Being here in Colorado has been amazing. I have been here for over a month already and i do not want to leave. I have really enjoyed being a counselor. God has stretched me so much and has grown me a lot in this past month. I have learned to take a leadership role, which is something new to me. God is also teaching me about grace and how to effectively share it with the campers. Also how grace applies in my own life. I am reading a book, with one the girls that i meet with, it is titled The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges. One of my favorite quotes so far in this book is "Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace." I talked about this quote with the girl for awhile and we just talked about how we feel like God's grace is not enough for us on our bad days, and then when we have good days we always feel like we can do it on our own. God is really teaching me that right now when i have good days i try to do everything on my own, but i can't. I have really had to learn to lean on God because at camp i am always tired and i just need God to give me the strength to meet with the campers and to go out play games. I work six hours a day in the office, which i enjoy the people are amazing. It does get tiring though. I hope to update this again soon. That is one of the main things i am learning so far. I could use pray that i will still press on toward God and not try to do this on my own. I also still be open with the girls that i meet with. Pray for the girls that i meet with that God will reveal himself to them and that they will be open and have a willingness to learn.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Leaning on God
Sorry that it has been forever since the last time that I posted. This Summer thus far has been amazing. It started out the with the best gift ever. On April 28 i became an aunt of the most beautiful baby girl, i am bias though. I had a couple of weeks at home. Then i went to Colorado.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
The strength that is in me
It is the last day of the Daniel Fast for me, exactly 45 minutes. I am so thankful for this experience. It has been great to put my every day eating habits into Gods hands. I have learned a lot to through this experience. Last Thursday night my lovely sister Hope and her husband Mark visited me. My sister asked me what I have learned most through this fast. I told her that I learned I actually have God's strength within me. And that it is the strength of God that gets me through all of the cravings. "O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you..." -Daniel 4:9. It was this verse that made me realize that the same God dwelt in Daniel was in me. That I had the same strength that Daniel had because we both worship the same God. Just knowing this and hanging on to this daily makes me stronger. Knowing this through experiencing it so much in this fast I feel like I can withstand almost anything that the devil throws at me, even though i do know there will be times when my flesh is weak and I will give in. That is also the sinner in me, but I feel like it is going to be harder for the devil to tempt me, now that I cling onto this verse.
This past Tuesday at nav night Andrew Ledwith spoke on identity in Christ. I had heard this talk once before, but the second time was great and reinforced all the things that I have been going through. He talked about when God made us He gave us our identity in Him, and then gave us a purpose in life. Then satan told Eve that she had to do something to earn her identity in Christ. Satan knows that this is the place that i struggle the most in with my walk in Christ. Sure enough he got to me later this week. Friday night I was having a hard night just seeing my identity in Christ. After a decades party I decided to go for a little drive around Tally to clear my thoughts. It was during the car ride that I realized that I let the devil feed me lies all day long. During the day I felt like a failure. I felt like I was doing my worst in school, and I also that I was failing in my relationship with God. This semester in school was supposed to be easy for me but it has been very difficult for me to find time get all my work done, and that is how I felt like I was failing in my school work, when in actuality school is going well for me. In my relationship with God I felt like I was not giving it my all . Because I have not been memorizing enough verses or that I have not had as many quite times with God as I hoped, but then I realized it was not theses things that determine my relationship with God, it is my faith in Him. When I remembered that God had made me in his image then I realized that I was letting satan tell me all these lies. It is just comforting to know that I do not have to do anything to earn my identity in Christ, but that I have had it ever since God created me. I also know that I will struggle with this daily. But I will have to remind myself of Philippians 3:12 "Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own."
