The Camp Victory Chronicles: Strength in Weakness

"And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

~ 2 Corinthians 12:9-10~

It was my intention to come to Camp Victory in peak spiritual condition. Doctrinally fit and prepared to answer all my campers difficult questions about God. I wanted to be the absolute best counselor I could be. I wanted to have all my ducks neatly in a row, ready to be everything my campers needed me to be. I was going to be in superior shape with my sanctification and closer to God then I'd ever been. I was going to be Sarah Jo, the super counselor!

Well, no surprise to anyone who knows me, and yet still a great surprise to me; I once again don't really have it all the way together. I feel so incredibly weak right now. It seems like everything that could go wrong these past month, did; every mistake I could make, I did make. And on top of that, I feel like all my spiritual short comings, temptations and bad habits have all manifested themselves simultaneously at full strength. I remember laying on my couch last week, after having cried my eyes out. Wondering 'Why is this all happening now? I have to go camp! I need to have it together! I've got stuff to do, this is not the time for things to be unraveling!'

The biggest temptation I face at times like these is to start to think in my heart that God doesn't care about the hurt I am experiencing. This leads me to shy away from prayer, which only makes me feel even more distant from God. It's a terrible downward spiral. It's time like this that I am so grateful for the Bible knowledge and doctrinal training that I've received at my church, Grace Bible. There is a rock of truth planted way down in my soul and I have built my house on that rock, and though the storms of life may howl, my house still stands.

No one said that life was supposed to be easy, or comfortable. In fact the Bible promises us that "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted"(2 Timothy 3:12). And Jesus himself said that “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it." (Luke 9:23)

I forget these verses so easily. I get so attached to my worldly comforts, that when the Lord sovereignly removes them, I think that He is being unfair. When in reality, every good thing comes from the Lord, and no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly (James 1:17, Psalm 84:11). I don't deserve anything from God except damnation, so anything I have is a grace gift, to be given and taken away at the Lord's good pleasure.

On an entirely different note, if there's one things I've noticed about myself in the few short days I've been here, it is this: I am THE MOST selfish person to have walked the earth. Seriously, how did I become so self-centered? All I think about is my wants, my comforts, my desires. my, my my. It's enough to make you sick. In fact, I am sick, of myself. So please pray that this summer, I will die to myself and put others before myself.

"You don't know Jesus is all you need, till Jesus is all you have."

The Camp Victory Chronicles

Hello from Alabama! 

In case you haven't heard, I have decided to spend my summer serving the Lord at Camp Victory in Samson, Alabama.  I will be here until August. The camp serves children from grades 3-12 in different weeks throughout the summer. I'm really excited so see how God is going to grow my relationship with Him this summer. I'm also really looking forward to sharing the gospel with all my campers. 

Please pray for my campers. Please pray that I communicate the gospel clearly and effectively. Please pray that I lay down my life everyday for my girls and show them the love of Christ. 

Here are some preliminary photos I took in my free time today. The camp ground is really beautiful and I love being in the middle of nowhere. Being in nature makes me really happy. I'm excited to explore more of the grounds. Tomorrow starts lifeguard training. I think it's going to be a blast.

If you want to be awesome and write to me my address is:

363 Victory Circle Samson, Al 36477

Why am I in nursing school?

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” 

~Hebrews 12:1-2~

My pastor once told me that it is important to study the Bible in times of plenty to prepare for times of famine. That way we are ready to cling to the Word and to Christ when things start going haywire. It's so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day hustle and bustle of life and completely forget the reason why we do what we do. I've learned that it's important to counsel my own heart from the scriptures so that I do not fall into temptation. I wrote this to encourage myself when I'm having a rough time in school. Hopefully it will encourage you as well.

Why am I in nursing school? 

To bring Glory to God

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God”

~ 1 Corinthians 10:3

 To advance the Gospel and Christ’s Kingdom 

To be a light unto the world

 

To serve

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." ~Mark 10:45

Why am I putting up with all this hard stuff?

I am required to pick up my cross daily

^“Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” ~Luke 9:23

To much has been given much is required

“But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more” ~Luke 12:48

It is a joy to suffer as Christ has suffered.

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” ~Romans 8:18

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” ~James 1:2-3

What should I remember when I have a bad day?

