Revelation

"When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this." -Revelation 1:17-19


Camp. I realize that I have written numerous blogs about Camp Longridge, but it is such a large part of my life at this point that I feel the need to write about it again. This time, from a different point of view. 


Last year during one of our youth weeks, camp was paralleled to John's revelation of the coming kingdom in the book of Revelation. John recieves a glimpse of the kingdom that God has promised that He will set up once He returns to Earth. It is a perfect kingdom that radiates of God's grace, power, and peace. Camp Longridge also fits this mold. It is a place of peacefulness and solitary confinement with God (when there are not 200 kids running around and screaming). It is amazing just to sit and experience the beauty of God's creation and of God himself. As I sit here in the chapel next to the lake, I am reminded that the purpose I am here is solely for the glorification of our Savior and the advancement of the ministry that is prevalent here.


The other thing that I am also reminded of is that John could not stay in His vision forever. He had to move beyond it and he was instructed to write down what he saw. He had to tell others about what he experienced.  We also must do this, I spend ten weeks here, but I cannot stay here forever. I, along with the rest of the staff, must move beyond camp and back into the worldly pleasures that the world sets in front of us. But we must tell of the experiences that we have had and profess the things that we have seen. We are called to do all of this for the glory of God. I challenge you to tell of the experiences that God has brought into your life. 

7 Days Closer

"We are 7 days closer than we were last week." -Clint Smith

May 21, 2011, 6 pm....a man by the name of Harold Camping predicted the rapture to happen. Needless to say, we're still here. The rapture did not occur and we have no idea when it will happen. Matthew 24:36 says, "No one knows about that day or hour, not the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." The one thing we do know is the above quote; we are seven days closer than we were last week. I love getting reminded of this statement almost every week by my pastor at Town Creek Baptist Church. It is encouraging to know that everyday and every hour, we are that much closer to meeting our Maker.

Now the most important thing...since we have no idea of when He will return...are you ready to go? Are your friends ready to meet the Lord? Is your family ready to meet the Creator? Personally, I am ready to go at any moment, but I know that I must tell the good news to any and all that will listen because not everyone is as anxious and homesick for Heaven as I am. He may not be coming soon, but we can rest assured that he is  coming at some point in time. I challenge you to prepare, be ready, and to help other people get ready. As the old song says "People get ready, Jesus is coming, soon we'll be going home!" :)

Focus

"Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men." -Ephesians 6:7

This verse has really been on my heart this week. I spent this past week in my happy place at Camp Longridge as we kicked off our first work week and our first week of the summer! Saying that it was phenomenal is definitely an understatement. I was very impressed with the staff dynamics and the amount of work that we accomplished. But this verse was constantly in my head. Here's the thing that hit me that we must remember, everything we do is for the Lord. Our attitudes, the way we speak about ourselves and others, and our work ethic should all reflect that of Jesus Christ. We must serve wholeheartedly! Halfway doing things should not be an option under any circumstance. Basically...go big or go home. For just an example, I want to give a shoutout to the oh so wonderful Jordan Widgeon! Jordan spent 3 hours with me deep cleaning the lake canteen (about 30 square feet) one day. It took us a while, but we did it right and we did it well. Patience always comes into play in these sort of situations. It is always easier and tempting to rush through everything in an effort to have more time to rest or more time to do what I want to do...but here's the catch in that faulty thinking...it is not about me. I am not supposed to be pleasing myself or anyone else for that matter, I am only serving the Lord. The Bible says in Matthew 6:21, "For where your treasure is there your heart will be also." This also applies to our thoughts and focus; where our focus is, there our heart is also. If my focus is on myself, I am not serving the Lord; I am selfishly serving myself. Breaking down this thinking is the most important aspect in serving wholeheartedly for the Lord. Always remember that all it takes is all you've got!

I challenge the Camp Longridge staff to put everything you have into everything you do and to stay focused on the goal at hand...ministering to a lost world. In addition, I challenge everyone else to use this philosophy in life as well.

I'll Be There

♪I'll be there to protect you, with an unselfish love that respects you. Just call my name and I'll be there♫ -Jackson 5 "I'll Be There"

Here is the final song to wrap up the ten songs that describe Kayla Barton. I find that the song "I'll Be There" by the Jackson 5 is a good representation of me. I always strive to be people's backbone and the shoulder that they can lean on. For me, the worst feeling ever is disappointment. Everyone I have every looked up to has failed me at some point or another. The only person who is always faithful is Jesus Christ. I strive to be like Him and to be a reliable person that everyone can lean on. If you ever need anything, no matter how well I know you, I will do everything in my  power to be there for you. And keep in mind, if I can't be there, Jesus always will be. 


