He Must Believe And Not Doubt...

My first week of my summer job is done...Six or so more weeks to go...Our first camp was a great time...We met some amazing people, lead worship for the whole camp, and hung out with a ton of kids...Once again I found myself looking around and going, "I'm getting paid to do this?" It's great :)

My last post was on how I wondered if I was going to lead well, and if I was going to lead in a Godly way and be a Godly example for everyone...Even just a week into this, I have a better perspective on it...While I still wonder if I am leading my team in the best way possible sometimes, and I still wonder if I am serving God with my whole heart, I take comfort in the fact that it's ok to not know everything before God...It would take out the entire awe of being a created being if I knew...

This past week I was asking myself how I was going to lead this team I have been placed in charge of, and it just so happens I was in James...I made in 5 verses in and God decided to show me how that was to happen...James 1: 5-8 is what is hitting me over the head this week...

I am told that if I would like to know how best to lead this team, than I am to stop stressing out about it and ask God for the wisdom to do that very thing...

Oh.

And...

I am told that if I truly desire that wisdom, when I ask I cannot do it halfheartedly...If I really don't believe what I am saying, than I am not who I say I am...I blown around by life's circumstances and I double-minded and unstable in everything I do...

Well...

I suppose that simplifies it a bit...

Give it to God. Ask him for wisdom on the situation. Believe what I say.

Well then Jake...How much do you trust God to come through when you ask for it? Enough to feel good about yourself? Or enough to feel like you have no control and God is going to have to show up?

I would love to live the latter out...



"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does."
James 1:5-8

A Continuing Journey of Passionate Passions...

Tomorrow I start my summer job.

I get to lead a team around the Midwest with seven other people and lead worship at youth camps for eight weeks.

I get to help be a counselor at some of these camps.

I get paid to do it.

What a deal.


Another journey begins in my life tomorrow, and yet I feel as if I am unprepared and definitely not qualified for what I am doing...

Maybe that's why I'm doing it.


And while a new journey does begin, it also is about to merge with the main journey of my life, meeting at the complex, yet simple intersection where hundreds of other roads collide and mesh to create the walking, breathing, living human being called Me...

It has taken me many years, and many hits upside the head to realize how much my life is a product of a grace-filled plan, and I am able to see how it is filled with my passions, my loves, and my gifts...What a privilege and humbling experience to be able to serve God in the areas I love...

I am fully aware that I am passionate about my passions because I was designed to be, but nonetheless it is an amazing thing I am able to be in that weave of loves...Especially over these next eight weeks, as I will combine many of those passions: Music, Youth, Ministry, Counseling, Camping, Outdoors, People, Sports, Mentoring, Acting Stupid, Acting Crazy, Worshiping Through Music, Jumping Off Things, Flipping Off Things, Laughing, Sleeping, Yelling, Singing, Teaching, Socializing, Meeting New People, Stargazing, Serving, Dying To Self...

Get the picture? See the intersection forming?

How a kid who can't sing well, is mediocre at guitar, has self-confidence issues, and has trouble keeping his voice below one hundred decibels :)...is called to do what I am doing this summer, is flat-out amazing from my perspective...
I do not state this for desires of sympathy and/or affirmation...That is the furthest from my intent...I say state this to put, at the forefront of this, a statement which shows God having to show up or the whole thing will fail...For the last few years of my life, I have wanted to do nothing more than something that was destined to fail unless God showed up...Of course, this does not excuse me from putting my full effort into the matter, and definitely does not excuse me from using my brain to make decisions...But it also does not excuse me if I try to do it on my own...

Thank God.

If but one human life is changed this summer, then I call it a success...

And why not.

Jesus cared for nothing more than each broken, frail life he encountered while he was on earth, and every other life that has ever been, and ever will be...





"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."
Philippians 4:13
(My life verse)