First off, I just want to apologize for being MIA for the past few months.. life is CRAZY. I am back now and better than ever!!
I spent the past week in Colorado at Crooked Creek YoungLife Camp. I went in thinking that my main purpose there was to be a senior leader and guide others, not really expecting much to happen in my own heart… OUR GOD IS FULL OF SURPRISES!! He opened doors I didn’t even know existed and formed connections purely through His immense love. Despite our shortcomings and tendencies to turn from Him, He is always running at us with open arms. It was truly an amazing week filled with much needed reflection and prayer. Our God ROCKS.
We made it back to Rapid City at 5 A.M. Sunday morning and I had a fundraiser at 9……. Arriving I was exhausted and discouraged by the small turn out, but as I said before OUR GOD IS FULL OF SURPRISES!! God did just what He constantly assures me He will do. He provides. We raised enough to make my first deadline and even some extra! WOO!! It amazes me that even when I doubt, God reveals His vastness to me and fills me with gratitude, hope and peace. I am so thankful to everyone who has supported me thus far whether it be financially or spiritually or both. Thank you for listening to God and saying “yes” to Him, because when it comes down to it, this mission isn’t about me or you – it’s about Him and His glory. That being said, I still have a long climb until I reach the summit, so if you feel called to support me you can do so by clicking the “Donate” tab at the top right of this page! I so appreciate any and all support, and I praise God for such a Christ-loving and generous community of people surrounding me and lifting me up to Him.
It’s crazy to me when I think about us each having a unique relationship with God. He cares so deeply for each and every one of us, and knows us all completely through. One of the verses that the speaker reminded us of frequently at YL camp was Psalms 139:17-18:
“How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. How vast is the sum of them. If I would count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. I awake, and I am with you still.”
After a week meditating on this verse I feel fulfilled. Not just fulfilled but overflowing with love and joy. How lucky we are to be created by a God who absolutely adores us. Yesterday was an especially joyful day for me. As I listened to the song “You Are My One Thing” by Hannah McClure, I passed a truck with a dog hanging its head out the window. I began to giggle uncontrollably and as joy radiated through my body I began to cry. Nothing particularly significant had occurred, I was merely overwhelmed with the love between my Savior and I. And to think that the joy I felt, one so great it was exploding out of me, is only a grain of all the love He has for me… It left me speechless and even more joyful.
We are called to share. Share the love and joy and encouragement we get from Christ with others. I challenge you to find joy somewhere and share it. Whether it be and entire day where all you can do is smile, or a glimmer of light in an unusually rough day. Jesus is all around us, constantly offering His love, and the cool thing about Him is that His love is unending. So unending that by infecting others with it, we only become more full.
I love you all dearly and am praying for you!! Have a week brimming with JOY.
Olivia
