If it seems we are crazy...

CAMP! I LOVE CAMP! It's kinda weird how much I love camp! 

This year we went to Student Life again... but to Lee University in Cleveland, TN. This year was a lot different than last year. Yes, different place. different worship leaders. different people. smaller camp. But it just felt different. 

I was a little nervous going into it because I was signed up to lead a family group again.  I was nervous because I had THE BEST FAMILY GROUP EVER last year! I mean I seriously did. I knew whatever group I got this year, I would be comparing to my last group... tough to compete. 

So... when I arrived to camp I got my family group roster, and to my surprise I had SIX (6) from our youth group! AHHHH!!! Strangers... I can handle... I like them... they appreciate my awkwardness.  PEOPLE I KNOW... yikes... it meant I had to make it meaningful and fun for them regardless of the fact they knew me!! A little scary.

BUT... God is good and He knows what He's doing! It was a fantastic week and I'm SOOO thankful for my family group... they were amazing!!! 

No big deal... but the picture above is of our family group winning the AMAZING RACE game. Yep... we won! Go FG #41!! We were pretty proud... because we are obnoxiously competitive! 

This was one of my favorite things... I got to RE-name each of them with what they thought their identity is in Christ.  I made name tags for each one and we wore them. I love the idea of Christ giving us a new name (Jacob to Israel, Abram to Abraham, Sarai to Sarah, etc)... and many of the students in my group were aching for a new start... a new identity... a new name... so that's what Jesus did for us all last week.  Sweet time. VERY humbled that he CHOOSES to use me... 

Now... the youth group! 

God did so many things... I can't even begin to explain it all. last year... for our group... it was much more of an event... this year (my hope and prayer) is that it was a catalyst for transformations.  Lots of deep things were beginning in our youth! As one of the girls said... last year was an event... an exciting time together with Jesus... this year it was more about falling in love with Him.  AMEN SISTA! 

I can't explain everything that happened last week, but I can tell you what He did with and in me. 

So... ever feel CRAZY?  I DO! I mean I feel like this (my pic) on the inside most days... often my face probably looks like this.  But it's just who I am.  I often feel CRAZY... but I hold back... I don't love with abandon. I don't pray with full expectation. I often live in fear of who God is calling me to be. I feel absolutely crazy when I look around and feel so different than how others are acting around me.  I don't understand how Christians can read the Word and live like they/I do, how they/I can worship Jesus with frowns on their faces and hands in their pockets, and how we/they are satisfied with mediocrity when Jesus calls us to go deeper... still!!! I really feel CRAZY.  God has given me extreme passion for lots of things... 

This is where my heart ALWAYS longs to be... listening, teaching, discipling, and witnessing transformation.

But often times I feel my heart settles so that my physical self will fit in better with the culture around me. SO WRONG! Well... the last night of camp I was just doing my normal worship... you know the jumping, shouting, dancing stuff.  All of sudden I feel like God is telling me to sit down. I'm like... hello God but I'm going crazy worshipping you.  He keeps insisting that I just sit down.  So... I finally give in and sit.  He tells me to breath in deep. So I do.  He just whispers to me that I am breathing HIM in. That's it's His breath and His CRAZYness in me. He tells me I'm not crazy. He assures me I'm not too much (I often feel like people think I'm too much... or not enough). He loved on me in a way that only He can. And it's because I was willing to stop doing what was good (worshipping outloud) and choose what was best... RESTING in Him and LISTENING to Him. 

Then... Tony, the speaker, starts off His sermon in 2 Corinthians... talking about Paul.  I have no idea what he was saying honestly because I couldn't stop my emotions from oozing out, but God shouted out one passage to me:

³ If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit.¹⁴ Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. ¹⁵ He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

Yes. Yes. Yes! 

It's for Him... it IS Him. :) 

If I'm "crazy" or feeling that way... it's for HIM alone. If I'm acting "normal" it's for the people... so Jesus will be attractive regardless!!! SO STINKING GOOD! Glad Paul felt crazy too! It gives me hope! :)

Thankful I have a partner to be CrAzY with... a man who loves the Lord and loves his crazy wife. 

Thankful for the week at Student Life.

Thankful for life-changing God encounters.

Student Life Camp #2 - YOUTH GROUP!

Now for the youth group (our heart) at camp. 

Here we all are before the adventure began:

Can you find me? Ha! I blend in real nicely! 

