Well, life after camp has been bittersweet.
Everyone warned me of a feeling of depression when I left camp, and I believe that I have discovered what everyone was talking about. At Winshape, you are constantly surrounded by a family that loves you and genuinely cares about your life and, even more importantly, your walk with Christ. When your at home or at work or at school, remembering to follow the same rituals that you once did at camp is more difficult, but still just as rewarding. I am still so incredibly thankful for the things that I learned while at camp. I am more disciplined. I believe in myself and my purpose. If I could go up and hug and kiss everyone that led me to Winshape and helped me in my journey there, I would do it.
Time is just slipping by so fast. Too fast. My sister is starting 7th grade in four days. My cousins will be in 2nd and 4th grade. I am starting my sophomore year of college in 22 days. I haven't started high school in roughly 2 years... I am jobless. I am not sure what I want to do with my major in psychology. I am not sure what I will do tomorrow, but I have genuinely never been happier.
I am not letting petty people or small people get me down. I am finding ways to be a bigger person rather than just talk about being a bigger person. I am learning to be a role model for my younger sister and cousins and everyone that I may have an opportunity to influence. I thank God for my life and the chances that I have to be something. Be something big. It's time to be something big.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Blog Name Change and Basic Updates! :)
I have decided to change the name of my blog.
It's funny. The original name of my blog was 'Chapter 2' because I thought that college as a whole was only going to be one chapter in my life. Man, have I learned differently! In the past year, I think I've gone through like 12 chapters!! Singing in Jacksonville was a chapter. Getting through college chemistry. Chapter. Deciding to transfer schools. Chapter. Actually going through all the motions to transfer. Working at Winshape. I have changed, and I continue to change.
I have renamed my blog 'Isaiah 40'. Isaiah 40: 15-24 says:
Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket;
they are regarded as dust on the scales;
He weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.
Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires,
nor its animals enough for burnt offerings.
Before Him all the nations are as nothing;
they are regarded by Him as worthless and less than nothing.
With whom, then, will you compare God?
To what image will you liken Him?
As for an idol, a metalworker casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold
and fashions silver chains for it.
People too poor to present such an offering select wood that will not rot.
They look for a skilled worker to set up an idol that will not topple.
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood since the earth was founded?
He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth,
and its people are like grasshoppers.
He stretches out the heavens like a canopy,
and spreads them out like a tent to live in.
He brings princes to naught
and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.
No sooner are they planted,
no sooner are they sown,
no sooner do they take root in the ground,
than he blows on them and they wither,
and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.
I know... It's long, but this passage really speaks to me. It speaks the the infinite power and fury that God holds, but all the while, He loves us and holds us in the palm of His hand.
It's absolutely crazy and overwhelming to even try to grasp it. God is just awesome!
It's funny. The original name of my blog was 'Chapter 2' because I thought that college as a whole was only going to be one chapter in my life. Man, have I learned differently! In the past year, I think I've gone through like 12 chapters!! Singing in Jacksonville was a chapter. Getting through college chemistry. Chapter. Deciding to transfer schools. Chapter. Actually going through all the motions to transfer. Working at Winshape. I have changed, and I continue to change.
I have renamed my blog 'Isaiah 40'. Isaiah 40: 15-24 says:
Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket;
they are regarded as dust on the scales;
He weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.
Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires,
nor its animals enough for burnt offerings.
Before Him all the nations are as nothing;
they are regarded by Him as worthless and less than nothing.
With whom, then, will you compare God?
To what image will you liken Him?
As for an idol, a metalworker casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold
and fashions silver chains for it.
People too poor to present such an offering select wood that will not rot.
They look for a skilled worker to set up an idol that will not topple.
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood since the earth was founded?
He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth,
and its people are like grasshoppers.
He stretches out the heavens like a canopy,
and spreads them out like a tent to live in.
He brings princes to naught
and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.
No sooner are they planted,
no sooner are they sown,
no sooner do they take root in the ground,
than he blows on them and they wither,
and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.
I know... It's long, but this passage really speaks to me. It speaks the the infinite power and fury that God holds, but all the while, He loves us and holds us in the palm of His hand.
It's absolutely crazy and overwhelming to even try to grasp it. God is just awesome!
Friday, July 15, 2011
Growing Up is Hard to Do.
The other day, at the beach, I had one of those moments. One of those that you wish you could take a snapshot of. Capture every emotion and feeling that you have in that one instant and keep it close to your heart forever. My mom and I were talking about how as you get older, you see deeper into things, and those things are just not as rosy and beautiful as you once thought they were. Despite seeing things for what they really are, growing up gives us the opportunity to make our own joy. We have the ability to look past every problem in our lives.. I know it's not easy, but I pray that God gives me the strength to do so.
In every year that passes, we see truth. Marriages in your family. Relationships. Trips. Bad history. Good history. Money and Finance. School. Friendship. Decisions. Life. The truth is that people fall out of love. Marriages fail. Relationships fail. People lie. People deceive you. Money runs out. We lose jobs. We mess up...
My prayer is that God keeps me humble. No matter what He might decide to throw my way, I pray that He gives me the ability to find joy. AND spread joy to those that might need some.
I am about to embark on so many new things. School starts at the end of August. I am going to audition for the Voice. I have to find a job so soon. I am blessed with being in town and being able to watch my sister cheer for her middle school team and experience my cousins growing SO quickly. I'm 19 years old! I am having the time of my life, and I praise the Lord for my joy. I just hope that He will give me joy when things aren't so great. And I pray that He will bring some peace to those people that I love that are having a hard time right now.
