Renewal

This past weekend I had the absolutely amazing privilege of being a leader at Renewal-GSM's middle school retreat. I had such an incredible time and the most amazing girls in my group. They were so fun and full of Jesus, it was great to get to see them grow spiritually over the weekend. While the weekend drained me so much physically, I really feel so renewed and restored spiritually. During the weekend we had 3 sessions/ chapel/ church times or whatever you want to call it. Each session truly spoke to me and moved me.
In the first session DC talked about how as a Christian we don't have to live by a huge set of rules; God's love is always permanent and can't be altered. There is nothing we can do to make Him love us less and there is nothing we can do to make Him love us more. Looking back on the session I can see how the devil was trying to grab hold of me because all I could think was, "Ok, so if there's nothing I can do to make God love me less and my place in heaven is locked, why do I continue to try to do the right thing? Why don't I quit? Wouldn't that be so much easier?" But then as we stood up to worship I glanced up and saw a wooden cross placed on the wall and I pictured my Savior, The King of Kings and Lord of Lords laying up there for me and I was struck anew with the wonder of the gift he gave me when he hung up there. My thoughts immediately changed to,"Wow, that's why I try. He is the reason I try," and as I sang "All Because of Jesus" I had my eyes fixed upon that cross hanging on the wall and thanked him over and over again for the ultimate sacrifice he made for me and I prayed that my actions would reflect this love that I have received through it.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." -Ephesians 2:8-10
In the second session DC talked about checking ourselves in the mirror. During the session we had time to prayerfully evaluate ourselves and ask God what parts of our life were on track and on purpose for him, and what parts were not. This time was really an eye-opener for me; it made me realize that although I was on track in some areas, I needed a lot of work in others. While writing the list was a little hard for me because I have a major pride problem, I am very grateful that I did. I have been pulling it out every night since to review the day and see how I tried to work on those not-so-great areas and pray that God will give me the strength to keep improving them.
"Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out." -Romans 12:2
The third session was called A Whole New you. During the session DC made an illustration of Jesus washing us white as snow by taking a t-shirt full of different types of sin that people had written on it and said that before we had Christ, this is how we looked. Then he placed the t-shirt in Clorox and after a few minutes pulled it out-white as snow. This illustration was really encouraging for me to see because a lot of times I find myself focusing on how sinful and 'dirty' I am and I think that when I do this it's the devil's way of taking away from Jesus' sacrifice. The illustration again reminded me of the magnitude of Christ's gift. Because of him I can now start fresh, wearing a shirt as white as the one dumped in Clorox.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come." -2 Corinthians 5:17
Basically, the weekend was sheer awesomeness! I think what I got out of it most was that I need to focus more on Christ, his sacrifice, and how he alone can heal me instead of me, my sin, and how I need to try harder.
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." -Hebrews 12:2