This past Tuesday at nav night Andrew Ledwith spoke on identity in Christ. I had heard this talk once before, but the second time was great and reinforced all the things that I have been going through. He talked about when God made us He gave us our identity in Him, and then gave us a purpose in life. Then satan told Eve that she had to do something to earn her identity in Christ. Satan knows that this is the place that i struggle the most in with my walk in Christ. Sure enough he got to me later this week. Friday night I was having a hard night just seeing my identity in Christ. After a decades party I decided to go for a little drive around Tally to clear my thoughts. It was during the car ride that I realized that I let the devil feed me lies all day long. During the day I felt like a failure. I felt like I was doing my worst in school, and I also that I was failing in my relationship with God. This semester in school was supposed to be easy for me but it has been very difficult for me to find time get all my work done, and that is how I felt like I was failing in my school work, when in actuality school is going well for me. In my relationship with God I felt like I was not giving it my all . Because I have not been memorizing enough verses or that I have not had as many quite times with God as I hoped, but then I realized it was not theses things that determine my relationship with God, it is my faith in Him. When I remembered that God had made me in his image then I realized that I was letting satan tell me all these lies. It is just comforting to know that I do not have to do anything to earn my identity in Christ, but that I have had it ever since God created me. I also know that I will struggle with this daily. But I will have to remind myself of Philippians 3:12 "Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own."
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Learning things in unexpected places
Today was my first day back at my church in three weeks, and i was convicted in the most unlikely place i could image. I volunteer at my church's children ministry and during music time we reviewed the verse Philippians 2:14 "Do everything without complaining or arguing". As i sat there with a little girl in my lap i realized there are very few things that i do without complaining. This is not the first time i have heard this or read this verse before. Even though i know God has commanded me not to complain or argue i do it daily and multiple times a day. I know that is my human and sinful nature in me, but it is frustrating that sometimes i can't just listen to God and obey him in simple things like not complaining or arguing. I know growing up i could not do a chore without a complaint and i still do it. I had to wash a lot of dishes in the sink today and as i was doing it was complaining to myself and then i remembered the verse. I realized i complain about chores, school work and even getting out of bed in the morning. As i washed the dishes i realized that i have nothing to complain about. I am lucky to actually have dishes to clean because that means i have had food to eat to keep me healthy. I am privileged to have school work because i actually get an education when only one percent of the world has this opportunity. I should be thankful everyday when i wake that God gave me another beautiful day to live. As i was doing dishes i just started to praise God for all things that i really do not like doing. I am going to try to not complain and this goes out to everyone if you hear me complaining or arguing about somethings i need you to please quote this verse to me or call me out on it. I know i am a sinner and i know there are going to be times when all i want to do is complain or argue, but i need to be reminded that i lucky and it is by the grace of God that i have all of these things. I want to do everything for God with complaining or arguing about it because He has given so many opportunities and blessing; that the least thing i could do for Him is to do without complaining or arguing. I just want to praise God for everything.
About the Daniel Fast today i have completed one week! This week has been so hard for me. I have had to turn down so many sweets and some of my favorite restaurants to eat at. One day on campus they were giving out free jimmy john sandwiches and i was so hungry when she came and asked me if i wanted one. At that moment i had to pray and quote Luke 12:23 "For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing". That helped me so much that day and everyday after that i just have to pray and quote scripture until my cravings go away. Today after church, i was riding home with my friend Sammi and she did the daniel fast earlier this semester, and i was saying how it has been so hard, but she told me i could do it because she did. Then she told me that she has tried diets, but does not always finish them. She said the only way she able to finish the fast was due to the fact that is was the Holy Spirit in her doing it. That she was doing it for God and He was able to keep her going. I thought about that and how that is so true. The only reason i can do this is because the Holy Spirit dwells in me. The fact that i am doing it for God gives me the strength, instead of doing a diet for myself so i can look good for the world. I am doing this to become closer to God and i am doing it for my relationship with God which is going to last me eternity, instead of doing for worldly things which will only last me my time on earth.
About the Daniel Fast today i have completed one week! This week has been so hard for me. I have had to turn down so many sweets and some of my favorite restaurants to eat at. One day on campus they were giving out free jimmy john sandwiches and i was so hungry when she came and asked me if i wanted one. At that moment i had to pray and quote Luke 12:23 "For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing". That helped me so much that day and everyday after that i just have to pray and quote scripture until my cravings go away. Today after church, i was riding home with my friend Sammi and she did the daniel fast earlier this semester, and i was saying how it has been so hard, but she told me i could do it because she did. Then she told me that she has tried diets, but does not always finish them. She said the only way she able to finish the fast was due to the fact that is was the Holy Spirit in her doing it. That she was doing it for God and He was able to keep her going. I thought about that and how that is so true. The only reason i can do this is because the Holy Spirit dwells in me. The fact that i am doing it for God gives me the strength, instead of doing a diet for myself so i can look good for the world. I am doing this to become closer to God and i am doing it for my relationship with God which is going to last me eternity, instead of doing for worldly things which will only last me my time on earth.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
About Me
Hi,
My name is Kara Kozloski. Why did i decide to start a blog? Many reasons. I am copying a friend in doing this by documenting a fast that i have decided to do with a friend, and also to document my summer at Eagle Lake, where i will be a counselor. I also am a huge intervert and i tend to keep things to myself so this blog will challenge me to share with people and hopefully encourage them, when i normally would not.