In every year that passes, we see truth. Marriages in your family. Relationships. Trips. Bad history. Good history. Money and Finance. School. Friendship. Decisions. Life. The truth is that people fall out of love. Marriages fail. Relationships fail. People lie. People deceive you. Money runs out. We lose jobs. We mess up...
My prayer is that God keeps me humble. No matter what He might decide to throw my way, I pray that He gives me the ability to find joy. AND spread joy to those that might need some.
I am about to embark on so many new things. School starts at the end of August. I am going to audition for the Voice. I have to find a job so soon. I am blessed with being in town and being able to watch my sister cheer for her middle school team and experience my cousins growing SO quickly. I'm 19 years old! I am having the time of my life, and I praise the Lord for my joy. I just hope that He will give me joy when things aren't so great. And I pray that He will bring some peace to those people that I love that are having a hard time right now.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
LifeChange.
What can I say about the last month of my life? LifeChange. That's the only thing I can think of.
This year, I worked at Winshape Camp at Young Harris College. It was the very first year for the Young Harris branch, and I believe it was a complete and total success! 32 first through sixth graders accepted Jesus into their hearts. It's still unbelievable to me!
"Camp is about the campers" but God sent me to Winshape for another reason as well. My relationship with God has grown more than I ever expected, and I am incredibly thankful! Everything has more meaning, I think. I cherish moments more. I value time with loved ones more so than I ever took energy to do before. I won't let things get to me as badly because I send all my hardships right up to The Rock. He gives me shelter, and He gives me strength.
God has a plan for me. It is simply my responsibility to take it and run with it. God gave me a talent. A talent that I could be using and cultivating every day, but I haven't. Not anymore. I'm running. I have no idea where I am headed, but I know He'll catch me. And that makes me so excited and so hopeful!
In 1 Timothy 4:12, it says, "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." There was a time during Staff Training in May when the 350 college student staff stood singing "It Is Well With My Soul" together during worship. We sang the last verse that says,
"And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul."
Everyone shouted and cheered and lifted their hands to the heavens to accept the absolute awesomeness of our God. It was in that moment that God spoke to me. Every once in a while, I admitt to feeling left out and odd because I've never followed the same path that is widely accepted for college students. I've made changes to my lifestyle that confuse and anger some people in my life. I have a hard time relating to many of the people that I once was very close to. But in that one moment with God, He spoke to me... He said, "Well done, Macy. Well done." Some of my friends were a little bit unsure of why I would want to sign my life over to Winshape for the summer. Why would I want to give up my phone, computer, short shorts and strapless dresses to go to a camp with little girls and 40 staff members that I had never met. God calmed EVERY insecurity that I EVER had in that one moment with Him. There were 350 other college students that chose not to go on vacation... They chose not to lay around the house all day every day until school starts again... They chose not to get other jobs, and some left jobs they have had for a long time... (Which are all AWESOME, fun and beneficial things) What I'm saying is that I am not alone. We are young, but we are an example. We live for Him, and I love knowing that my new community of friends will be there for me when I need them. No matter what!
I am incredibly thankful for everything He has done for me. I want to let my life be something for Him. Even if it's just something that He might smile at every once in while. Maybe I can lead the sort of life that leads someone else to Him. I just know that I'm on FIRE, and I never want it to go away.
This year, I worked at Winshape Camp at Young Harris College. It was the very first year for the Young Harris branch, and I believe it was a complete and total success! 32 first through sixth graders accepted Jesus into their hearts. It's still unbelievable to me!
"Camp is about the campers" but God sent me to Winshape for another reason as well. My relationship with God has grown more than I ever expected, and I am incredibly thankful! Everything has more meaning, I think. I cherish moments more. I value time with loved ones more so than I ever took energy to do before. I won't let things get to me as badly because I send all my hardships right up to The Rock. He gives me shelter, and He gives me strength.
God has a plan for me. It is simply my responsibility to take it and run with it. God gave me a talent. A talent that I could be using and cultivating every day, but I haven't. Not anymore. I'm running. I have no idea where I am headed, but I know He'll catch me. And that makes me so excited and so hopeful!
In 1 Timothy 4:12, it says, "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." There was a time during Staff Training in May when the 350 college student staff stood singing "It Is Well With My Soul" together during worship. We sang the last verse that says,
"And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul."
Everyone shouted and cheered and lifted their hands to the heavens to accept the absolute awesomeness of our God. It was in that moment that God spoke to me. Every once in a while, I admitt to feeling left out and odd because I've never followed the same path that is widely accepted for college students. I've made changes to my lifestyle that confuse and anger some people in my life. I have a hard time relating to many of the people that I once was very close to. But in that one moment with God, He spoke to me... He said, "Well done, Macy. Well done." Some of my friends were a little bit unsure of why I would want to sign my life over to Winshape for the summer. Why would I want to give up my phone, computer, short shorts and strapless dresses to go to a camp with little girls and 40 staff members that I had never met. God calmed EVERY insecurity that I EVER had in that one moment with Him. There were 350 other college students that chose not to go on vacation... They chose not to lay around the house all day every day until school starts again... They chose not to get other jobs, and some left jobs they have had for a long time... (Which are all AWESOME, fun and beneficial things) What I'm saying is that I am not alone. We are young, but we are an example. We live for Him, and I love knowing that my new community of friends will be there for me when I need them. No matter what!
I am incredibly thankful for everything He has done for me. I want to let my life be something for Him. Even if it's just something that He might smile at every once in while. Maybe I can lead the sort of life that leads someone else to Him. I just know that I'm on FIRE, and I never want it to go away.
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