"I'll Be There"
You and I must make a pact, we must bring salvation back
Where there is love, I'll be there
I'll reach out my hand to you, I'll have faith in all you do
Just call my name and I'll be there


I'll be there to comfort you,
Build my world of dreams around you, I'm so glad that I found you
I'll be there with a love that's strong
I'll be your strength, I'll keep holding on


Let me fill your heart with joy and laughter
Togetherness, well that's all I'm after
Whenever you need me, I'll be there
I'll be there to protect you, with an unselfish love that respects you
Just call my name and I'll be there


If you should ever find someone new, I know he'd better be good to you
'Cause if he doesn't, I'll be there
Don't you know, baby, yeah yeah
I'll be there, I'll be there, just call my name, I'll be there

Magnificent Obsession

♪I want this to be my one consuming passion. Everything my heart desires, Lord, I want it all to be for You. Jesus, be my magnificent obsession♫ -Steven Curtis Chapman "Magnificent Obsession"

I'm almost done with my trek through 10 songs in an attempt to describe me. Magnificent Obsession by Steven Curtis Chapman is number nine on the list. It seems like I have known this song forever, but the meaning just hit me a few months ago. I knew it was about making God first in your life, but it is a bit more than that...it is making Him the biggest part of your life and to make Him your obsession. It is my prayer that everything my heart desires is pleasing to Him and for Him to be my magnificent obsession. I know that I can never be more obsessed with Him as He is with me, but I know that I could never make it day to day without Him.


"Magnificent Obsession"
Lord, You know how much
I want to know so much
In the way of answers and explanations
I have cried and prayed
And still I seem to stay
In the middle of life’s complications
All this pursuing leaves me feeling like I’m chasing down the wind
But now it’s brought me back to You
And I can see again


This is everything I want
This is everything I need
I want this to be my one consuming passion
Everything my heart desires
Lord, I want it all to be for You, Jesus
Be my magnificent obsession


So capture my heart again
Take me to depths I’ve never been
Into the riches of Your grace and Your mercy
Return me to the cross
And let me be completely lost
In the wonder of the love
That You’ve shown me
Cut through these chains that tie me down to so many lesser things
Let all my dreams fall to the ground
Until this one remains


You are everything I want
You are everything I need
I want You to be my one consuming passion
Everything my heart desires
Lord, I want it all to be for You
I want it all to be for You, Jesus
Be my magnificent obsession

One Step At a Time

♪When you can't wait any longer, but there's no end in sight. When you need to find the strength, it's your faith that makes you stronger. The only way you get there is one step at a time ♫ -Jordin Sparks "One Step At a Time"

Here we go with number 8 on my list. One Step At a Time is a great song about moving on and making the best of the things that are placed in your life. Although I have never had devastating incident that has completely altered my life for the worse, I have had many frustrations that I have had to work through. As this song says, we live and we learn to just take one step at a time in life.  Things do not clear up overnight and small steps add up to create magnificent accomplishments. I truly believe that our true character is found in the hardest times in life. We must decide if we are going to solve and get over a problem or if we are going to sit around and pout about it. Honestly, I have taken both roads and staying stagnant and just complaining about your situation gets you nowhere. Taking simple steps, prayer, and support from others is what gets you out of the hard times in life. The lyrics to this song are something that I have to constantly remind myself of. As Maya Angelou said, "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain." Great words of wisdom, complaining gets you nowhere but taking one step at a time does. 

 

"One Step At a Time"

Hurry up and wait

So close, but so far away

Everything that you've always dreamed of

Close enough for you to taste

But you just can't touch

You wanna show the world, but no one knows your name yet

Wonder when and where and how you're gonna make it

You know you can if you get the chance

In your face as the door keeps slamming

Now you're feeling more and more frustrated

And you're getting all kind of impatient waiting

We live and we learn to take

One step at a time

There's no need to rush

It's like learning to fly

Or falling in love

It's gonna happen when it's

Supposed to happen and we

Find the reasons why

One step at a time

You believe and you doubt

You're confused, you got it all figured out

Everything that you always wished for

Could be yours, should be yours, would be yours

If they only knew

You wanna show the world, but no one knows your name yet

Wonder when and where and how you're gonna make it

You know you can if you get the chance

In your face as the door keeps slamming

Now you're feeling more and more frustrated

And you're getting all kind of impatient waiting

We live and we learn to take

One step at a time

There's no need to rush

It's like learning to fly

Or falling in love

It's gonna happen when it's

Supposed to happen and we

Find the reasons why

One step at a time

When you can't wait any longer

But there's no end in sight

when you need to find the strength

It's your faith that makes you stronger

The only way you get there

Is one step at a time

I'm Just Sooooo Happy

♪No I cannot count the ways You have made my life so blessed, all I know is that You came and made beauty of my mess♫ ♥ -Ayiesha Woods "Happy"

