God is so cool, y'all

As an intern, I've had to prepare a lot of devotions and talks that will be done later in the summer. In preparing my talk for last night's youth service, I was basically talking to myself. Everything I said to those students completely applied to my life. As I prepared and read and outlined, God was teaching me without me even realizing it. This happened again as I was preparing devotions for beach camp. Everything I said completely applies to me. When I read back over them, it's like someone else had written them for me to read. I can't even. It's so awesome. And it's just going to keep going. I have three more talks to do and a devotion for a mission trip meeting. God's doing great things, guys. 

I seriously never blog anymore. For awhile, I would have sporatic thoughts that didn't require an entire blog post, so I would post those on Tumblr. I have since logged out of Tumblr with little intention of returning. It's not a terrible place, but I wasn't growing in my relationship with Christ in any way being there. So here we are. Back together at last.

I'm doing an internship this summer at my church with the youth group, so basically I help everything happen. I get to go to both beach camps and the mission trip in July. In between, I get to do whatever comes up. I'm not gonna lie, I'm extremely nervous about this. I only attended this church for two years before heading off to college, so I really don't know that many people. I don't know my boss (the youth pastor) very well, because like I said, I wasn't there for very long. I think I'm afraid that the students won't like me. I'm not familiar to them, so I'm worried that they won't respect my "authority" and won't want to hang out with me or talk to me. That seems to silly putting in that context. I, a rising junior in college, am afraid of sixth graders not liking me. Seriously, though, it's been a real worry for me.

But there is good news! My identity is not determined by who likes me! I am not who I am because middle school and high school students approve of me. My identity is found in my salvation through Christ's death on the cross! I am a daughter of God and He loves me. Nothing else matters. It doesn't matter if it turns out that the students don't want to hang out with me, God does, and He is the only One who truly matters. This may sound cheesy, or obvious, or whatever, but as a girl with many insecurities, this is so encouraging. I wish I had known this growing up as much as I do now. I don't need to be accepted by man, and the Bible even tells me that I won't! The world hated Him, and it will hate me. But I am so encouraged by who I am surrounded by thsi summer. I have only heard my youth pastor speak His heart on a few occasions, and tonight I heard his heart for those middle schoolers preparing to go to beach camp. He loves Jesus and is jealous for them to know Him as he does. I cannot wait to work with him and continue to see his heart for the Lord and His ministry!

Seriously, y'all, this summer is going to blow all of my expectations into the trash. God's got better plans.

Also...

"If ever I forget my true identity,
  show me who I am, and help me to believe.
You have bought me back with the riches of
Your amazing grace and relentless love.
I'm made alive forever, with you life forever,
By your grace I'm saved!"
   -Citizens "Made Alive"