The hardest simple decision you'll ever make

Something so simple and yet so hard to do. The ability to make time for our most important and amazing father. He gives us each day , how dare we not find/make the time for him in that. Everyday should be his to control, we should give him that considering he gives us life. If we start our day or even end it by realizing that it isn't our day at all but his how can anything make it less than the best day of our lives

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Hey guys :) sorry this is a little belated I meant to write this past week but alas I didn't :p. Anywho, I think Wednesday's struck me the most in the fact that mercy finds us and when it does we don't always accept it. It hurts to have it given cause it means we have to admit that we even need it. Which means we have to admit that we have failed miserably. we aren't even worthy to have mercy but receive it anyway because we have a father and savior who love us to much to let us stray to far from their bosoms.

Little ones to him belong for they are weak and he is strong...

Okay so let me preface the story, I am about to tell, with it is really embarrassing because it was such a stupid mistake but it ended up being a great analogy for today's devo!

Okay STORY TIME:

I'm reading today's devo, this morning, and it says "I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties, for when I'm weak, then I am strong." After reading this I thought "well this would be great to read when I'm in a hardship but it doesn't really apply to me at the moment I mean life is good! I am graduating in 2 weeks, my family is good, God is good, life is good." Now let me tell you what's really going on, last week I barely did my devo. My excuse to myself was that I was studying for AP testing and well I still loved God. I figured that one week wouldn't kill me as long as I still said things were good with God.

Then it got to the weekend, AP tests were over, but I still made no effort to spend time with God. So when I read today's devo I was like sweet it doesn't even apply to me! I was in a small state of denial... Anyways I hadn't really prayed too much and I still didn't today. BUT THEN...I went to go meet some friends for coffee and I was backing out of my driveway...here comes the embarassing part... and BOOM I hit my dad's car. sweeeet. I was super embarrassed and blah blah blah. However, the next few hours of my night I simply thought...it was the first time in probably a good two weeks that I prayed like I normally do. I then was reminded of today's verses. Delight in difficulties, weakness, embarrassment, stupid mistakes, fill in whatever word you would like. And I was like well crap...thanks a lot God. haha but it made for a good analogy. When I was driving out of my driveway, it was a normal routine thing, I was being attentive but I wasn't concentrating. Its like me with my time with God I had fallen into a routine and I was being attentive but not concentrating. I wasn't concentrating on his will I was concentrating on making it through the school year. So I guess it just took me getting in an accident to wake me up. God allows us to make stupid mistakes in order for us to learn. We won't learn if we just sit there and pout or be prideful. We have to delight in our mistakes or learn from them like I am attempting to do now. So delight in your difficulties this week...you never know what God will reveal!

Have an awesome week!!

Only 11 days until Memorial Day!!

woot woot!!

Luke 2:49

Luke 2:49 "Don't you know I had to be in my Father's House?"

Is the Son of God living in His Father's house in me?

Oh, how I want to be identified with the Lord's life in me, continually talking to Him and realizing that all things come from His hands! At times we wonder why we go through the things we do. Maybe it is not that we have to go through them, but rather, those trials and circumstances are God's way of entering into and dwelling in our lives in a very pointed, purposeful, and intimate way - an invasion of sorts. If we could just let Him have His way, and keep in perfect union with Him!

"I had to be in my Father's house." When Jesus said this, I believe He was also saying, "I must be about My Father's business." God is in the business of people. He entered people's lives, He lived among them. The way He worked and lived among men must be the way He lives in us.

Let It Be

To be or not to be? That is the question.

Shakespeare was right when he wrote that into his play, Hamlet. It is a crucial question of life and often our society chooses the not to be. One of the most difficult things to do in this world is BE. We don't like to wait. We don't like to be patient, and it's hard to be patient. I think that if we as Christians really tried to put the spiritual discipline of patience into practice, so many things would change. As I'm thinking back on the life of Jesus, I realize he was so good at stopping for the one. The one dying man, the one sick leper, the one hurting woman. When was the last time you remember stopping your busy, hectic life for one person? When was the last time you put your agenda aside and let God's agenda take the lead? If you're like me and are having a hard time remembering the last time you did, or you can only remember a few times you did, then maaaaaaybe you and I should both re-prioritize a little bit. But it's so much harder to do right? It's hard to give up out precious precious time. What would happen if you did stop? What if the person asks you for money? What if they make you (dare I say it) uncomfortable? What if they make you late?!?!?!

Or what if they ask you about Jesus and you get to share your testimony? What if all that person needs is for someone to tell them that they matter and you save their life?

