SWTA...Camp...and life!

CRAZINESS. INSANITY. EXHAUSTION.

That's my life right now.

I just got back from church camp Friday. It was an ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE week. I miss my small group and my kids at site sooooo much! But I am very glad to be back in my bed and eating non processed non cafeteria food. God moved in so many ways that week, he is such a great God. I learned and was reminded of so much and I'm so thankful for that week and everything he did for me and my youth group.

Summer With the Arts started today! Yippee! I  am the group leader for the 2nd and 3rd graders this week, (though tiring) they are so cute and I already love them so much! It was a really great day and I can't wait to see what the Lord does this week!

 
LUNCH TIME- SWTA 2012


Opening song time(I guess you could call it that haha)!


My brother and his biggest fan Allie :)

Anyway- just a glimpse of the day! Have a great week! But it probably won't be as great as mine :):)

~Bailey

Summer thoughts...

I find it incredible that while we are struggling it brings us so much closer to God, and how much more aware we are of other people's difficulties. Don't you?

This past semester, there were tears so many days, all I could do was rely on God to bring me through each day. I had to remember daily this was the plan He had for my life, and everything had a purpose.

And when exams were over and I finished my bible study...I wasn't making time for God, wasn't giving it as much importance as before and most importantly wasn't continually thanking Him for bringing me through such a tough semester.

Yesterday, well actually this has been brewing in my little mind for quite some time, I realized, God brings us through such tough times so that we will grow stronger in Him and grow closer to Him- and after that struggle is over CONTINUE to grow closer to Him.

And so this summer...I'm going to do whatever it takes to grow closer to God. To make sure that when I start next semester I have the fruit of the spirit flowing out of my mouth. To make sure that I continually have the right attitude about school, knowing that God is and always will be by my side.

To make sure that I will always remember this summer, the summer of 2012, as one of spiritual growth and nearness to my Savior. To be able to look back and know that God changed my heart forever this summer, that I grew closer than ever to my Savior and will be ready next semester for whatever challenges he places in front of me.

Lord, 
Use me. Strengthen me. Help me grow in you. Shine your love through me in the words I speak. Help me love you more than I have ever loved you before. Show me your unfathomable love and help me grasp that in every area of my life. Lord, help me love you with an unconditional love, so that I will be prepared for wherever you are going to take me.


~Bailey

What are some of your summer thoughts?

Counting down....

I'm counting down the days....

Until school is out...that is six.

Until the pool is open so we can spend long days there just hanging out.

Until Summer With the Arts 2012, which is going to be incredible(thanks to the wonderful Paige).

Until I get to spend unending hours with my best friends giggling and talking...and giggling and talking some more.

Until I can work on my book for hours on end.

Until my 15th birthday and I get my permit...speaking of that I FINISHED DRIVERS ED!!!!!!

Until we know if baby Land is a girl or boy...which is around 26ish days...not that I'm excited or anything :).

But...I'm also trying to savor each day and find the little treasures and things the Lord brings me through each day.

And each day the Lord is bringing me more joy than I ever thought could be possible. It's been great. Especially now that my favorite college students are home and they just drop by for a few hours and we all talk and laugh and have a great time, fun times.

And yes, I'm counting down the days until each of the things above happens, but more importantly I'm searching and seeking daily the things God brings me each day to bless me and bring me joy.

What are you most excited about this summer?

~Bailey

For You, For Me

Mark 14:35-36 "And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Matthew 27:28-31 "And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, ²⁹ and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail,King of the Jews!” ³⁰ And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. ³¹ And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him."

John 19: 16-19 "So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”

John 19:28-30 "After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said ( to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."

He died.

For you.

For me.

Our sins have been forgiven.

He came to die for us.

The pain. The anguish. For us.

It. Is. Finished.

He died. And was buried.

But don't worry. Sunday is coming.

~Bailey~

Thank you, James

For Christmas I got a seven week bible study on the book of James- by Beth Moore.

And yesterday I finished it.

I never, in my whole life, have been truly sad for this study to be over. It feels like I'm leaving a friend- a companion in life.

And to some of you that might sound ridiculous, and to some you know what I mean. But for those of you who don't- I'll share with you some of her writing, so you can get a taste of what I've been feeling for the last seven weeks.

"Let's receive the Word like medicine to souls sick with selfishness and begging to be put out of their misery."