We took 25 yutes and 5 "adults"

So we left on Sunday afternoon. We planned to stop in Mississippi for the night so we could sleep in and  drive to camp and check in on time. Otherwise, we would have had to leave at 3:00 in the MORNING if we left on Monday.

Jacob had planned ahead like a good youth pastor does and made reservations at a Super 8 in Jackson, MS. FABULOUS! We finally arrived to Jackson at about 9:00PM. As we turned off the interstate the scenery changed. We were seeing lots of grass, nice buildings, and lit streets. Now we saw bars on every window, LOTS of cops, and ABC stores on every corner. We spotted our hotel - o dear... We turned in. Prostitutes were standing on the corner and people were hanging out on the rails of the hotel drinking beers. We drove up in church vans and everyone stopped and starred. It was like we were in a zoo cage. I could just hear people thinking WHY WOULD YOU BRING KIDS TO THIS PART OF TOWN? Haha! Jacob gave of strict instructions, keys to the rooms, and we unloaded. We scattered to the various rooms, but as each group opened their room door a green fury of cigarette smoke piled out!!! GROSS!! Some of our girls were allergic to the smoke and couldn't ever go into the room - sounded like dogs barking with all the coughing! Girls were FREAKING out. (Guys were fine... they don't care). The rooms were disgusting and... not safe! Jacob was getting a little antsy and frustrated with all the complaining. In a victorious moment, he made a decision - WE WERE LEAVING!!! We were there for all of 30 minutes. The other leaders even offered to pay for other hotel rooms if we would just GET OUT!! I wish I had a picture to show you how incredibly sketchy this place was but this was the one time in my life that I DIDN'T TAKE A PHOTO!! I know right. Just imagine the place that you always lock your doors, close your eyes, and pray as you pass - that's where we were! ha! It's funny now! We finally arrived at a safe, more expensive, COMFY Hampton Inn on the other side of town! Ahh... REST! 

Now... for the important stuff that actually happened at CAMP:

We did rec!

She got hit in the face :)

They were excited! 

New friends! 

Best friends! 

Cuties! 

:)

Water games! 

Some people didn't especially like the water games - notice the semi-dry hair!! :)

Worship!

Our Speaker of the Word = TONY MERIDA!! 

I love him! He is great! 

He wrote the book Orphanology and I knew I just had to tell him that I love him... so I did. The first day of camp I YELLED across campus at him and his son from Ukraine to tell him that I loved him and his book! He gave me the thumbs up! :)

Later... I really did meet him. Haleigh and I went to the Q&A session with him and the worship leader. I talked with him them after. Right before my turn to say hi I turned to Haleigh and said "watch, I'm going to tell him about how my husband and I plan to adopt. He's going to look at me and say YOU'RE MARRIED?" and that is EXACTLY what happened! Ha! He thought I was 16! O glorious! But I talked to him about adoption and the book and the heart of God for orphans. I loved it! :)

Our Singer of the Word = KRISTIAN STANFILL (and Haleigh)

He was FABULOUS! He loves Jesus and it shows! 

He led us in true worship and it was good.

Haleigh got to meet him!! It was a great day! We had to stand in line with all the 12 year old girls who were in love with Kristian too! :) We were fine with that. He's like the older, more mature Justin Beiber of Christian music. I know, it's a stretch. 

He remembered me as the interpreter from Passion! Exciting for me. That opened the door for me to talk about the Deaf community and Passion 2012!! It was such a God thing! LOVED IT! 

CHURCH GROUP TIME! 

This is where Jesus met us INTIMATELY and POWERFULLY! 

Again, I can't explain the GOODness and FAITHfulness of God! AHH!! It just makes me want to fly!

This was a time to stop, to share, to rejoice, to cry, and to discover Christ! 

Leaders were made here. Truth was shared. Struggles were given to the Lord. Forgiveness was found. Freedom. Openness. PRAYERS WERE ANSWERED! 

I know I will share more later, but one of the most powerful thing happened the second night.

There is a boy in the group who Jacob and I have loved from the beginning. We have been praying for him to know Christ for about a year now. He is just a fantastic boy - funny, clever, nice, etc.

That night... HE FOUND JESUS! O the joy!!

He is CHANGED! He is a NEW PERSON!!!! 

He shared this during church time and I can't explain to you the praise and awe we all felt! 

I feel apart!! I cried like a crazy woman! I tried not to sob out... I couldn't stop it! 

I cried every time I thought about it and am still teary now! My God is incredible. He is faithful. He wanted this guy for so long. He belongs to Christ now and it is so good!

