Knowledge vs. Experience

So I've been up at camp since Monday afternoon. It's been alright. One thing that Brody has mainly focused on is the difference between having knowledge about who Jesus is, but not having any experience of you knowing Jesus.

Having knowledge of Jesus is simply knowing that He died on the cross or any of the things that He did while He was on earth and by just simply reading and memorizing Scripture your knowledge of Christ is growing. But what does knowing Jesus mean? Knowing Jesus means that you have a relationship with Him. It's kinda like being married... you KNOW that you are married if you are married because you have a relationship with that person and you are in communication with that person day in and day out. That is how it should be with Christ. You need to pursue Christ, ladies, like how you pursue something that you really want such as a new Louis Vuitton handbag; men, the way you pursue getting a new truck or some kind of "hot" car.

The reason we were put on this planet was to bring glory to God in all that we do. And one thing that brings glory to God is by conforming to the image of His Son, Christ. We conform to Christ's image by being in an intimate relationship with Him. Being in a relationship with Christ is not about going to church on Sunday mornings or going to Crusade on Thursday nights. It's about dying to yourself DAILY and pursuing what God has called you to do each day. It's about studying God's Word and really diggin' into it so that you can learn what God has called you to do and the steps you may need to take to get to where He wants you to go.

The best way to study God's Word is not by randomly opening your Bible to some book and read a random verse that may not make any sense to you and then close it and be like man, that was awesome. Because 1. it's not all that awesome if you are completely lost in what the Bible was saying and 2. chances are it wasn't helping you grow that much at all. So get like a devotional book if you don't feel like you can dive into a book right away. Or you can always start with a book that may have some sort of Bible study tool that you can use to help you while going through that book. And maybe use the little devotional book as something to read when you want to take a day or two and get a breather from the book that you are mainly focusing on. I do that a few days a month. Because I get bored really easy so I need the breather so that I don't get too bored or drowned out in the book.

Also, prayer is another way to grow in your relationship with Christ. Prayer is conversation with God so you just talk to Him like you would your best friend. Because honestly, God is one of you best friends. He knows more about you than you know about yourself. Crazy huh? So talk to Him, trust me, He'll listen and He'll answer. His love never fails and it is never ending.

So basically, just because you can quote John 3:16 or the Romans Road and you go sit in a pew or chair for an hour to two on Sunday does not mean that you KNOW Christ. It simply means you know about Him. Through experience in your spiritual walk with Christ you will gain experiential knowledge of Him which is better than just philosophical knowledge of Him.
So which boat are you in? Knowledge or Experience?

snowflakes, wedding bells, and diesel gasoline...

Man! I have been busy lately. Since being home my mom keeps me pretty busy around the house. Although, sometimes, I just relax even when I should be doing chores. hahaha
I am writing from one of my favorite places in the world, The 828, Murphy, NC, 20 min from Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters (swoutfitters.com). I went up to camp Saturday morning for the SWO staff christmas party and tonight I am in the Best Western in Murphy because I about froze to death last night at camp!
This afternoon at camp however something very special happened. Two staff members got married! Yes, hitched! Oh it was so lovely. The bride was my small group leader from the summer! She is just presh and he new hubby, well, ol' Blueberry is alright I reckon. A very good example of what a godly man looks like. Their love story is so interesting, check 'em out at: http://werthandbingham.ourwedding.com/
Tomorrow morning I will leave these gorgeous mountains and head on back to JoCo. I have enjoyed myself the past 48 hours and will return to SWO just two days after Christmas to be there a week to work some retreats! So I'm not too sad about leaving tomorrow. But I will miss the view over the course of this week.

Below are views from Sisters, OR. These are the mountains known as the "Three Sisters." I am reading a book right now called, Love Finds You in Sisters, Oregon. I really want to visit this place one day. I also want to write my own Love Finds You book and base it somewhere preferably in a small NC town. 

I know that was a bit off topic but 1. i just love the book and 2. these pics were just breathtaking!

-Haymo

She left the suds in the bucket and clothes hanging out on the line

I should probably be studying. But there is only really one exam I have to study for and it isn't until Wednesday! So tonight, I have worked and pretty much finished my app for SWO 2011! I am so excited and the fact that it is pretty much done is even better! I am so ready to be back there and will be there at least twice over break!

Last night, I went home to chill because all of my friends had exams today and would be studying. So i spent time with the madre and we went to smithfield, nc to go shopping. On the way there I told her about how idk what i planned to do after 2013 came and i graduated from MC. I told her that i didn't want to immediately go out into the workforce or necessarily go straight to grad-school. I also said that there were so many things I wanted to do and places to see, people to meet that I just had no clue where I would end up in life. I just made it clear that i don't want to waste my life like most people do and be mediocre. And to my surprise, my mother was ok with it. Which is the reason the title for this post. I'm free spirited and ready to roam the planet! hahaha. Thank you Pandora for the wonderful music tonight!

See, until I came to Meredith, I was never the girl who would want to leave home. Now, you're lucky to see me on 39 once during the weekend. I've spread my wings and I'm flying away. My mom says that it is clearly a work of God in life b/c she nor anyone else around town expected me to be the way I am today. So for now, I'm a college student at Meredith, a summer staff at Snowbird, and doing other things on the side when I can. God has totally given me an eternal view on life. and I thank Him for it daily! I hope that whoever reads this will not waste his/her life and go out and make a difference for Christ. Whether it is working a 9-5 job and being a witness that way or going into missions. Where ever you go, w/e you do, there is always a lost soul around who needs Jesus. This is why I want to go everywhere and do everything so that everyone can be reached.

We only get one shot at life. Let's not waste it.