A cool breeze

The Holy Spirit is something that we all have trouble to grasp. In our last intern/property staff bible study we talked a lot about the Holy Spirit. It got me thinking about what the Holy Spirit really meant in my life. I don't think I realize what an impact it has on me daily. I believe that Holy Spirit convicts me. It is that something deep within me that pushes me to do the "right" thing. I think the Holy Spirit is what has molded and continues to mold me into the person that God intended me to be.

It is hard for me to picture what the Spirit is. I think the best representation of the Spirit is the wind and water. It flows through things, makes things move and if you see it in action it most likely it isn't still.

One thing we have a problem with is the Spirit working inside us. It all comes back to that trust issue we have. We are selfish closed off beings. The Spirit will go into the areas in our lives that need work but we don't want to let it. We think "not that area.. that's that area that no one goes around". It all comes down to the willingness of us. Are we willing? In scripture, Jesus performs miracles on those who are willing..

A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured. Mark 1:40-42

Let the Spirit inside us work miracles. So that we can we transformed in Christ.

Something that I have really been in awe over for a long time are clouds. They are massive yet light. I just can't get over them. They fascinate me. The beauty in them continues to remind me of the Lord. His creation. There is a quote from one of my favorite movies Forest Gump. It is when Forest is talking about the beauty of the sky.

"You couldn't tell where Earth stopped and Heaven began.." -Forest Gump

This quote is what I feel like when I am at Malibu. Even though I know deep down this doesn't even compare to the Heavens above.

The last couple weeks we have really had fun with our intern fun nights. Last week, we had an Iron Chef competition where we choose from certain food items that we had to use and just had to get creative. I had a stellar group that took on a lot of the cooking responsibility while I just watched and helped where I could.. long story short we didn't win but the food was outstanding. This week for fun night we played Kayak water polo. It was intense and quite the work out for me. After that we went caribing behind the boat. It was such a fun time. I love the times I get to spend with the other interns.

This is a song that I have really enjoyed listening to lately.. just wanted to tell y'all about it.

They say-
it is better to light a candle than to curse the dark
in the eyes of the youth
there are question marks
like freedom
freedom for the mind and soul,
we don't see them
see them for their worth at all,
that’s why we lead em
lead em to these wars
and what is it we feed em
feed em our impurities
and who it is we treat em
treat em like the enemy
humanity will need em
need em like the blood we spill
and we're freedom
freedom for the hearts we fill
we mislead em
they hunger for the love we give
but we cheat em
the guys beat him and all he wants
is his freedom,
so they defeat him,
whatever spirit he’s got
"beat him"
and they teach him
the rest of the world don’t need him
and he believes
in the disease that he’s heathen
Put up your fists if all you want is freedom
Put up your fists if all you want is -

(3rd verse) In the beginning - K'Naan

Home and back again

So two week have gone by and a lot has went on..

I went home for about 6 days to enjoy a time with family and friends. It was strange leaving Malibu so suddenly. It was great being home though. When I come home from being away for so long my parents basically welcome me back like the protocol son. Feast after feast. While at home I was able to watch my brother play in the Washington State All-star game for football. I love football and enjoy watching my brother play. I also got to go boating, go to a movie, and went golfing. It was a solid time at home.

Once I got to Malibu I tracked the amount of miles a drove within this one week and I had driven over 1000 miles, this is not including the ferry or boat rides.

While away at home the rest of the interns had Christmas in June where they exchanged white elephant gifts and had a fancy dinner. It was a bummer missing it but I did get to leave behind a gift for the exchange, so that I could receive a gift in return. I decided to leave a free 15 minute back massage from yours truly in return I ended up getting the best gift there. I ended up getting a private plane ride with Bob Goff around the inlet. Bob is a neighbor of Malibu's and owns his own plane and multiple lodges. It was a great coming back gift.

When I got back to Malibu it was whole new group of personnel. When I had left Malibu the first session assignment team, summer staff and work crew all left as well. It was just strange coming into camp with things already running with all new people who I didn't know. It made me miss the first session instantly. I think it was because I connected with so many of the summer staffers and assignment team that I just felt really comfortable.

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:9-12

These verses have so much to it. My favorite verse of this group is definitely verse 12. It makes so much sense in my mind. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. This is exactly how I see Christ daily. I see Him in others. While at Malibu everyone is sacrificing themselves for others and you can see Christ through them. But it isn't just through these actions that Christ is evident. It is through their simple smiles and joy. I personally believe that a smile brightens someones face. Just as when Moses' face was glowing when he saw God I also believe that smiles show Christ to me, because like it says in 12, God lives in us.

In verse 12 it also says how God love is made complete in us.. God's love is made complete in us!? How crazy is that?! We have the opportunity to be a part of a perfect love that God provides.. a perfect, complete, and unconditional love. Let God live in you.. be in love with our creator. Show the love that Christ showed you to those around you, to those who don't know Him. This love that you show them is God living in us, and it will shine through you.