study, He put me with godly believers to talk about my struggles with, and He made my heart soft enough to embrace true repentance and the freedom that comes with it. It’s hard, it’s sad, and it’s exhausting, but there is true joy when God sets you free.