If you can use anything...Use Me.

Working at Beulah Beach I have the amazing opportunity to meet lots of people and just witness God work in so many different ways. Tonight as I was working late into the night helping Lisa get ready for Day Camp I walked out into the lobby to print something on the copier. Anyway one of the ladies from the Baptist Church that is here this weekend was sitting out at her computer and singing...what a voice. Anyway, she was singing the song "If you can use anything Lord you can use me." Those words just hit me hard. When was the last time that I actually offered myself up like that and said "use me Lord." Yes I work at a Christian Camp and I am in the ministry but it seems lately I've been so caught up in what needs to be done or what hasn't been done yet that I've forgotten why I started out in this field. Why I love Beulah Beach So much... for the simple fact that the Lord can use anything and I offer myself to be used. I don't know that means for me this summer. But it is my prayer for God to use me to get His work done. 

If You can use anything Lord
You can use me
If You can use anything Lord
You can use me
Take my hands, Lord
And my feet
Touch my heart, Lord
And speak through me
If You can use anything Lord
You can use me

(Repeat)

Lord, you called Moses
From the wilderness
And You put a rod in his hand
You used him to lead Your people
Over to the Promised Land
Lord, I'm willing to trust in You
So take my life Lord
And use it too
Yes, if You can use anything Lord
Come on and use me

When David fought Goliath
And that mighty giant fell
He proved to his people
That God was alive in Israel
Lord, I'm available to You
And I'm waiting to be used
Yes I am, Lord
If You can use anything Lord
Come on and use me
Take my hands and my feet
Touch my heart, speak through me

After the multitudes
Heard the words that Jesus said
He took two fish and five loaves
And the multitude was fed
Lord, what I have may not be much
But I know it can
Multiply by Your touch
So if You can use anything Lord
Come on and use me

This is for Benjamin

So Benjamin said he wouldn't look at my new blog design that Adam did (doesn't it look awesome! thanks crites) So Benji-poo here's my new blog designed by Adam.

Benji, 

I was trying to sing the Johnny Robeck song and well i'm not so good i need the lyrics...It's one of my favorite songs and I just skip so much of it when I sing it. 

For the Real...Blog...

Camp starts in like a week. I am challenging the Lifeguard course...I hope I pass...There is so much to do and no time to do it. AHHHHHHHH....

I also enjoyed time with Lisa today we sat on the hill and talked about life love and camp. It's been great having her around. 

I'm really tired it's time for bed now...the Beulah Beach Auction is tomorrow...yay for being a Carney tomorrow...No it does not make me Clown...so don't even say it...

Chuck Taylors

Okay so yesterday I went shoe shopping with my mom. I heart shoes...it's probably an unhealthy obsession, i just like 'em what can I say. Anyway so this particular shoe shopping adventure I was looking for some cute tennis shoe style shoes. So i find these uber cute nike tennis shoes that are gray and pink :-) and then i found the white tennis shoes that I have been looking for forever! They are cute canvas shoes and I was like these would look great with anything and all the time, which was the goal.

Now for some back story. Chuck Taylors, never really "knew" what they were I have a few friends Benj and Joel that seem to LOVE LOVE LOVE them. Benj has even decided to include them in his wedding day, odd i know but that's why we love Benj. For some reason I thought that chucks where the high top ones and I always thought of well...early 90's, and that's about it. You could say i have some prejudice against the Chucks. It just seemed like everyone was jumping on the Chucks wagon, Benj, Joel and now most recently Adam. It takes a special person to pull off the look. I didn't really think i had it nor did i really care about jumping in on the fun.

Back to my story, so I go up to the counter with my sweet new kicks, and the lady is like your Chuck Taylors will be the ones half price...if you could have seen my face you might have chuckled to yourself a little bit. I was like my what?! Shoot I jumped on the bandwagon and I didn't even know it! But now that I've taken the plunge....I LOVE THEM! They are so so great! I can wear them with my cute new little dress that I bought a little while ago and my capris, and just regular ol' jeans. Spectacular! But that is all, I just had to share my uh...sillyness.

As every minute goes by...

I get so excited when groups arrive...it brings life back into this place. That arrival time is so awesome, each person that walks through the door has forgotten about what just happened the week before and they are ready to meet with God. Experience something new something fresh...even if its just a change in scenery.

I've been thinking a lot about Beulah Beach. I love what this place represents, I love that lives are changed and that I can be apart of that. But there's something inside of me that I feel is missing. I don't know what it is. Maybe that excitement. Whenever I was a camper or when I was on summer staff I was so excited about coming to Beulah Beach it was like, "Awesome, new experiences new people...this is going to be great." Now...it's like..."Shoot I've got a lot to get done." A retreat goes by that I've worked really hard at getting set up, like the Youth Prayer Retreat, I've put countless hours in entering names of campers and making sure schedules don't conflict, and answering questions...and it's coming next weekend but I'm already focused on the next retreat. I don't want to miss out on that experience. I want to be able to focus on what God has for me this week, this day...but I'm so caught up with tomorrow. This goes even outside of my work life...into my personal life. I keep thinking...okay what's next. On my next day off I've got to get this done...on this weekend I have a birthday party...I haven't taken a second to breathe. I need to breathe.