Now I realize that I have written a blog based on this song before, must this song is a must-have on this list to describe myself in 10 songs. This song is about just what the title suggests...being happy. I like to think that outwardly I am a very happy person, but despite whether that is true or not, I am definitely a happy person on the inside.  This happiness comes from many things that God has blessed me with, especially the people in my life.  My favorite lyric is above and it expresses the most important blessing that I have in my life, my salvation. "I cannot count the ways You have made my life so blessed, all I know is that You came and made beauty of my mess."There is no better way to describe a salvation encounter with the Lord than those few words right there. I am completely undeserving of any of the blessings that have been bestowed upon me and I am nowhere near worthy enough to have such great joy and happiness in my life. I would never go back to the guilt, shame, and disappointment that I had before He came and created a new person in me. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation: the old things have passed away, and behold, all things have become new!" I am a new creation, and I've never been happier!

"Happy"

No record deal, no dream fulfilled, no three minute video

No catchy jingle, no big hit single playing on the radio

Can make me happy enough

Can make me feel the way you do

You make me happy

I wanna make You happy too

You make me happy

You make me happy

No flashy cars, no movie stars, no man, woman, boy or girl

No fancy things, no diamond rings, nothing in the whole wide world

Can make me happy

Can make me feel the way You do

You make me happy

I want to make You happy too

You make me happy

You make me feel the way I do

You make me happy

I wish the whole world knew You too

No I cannot count the ways You have made my life so blessed

All I know is that You came and made beauty of my mess

Said I cannot count the ways You have made my life so blessed

All I know is that You came and made beauty of my mess!

Ransomed

♪O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be! Let Thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee♫

This song is number six on my list of ten songs that describe me. "Come Thou Fount" was actually just added to the list and took the place of another song. I had not planned on having a hymn on this list, and yet, here it is.  I had this song stuck in my head the other day and listened to it over and over again on youtube and then decided that it described a big part of my life.  I have already had a few of the songs that addressed my faith, but this one approaches my faith from a different angle.  Whether this is the true meaning of the song or not, this is what I get from it...it is about joy in surrender and one day leaving this earth for a better place.  Each stanza ends with some sort of allusion and illusion of going to heaven and being pure and in the midst of God. This is something that I look forward to everyday.  I know many people who want to bargain with God...they say "well I want to get to drive before Jesus returns...I want to get married before He comes back...I want to have a family before I leave for heaven." Although I would love to have these things, if marriage or a family is what is stopping my Savior from returning, I will surely give it up for eternal peace and joy beside my Father.  I think that this song is the epitome of humility and faith in God. It expresses the sacrifice that Christ went through for us and how He has overcome death and how we can have faith that He will return for us (John 14 :3). "Praise the mount I'm fixed upon it, mount of Thy Redeeming Love!" 
Now what kind of challenge should I make out of this song and blog??? ...how about I challenge you to get PSYCHED about the day that He returns! As my pastor often reminds my church family "we are 7 days closer to meeting the Lord than we were last week!"

"Come Thou Fount" 

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount, I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.

Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Here by Thy great help I’ve come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood;

O that day when freed from sinning,
I shall see Thy lovely face;
Clothed then in blood washed linen
How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace;
Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,
Take my ransomed soul away;
Send thine angels now to carry
Me to realms of endless day.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

Empty Me

♪Empty me of the selfishness inside, every vain ambition and the poison of my pride and any foolish thing my heart holds to, Lord empty me of me so I can be filled with you♫ -Chris Sligh "Empty Me"

This is song number five in my attempt to describe myself in ten songs. The past two or three songs have been more upbeat in an attempt to show a bit of my more fun side. However, this song is just the opposite...no its not really showing my boring side (although I do have one), but it describes a very serious part of my life. This song is pretty much my prayer every day of my life, but it really hit me this past summer when I worked at camp. During one of the work weeks, "Empty Me" came on my iTunes and really listened to the lyrics and realized that this song was the commitment I needed to make for that summer and for the rest of my life. It hit me that I cannot be the servant I need to be and that God calls me to be when I am too wrapped up in myself.  It is only when we take the focus of ourselves and refocus on God and others that we can really make a difference in the world and the lives of people. Anyone who knows me well (and is willing to be honest) can tell you that I have a pride issue, I often find myself on an ego trip, and I think very highly of myself. After seeing this selfish and arrogant attitude, I realized that these lyrics are the exact attitude that I needed to adopt. It is only when I empty myself of everything that is me that God can fill me with Him and I can become exactly who I am called to be. I have to be honest, it is a slap in the face and humility is one of the hardest things for me to accomplish, but I am a work in progress. Nothing that I have or can do on my own is worth keeping...as the bridge says "Everything is a lesser thing compared to You."  Nothing and no one is more valuable than Jesus Christ Himself.  I challenge you to empty yourself to make room for God and to be willing to surrender to the humility that we all need a dose of.

