This last weekend I was blessed with the opportunity to go to San Diego, CA and spend a weekend with an awesome group of people. The weekend's messages revolved around the subject of Grace. I had heard of grace, and had a basic understanding of it, but I did not know how it had played into my life. After taking sometime to think about grace, the realization of how it had taken place in my life hit me. I had realized that almost a year ago someone gave me the opportunity to be a youth counselor at church summer camp. At the time, I had been struggling with drinking, smoking, and drugs. It blew me away at the time that she had asked me to do this, mainly because I did not feel like I deserved it. How could God use me in such a dark point in my life and why would someone want to extend this opportunity to me. Anyways, her action of extending grace to me has changed my life around completely. That week, although it included some struggle, was really beneficial for me. I had realized that the life I had been living before did not make me happy. Sure I had some fun through college, and a lot of memories, but I constantly found myself sad and not content with my lifestyle. That week at summer camp, the grace that my friend showed me had literally changed my life.
After camp, I had realized that Flagstaff was not the place for me, so I prayed that God would give me an opportunity to go someplace else. Within the next few days, my mom extended an offer to me to move back home and move back into my old room. Yet again, another example of grace. I did not deserve to move back home, especially after having a poor year at college without very little success, but the day I got home, my mom welcomed me with open arms. Another impacting part for my change. Being home, I was more focused on my change, and my relationship with God. Upon returning, I started attending my church every week. After a while, PK asked me to join the Youth Staff. Yet again, someone extending grace to me. For the past couple of weeks I have been trying to figure out my testimony, trying to see how it all took place and how it leads up to where I am now. Grace has been the key factor, and if it were not for God extending it through these people to me I would not be at this point. That is my story. It may lack detail and it may not make a lot of sense, so for that I apologize.
