An Encouraging Note:

I did summer staff at Lake Champion back in June of 2002. I was an AM Cook and one of my biggest encouragements and source of laughter that month was a girl from North Carolina names Jenni Bennett. I ended up staying the rest of that summer and occasionally just really struggled with where God had me. I felt confused and alone at times, I shared that with Jenni (who by the way was only 18 at the time...18!..), and this is what she wrote back:

"My love. I am sure, more and more and more and more, that Christ is making himself evident through every aspect of life. I don't just see Christ in believers, I don't just talk to Christ in prayer, and my walk is not limited to growth only when I am at work crew. I am utterly convinced that every single situation in my life I'm going through, good, bad, or seemingly trivial; I am in it to see the face of Christ. And its not like 'Oh Christ, let me learn the lessons I am supposed to today'; its like stop looking for self-realization and start seeking the blessed face of the Lord. Like a bottom line concept, I would say, is that God is going to keep me in my current situations until I delve deep enough to realize what I'm truly living for. So as my soul cries out from deep depths for guidance, Christ is completely saying back to me, 'Jen, there is no way in hell I would let you get into that crappy spot with no purpose. If i have you there, I have you there, and your own strength will never be enough to rescue you. So lock eyes with me, and we will get done what needs to be done.' Whether it be serving, whether it be learning, whatever it is to be for each of us individually; I am convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is going to accomplish His will. 1 Samuel 3:18 verse b says 'He is the Lord; let him do what is right in his eyes.' That is a promise my friend, that no matter how confused you are about your present circumstances, Christ has every intention of continuing your journey; every intention of continual transformation. Christ is working on your heart, and he will not back down."

I had lost this for a while and then found it again last year and was just floored by the fact that she was so young when she poured out such real and simple truth about Christ and his work in our lives. This continues to encourage me; not only that Christ is continually working and that "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in [me] will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."; but it serves as a reminder that my focus should be on Him, and His face, not on my circumstances or on finding "self-realization". When looking into the blessed face of the Lord; that is where we will find ourselves, and what we were created for.