Over the last few weeks I have had much more time to reflect than normal. An injury has slowed me down from my normal summer camp pace (and has produced some uncomfortable humility), which has honestly been a very sweet gift from the Lord. This is summer number 8 for me working at camp, so pretty much my entire adult life has been lived here in sweet community. That does not mean it has always been easy. That does not mean I have pursued the Lord faithfully every step of the way. What that does mean is that the Lord has been using this place and these people to make me look more like Jesus and to draw me nearer to Himself.

Nine years ago on this day, I was a 17 year old kid who had been living a double life for quite some time. I went to church. I partied. I said I was a Christian. I lived in deep hidden sin. I had been baptized before my congregation and professed faith in Jesus. I wanted nothing less than to actually submit my life to Christ. I enjoyed the perks of Christian community, but I loved my sin too. And then on Friday night of summer camp, the Lord did a work in my life that only He could do. My sin became clear to me and the consequences of it were blaring. The Holy Spirit gripped my conscience and I found myself crying out at the feet of Jesus in faith and repentance. The Lord saved me that night, sealed me for the day of redemption, and now I walk with Him in light and freedom.

I cannot begin to express what a joyous grace it has been to spend the last 8 summers working in the place where the Lord drew me to Himself, watching time and time again as He has saved souls, broken bondage to sin, and even called people to the work of the ministry. My job has changed a lot since I got here, but the mission is the same. Proclaim Christ. Disciple others. Equip the church. Walk in faithfulness and obedience. I wish I could say I have done this perfectly. I cannot. I wish I could say I have always had my eyes fixed on Jesus. I have not. I wish I could say I have never tried to do this job in my own strength or for my own glory. I cannot. But what I can say is this: The Lord is faithful. The Lord has preserved me. The Lord, in His kindness, is still using me for His glory.

Nine years of walking with Jesus and I still fail miserably everyday. He has never failed me. He never will.

Why did I write all this? Why should you care? Because my life is one marked by grace and mercy. My story is one that has only been made possible by the precious blood of Christ. And it is hope that can mark your life. The Lord saves and redeems. He heals. He sets free. He refines and He sanctifies. And He always keeps His promises. If you don’t know Christ, I would love to talk with you about the power of His gospel. If you do know Christ, stand firm. Hold fast to truth. Walk in freedom. Keep your eyes on Jesus. He has begun a good work in you. He will complete it.

Romans 3:23-25a

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.