{Pure of Heart}

After my freshman year at Westmont College, my sense of adventure landed me in Branson, Missourri. That whole summer I spent my days either as a camp counselor to high school girls, cleaning dishes as a part of the kitchen staff, or as a boat driver on Table Rock Lake. According to myself, I was living the dream. It was one of the best summers of my life and I'm so thankful for the opportunity I had to go and do it.

One specific bible verse that was written on the walls of my heart that summer was 2 Timothy 2:22. The verse was one of our weekly memory verses. One lady that worked on the core staff team was really good at making up rhymes. She made up a rap for this verse, and all the camp girls memorized it. I can still play it in my head. And this week for some reason (aka the Holy Spirit) kept bringing it to the forefront of my mind.

"So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart"

What a convicting verse. Do I pursue righteousness in my day to day decisions? Do I live and act in faith? What about love? Are my encounters with others filled with the presence of God's love flowing through me? Do I create strife in my own life or others'? Or am I filled and walking in supernatural peace?

Well if it was up to just me and my actions... I would fail in every one of those areas. Praise the Lord it is not up to my ability to get it right 100% of the time. Let me point you to an example of how God made this even more real in my life this week.

Wednesday nights I work with a team on running our Children Ministry's program called GAMELIFE. It is an incredible program created by the Pastor I am honored to serve under, Pastor DJ. He created this curriculum that teaches biblical truth to children through THEIR everyday life- games! My responsibilities are leading what is called "gamezone". In this zone, the kids play the game that demonstrates what they later learn in their small group time. So this past Wed. night, it was raining. And I was given the task to still lead games... but... all indoors! In our little hallway between the classes!!! AY YI YI! Let's just say I was a bit unnerved at the chaos I mean "energy" that I would attempt to moderate. But God was gracious, and we got through the games as smoothly as possible ;)
The game was a relay race with tennis balls. Each team had to try and bounce a tennis ball into a bucket about 10 feet away. The goal was for each team to get 10 tennis balls into the bucket within 30 seconds. If one of the teams was able to succeed, I would give everyone 1 talent (their form of $ as the reward system they can buy things with during store night). Great motivation right?! Should be easy yes?? NOPE! The purpose of the game was for it to be impossible. And it sure worked! With the game being impossible, the kids didn't/couldn't earn the talents. But, I gave them grace- and gave them the gift of 1 talent. The kids learned that just as I gave them grace because I loved them, so does God give them grace because He loves us.

What a beautiful picture to paint for kids who understand life mostly through the games they are playing. They now have a tangible example of understanding God's grace in their everyday life. And I do too.

Beyond understanding God's grace with this verse, I'm also encouraged daily by a new friend whose life reflects the image of this verse. Her name is Ashley and I met her a couple months ago when she joined the Children's Ministry team. Her story is nothing short of God glory radiating through. I had the pleasure of training her to take over one of the roles I was responsible for. As I observed her transitioning into the role, I couldn't help but learn from her. She exuded grace, kindness and authenticity as she met the children in the classes, and interacted with the Sunday school teachers or parents. Everyone who walked away from a conversation with her left with a smile, and a look of lightheartedness. Who she is in the work space is due in part to the path she has walked. She will be the first to tell you her years haven't been marked with ease and simplicity. But yet she walks as if it has. She is raising three wildly adventurous boys. Her ability to nurture them with a depth that is rare keeps me asking in prayer for God to continue to refine me so that someday I might be a mom just like her. She lives and loves and laughs with all she has and I admire her more than she'll ever know. Her humility would prove her dedication to walking in the Spirit because she'd probably try to convince you I'm the one that teaches her things- but don't be fooled- I'm definitely the one learning from her ;) There are few things in this world that I want with all my heart. To be a mom with her compassion and humility is one of these things. As you can tell the list goes on and on, but truly. I'm so thankful for women in my life, like Ashley, who I can observe pursuing God in purity with all they have. It sharpens me to pursue God the same way.

As I learn and fall deeper in my understanding/experiencing God's grace and love for me, I pray my life will be the mark of pursuing righteousness, faith, love and peace from a pure heart.