Go to God for comfort

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” ~Matthew 11:28-30

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” ~ 1 Corinthians 1:3-4

God is disciplining me, for my benefit, so that I will look more like Christ.

"Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. " ~ Hebrews 12:11

Sarah Jo, 

Take advantage of this opportunity to die to self. Lay aside all of your laziness and self-centeredness, your complaining spirit and your discontentment.  Seize the day for Christ. Put on humility, kindness, love and patience.

More thoughts on the Gospel

There have been many a dark night in my soul (as it were) over the course of my journey with Christ. Times where I have been tempted to give up and give in. Times where I thought my faith would fail. There was even a week where I was 100% convinced that I was a vessel of wrath prepared for destruction. Looking back, I see that these periods of soul tempest were a direct result of looking to myself for righteousness. In looking inward for goodness, I despaired, and rightly so! "For I know that in my flesh nothing good dwells" 

Oh the sin that plagues me so! The moment I think I have gained mastery over it, it rears its ugly head and overtakes me. I am 'prone to wander Lord, I feel it', " But where sin abounds, grace abounds much more"

Nevertheless, Christ is the compassionate savior. "When Satan tempts me to despair and tells me of the guilt within, upward I look and see him there, who made an end of all my sin"

"Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" ~ Hebrews 4:14-16


I, who am the most unworthy, completely deserving of death "for the wages of sin IS death", once an enemy of Christ, has now been brought near by the blood of Jesus Christ. I am at peace with God because I have been justified by faith. False and full of sin I am! But, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. So now I will rejoice in God!



"I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. And the life that I live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God..." 


Never, have I seen such love as the love that was poured out at calvary. How frequently am I moved to tears when I meditate on the never-ending love of God. Jesus "loves me for me, not for what I have done or what I will become"


For I have not come to the mountain that burned with fire, but I have come to Mount Zion, the City of the living God!


"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire."

  "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." ~Ephesians 6:11-13 




As the Indian hymn says, "I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back..."

Soli Deo Gloria

Nicaragua

Buenos, Amigos!

I just returned from my third international spring break service trip. This year I spent my spring break serving the people of Nicaragua along with 16 other honors college students and a team of medical and dental students from UCATSE (A private Catholic University in Nicaragua).

We flew into Managua on Saturday evening of the 17th. We spent Sunday in Managua exploring the sights and sounds of the city before heading to our service site. Monday morning we loaded up and headed to Esteli, a small town about three hours out of Managua.

I think the most incredible part of our day in Managua was our visit to an active volcano. I have never seen anything like it before. The massive size of the crater was beyond description. It was incredible to smell the sulfur and see the gases rising up from the center of the crater. I felt as if I were getting a glimpse into Hell. I shuttered to think of the agony of eternal fire that awaits those who reject Jesus Christ. 

The gases at the top make breathing nearly impossible. I started coughing as soon as I reached the cross.

On Tuesday, our group split into teams of four and we spent the morning in different local health clinics. At the clinic I learned a lot about public health in Nicaragua. I also assisted the nurses with giving injections and taking vitals. I really enjoyed teaching my team mates how to do vitals and take manual blood pressures. This trip really revealed to me my heart for teaching.

 

In the afternoon we toured a local hospital. I was pleasantly surprised at how well run the hospital was. In other countries I have visited the public hospitals are less than reputable. However, this hospital was clean, quiet and orderly.

We spent Wednesday at UCATSE's campus. In the morning we spent time in their lab. This was when I learned that my guess that I would not find lab work interesting came true. About five minutes into making agar to grow specimens in, I was ready for a nap (haha). That afternoon we went to their cadaver lab; well, everyone else went to the cadaver lab, I sat outside. I do NOT like dead bodies, especially extremely decayed ones. In all honesty, there is just something unnatural about fiddling around with someone Else's organs.

At UCASTE's Labs

Thursday and Friday we did two rural medical clinics at two different sites, 30 minutes and 60 minutes outside of Esteli, respectively. This for me was the highlight of the trip. I loved interacting with the local people and providing direct care and service to them. 

I loved teaching my team how to take manual blood pressure. It was incredible to see how accomplished it made them feel

My new friends, Claudia and Ricardo

Our first clinical site, a two room schoolhouse about 30 minutes outside of Esteli

One of the children at the clinic shared their pet parrot with me

Helping to give fluoride treatments to the local children.

