I had the opportunity to spend this past weekend with my family at Springhill Camps. Throughout the weekend we had numerous sermons focusing on family and the mission of family. Identity, value, ability, and opportunity to love others were the key aspects of the discussion. All of these words help to make up a family. As I thought of the word family throughout this time, I did not only think that of my brothers, sister, mom, and dad but also my squad who which I will be meeting in 39 days!!:) I will be getting fifty new brothers and sisters, who I will get the opportunity to support and have as comfort as we leave our life of normalcy behind to follow our God into the unknown around the world. Family is a complex and loaded word, yet in its simplest form, it is individual people all coming together in support of one another with one purpose in mind. A statement that stuck out to me was, “Families without mission live life on accident, while families with mission do life on purpose.” When we as a family and individually put Gods purpose for us at the center of our lives, we truly start living the life attributed to us and become more united. Purpose is apart of identity. God makes us who we are to make differences that others cannot. Our creator gives us assurance in ourselves and the knowledge that He loves us unconditionally so we then find ourselves in Him and what He has called for us in life. The last sermon, the pastor talked boldly of the purpose God assigns to each and every one of us. We are called to take the opportunities presented to love others. Sometimes people don’t know how to love others because they don’t understand how much God loves them. Ever get it when you hear something, your heart feels ready to burst because you have an unexplained passion burning deep down inside. This astounding feeling rushed over me as I heard this sermon through. When he spoke of this, I thought of my trip, as I travel the world I will get the chance to spread the word to people of this amazing Lord, who unfailingly loves them and wants them to love others the way in which He loves. “We love because He first loved us” (John 4:19). Short and simple, yet so much meaning and truth behind it. The simple acts of kindness reflect the love of God and in which can help one to feel closer to God. By living out his desires for our life, we experience Him first hand. This is what brings people together, thus being the base and reason behind a strong community. Merely, love is what makes a community. This weekend brought to my attention that being in the moment with the ones around you is vital for growth and intimacy in those relationships. The relationships one forms in life are significant and impactful, thus the compassion and values shared are SO important to strengthen those relationships, by making them to be more meaningful. I am so eager to grow new relationships by surrendering my life to God and extended His love to others every day! There were countless lessons along with thoughts and emotions throughout this trip with my family. Thanks for bearing with me through this blog and my greater journey!