The Beatles were totes preaching it when they wrote Let It Be - "speaking words of wisdom LET IT BE"

I know God has been singing that song to me for a while trying to get the message across. Asking me, BEGGING me to just stop my day and be. I can't tell you how refreshing, wonderful and important it is to just *inhale* *exhale* ...be and let God take control. It's scary, and I'm not very good at it, but every day I'm trying more and more to just be and let God take the lead.

Being Entirely Present: A Personal Inventory

Hey guys :] I hope you're all doing well! Your posts are so encouraging and filling. God is definitely moving, challenging, and changing us through these devotionals and it's evident on this blog! Thanks for being so open to share how He's working in you.

I'm a very thoughtful person. I'm almost always shut up in my head. When that happens, the rest of me(my body and soul) goes into an auto-pilot. I'm not thinking about what I'm doing, just doing it. My thoughts are somewhere else, so therefore I'm not present with where I am.
Wednesday night, I realized that my thoughts had become so overwhelming that I couldn't hear God's voice anymore- even in worship, where I can hear Him the most at times. I was so distracted and focused on myself that I couldn't feel Him even if I tried.
After my midweek college group, I was chatting it up with a friend and when I told her I had to go, she said, "Live for today, Jonathan." And I was taken back. I know what she meant was stay and hang out with us but what I heard was, "Get your mind out tomorrow and yesterday"...
I went home that night and felt convicted to do a full inventory of my thoughts, doubts and worries. I filled 3 pages in my prayer journal and going through it all was painful but necessary.

Through that process I took every thought captive and handed them over to God. I realized that most of my worries are out my control and there is nothing I do about them and in realizing that I was able to trust with God with them because I know He is in control. I was able to see the things around me again! I became entirely present.
That days devotional was so perfect for what God did for me that night.
¹ Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2, New International Version)
:)

GOD IS LOVE!

Hey guys!

So I know that this post is way past due but I’ve been having a hard time getting to a computer since my Macbook pro was stolen 3 weeks ago. But I can’t for the retreat so I can finally get to meet all of you in person! This summer is going to be incredible!

Tuesday’s devotion really hit me hard. 1 Corinthians 13:3 states that, “If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames but have not love, I gain nothing.” Being involved in youth group, bible studies and doing charity work here at Davis is great but sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in going through the motions. If I am inviting people to youth group or going out and preaching to the homeless in San Fran but do it out of a feeling of obligation and out of love then, “I am nothing.” GOD IS LOVE and so often we forget that we are called to be a reflection of Him, to be made a new and to share that love with everyone that we come in contact with. It’s easy to get caught up in doing good works and looking like a “good Christian” but it is about so much more than that. Christ wants us to give without expecting anything back, to help out when no one is looking, and above all else, do these things because we genuinely love people so much that it breaks our hearts to not act out of love. The light in us should “permeate” through us and “recreate-those around us” like weeks 8’s devotion on sensitivity said. The love that we omit should be an open door for us to reach people because who doesn’t want to be loved? “Love is the final fight” (Jon Perkins) and without love works mean nothing.

Discipline...haha

   First off i cannot wait for this summer! and its only 2 weeks till memorial day weekend! sooo pumped!
 Ok now that i got that out, discipline is both a strength and weakness for me in both my everyday and spiritual life. I dont like being told what to do, and its ironic that im postin this on a Shasta blog because last summer as a camper i coined my phrase"i have problem with authority" just to clarify i didnt disobey the barney driver or authority figure in any harmful  way. i enjoy doing my own thing and living my life. However when God came into the picture things changed, i now had to choose to obey him or not. Its sometimes a struggle with God to do what he asks of me, especially when its out of my comfort zone. but i know that i have to  trust him in all i do because he has a plan for me. Even posting on the blog itself is a struggle because its out of my comfort zone, thankfully no one directly told me i had to post, but being the awesome people that they are supported me in doing so. like that, God supports me throughout my day. Also, when i think about discipline and how it applies to my relationship with God i think of how the disciples willingly followed Jesus and in the same way i should follow God.
Frank S

CARPOOL!!!

Hello Team! We have been thinking of ways to help cut costs for you all to get to the memorial day retreat and also to your individual sessions. Here is a composite list of all the staff who are working for the camp this summer! If you are looking for a ride up to Memorial day retreat or your session, check the city location of staff and shoot them a call or email.

We are always trying to be green at the camp and this is just another way we can all contribute to greeness.

This has been posted to each blog associated with the camp, so you all have everyones numbers and emails. Hopefully this helps! CALL, EMAIL, FACEBOOK, TEXT AWAY! THANKS TEAM! LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL @ THE RETREAT!