I want to be able to take time and breathe but it's almost like I'm to afraid to find out what might happen in that moment...that moment when I say...okay *sigh*. What will flood my mind. I'm longing for a connection, a connection that can only be met by one person...Jesus. I just finished the Shack (great book by the way) and in it Mac took time to meet "Papa" but I long for something like that where I can go away for a weekend and just be with God...where it's just me and Jesus...no concerns about what needs to be done at home or in the office. I want that retreat that everyone comes to Beulah Beach for, those people that I host and greet and serve while they are here. I desire that for myself. And I need it. I know I do. This summer is going to be so difficult if I don't take that time to...breathe...Oh but I look at the calendar and see so many groups so many people that are going to be walking on the grounds and there isn't time to take that breath. There is not a change for sacred time...that time with God. meeting him in the "shack".

"[This is] because you don't believe. You don't know that we love you. The person who lives by their fears will not find freedom in my love. I am not talking about rational fears regarding legitimate dangers, but imagined fears, and especially the projection of those into the future. To the degree that those fears have a place in your life, you neither believe I am good nor know deep in your heart that I love you. You sing about it; you talk about it, but you don't know it." - Jesus, in The Shack

"You can't [change that], not alone. But together we will watch that change take place. For now I just want you to be with me and discover that our relationship is not about performance or you having to please me. I'm not a bully, not some self-centered demanding little deity insisting on my own way. I am good, and I desire only what is best for you. You cannot find that through guilt or condemnation or coercion, only through a relationship of love. And I do love you." - Papa, in The Shack

These two quotes from the Shack seem to fit where I am...I know the truth, I know that God does not want to harm me when I meet him in that place...but that fear still consumes me...because I can't trust. All of these doubts go through my mind and I get angry for God allowing this to happen, or that to happen, or that person to be out of my life forever. I have so many questions that I would love to have answered. I live with this persona of perfection (thanks Nate) I don't even want to write those words, because I'm admitting this truth. Giving the idea that everything is perfect and wonderful and nothing is going on in my life that would make me sad. That's a lie. My reasoning behind some of that is that why should people know what's going on...would it make a difference? I want to guard myself from outside heartbreak while inside I'm dying... I can't seem to say enough how much I need that time...how much I crave for an opportunity to take the gloves off and just go at it with God. To get angry, to repent, to heal...to heal. Oh that healing is so needed. I need to stop writing and actually act upon my desire and this pressure in my heart.

LIfe, Love and the Big City

Can i just say that over the last year or so I've wanted to live in a big city on where no one knew me I was just there doing my job and just enjoying life. Spring Break was a couple of weeks ago and I got to spend a couple of days in Cincy. Now I've been to Cincinnati several times in my life and more just recently. Cincy was one of the first places that I drove as a 15 1/2 year old who just got her permit scary shit right there...I can remember my hands shaking as I gripped the stearing wheel for dear life as car after car passed me trying to gain some sense of worth to be on this stupid road! Anyway thats really not what I wanted to write about today. On this particular trip to the 'nati as some refer to it (cincinnati is just way to long and cincy is well overused i'll try to keep it from getting too annoying hopefully) anyway, my Dad was going to the 'nati for thursday night and friday night for a home-show and then heading home on friday. Well being the good daughter that I am I decided to go with him and just by chance meeting up with a good friend while i was down there...long story short spent more time with that friend than i did with my own father, sorry dad. I was able to spend most of the day on Friday just walking around the city and I absolutely loved it. I felt free it was great to be able to walk around downtown chillin' out in Starbucks (where this post originated from but I didn't get the chance to finish it) I just loved the atmosphere. Yes of course I enjoy talking with friends and hanging out but I like looking forward to seeing them later in the evening. Like you know after work hours. There are days here at school that I can't even walk 5 steps without running into someone I know. It was just great for me to be able to spend time by myself and no one bothered me except for the occasional homeless person asking for money. I also enjoyed being free, being on my own...living my life. The people walking past me...one didn't give a shit who i was and two didn't want to find out. I could live whatever way that i wanted and not be judge by others because they didn't really care, its my choice.
Let me continue with this point before everything blows up in my face. I was sitting in chapel Monday Jack Hagar spoke, back ground on Jack, he is an alcoholic, drug dealer, convict and now youth pastor. Jack has come to the beach many times and I have loved hearing his message. He spoke of going back to the basics remembering the cross and not worrying about the theology yes it is important but that is not THE important thing. It is Christ and the cross. Now how do I tie this in. For the last couple of months maybe over the last year I've been struggling with the whole christian thing. I sit in a classroom full of "christians" who are so sure about what is right and wrong, that drinking and smoking and cussing and continuing the list are all bad. Here's my problem with this. I don't have a problem with any of these things. I don't feel convicted about them but I will respect my fellow human whether they be christian, Jew, Hindu or whatever religion they may have. Yes, I am a christian but I will not say that I am better than everyone because I have discovered the truth. It all goes back to when you're a child you don't realize that the stove is actually hot until you either touch it or choose to believe mom and dad that its hot. I think Christianity is the same way...you can tell me and tell me that Jesus is the only way but for me the rebelous person won't just believe you I'm going to have to figure it out for myself. So i beg and plead with Christian who might be reading this that you stop this unjustifiable judging unless God has said you...christian judge the world...don't It's his job I will stand before God and God alone for my countless sins. Pray for me pray that I turn back to God not play this whole turn or burn game. The basis the truth of Christianity is love and the suffering that Christ went through on the cross. This is where the love comes into this part of the conversation...love God when you love god with all your heart, all you soul and with all your mind that is loving him with everything you got everything you are and everything that you have become. When you focus on loving God, your love will overflow on to the people around you. You might remember the old hymn "they will know we are Christians by love" thats how we should live a life of love. Love with our whole body the two greatest commandments that were give by Jesus were "to love the lord your god and to love your neighbor as yourself." But i must warn you this is not the love the sinner hate the sin...that is bull shit. No one can do that...most "sinners" use their "sin" as their life...they are defined by that they define themselves by that, so when we use that cliche we ignore the person we are trying to love. Love them no matter what...pray for them...and again i will stress this LOVE THEM!!
I hope this makes sense I hope you have a better understanding of what I am trying to say here. Its so important. Many people like in the big city, like me, are just walking through life not wanting to be noticed...to just be able to live the life that we do, and hating christians in the process because of they way they present themselves...its like the movie saved, that is a very good example of what i'm trying to say here. Don't let people just disappear and slip into the darkness...The people you are walking next to at the mall or on the street are crying out for one thing...Love.