There is so much more, but my fingers are tired and I know you are ready for this to be over. So it is.

I love our group and God wants to use them in MIGHTY ways. Here are a few more pictures to make you laugh:

Jacob and Mitchel - the twins! ha! 

Funny boys! 

beautiful girls! 

The leaders!!! I LOVE THESE PEOPLE! 

The group - coming home different people! 

Student Life Camp #1 - My family Group!!

FAMILY GROUP #82!!!! 

So, going to camp, family groups wasn't the thing I was most excited about. I don't know what that was, but it wasn't family group.  

For those of you who don't know what family groups are... let me explain.

Family groups are smaller groups comprised of kids from different churches at the camp. The leaders came as leaders from the various churches. They are "randomly" put together. The family groups get to dive DEEPER into material related to the week's theme.  And THAT is a family group.

I knew I was going to be with a high school group.

I thought I was going to have a partner.

I thought it wasn't going to be a big deal.

I thought it would be mostly girls.

I knew God had something in store - I WAS RIGHT! 

Here's my family group:

I cannot explain the blessing they were to me!!! AMAZING people! 

I saw how God can use an 18 year old girl to speak truth through her testimony to change the hearts of 18 year old boys.

I heard how desperation and broken-ness can turn into construction and goodness.

I saw how a questioning man can find answers in Christ and become FLAMEABLE.

I saw how God can use ANY situation for His glory.

I saw the power of encouragement.

I am an eye-witness to the power of prayer.

I saw people who yearned to be accepted by others, find their identity in Christ.

I saw the value in humility.

I saw and heard and fears, temptations, sins, addictions, pasts, and futures and I KNOW MY GOD IS BIGGER THAN ALL OF THEM!!! 

I saw a house built with words!!! The coolest thing ever! I have to share:

So, each night we had a prayer gathering in our family groups before we went to the main worship session.  I like words, so I made each student tell me a word that I can pray over them during the service.  I think it's powerful when someone can convey what they want/need/expect in a single word.  

The first night was awkward and funny and I was okay with that.

The second night was less awkward.

The third night... they built a house!!!! 

 The first person started. For the past 2 nights his word was "broken-ness." He said that the more he though about it, he realized he was already broken - and he was. He had experienced rock bottom. His work for the night was CONSTRUCTION.

The next guy thinks VERY visual! He is constantly explaining the pictures in his head to explain what he was thinking/feeling. The word CONSTRUCTION made him think of building a house... (okay... where is he going with this?).  He said he wanted me to pray for a BUILDING PERMIT. (okay... I don't get it). He explained that his foundation was pretty decent. He knows who Christ is and knows about the Bible, but hasn't really started building his "faith house." It's like he was at the last step of the foundation before putting the walls down.  He just needed his BUILDING PERMIT to really devote himself to building Christ up in his life.

Jokingly, one of the guys said "I want to be the PLUMBING SYSTEM."  Although I knew he was joking I thought it was perfect. This guy had been talking about all the stuff he had let into his life. How he had gotten distracted with the world and everything it has to "offer." So I told him I was going to be praying PLUMBING SYSTEM over him because he needed to get the crap out of his life so that he could really live whole heartedly for Christ! It was wonderful!

Someone needed to find the LOCATION of their house. College was in question and they needed guidance on where they belonged.

Someone needed NEW CARPET. She needs some stuff replaced in her life with Christ.

Someone needed a HOUSE WARMING PARTY. He had his house. He is living for Christ, but he needs people to fellowship with, to hold him accountable, to encourage him, and to walk through life with. 

Someone needed a ROOF. The walls were good. He is striving to follow the Lord, but he needs a ROOF to keep the world out. The negative thoughts, insecurities, and culture needed a filter and a ROOF would do the job! 

Someone needed COLUMNS. He would be going to college soon and needed a COLUMN to assure Him that God was steady and that his faith was founded.

Someone needed an OPEN DOOR. He wanted to serve. He wanted to find his purpose and calling in life. He needed a DOOR OPENED by God.

I thought this was SPECTACULAR!!! I LOVE IT! They came up with this all together. I love that our God is not a boring, old man without humor. He rejoices in laughter and delights when we ENJOY talking to him - aka PRAYER! 

FAMILY GROUP #82 will forever be special to me. I will be praying for them. I will be begging that God makes them miserable until they spend time with Him each day!!! :) 

I love you all! You are wonderful and I'm so grateful to have "led" you.