if you know me well, you’ve probably heard me gone on and on about CYIA.

IT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE THING IN THE WORLD :)

every summer i look forward to it cuz looking forward to it made studying for finals more bearable.

SO WHY DO I LOVE IT SO MUCH? :

1. THE PEOPLE: the staff, the students, everyone there is all so willingly to serve God and have such a good heart attitude. they rub off on me every year. i also got to meet some really amazing people who are still my best friends to these days. the kind of people you meet at CYIA are those who love God and are willing to serve Him which is why they give up parts of their summer to go out and teach clubs for children. AMAZING

2.THE WEEK: it’s like camp but less crazy cuz at least you get to go home every night. but literally you’re there for 9 hrs. monday-friday, attending sessions, getting evaluated, going out and sharing the gospel with children, teaching clubs. but once you get home, the day’s not over! you still have to prep for the next day cuz we all know what happens between 9:45-10:45 am. every morning ;) EVALS!

3. GOD’S PRESENCE: during that week, it pushes each and everyone of us to really rely on God. You really feel God’s presence there! Sometimes we get people (like my first year :P) who did not want to be at CYIA. So they show up on Saturday with the whole wrong attitude shebang and watch! by friday their heart is completely changed around. You get to see God working in them which is so awesome !

4. Last but not least: CYIA IS SO CYIAMAZING becauseeeee…it is such a good opportunity for us to be able to serve God. We’re not going there for the friends, the people, the good food made by elsie ;), the bonding time we have with people, but we’re all there for one reason: to serve God. We humbly come before God because without Him sending his son, Jesus to die on the cross for ours sins, there is no gospel.

AHHHHH well i started CYIA in 2007 and now 5 years later in 2012, i can’t believe that this will be my last one :(  spending summer 2013 in london and 2014, 2015 at pepperdine. so maybe in 2016 i’ll be back? :)

Draw me close to You,

Never let me go

I lay it all down again

To hear You say that I’m Your friend.

You are my desire,

No one else will do

‘Cause nothing else could take Your place,

To feel the warmth of Your embrace

Help me find the way

Bring me back to You

You’re all I want

You’re all I’ve ever needed

You’re all I want

Help me know You are near

This song explains exactly how I’m feeling right now. God, You said, “Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you”. I’ve been wanting to draw close to you but lately I feel that you have been so distant. There’s so much distraction in my life and so much that I’m struggling with, I need you there to guide me. I can’t do this on my own, I need you to “walk beside me”. Exactly a year ago, I remember that I made the decision of fully surrendering myself to you. No more of what “I want” but what “You want” me to do. Please help me remember that ” You’re all I want and all I’ve ever needed” and that you are near.

on sunday, sebastian and i went to the FSO (For Seniors Only) Sunday School where Pastor Joey spent the last 3 months or so of high school, taking the high school seniors away from the rest of the group and just prepping them for college in their spiritual walk and stuff.

well, sebastian brought up a good point about what it’s like being a christian vs. being just a “nice” person and it just occurred to me that rarely do i reflect upon my actions and words to see what kind of a person i am? can someone tell that i’m a christian or that i’m just a “nice” person. what is something that i’ve done today, a non-christian wouldn’t have?

in the world that we live in today, it’s so easy for people to notice that we’re a “nice” person but i don’t want to just live a life where people only see me as a “nice” person who does “nice things”.

i want someone who doesn’t know me see Christ in me through my actions and words, i want others to be able to see Jesus in me :)

i have a really hard time forgiving people who’ve wronged me these days.

i keep holding grudges and i’m super bitter.

this is such a big problem because i have to learn to let things go and forgive like Jesus forgave us.

recently, in my devotional plans i’ve been going through 4 series: forgiveness, trust, attitude and love.

i get hurt really easily but i’m unrelenting when it comes to forgiving others.

one verse i have to constantly keep in mind: be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.- Ephesians 4:32

(Source: hellyeahitsrandom, via nanceeeee)

(Source: borntomakeanimpact, via puhhlattypus)