"Empty Me"

I've had just enough of the spotlight

When it burns bright

To see how it gets in the blood

And I've tasted my share

Of the sweet life

And the wild ride

And found a little is not quite enough

I know how i can stray

And how fast my heart could change

Empty me

Of the selfishness inside

Every vain ambition

And the poison of my pride

And any foolish thing my heart holds to

Lord empty me of me

So I can be

Filled with you

Ive seen just enough of the quick buys

Of the best lies

To know how prodigals can be drawn away

I know how I can stray

And how fast my heart could change

Empty me

Of the selfishness inside

Every vain ambition

And the poison of my pride

And any foolish thing my heart holds to

Lord empty me of me

So I can be

Filled with you

Cause everything is a lesser thing

Compared to you

Compared to you

Cause everything is a lesser thing

Compared to you

So I surrender all

Empty me

Of the selfishness inside

Every vain ambition

And the poison of my pride

Empty me

Of the selfishness inside

Every vain ambition

And the poison of my pride

And any foolish thing my heart holds to

Lord empty me of me

So I can be

Filled with you.

Filled with you

Empty me

Pressing On

♪You look down on me but you don't look down on me at all. You smile and laugh and I feel the love you have for me.  I think we're going somewhere. We're on to something good here. We're gonna make it after all♫ -Relient K "Pressing On"

Relient K is one of my favorite bands. They have such a positive and upbeat vibe with most of their music, and that is right up my alley.  But more than just simply liking their music, I can relate to it. This song entitled "Pressing On" is one of the first songs I ever heard by Relient K. It actually has a pretty simple and short message. That message is basically "you are on your way to something/somewhere great, keep focused, and you're gonna make it." I often find myself going back to this song for the encouragement I need to make it through difficult times whether they be school related, spiritual, or just hard times in life. The last few lyrics are posted above, and they add a spiritual reminder to this song and my life. I know that God is looking down on me, and that He loves me.  I love His constant reminders saying that this world is temporary and that I'm headed to somewhere amazing after this life is over.  And that I will make it through whatever I am going through at the moment and that it will all be worth it once this life ends.

"Pressing On"

I think we're going somewhere.

We're on to something good here.

Out of mind, out of state.

Trying to keep my head on straight.

I think we're going somewhere.

We're on to something good here.

There's only one thing left to do.

Drop all I have and go with you.

Somewhere back there I left my worries all behind.

My problems fell out of the back of my mind.

We're going and I'm never knowing where we're going.

To go back to where I was would just be wrong.

I'm pressing on.

Pressing on, all my distress is going, going, gone.

And I won't sit back, and take this anymore.

'Cause I'm done with that, I've got one foot out the door.

And to go back where I was would just be wrong

I'm pressing on.

I think we're going somewhere.

We're on to something good here.

Out of mind, out of state.

Trying to keep my head on straight.

I think we're going somewhere.

We're on to something good here.

Adversity, we get around it.

Searched for joy, in you I found it.

You look down on me, but you don't look down on me at all.

You smile and laugh, and I feel the love you have for me.

I think we're going somewhere.

We're on to something good here, and we're gonna make it after all.

Superhero

♪I'm just your average ordinary everyday superhero♫ -Smashmouth "Everyday Superhero"

I love this song.  This song describes me because I am always looking for a chance to make a difference. It is one of my life goals.  I want to be people's superhero.  I want people's lives to be better because of me and I want to be their average ordinary everyday superhero.  I love to bask in the accomplishments of saving the day, but I also enjoy in turning the focus to the One who saved the whole world...the real superhero...Jesus Christ.  The Bible says that "the Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God is my rock in whom I take refuge"...He is my superhero, He saves me everyday, and I could never thank Him enough.

 

"Everyday Superhero"

Every morning I wake up just the same

Another victim of ordinary fame

I don't see myself as invincible

It's not true at all..

I'm just your average ordinary everyday superhero

Trying to save the world, but never really sure

I'm just your average ordinary everyday superhero

Nothing more than that, that's all I really am

Just a day job that's someone's gotta do

It's kinda hard when everyone looks up to you

Try to make it look easy, gonna make it look good

Like anybody would

I'm just your average ordinary everyday superhero

Trying to save the world, but never really sure

I'm just your average ordinary everyday superhero

Nothing more than that, that's all I really am

I'm just like everybody else

After all the hype it's hard to tell

I keep my game face on so well

I'm just your average ordinary everyday superhero

I'm trying to save the world

I'm just your average ordinary everyday superhero