Are we the cure or the disease for this world?

                                            ^My Project Group at Closing Ceremonies 

As LT is ending, I have really been trying to figure out what I will do after this. But I have also been noticing my friends around me and their actions. I'm not trying to judge at all, but I have been noticing how some of us take life differently. Some have the saying "YOLO" which means "You only Live Once" but others have a saying, "I'm only living for Jesus." Some are also in the middle, but it's been interesting to notice all of this.

What sparked this is when a friend started cussing while playing basketball. I yelled at him to watch his language! But then I noticed the people around me and how much they cuss. I have looked into cussing before, but I felt like this was different. It really gave me insight to how we as Christians should appear to non-believers. In James 3, it talks about taming the tongue:

 "And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to get them to obey us, than we guide their entire bodies. Look at ships too: though they are so large and driven by harsh winds they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the pilot's inclination directs. So too the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it has great pretensions. Think how small a flame sets a huge forest ablaze. And the tongue is a fire! The tongue represents the world of wrongdoing among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the entire body and sets fire to the course of human existence-- and is set on fire by hell. For ever kind of animal, bird, reptile, and sea creature has been subdues by humankind. But no human being can subdue the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people made in God's image. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. These things should not be so, my brothers and sisters. A spring does not pour our fresh water and bitter water from the same opening, does it? Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a vine produce figs? Neither can a salt water spring produce fresh water." (James 3:3-12)

I would really like to break this down. First of all, James is comparing the tongue to a bits in horses mouths and a rudder to a ship. It guides us to who we are and what we are thinking. It is saying that this small muscle is HUGE, it should be carefully guided and watched with self-control. If we don't, it will take over who we are and become who we don't want to be. It will take "fire" and we won't have control. Kinda like what happened to my friend out on the basketball court. What ever is terrible that we put out it is considered poison. Now, here is my favorite part of this passage: not 

^We had a girls night out! 

only do we use our mouth and words for praises to God, but we also use our mouth to cuss and discourage people. We even cuss out people that are a CHILD OF GOD. He made that person, and you just called them a retard. That makes me feel awful that we do that! We should be carrying ourselves with love, not hurtful words! Not only are these reasons to watch our language, but I believe that we are set to a higher standard as Christians. We need to follow Christ and with that we need to be ambassadors for Christ. In 2 Corinthians 5:20 it says, "Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His plea through us. We plead for you on Christ's behalf, "Be reconciled to God!". 

Not only do I think that we should not cuss but I think that we should watch what we listen to, watch and who we look up to. I feel like we should be filling our minds with what is good and pure. Not something that is going to make us stumble. In Philippians 4:8-9 it says, "Finally, brothers and sisters, 

whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things. And what you learned and recieved and heard 
                                                                                             ^Our last Project Day!


and saw in me, do these things. And the God of peace will be with you". I really like how in most of these verses I have told you, they have said we are brothers and sisters in Christ. How are you going to treat your brother and sister in Christ? Are you going to be the cure of this world by being like Jesus? Or are you going to spread this disease with your mouth and filling your mind with things that don't make you think pure? I encourage you to maybe go think about these verses. How are you living, and how can you change right now to help spread the cure through this broken world? 

SO, that's what I have been thinking about. I have really be encouraged to just be more like Christ. This is such a hard task to do, but if that means more people will love Jesus and have the gift of eternal life, what is there to lose? I really want to examine my own actions. I realize I haven't been an angel. Because of my abuse issues, I lash out at people when I feel disrespected or not in control. I am really trying to work on these issues and God has been SO great. I don't want to treat my brothers and sisters in Christ like that, because that is not loving and it does not look like Christ when I do that. 

Tomorrow is my last day, and as I pack up and move on from this amazing summer, I am sad. But I am also really excited to see what is in store for me in h2o. I am working on a plan for the Bowling Green women. I feel so blessed that God has given me this heart for women. In fact, at the very beginning of LT we wrote letters to ourselves to God of what we want from Him this summer. I asked Him for His heart for women. I know that my heart for women has grown so much stronger, but I didn't realize how strong until we had a confession time at the last LT service. I had opened my letter and sat there thinking about it. There were women coming up to confess their brokenness, and I couldn't help but feel this sadness take over my heart. I was incredibly sad for these women, so sad I began to cry for everyone of them. I realized that God was giving me His heart for these women, He was sad to hear their brokenness and wanted to be there for all of them. It was incredible. God is going to be doing great things in Bowling Green when we get back and I am really excited for that! However, I am sad to say bye to all the friends that I made. I am also a little scared to move on from this "Christian bubble" but I know that God is going to be with everyone. 

I am excited to be done with work! I really found that I don't like this work and I really need to be with more people and serve them. I am hoping for next summer to possibly be interning for h2o and staying in Bowling Green for the summer! That is a whole year away, so we'll see what happens! But I got these white shoes for work, and let's just say not only are they not white but they are ready to hit the trash! Glad tomorrow is my last day :] 

I know I have talked about this before, but a couple weeks ago I was able to hike Longs Peak. It is the highest mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park at the elevation of 14,259 feet and it is 16 miles long. It is not named Longs Peak for no reason. IT WAS LONG! It was probably the hardest physical challenge I have ever been through, but so worth it. The view at the summit was breath taking. I was astonished while going up. Dale and I left at 1, got at the trailhead at about 1:15ish and began our hike. It took us about 12 hours but as the sun was coming up when we got to the keyhole (a part of the trail) I could see the shadows and the light go across the mountains. It was so magical. Even in the dark, the milky way could be seen from the trail. It was amazing. One of my favorite hikes by far! 

                                                           ^The view from Longs Peak

I think I have done everything that I have wanted to and more. I am so thankful for everyone that has contributed through this trip either through finances or through prayer. THIS HAS BEEN THE BEST SUMMER EVER!!!