Got Grace?

I went on a three day camping trip to Glacier National Park for an end of the summer hoorah, and it was definitely one of the most beautiful trips I’ve ever taken. We hiked miles and miles and saw lots of amazing rivers, lakes, glaciers, and mountains as well as some pretty cool wildlife. Our second day there we decided to go on a 14 mile hike up to Grinnell Glacier, and I decided to bring my Polaroid Camera in my day pack. The only problem was that once we got to the top I realized I only had 3 film left in the camera and I had left the rest in my tent. So I carefully planned out where I would use these last three film on the way down so as not to waste them. Well, we hike down the mountain and are about one mile from the car when I was about to use my last Polaroid on this gorgeous lake and someone tells us there is a moose up ahead. Of course I couldn’t pass up taking a picture of a moose eating in the water! So I passed the gorgeous lake to go find the moose and get my Polaroid pi...

I spent the last two months of my summer in San Diego California attending a Summer Leadership Project that was put on by Campus Outreach. For those who have no idea what the heck that even means, I will clarify. In essence, I spent the summer developing my own relationship with Christ, clarifying and building my testimony, and learning to talk to others about Christ and what He has done through the Gospel, all alongside 50 other students from campuses around California, Montana, and Colorado who were doing the same thing. We became one giant community of Jesus loving people learning how to better serve His kingdom. I went into the summer feeling a little off in my personal relationship with the Lord. I wasn't quite sure why, or what the problem was, however I felt like I wasn't seeing or appreciating the full beauty of Christ and what He had done for me. A main reason this normally happens to people is because we often times aren't seeing our own sin for what it truly is....

          I love writing. I use it as a way of escape. As a way of turning my thoughts into something physical. As a way of resting. As a way of sharing Jesus. As a way of opening up and being vulnerable. I guess there is just something different about being able to take what I am thinking and express it in writing that makes it easier for me, makes it more tangible, makes me more courageous to say what I want to say. I just love writing.           But, I love writing when I don't feel forced. When it comes from the heart, and when I am using it to rest. When I feel forced something just seems different. It seems like it doesn't flow as well, or like my thoughts aren't as clear. Or I feel like it is going to be judged(probably because usually when I am forced to write, it is a graded assignment). Maybe it's the fact that I just don't care as much. Whatever it is, it's generally more burdensome than restful, generally more trapping than...

          Doubt. It's a real thing. Let me just be a basic white girl for a moment and say #thestruggleisreal (so sorry for that hehe). However, although I am sure most everyone struggles with having doubts, should we? Is having doubt actually harmless?           For the last few years doubt has been something that I have really struggled with, but before three months ago, I had given it little thought. I knew that I never enjoyed doubting things, especially my faith, and I figured it wasn't good for me, but I never really knew why. By the Lord's grace, I now have some idea as to why doubting is not good, and not only why it isn't good, but why it is actually sinful. I am by no means an expert on the subject of doubt, but I will offer the little knowledge that I have gleaned.           The definition of doubt, according to the dictionary, is " to be ...

          My freshman year at the University of Montana was definitely a year of learning new things and growing. It was my first year being off on my own, so that was a whole new experience in and of itself. It was an amazing year, and I am so thankful for everyone and everything that made it so.           I have compiled a list of key takeaways(not written in any particular order) from the year that I wanted to share. Some of them were completely new to me, and some were old, but had a new meaning and impact on my life this year. Hopefully someone will find something in my list to be beneficial! lack of motivation in Bible reading does not make you a terrible person or christian...this is normal for everyone at some point in time.  purpose yourself to continue striving, even if unmotivated. don't get stuck in a rut.  find beauty in Christ see your sins for what they are- no matte...

For the last four months of my life, I have been so confident that spending the majority of my summer in San Diego, learning about Jesus, is what I should do. Not only what I should do, but also how God is specifically calling me to spend my summer. I have had so much incredible peace about it the entire time...until this week. This week is the deadline for actually committing to the summer leadership program down in San Diego, and once you sign that paper and say you're going, there is no turning back. You sign the paper, you pay the money, you learn about Jesus, and you have fun. I have been putting off signing that paper these last four months, because it's easy to say that you're going to do something when there is no actual commitment backing it up yet. Once it was actually time to commit, however, my whole attitude changed. I started doubting if this was actually the right decision for my life, and making stupid excuses as to why maybe it isn't. I already ha...