Adventures with Jesus

I’ve realized that God loves me. I’ve known this but I haven’t quite gotten it yet. It’s one of those things where it has to set in, dig a little deeper before you can actually be changed by it. And I’ve been changed by it. It’s incredible how Gods love can change your heart and mold it into something so light and beautiful.
All I can do is thank God every day for everything He has given me. It’s magical and spectacular and amazing that I can have this so young.

I just spent a whole week in the magnificent camp of Woodleaf where I was able to meet new friends, be myself, and strengthen my relationship with Christ. I would have to say that even though this was my third camp, it was the on that changed my life.

Let me explain:

For the past year I have been learning more and more about Jesus and how to live my life with Him in it. Every step I took I fell more and more in love with Him. I was happy and filled with this Joy that could have only come from God.

A week before camp, I realized that I was ready to step all the way into the gate so I could live my life to the full for real. I told my leader Lauren that I wanted to be baptized, I wanted to give my life to Christ wholeheartedly and the only way I could think of officially doing that was to be baptized in His name. She offered to do it, and it honestly couldn’t have been any more perfect. She was the one who had led me to fall in love with Him so it was just magnificent that she would offer to do it.

As we got to camp, the first few days were rough. I didn’t feel as though I was connecting to Christ like I should have been. I felt a bit lost and doubtful. But then I sang “Dirty and Left Out” by The Almost at the talent show, and everything seemed to change around. That night I realized that I am so broken, I am such a dirty sinner. But Jesus is ALWAYS pursuing me for what He knows is best for me. After that night I felt so close to God. It was easier to breathe, to pray, to smile. I felt light and happy. It was how I should have felt all along.

The night after we had 15 minutes under the sky, and the most phenomenal thing happened to me. I sat in the grass overlooking the lake, and I stared up at the trees that had a bit of a sunset behind them. As I looked into the water, I saw Jesus. No joke, I saw Jesus in the reflection of the trees with arms open. It was if He had heard me say “I’m ready.” It was the most amazing moment of my life. I cannot even explain to you how incredible it was. It made me step back and accept that He is the one that is going to lead me to the right place.

Since everything added to the snowball affect, the next night Highland Young Life had a “family night” in the club room. We all nailed what we needed to leave to God on the cross and spent about two hours crying, praying and laughing with each other. It felt so good to know that I had a community that wanted what I wanted, a life with Christ. It was so life changing.

I woke up the next morning feeling a bit anxious. I realized the day after that the reason for my anxiety was because I was about to admit to humility and tell people that I was broken. But what came with it was an eternity with Christ. My cabin and I walked down to the lake, and Lauren and I stood in the water as I read my Testimony and why I wanted to be baptized. Then she asked me if I accepted Christ, I said I do, and then I was clean. Going into that water and coming out changed me. I felt so new.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old is gone the new has come!” -2 Corinthians 5:17

I am now ready to live my life fully for God.