A few personal reflections:

Before this trip I was familiar with the John Piper quote "Missions exist because worship doesn't", but I never truly grasped its meaning. However, I gained new understanding on this trip. I had an epiphany as I was standing with my team looking out over a mountain lake. Internally, I was marveling at the glory of God revealed in nature. My heart was filled with praise for the Lord; I wanted to sing at the top of my lungs about His greatness. I looked around and realized I was the only one who was thinking this way.  I was struck with the realization that these people were created to worship God, yet they worship idols. They were created to love Him, but they hate Him. I wanted to shout, "The Lord is great! Worship and love Him!"

I view these trips as personal mission trips to my fellow Honors College members. It is a unique time to have extended conversations about the gospel with them that are not possible at other times. I have to say, this trip was one of the most difficult times I have ever had sharing the gospel. It was a deadly combination of personal exhaustion as well as widespread hardness of hearts among the students. Over all it was fairly discouraging. But, the Lord was gracious and faithful. I rest in His sovereignty.

If you know me, you know that I have a bad habit of biting off more than I can chew. This trip to Nicaragua was, unfortunately, one of those times. I was just too stressed, exhausted and overwhelmed to really enjoy myself. I spent most of the week wishing I were home.

On that that thought, I don't think there's any better feeling then coming home to GBC. There is no place on earth I'd rather be. I never knew that I could become so attached to a group of people so quickly. But, truly these people have become my family. There has never been a place where I have felt as accepted and loved. No matter how much my world is falling to pieces, I always know that on Sunday I can go to church, worship the Lord, hear the word of God and get a hug from some one who loves me.

Soul Depths

"Beloved, when first you found the Savior, you imagined that the warfare had ceased, that the victory was won, and that, henceforth, your Christian course would be a continuous triumph over every foe, your path to heaven smooth and cloudless, until lost in perfect day! But your real growth in grace is the measure of your growing acquaintance with yourself. A deeper knowledge of your sinfulness, a more intimate acquaintance with the subterfuges of your own heart, has changed your paean of triumph into well-near a wail of despair; has hurled you as from the pinnacle to the base of the mount; and from the base, into a “depth” yet deeper you never supposed to exist, and out of which— the “slough of despond”—  your cry of agony ascends to God. 
 But, deem not your case a solitary one; nor be surprised, as though some strange thing had happened unto you. Such “depths” have all the saints. All are taught in this school; all are brought into the region of their own heart, where their holiest and most experimental lessons are learned. Let not, then, the existence, sight, and conflict of the indwelling of sin plunge you in despair; rather, accept it as an unmistakable evidence of your possession of the divine nature, of the living water welled in your soul- the existence and warfare of which have but revealed to you the counter existence and antagonism of the latent and deep-seated evil of your heart."

~Octavius Winslow on Psalm 130~

What I love about blogging

What I love about reading blogs:

First of all, it's like joining a global conversation. It's so enriching to hear all the different perspectives on issues. I love to study theology and then I love to see how it gets applied to real world situations. I'm no pragmatist, but I do love to see theology fleshed out and in action. Jesus is alive! We do not serve a dead God or an indifferent one. The words of Jesus are just as applicable today as they were when they were penned. Secondly, I think it's important for a Christian to be abreast of current societal issues and trends in thought. Blogs make that simple.

What I love about writing blogs:

Though blogging has a reputation for being a self-glorifying practice, I truly believe that it can be a God glorifying activity. No matter what topic I start writing about, I end up writing about the Gospel. It is my aim in this blog to show how Christ is supreme in all areas of life. Furthermore, I appreciate the chance to stretch my mental muscles. My degree requires a lot of critical thinking, but not a lot of critical analysis in writing. I miss the challenge of written communication. I've come to realize that writing is one of those skills that's gets real rusty, real quick if left unemployed. Also, sadly even when I was required to submit papers, the standards were such that I could submit work of poor quality and still receive top marks. However, putting my writting up on the internet forces me to push myself to produce quality product. Additionally, theologically, it forces me to succinctly hash out my views in a way that is both truthful and loving. 

A few recommended blogs:
The Gospel Coalition
Albert Mohler
Desiring God
Water Gate
Kevin Deyoung