Sooner Bound!!

July 17, 2013

WOW GOD is all that comes to mind right now.  I can’t begin to describe how good my heart feels right now.  I am on cloud nine if there is such a thing in awe of God.   I got to go to Sooner Youth Camp today to tell my story and I was surprised at myself how well it went.

I had planned on talking to the girls forum today and I kinda had my story all ready for girls… with my message all about issues that we as women go through and how that ultimately led me to trying to find my acceptance from men.  I thought I was ready for that, although I only rehearsed my story out loud once on the drive to Oklahoma.   I was just kinda expecting God to show up and speak through me.  So I didn’t put too much effort into it.

And good thing too cause this morning I woke up to a facebook message from Marc saying “Can’t wait to hear your story today at camp.”

What??  The guys are going to hear my story today??  Wasn’t expecting that one!  I immediately was on the phone sending out a 911 prayer call cause this was a curve ball I wasn’t prepared for!  What do I say to guys???  “Don’t do drugs?!?”

So here I am, hours before I am to tell my story, just finding out that my audience has now changed.  But the great thing is that my story has not changed.  It’s still a story of redemption and grace… the same message that had been being preached at camp this week, as I would later find out.  Just had to take it in a little different direction in order to hit home with the guys.

So on the drive to camp, I somewhat prepared, but really I just prayed.  I knew these were not going to be my words anyways… they were His.  And even when I got there and was about to talk… I knew that it wasn’t me speaking… it was Him.

I got to hang out with the girls and play cards before I spoke, which I thought was great because I got to know them a little beforehand.  And when they gathered all around, we sat in a circle.  There were about 25 girls there.  I looked around as I spoke and some of them looked bored, some smiled with me when I tried to make a joke and some just sat there motionless.  I was praying that God would reveal the ones that the story was resonating with.

I finished with somewhat of an “alter call” but really it was just an offer to be prayed with if anyone felt that God was talking to them.  After I was done, I prayed with the group and opened it up for any questions.  I got a few from the girls about why I was led to drugs.  And then we broke for canteen.   That was when I was approached by one of the 13 year olds.  She opened up to me about something that she was going through and said she wanted to quit doing it.  I was able to pray with her and tell her that it was possible with God and to get out now before it escalated to something more serious.

The next girl told me that she was having sex with her boyfriend and was smoking weed but they broke up.  She said my story touched her because she wanted to stop.  She cried when she was saying that it was so lonely and she was looking to fill that void with other boys.  I also prayed with her and told her it was going to be lonely, but that it would pass if she would cling to Jesus.

The next girl came to me and said that she was doing everything but sex and felt bad about it afterward.  I prayed with her and told her that when she found the one that would love her, that he would not expect any sexual interaction from her.  And she said she wanted that.

These girls heard God calling them and took the opportunity to reach out for help.  THANK YOU JESUS!!  That is why I went today!  Please keep them in your prayers.  I know there were some that did not come talk to me but wanted to.  But the week is not over.  And I hope they will heed to the voice of God at some point in their time there.

The guys were a total different story.  I just started talking, with no plan in mind but to get through my story.

They were more interested in the prison part.  What happens in prison?  What kind of stories do you have?  What is meth and how much did I sell?  And I hope they heard the message that I snuck in as well.   I’m not sure it went over as well with them as it did with the girls.  But I’m glad they heard it just the same.

I am ready to tell this story.  I am ready for God to use me.  This is just the beginning… I can feel it.  And I am excited to see what He has in store next!