My Psalm 139

I posted awhile ago about Camp Ichthus and about how the lessons we had in the Chapel Cabin were really good, but I haven't gotten a chance to type out some of the things that we talked about.

The main topic we discussed was the Holy Spirit. Here are some notes I took:

The message of joy is given by the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit helps us become Christ-like.
We are strengthened and encouraged by the spirit of truth.
God poured his love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit lives in ME. It is a counselor and the spirit of truth.
The Holy Spirit is here to help us, guide us, and love us.

We also talked about breathing and when we breathe in we should be breathing in God and all of His goodness, and when we breathe out we should be letting go/cleansing ourselves of those things that are sinful. The lesson was INCREDIBLY good, but it's kind of hard to explain.

Another thing we discussed was how unique and special each of us are. Yeah, I know, we hear it all the time, "Oh you're so special!"/"There's no one else in the world exactly like you!" But have you ever really sat down and THOUGHT about it? It's an AMAZING thing to think about. Absolutely amazing.

There was a quote Pastor Mary wrote on the board and I love looking at it:

"You are a product of God's hand and made in His image. He has given you unique gifts and talents and has a great plan for your life. Whenever you are feeling like you don't fit in or like you are inferior to others, remember that God created you to be you! He has made you and sees you as PERFECT! God doesn't make junk or mistakes!!!!

I love just focusing on the words and letting them be the only thing that I'm thinking about. God's love is so amazing. Let's just face it---everything about God is amazing. HE IS AMAZING.

We did an activity on Sunday right before we left. We rewrote Psalm 139 so it was PERSONALLY for us, for the things we go through, for the struggles we have.

Here's the original Psalm:

Psalm 139
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely O LORD.

You hem me in---behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?

If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for the darkness is as light to you.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!

Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.

If only you would slay the wicked, O God! Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!

They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name.

Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD, and abhor those who rise up against you?

I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Here's mine, I rewrote it starting at verse 7:

There is no place I can hide from you. You are ALWAYS with me.

If I got to school, you are there, if I make bad decisions in situations I'm in, you are there.

If I got on a youth retreat and seek your ways, or if I run from you during hard times, even there your hand will guide me, you'll reach out and hold me, drawing me into your arms.

If I say, "The ways of the world surround me and darkness yanks at my heart, pulling me further away from you," no one and nothing will be able to take me away from You. With your help, the darkness of this world will become like light as I see through your eyes O God.

You made every part of me, even my inmost being---my thoughts, my fears, and my joys. The God who created all good in the beginning, breathed life into me, made me exactly as he wanted to. I am perfect to Him. Nothing about me is hidden from you, you see and love all of me.

I praise you God for the way you have made me, I am as I should be. All of your works are wonderful and beautiful, I know that full well.

You saw me and knew me even before I was created by You. All the days of my life, every minute...every second was already planned out for me. Everything that is to come is already planned out by You, everything will happen according to what You want me to do and experience.

You are amazing God, all of your plans and thoughts are too great for me to understand.

If I could count all of your thoughts about me and how you love me, they would out number the grains of sand. When I wake up in the morning and stand half awake in the shower, you are with me.

God, if only you would get rid of those who try to hurt me, tear me down, and bring sin into my heart.

They curse your name thinking that it's some joke, it'll make them "popular" or "cool".

I get so annoyed at those who cannot fully see, understand, or accept your love.

Search my entire being, know my heart's intents and help me to walk in your ways. Test me so I may show love to others and gain patience and learn to show kindness to others and not to judge.

Clean out all of my sin, take away the desires that you have not placed in my heart, please. Help me through all of life's troubles and help me to remember that you'll ALWAYS love me. Lead me to live for you.

I love you God.