you are worth more than many sparrows.

Last week, I was the only youth staff member in town; the other five were on a high school retreat at the beach. So, while the others were gone, I went to and helped out at a four day workshop at the church for girls ages 8-12. The camp was called project authentic beauty.
It was a hands-on camp, founded in Scripture, teaching girls about their worth and value, their bodies and being comfortable in their skin, ways they can express their beauty in godly ways, how to honor God with their bodies, and what it means to be brave in the Lord. __________________________________________________

day one: Authentic beauty: talking to the girls about what God says about beauty, worth, and value. What does authentic beauty look like and what does it mean to be brave in the Lord? Bravery verse one: "So God created mankind IN HIS OWN IMAGE, in the image of God He created them; male and female, He created them." Genesis 1:27

_________________________________________________

day two: Authentic health: talking to girls about how our body is a temple of the Lord which means He dwells IN US. As a result, one of the ways that we can honor, respect, and glorify God most, is by taking care of what He has blessed us with. We focussed on two aspects of this: exercising right and eating heathy. We showed them fun ways to get their heart pumping and blood flowing and discussed the dangers of over eating and under eating. We even ate chocolate together...which was of course my favorite part! bravery verse two: "Do you not know that your body is a TEMPLE of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whome you have recieved from God? You are not your ownl YOU WERE BOUGHT AT A PRICE. Therefore honor God with your body."

____________________________________________

day three: Authentic awareness: helping the girls understand the different ways that the media targets them; teaching them that what the world world tells them is completely opposite of the sweet promises the Lord wispers to them in His Word. bravery verse three: "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the principles of this world rather than on Christ." -Colossionas 2:8 www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U ___________________________________________________

day four: authentic voice: teaching the girls that they have a choice-to trust the truths of Scripture or the lies of the world. To make this stick, we rolled out a giant laminated piece of paper that said "i am beautiful." We got out the markers and started writing the lies that we believe,over the roll of paper. I saw girls write things like "I am ugly, boys don't like me, i am unloved, i wish i was pretty, i'm not cute, does God still love me?" heartbreaking, i know. but it was such a picture of the lies we choose to believe. When we were finished, we hung the paper on the wall and the girls were given water balloons. As they each took turns throwing their balloons at the poster they yelled things like "I am made in his image! I am wonderfully made, I am beautiful, I have worth!" As they shouted God's truths, the marks and ugly words wiped right off with the splash of their water. bravery verse four: I praise you because I am FEARFULLY and WONDERFULLY made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:14

_________________________________________________

You might be wondering why we looked at passages each day and called them bravery verses. One of the main themes of the camp was the idea that to trust God's Words about beauty, worth and value is an act of bravery. Why? Because it means that we are going against the flow; it means we are standing against the lies that the world screams; it means we are being confident in the Lord; it means we can be satisfied with the way that God has made us; it means We have to be brave. but we can be. For He tells us, "do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows..."

The best part? I'm still learning all of this as they are learning.

more faithful than the morning.

God's been reminding me lately that He is faithful.
if you're like me, you're quick to forget.

and He is quick to remind you!
I love that about Him, you know?
I am unfaithful.
that's FOR SURE.
But He is always faithful.

I wrote in my journal late last week ( i know, i blog, i journal...what am i like 80?)
about what I am most thankful for right now.
and you know what I wrote about?
I wrote about His faithfulness; that he is more faithful than the morning.
I've never really stopped to think about what that actually means.
Every night. I go to sleep. and as I lay my head on my pillow,

i never wonder,
"hmmm, i wonder if morning will come tomorrow? Will the sun rise?"
(in fact I'm usually dreading that loud alarm and sun beaming through my windows!)
But without a doubt,
the sun rises.
and the morning comes.
without fail.

It is like that with our Heavenly Father.
I know that tomorrow,
i will wake up
and
the morning will have come.
and He will continue to be faithful.

THIS, i love.

i think i love crafts a little too much.

Karen showed me how to make this bracelet while I was home for the weekend. and I JUST HAD to share the idea! It's just rolled up magazine strips, harden with a water-glue mixture, and strung on hemp!


Like I said. I love crafts a little too much.
but i think i'm okay with that.

summer projects with annie.

If you know me, you know I can't bake. like AT ALL.

oh. but my new sister, friend, neighbor, twin, CAN!

Annie and I have made a new goal for the summer:

make a different kind of cupcake each week.

Annie and I make a great team. She is such a sweet friend to me and I'm thankful for her.
We've only accomplished one week thus far, but I'm excited to bake with her this summer. I SO enjoy the sweet sweet time I spend with her in the kitchen!

WEEK ONE: RED VELVET CUPCAKES WITH HOMEMADE ICING.

dear refuge of my weary soul.