Basic Information
The most important thing in my life is my relationship with God, i try to follow Him daily, and some days i will admit i fall flat on my face when do. That is because i am a sinner and i am not afriad to admit that. I also knwo that I am His (Christ). I have to remind myself of this daily and that i strive to be like Him, Philippians 4:12" Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own". This verse is where the name of my blog comes from.
The second most important thing to me is my family. I am the youngest of four and i would not have it any other way. I love all my family with all my heart. They know me better than anyone espcially my mom, who i talk to almost daily and my sister Hope who can read me like a book, so it is quite impossible for me to keep anything from her.
I also love my friends with all my heart. They have helped through so many things especially Sara, Clare and of course Jenny(who is the friend i copied and am also doing the fast with)
The last most important thing in my life is my work with special needs children. That is my major and i can not image doing anything else with my life. Through my volunteer work i have met my second familly who i do not know what i would do without them. i volunteer and work with a girl named Becca she has autism, but she showed me some much love and reminded of simple things in life. My dream goal in life is to start an orgnization that will help provide parents, who have children with special needs, with the funds to get the best eudcation and therapy for their child (this is a new aspiration that came about today). Thats enough about me.
So the fast that i am doing is called the Daniel fast and it is based off of Daniel in the Bible when He fasted for 21 days. He did not eat any meat and only drank water. He only ate fruit and vegetables. The only things i can eat have to plant based and i can not have sugar or preservatives. I am only four days into it, but i know it is going to be so challenging. Through this challenge i have already had to rely on God through prayer and reading the Bible. My friend Jenny has also been encouraging me through text since we do not live in the same city. Every time i get a strong craving i pray then i remind myself that God is bigger than that craving and anything that i could ever image.
My name is Kara Kozloski. Why did i decide to start a blog? Many reasons. I am copying a friend in doing this by documenting a fast that i have decided to do with a friend, and also to document my summer at Eagle Lake, where i will be a counselor. I also am a huge intervert and i tend to keep things to myself so this blog will challenge me to share with people and hopefully encourage them, when i normally would not.
Basic Information
The most important thing in my life is my relationship with God, i try to follow Him daily, and some days i will admit i fall flat on my face when do. That is because i am a sinner and i am not afriad to admit that. I also knwo that I am His (Christ). I have to remind myself of this daily and that i strive to be like Him, Philippians 4:12" Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own". This verse is where the name of my blog comes from.
The second most important thing to me is my family. I am the youngest of four and i would not have it any other way. I love all my family with all my heart. They know me better than anyone espcially my mom, who i talk to almost daily and my sister Hope who can read me like a book, so it is quite impossible for me to keep anything from her.
I also love my friends with all my heart. They have helped through so many things especially Sara, Clare and of course Jenny(who is the friend i copied and am also doing the fast with)
The last most important thing in my life is my work with special needs children. That is my major and i can not image doing anything else with my life. Through my volunteer work i have met my second familly who i do not know what i would do without them. i volunteer and work with a girl named Becca she has autism, but she showed me some much love and reminded of simple things in life. My dream goal in life is to start an orgnization that will help provide parents, who have children with special needs, with the funds to get the best eudcation and therapy for their child (this is a new aspiration that came about today). Thats enough about me.
So the fast that i am doing is called the Daniel fast and it is based off of Daniel in the Bible when He fasted for 21 days. He did not eat any meat and only drank water. He only ate fruit and vegetables. The only things i can eat have to plant based and i can not have sugar or preservatives. I am only four days into it, but i know it is going to be so challenging. Through this challenge i have already had to rely on God through prayer and reading the Bible. My friend Jenny has also been encouraging me through text since we do not live in the same city. Every time i get a strong craving i pray then i remind myself that God is bigger than that craving and anything that i could ever image.
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