Though it was NOT I, but the grace of GOD that is with me.

Well, friends, Beach Project is here! I arrived in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida on Friday, May 27 after witnessing a beautiful testimony of God's grace in the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy Chandler (so happy for you, Mary)! It was a beautiful sight indeed and I am so very thankful to say that I was leaving the beach wedding just to head north an hour to another beautiful beach I have learned to call my summer home.

The Sandman.
Not the Ritz Carlton or even a La Quinta I'll say, but it is home. How thankful I am that the Lord provided a place for not only me, but about 110 college students who will be staying there with me this summer. The beds are bunked, and of course, there are still minor details here and there to tend to... However, these walls, although I am not quite sure how sturdy they really are, provide a means of God's glory to be shown this summer.

Without a doubt, God WILL change lives here, and I will have new sisters and brothers to enter the gates of heaven with me. What a joy to look forward to! I have already been so incredibly encouraged by the room leaders and their boldness to initiate with the people of Ft. Walton. SUCCESS. What is success? It is trying. Faithfulness. Obedience. No we can't change hearts, but we can plant the seed and God will grow it in his timing and perfect plan.

Two nights ago, we decided to go out into the city and try to share our faith with people we meet. Instead of looking at this time as an opportunity to share, I looked at it as an opportunity to love. I feel like when we make it a duty instead of a desire, we miss why we are sharing. We should share our faith with others because we know how an encounter with God can change our lives. We know that only with God can we be truly satisfied, truly joyful. We know that one day, everyone will experience the Glory and Goodness of God and one day may have to face judgement. I don't want my passivity to be the reason someone never hears the name Jesus. I love people because God loved me enough to open my eyes. I am humbled by my ignorance because, I once too did not know the sweetness of Jesus. So I challenge you when you look around at many faces today, you don't regard them in the flesh but you regard them as souls that have a future with a loving Daddy, or an eternity with a deceitful liar. Satan tempts us with fear and uneasiness- what will people think of my radical lifestyle? What if I don't fit in? Well, who really cares- we weren't called to be comfortable and our lives are but a MIST in comparison to our eternity in Heaven. God could have used donkeys to spread his glory, but he chose US as His instruments. What a privilege! We are entrusted with one thing- to make Him known and exalt His name among the nations. Don't get caught up in the rest of your life today, because He is your life. That is my prayer for myself and for you today.

"Consider him [JESUS], who endured from sinners such a hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted." Hebrews 12:3

Kathryn O'Brien and I did a quiet time together over this verse and it still keeps ringing in my mind. What a powerful verse it is. CONSIDER Jesus. What does that mean? Considering Jesus is attentively reflecting on Him. Not just acknowledging his presence, but reflecting and basking in who He is. CONSIDER Him. Think carefully about Him. He endured (faced with courage) from sinners (you and me) such a hostility (violent action that is characterized by hate) against himself SO THAT we may not grow weary (physically AND mentally fatigued; losing interest or becoming bored with) or fainthearted (lacking conviction, or boldness or courage). When we consider Him, we reflect on who Jesus is and what He has done. And when we do that, we will not lose interest and become complacent with the gospel nor will we lack conviction, or boldness, or courage. I say thats a pretty awesome promise. More than anything I want to consider Jesus all day everyday.

"But by the grace of God I am what I am and His grace to me was not without effect." 1 Corinthians 15:10

By His grace can my eyes be opened to His truths. By His grace could I share with a buddhist woman who know longer wanted to hear when I opened my bible. By His grace can I serve these friends this summer. By His grace is my sin shown to me. By His grace am I able to see a glimpse of Jesus and a glance at Heaven through His word. I am nothing. But I have everything because He has inherited me into his family, By His grace. I can do nothing but trust the Lord will move this summer. Grace like rain has been poured on me. No longer can I take credit for what I have not done, because without Jesus there is not an ounce of goodness within me.

As many college students drive into the Sandman parking lot today, I pray that their hearts are opened and ready for their lives to be changed and defined by Jesus. May we not build laborers for today, but for a lifetime.

"And He said "Abba, Father, all things for YOU. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what YOU will." Mark 14:36

Remembering to consider Jesus,
Courtney