I know it's been a few weeks since i last posted...let me tell you, i am having SUCH A GREAT TIME, but I am exausted. This past week I've been feeling a little emotionally and physically drained, as well as spiritually dry. This song came on my ipod a few days ago...i love the lyrics and I love that Jesus invites us-in fact, LONGS for us-to come to Him. He invites us to come to Him saying "i'm weak. i'm tired. i'm worn down." After a week or so of tired faith, for this, I am thankful.

you can listen here.
http://www.4shared.com/audio/Pb9moMMG/17_Dear_Refuge_Of_My_Weary_Sou.html

Dear refuge of my weary soul,
On Thee, when sorrows rise
On Thee, when waves of trouble roll,
My fainting hope relies
To Thee I tell each rising grief,
For Thou alone canst heal
Thy Word can bring a sweet relief,
For every pain I feel

But oh! When gloomy doubts prevail,
I fear to call Thee mine
The springs of comfort seem to fail,
And all my hopes decline
Yet gracious God, where shall I flee?
Thou art my only trust
And still my soul would cleave to Thee
Though prostrate in the dust

Hast Thou not bid me seek Thy face,
And shall I seek in vain?
And can the ear of sovereign grace,
Be deaf when I complain?
No still the ear of sovereign grace,
Attends the mourner’s prayer
Oh may I ever find access,
To breathe my sorrows there

Thy mercy seat is open still,
Here let my soul retreat
With humble hope attend
Thy will, And wait beneath
Thy feet,Thy mercy seat is open still,
Here let my soul retreat
With humble hope attend Thy will,
And wait beneath Thy feet

my boxes have landed. WEEK ONE.

well. my boxes have landed in Atlanta and I'm here, and getting settled in! (oh, long story short, on the way to the airport, we got a flat tire. In normal Wilkening fashion, we were of course running late and it soon became obvious that i was going to miss my flight. Well not so fast! A friendly police man stopped by, offered to give us a ride to the aiport, and drove off with my mom and I in the back cage of his police car...you know, like where the criminals sit, pretty cool, huh? ) and i am getting to know names and faces! and let me tell you...

i. am. loving. it. I can't believe it's finally here. I have dreamt of being a summer intern FOR YEARS. I'm so thankful and thrilled that God has allowed this door to open and provided me this job for the summer.

i'm loving my temporary home. The family i'm living with (the blass family) are just the sweetest. They remind me so much of my family-happy, busy, and loving. I'm enjoying having a sister for the summer (annie, who just finished her junior year of highschool.) and their house is a cute two story home with a red door on a little hill in a quiet neighborhood. i know, adorable.

i'm loving the staff at ECPC. The other three interns (caleb, charissa, and kirsten) are SO MUCH FUN. I've enjoyed getting to know them this week and have laughed many times throughout the past few days. i'm so thankful that the Lord has allowed us all to bond so quickly and i look forward to getting closer with each of them throughout the summer.

i'm loving the students. you know how when you get to a new place you feel all unsettled? maybe a little nervous? afraid to meet people? well that feeling quickly left me on my second day here, when i sat down at a table of about seven middle school girls. After introducing myself, i was greeted by a excited, chipper seventh grader who said "my name is McCall! ya, know like a BIRD!" i knew i would like it here. i really just love students.

i'm loving what God is teaching me. this whole week, one passage has continually been in my head. It's in Exodus 14 when Moses is leading the Israelites out of the desert, and God's people are fearful of the Egyptians who are chasing after them. Moses tells the Israelites, "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." Those words constantly rang through my head during various times this week. so simple. so beautiful. so needed. such a great reminder that this summer will be a battle; yet it is the Lord's battle and He will fight for me. during our intern training day, we began the morning by studying Joshua 5 and 6. A familiar passage, but a great reminder. i'm so quick to think that I need to gear up, work extra hard, and get ready to change student's hearts this summer. silly me. Of course i'm called to work hard, do my best, and make the most of every opportunity, but if i fight in my own power, i'm sure to loose the battle. I don't change hearts, Jesus does. I can't love students in my own strength. It isn't me that can win the battle it's Him. Jesus wants my faithfulness. and sometimes that means hitting the floor and doing THE EXACT OPPOSITE of what I feel like I should be doing... remembering to depend on Him. I can picture myself looking up at God and saying "you want me to march around Jerico and blow a trumpet? you. have. to. be. kidding. me. C'mon, God think of something better!" or "okay, God, so you're commanding me to tell the israelites that all they have to do is be still? God, I can't tell them that, they want to RUN." I really admire Moses and Joshua's obedience in the Lord-recognizing their desperate need for Him and depending on Him for every single breath.

On Wednesday night, I gave my testimony at highschool youth group. I hate public speaking, in fact, it's my least favorite thing about youth ministry. But as I prepared beforehand and spoke, I couldn't help but be excited about the ways that God has brought me to himself. I was reminded that this isn't about me; it's about God and what He has done in the lives of his people throughout history. and that's something worth being excited about. As a celebrate the ways that God has worked in my life in the past, it is my prayer that this summer, I would learn to wait on Him and BE STILL as He fights the battle.

i'm a little overwhelmed and worn out from meeting students, remembering names, and getting used to a new place; this summer is going to be crazy and busy, more so than i expected--but i am so thankful to be here and dive right in. And I have greatly enjoyed the ways that God has reminded me his faithfulness through His Word, my fellow interns, and East Cobb students. This is gonna be a great summer.

the day has come!

okay. i gave in and did it.
the day has come.
I bought chacos.
dear summer, you may officially begin!
HAPPY MAY, my friends!