Learning to Love

This year God has been teaching and maturing me so much. Participating in camp and church ministry has been an overwhelming contribution to this. 

During our class with Cal Macfarlane, Studies in Christian Worldview, we talked about how a better depiction of one's knowledge and learning is to see what they are learning to love. This better describes where their heart is. 

With this in mind, I have been learning to love relying on God's strength and ability when I do not have it together. Full schedules and last minute plans make youth group and Sunday school an adventure, that's for sure! Whether it's trying to remember all the Bible songs I sang when I was in Grade One, or planning an event or Bible Study, I am recognizing God's hand in everything. 

I have been learning to love growing in areas where I am weak. In seeing places where I need to change I am understanding how my attitude and character needs to be shaped to follow Christ's. At the same time, God reveals his perfect nature to me. 

Most of all I have been learning to love God's gifts. One way this plays out is valuing and enjoying small opportunities for conversation and "shared experience". In working with youth from the Ladysmith community I’ve witnessed the importance of using “one-on-one” instances to connect with youth. In attempting to be intentional in every situation I sometimes have really neat chats with some of the girls.

On a Friday not that long ago three girls asked me what the different between Jesus and God was. Instead of brushing them off or giving them a quick answer so we could get back to doing whatever it was we were doing, I gave it some thought and took time to explain it to them. It was amazing how my time in classes all throughout the year actually assisted me in giving them a full, well-rounded understanding of God’s original plan, the process through the Old Testament, and then Jesus’ entrance as our Saviour and Bridge back to a full life of living with and for God.

It’s always nerve-racking after a discussion like that: Did they catch any of it? Was it over their heads? What did I miss?

Nonetheless, there are not very many things more encouraging than a young girl nodding her head and communicating, “Yeah, I think I get it. It did not make any sense before but I understand better now”.

As I leave Vancouver Island in a few weeks and work with other ministries later, I hope to carry with me the things I have been “learning to love”. I want to continue to look inward and notice things I can improve on, while looking outward to see how I can glorify and serve God by relying on Him and taking what I have been learning and using it to speak Truth into other’ lives.