NAME	ST	CITY LOCATION	CELL	email	CAMP LOCATION
Amanda Morris	Ca	Fresno	559-353-1665	amandamorriss01@comcast.net	FIRST SES. DELTA Barnabas
Haley Ross	CA	Carmel	831-241-4686	p1ross2011@gmail.com	FIRST SES. DELTA Barnabas
Joy Brusenback	Ca	Clovis	559-940-1470	joymarie_93@yahoo.com	FIRST SES. DELTA Barnabas
Katie Anema	CA	Lodi	209-263-1391	anemahome@sbcglobal.net	FIRST SES. DELTA Barnabas
Mackenzie Hittle	CA	Lodi	209-607-5931	kennie_3@yahoo.com	FIRST SES. DELTA Barnabas
Thomas Yang	Ca	Granite Bay	916-801-7366	tlyang@ucdavis.edu	FIRST SES. DELTA Barnabas
Cody Wright	NV	Reno	775-815-3741	itupliving@yahoo.com	FIRST SES. DELTA Barnabas
Second Session
Caity Dickson	Ca	Danville	925-413-8049	sycocaity@yahoo.com	2ND SES. DELTA Barnabas
Emma Grager	CA	Danville	925-588-8057	emmagrager@gmail.com	2ND SES. DELTA Barnabas
Evan Smith	CA	Fresno	559-367-1791	redsoxdude2424@yahoo.com	2ND SES. DELTA Barnabas
Jackie Kabel	Ca	Danville	925-786-7963	jkkuniv@gmail.com	2ND SES. DELTA Barnabas
Jackson Reimers	CA	Dove Caynon	949-231-9586	jereimers@cox.net	2ND SES. DELTA Barnabas
Kristen Brandsma	ID	Wendell	208-308-8503	kristen-brandsma@hotmail.com	2ND SES. DELTA Barnabas
Lauren Green	CA	Los Angeles	714-290-4835	laurengreen75@yahoo.com	2ND SES. DELTA Barnabas
Logan Daily	ID	Hagerman	208-539-5550	topspinhitter@yahoo.com	2ND SES. DELTA Barnabas
Mallory Bockwoldt	CA	Woodland Hills	818-427-0857	horseridermal22@sbcglobal.net	2ND SES. DELTA Barnabas
Rebekah Bujanowski	CA	Covina	626-393-7352	bj93472@yahoo.com	2ND SES. DELTA Barnabas
Stephanie Machello	Ca	Salinas	831-229-8349	smarchello1@yahoo.com	2ND SES. DELTA Barnabas
SHASTA BARNEYS
NAME	ST	CITY	CELL	email
1st session
Brianna Salvatore	CA	Orange	714-403-2821	bnsalvatore@ucdavis.edu	FIRST SES. SHASTA Barnabas
Chris Brown	CA	Orange	714-944-3396	chrisbrown385@gmail.com	FIRST SES. SHASTA Barnabas
Frank Sprauge	WA	Custer	360-815-7482	frank.sprague@yahoo.com	FIRST SES. SHASTA Barnabas
Jonathan Hale	CA	Walnut Creek	925-212-7703	mrtheatresmith@gmail.com	FIRST SES. SHASTA Barnabas
Jordan Leonard	CA	Saratoga	408-857-0345	jordanmleonard@sandiego.edu	FIRST SES. SHASTA Barnabas
Micaela Saqui	Ca	Granite Bay	916-899-8585	msaqui@live.com	FIRST SES. SHASTA Barnabas
Nikki Smith	Ca	Walnut Creek	925-899-5603	nikki.ksmith@yahoo.com	FIRST SES. SHASTA Barnabas
Samantha Lotti	CA	Saratoga	408-505-5002	samlotti2k5@yahoo.com	FIRST SES. SHASTA Barnabas
Sarah Thomas	CA	Pleasanton	925-961-7315	sthomas117@gmail.com	FIRST SES. SHASTA Barnabas
Shane Anderson	TX	Austin	916-813-8246	shaneanderson4@gmail.com	FIRST SES. SHASTA Barnabas
2nd Session
Brad Hogenson	CA	Martinez	925-817-8767	bradleyhogenson@yahoo.com	2ND SES. SHASTA Barnabas
Jacob Temple	CA	Sunland	818-903-2156	vcssurferduck@aol.com	2ND SES. SHASTA Barnabas
Megan Obrien	Ca	Danville	925-708-3333	mobrien09@apu.edu	2ND SES. SHASTA Barnabas
Sarah Cardona	Ca	Pomona	909-896-0957	dancestar11@verizon.net	2ND SES. SHASTA Barnabas
Stephanie Draeger	Ca	Claremont	909-367-4917	hellokittysr21@yahoo.com	2ND SES. SHASTA Barnabas
3rd Session
