Kayla Jones - What has she learned this summer?

This summer has been filled with so many events, thoughts, emotions and friendships. God has really taught and shown me a lot this summer. As it all comes down to an end it is great to look back and see what God has done and what he has taught me this summer.

One thing I have learned is to never give up and to stay focused on where God has you; you may never see the fruit of what you are doing and you may never get recognition for things but who cares, it’s not about us anyway. As long as God gets the glory then that is what is important to me.

I’ve been challenged so much this summer in ways I never thought I’d be challenged in. I have been encouraged and loved like never before. This has taught me that no matter where God brings me in life He is there and is going to take care of me and show me things about Him and about myself that I’ve never seen before. God is doing a work in me and I know He is truly continuing it until the day of completion. (Phil. 1:6)

A difficulty that I have had is with my age. There have been times in which I have allowed people to look down on me because I am young, and totally goes against scripture says (1 Timothy 4:12). I have allowed myself to let what people think about my age limit me in what I have to say, but it’s something I have learned and will work on. At the same time God has placed people in my life to encourage me and to remind me that yes I am young, but God is using me and that is so exciting to me. I want my life to reflect Christ.

I’ve really learned what my heart for ministry is through working at Second’s West Campus this summer. I totally have a heart for service and discipleship. I have loved watching students serve those in need by helping clean a clothing store and painting someone’s house. I can’t even begin to tell about how exciting it is to watch student’s fall passionately in love with their Savior and want to make a difference in their schools. I have loved being challenged by students asking me where they can look at stuff in Scripture and by asking me how my time with God is going. People are always watching!

The greatest thing I have learned this summer is God’s love. I’m not sure how to fully explain all I have learned from this but it all came about because of reading “Crazy Love”. I was reminded that I take God, who He is and His love, for granted all the time. Another thing that I was reminded of is that I can’t be lukewarm and I don’t want to be. I don’t need to let other people’s opinions get in the way of me pursuing Christ and pursuing a love for His people. I’m reminded that God’s love for me is huge, that He has a greater purpose for my life that I may never fully know or understand. I know that I need to simply say yes in obedience and follow him wherever He leads, no matter how hard it may be for me. God’s plan for my life is greater than any plan I could ever come up with. I pray that I will be able to say one day that I am truly following Him in obedience and truly show Him that I love Him “in actions and in truth.”

1 John 3:16-20

“16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 19This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.”