Unseen, Unsought, and Uncertain

Captivating has always been that one book that just speaks my heart for the last couple of days I've felt this strange feeling in my heart this unmeasurable pain or depression if you will. Everything is fine in life yes but still deep down inside there is something missing. I really wish i could describe it but I picked up captivating randomly today just because maybe i could refresh myself i read through the first couple of pages and found this again this section, that i have highlighted and made many notes on...its from pages 6-7 of Captivating.

I know I am not alone in this nagging sense of failing to measure up, a feeling of not being good enough as a woman. Every woman I’ve ever met feels it—something deeper than just the sense of failing at what she does. An underlying, gut feeling of failing at who she is. I am not enough, and I am too much at the same time. Not pretty enough, not thin enough, not kind enough, not gracious enough, not disciplined enough. But too emotional, too needy, too sensitive, too strong, too opinionated, too messy. The result is Shame, the universal companion of women. It haunts us, nipping at our heels, feeding on our deepest fear that we will end up abandoned and alone.

After all, if we were better women—whatever that means—life wouldn’t be so hard. Right? We wouldn’t have so many struggles; there would be less sorrow in our hearts. Why is it so hard to create meaningful friendships and sustain them? Why do our days seem so unimportant, filled not with romance and adventure but with duties and demands? We feel unseen, even by those who are closest to us. We feel unsought—that no one has the passion or the courage to pursue us, to get past our messiness to find the woman deep inside. And we feel uncertain—uncertain what it even means to be a woman; uncertain what it truly means to be feminine; uncertain if we are or ever will be.

Aware of our deep failings, we pour contempt on our own hearts for wanting more. Oh, we long for intimacy and for adventure; we long to be the Beauty of some great story. But the desires set deep in our hearts seem like a luxury, granted only to those women who get their acts together. The message to the rest of us—whether from a driven culture or a driven church—is: Try harder.

What I've been trying to say...

John Eldridge is one of my favorite authors, I receive daily readings in my email from Ransomed Heart ministry and also prayer concerns. Anyway that's beside the point along with reading Ransomed Heart, an amazing devotional, I get emails from excerpts from the book anyway i just checked my email today and this was the excerpt...amazing if i do say so myself. I'll write more later I have a lot on my mind but i really just wanted to share this with you.

What Role are You Playing?
We come into the world with a longing to be known and a deep-seated fear that we aren’t what we should be. We are set up for a crisis of identity. And then, says Frederick Buechner, the world goes to work:

Starting with the rather too pretty young woman and the charming but rather unstable young man, who together know no more about being parents than they do the far side of the moon, the world sets in to making us what the world would like us to be, and because we have to survive after all, we try to make ourselves into something that we hope the world will like better than it apparently did the selves we originally were. That is the story of all our lives, needless to say, and in the process of living out that story, the original, shimmering self gets buried so deep that most of us hardly end up living out of it at all. Instead, we live out all the other selves which we are constantly putting on and taking off like coats and hats against the world’s weather. (Telling Secrets)

Think about the part you find yourself playing, the self you put on like a costume. Who cast you in this role? Most of us are living out a script that someone else has written for us. We’ve not been invited to live from our heart, to be who we truly are, so we put on these false selves hoping to offer something more acceptable to the world, something functional. We learn our roles starting very young and we learn them well.