Amy Brown	CA	Azusa	626-239-5805	adaughenbaugh09@apu.edu	3RD SES. SHASTA Barnabas
Esabeau Kendell-Bell	CA	Sun Valley	818-667-6179	essie.m@me.com	3RD SES. SHASTA Barnabas
Hope Frankian	CA	Burbank	818-808-8122	frankianh@spu.edu	3RD SES. SHASTA Barnabas
Jonathan Beltran	CA	La Crescenta	818-419-0866	john.e.beltran@gmail.com	3RD SES. SHASTA Barnabas
Lauren Traurig	Ca	Pleasanton	925-922-9746	ltraurig09@apu.edu	3RD SES. SHASTA Barnabas
TRAINEE
NAME	ST	CITY	CELL	email
Anneliese Dion-Kindem	CA	Agoura Hills	818-429-3011	anneliesedk@gmail.com	First Ses D. Trainee
Kate Stipa	CA	San Pedro	310-357-4626	kgstipa@cox.net	First Ses D. Trainee
Tony Dunn	CA	Lake Forest	949-212-6096	adunn@mbay.net	First Ses D. Trainee
Wendy Whitcombe	CA	Palos Verdes Estates	310-961-6810	wendy@whitinc.com	First Ses D. Trainee
Cody Schulze	Ca	Ventura	805-746-6277	cody.schulze@gmail.com	First Ses D. Trainee
Joseph Lee	CA	Torrance	310-351-8565	josephlee92@gmail.com	2nd Ses D. Trainee
Katie Jameson	CA	Oceanside	760-560-7839	katiejameson1515@yahoo.com	2nd Ses D. Trainee
Alyssa Holloway	CA	Carmel	831-236-5377	aholloway@westmont.edu	2nd Ses D. Trainee
Shasta
1st session
Allie Sherrod	Ca	San Diego	925-212-5489	alliesherrod@yahoo.com	First Ses S. Trainee
Sarah Josephson	CA	Torrance	310-847-9764	sarahjoe5@csu.fullerton.edu	First Ses S. Trainee
2nd session
Karly Nelson	CA	Alamo	925-819-1507	karlyanelson@yahoo.com	Second Ses S Trainee
3rd Session
Elizabeth Sherwood	CA	Los Angeles	949-510-7757	esherwoo@lion.lmu.edu	Third Ses S Trainee
Kira Thornley	CA	San Luis Obispo	831-332-4068	kthornle@calpoly.edu	Third Ses S Trainee
Jamie Sickler	CA	Kerman	559-978-1617	jsickler@ucsd.edu	Third Ses S Trainee
Lauren Whitney	WA	Spokane	206-799-8507	lauren_whitney04@hotmail.com	Third Ses S Trainee
DRIVER
NAME	ST	CITY	CELL	email
Aaron Cardinio	CA	Rocklin	209-327-4627	acardinio@jessup.edu	Driver D.
Connor Drake	CA	San Jose	408-396-8319	crdrake122@gmail.com	Driver D.
Josiah Auer	CA	San Jose	408-482-0501	josiahpeter@gmail.com	Driver D.
Kevin Straw	CA	Acampo Rd	209-479-0587	thelaststraw90@aol.com	Driver D.
Jordan Costa	CA	Lodi	209-327-0193	gswbasketball2002@yahoo.com	Driver D.
Alyssa Barlow	CA	Ramona	760-5044923	alybarlo@gmail.com	Driver D.
Jennifer Harnet	CA	Orange	714-906-9706	jenniferharnett@gmail.com	Driver D.
Kristen Anema	CA	Lodi	209-263-1470	kristen_anema@yahoo.com	Driver D.
Jenna Gailey	CA	Davis	925-487-9503	jvgailey@ucdavis.edu	Driver D.
Josh Vance	WA	Spokane	408-410-7009	jvance12@my.whitworth.edu	Driver S
Michael Obrien	CA	Danville	925-596-0266	mikeobrien@sbcglobal.net	Driver S
Tyler Moore	CA	Rancho Palos Verdes	310-561-4130	tylermoore@umail.ucsb.edu	Driver S
James Hansen	Ca	Azusa	626-391-2677	jdhansen111@aol.com	Driver S
Amanda Potts	CA	Orange	503-302-4592	amanda.potts@hiu.edu	Driver S
Lauren Stack	CA	Torrance	310-488-6397	lstack89@yahoo.com	Driver S
Kaitlyn Bonne	CA	Granite Bay	916-521-9835	ktbonne@hotmail.com	Driver S
Emily Ferree	CA	Huntington Beach	714-292-2637	eferree@usc.edu	Driver S
Katy Conlin	CA	Granite Bay	916-303-3497	katy.conlin@gmail.com	Driver S