Worship & Challenges.

Two weeks ago I was on a bus for four hours on my way to Holland, Michigan for a church camp called CIY Move. The bus ride was great. All of the juniors and seniors rode on one bus together, and that meant all of my friends were there. My roommate, Hannah Scott and I unpacked our luggage in no time at all then we just had time to kill before we headed off to the dining hall for dinner and then off to my very first night session! This was my first time going to CIY Move.

As the days went on they kept going slower and slower. Not that they were boring, but because of how tired everyone was getting. Thursday was about influence. They showed all 1,500 of us a video of the water crisis in Africa and what Active Water is doing to help them. It was a sad video to watch.

Friday was our final day. It was DEFINITELY the most moving. The theme was endurance. At the end of the session they asked us four different scenarios of what CIY has done for us. the first being, If you have not been baptized and because of CIY you have decided this stand up. Second, If you have grown away from God and you NEED His presence back in your life, stand up. Third, If you have decided that you want to show the world by helping others and speaking the word of God to them (Missionaries, youth leaders, childrens leaders, etc.) stand up. Fourth, if you want to live a life making money, but not necessarily one of the before listed, then please stand up. I have come to realize that after the first one had passed that i really do want to live my life for God and I NEED His presence in my life.

Every year (or so i had heard) they give you little pieces of paper, and on those pieces of paper there are different challenges for people to try to do. You have the option of opening them, or not opening them. Some were about Active Water and trying to help the water crisis and some where just helping others in the community. Mine was about sharing my testimony each week with someone. Personally, when i read it i thought, you know, i really don't think i have a good enough testimony to share with people, but honestly, i really do.

Here it is :
I have been a Christian my whole life. But i haven't always been the best Christian. I was raised up going to church just about every week. But then, me and my siblings got older and we started playing lots of sports that required lots of weekend trips and long days. Once all of this began, i started slowly floating away from God because i didn't have a "church home" and i didn't have a youth group to attend. and i surely didn't give a rat about what God had to say to me on Sunday morning. I began a real issue. At least for me it surely is a big bad habit. Cussing. I used to do it all the time, and now after camp. i realized that i really don't need to use such foul language to people. I will admit that i have said one word and it slipped while i was driving:/

ANYWAYS, CIY Move made me realize that God does do good things in your life. He doesn't want you to be perfect, but he does want you to love him every second of every day. Not just "tell" people you do, but actually do it.



p.s. I saw Gordon Hayward walk out of The Cheesecake Factory today. Yes, I was FIVE FEET away from him :) it's ok, you can be jealous :D