"Christ has used His implanted word to rescue my life so many times. Yours, too? He is so faithful, Sister. Let's move our hand away from the rich soil of our heart and welcome seed that sows salvation 'to the uttermost.'"

"Harsh people are never wise people. They may be smart. They may even be right. But they are not what the Bible calls wise."

"Put your sweet self under God. Entirely. No arms and legs kicking out to the sides. Knees to the floor. Eyes to the skies. Hands open wide. Death to your pride. Here we run aground on the reason the Devil flees."

"God knows how everything will turn out. And, for every single person who belongs to Him, it turns out well. We are not the exceptions."

"If we're willing, God is our song when we are happy, our escape when we are tempted, our hope when we're despairing, our joy in tribulation, our strength in weakness, and our immortality in dying. Ultimately, He Himself is our health."

"The second person I wish to thank is you, Sister. My heart as been so moved it hurts. Bless you for the gift of companionship. Without you on the other side of it, I wonder if I'd ever had finished it. Stay in the Word, Sister. Knees to the floor, eyes to the skies."

And that's Beth Moore for you. She is so personal it feels like she's sitting next to you.

But this book of James- oh James- has tested me, shown me so many things and simply changed me forever. All of the quotes above we written about this five chapter book. This amazing book. Better than anything anyone could ever write.

So- thank you Beth Moore for writing this for me. For helping me understand so much.

But really- thank you James for giving me those words. For prying my heart open to hear God's voice in hard times.

I encourage you to read the book of James. To hear from God like you haven't before. It will be worth it. I promise.

Thank you, Beth Moore. Thank you, James. Thank you, God, for everything.

"If we're in Christ, the Devil cannot have our souls. Because for us, our eternity is settled."

~Bailey

Lessons Learned This Week

So- I'm going to attempt starting a series called "Lessons Learned This Week." Where I share what I've learned this week and...well, yeah! It should be fun. And so we begin.

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1. As Christ has treated me, so I will treat YOU.

Wednesday night my youth pastor taught about treating others as Christ has treated you. And wow. That was just yesterday, and I'm already struggling. It's hard- and it's not something that comes immediately but after we fully realize how much Christ loves us we can BEGIN to put this into practice. And so...I begin to put it into practice. I begin. And it's hard. And we have to work together. But we'll get there.

2. God ALWAYS provides and he never fails.

I am doing a Beth Moore Bible study on the book of James. It's exceptional, and tomorrow will be my last day in the scripture of James- I'm so so so very sad. I can't say I've ever said that before. But this bible study is so personal. Anyway- some days I want to read or make cards not do my bible study. BUT- God never fails to hear me on those rough days and He ALWAYS speaks to me through this study.

James is packed full of- well- everything you can imagine! But God made it so I would learn a certain thing at a certain time, just when I need it. He never fails. He always provides for me.

As some of you may know, we are struggling with some health issues(nothing life threatening, but life changing for sure), and today's was on prayer and how Christ is ALWAYS our health and our healer. It was perfect, I was almost in tears. Thank you Jesus Christ for creating Beth Moore and through speaking through her to me and so many others.

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Well- I'm sure I've learned more than that this week- but I can't remember the rest- so we will leave it at that for now! Come back next week for another "Lessons Learned This Week!" I'm excited you are joining me on this journey. Feel free to do a "Lessons Learned This Week" post on your blog! I would love if you would join me!

~Thanks for reading~Bailey~

But God

Wednesdays are typically not great days for me. School usually takes me forever. And I'm easily frustrated and overwhelmed.

But God. Oh but God.(If you haven't noticed I really love him.)

Have you ever heard Matthew 18:20, "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”?

There is no joking around with this verse. It's the truth.

Because on Wednesday nights when I'm very, very tired, two or more(or 35) are gathered in a basement and while we are singing at church, God is moving. He is there. You can feel it. As the voices are lifted to Him- He's there. It's incredible.

Today, at 11 when I had done two subjects and was on the verge of getting frustrated, I figured- hey, why not try listening to Jesus music and see if God does something in my heart? So I did.

I trusted He would. And He did.

My heart was put at peace.

My day was going badly.

BUT GOD. He moved in my heart.

And if you haven't caught it yet? I love Him. A whole whole whole lot. And you should too.

Because loves you. And if you trust Him, He will put your heart at peace.

Just like He did mine. And that's why He's my love.

~Bailey