Fellowship, At Last!

Last night I went to the Twin Lakes Staff Reunion/Tacky Christmas Party! It was the absolute best time ever. Really, it was. I had forgotten how much I loved the people I spent the whole summer with and how amazing Twin Lakes truly is. I have been home for about a week and this was my first Christmas party I’ve had a chance to go to. The fellowship was oh so sweet and reminded me of how beautiful relationships bonded is Christ are. I must say, even though it was a great time I sit here and feel much conviction. Weird right? Let me explain.

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            This summer I learned so much about what a Christian community is and how important it is. You know, fellowship with other believers. I was absolutely overwhelmed by how much I realized I needed that in my life. God used the people at Twin Lakes to always provide me with strength, encouragement, and direction… Direction that was always pointing me back to Him. Back to The Gospel. That’s the beauty of it all. Fellowship, that is. I actually looked back at the post I wrote about camp on here and saw where I had talked about how camp served as a “light” in my life.  It always  was shining the love of Christ towards me so I could constantly be reminded of the helpless sinner I am and my undying great need for my Savior. I said, “I pray that I’ll continue to search for that beautiful, unending light that can be found everywhere. I hope that I can let the light of Christ shine through me, to bring glory to His name.” That’s just it, y’all. I sit here and look back at the semester and see where I never made that a priority in my “busy” schedule. I haven't been searching for that light nearly as much as I should have been. When I first went back to the “real world” after camp it was really difficult. I was always craving that community I had at camp. After a few weeks I eventually fell back into a normal routine and forgot what I needed and what God wants for me. I am weak… I’m a sinner… I fail… I need others in my life that will encourage me, walk with me, push me, worship with me, minister with me, FELLOWSHIP with me. I’m thankful to have been blessed with people in my life that I can do just that with. I’m thankful to have RUF. I’m thankful to have an amazing family. Now it’s in my hands to pursue these people and relationships. To nourish them. To value them.

But most importantly, I’m unbelievably thankful for Jesus Christ my Savior! He took the weight of my sin from me in order that I can have fellowship with my Heavenly Father for all of eternity. Nothing sounds sweeter than that… Spending life after death in constant fellowship with my brothers and sisters in Christ and with God. I’ll get to meet my benevolent Maker, at last!

-Mary Claire