Everybody

For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God. For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands. But faith’s way of getting right with God says, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven?’ (to bring Christ down to earth). And don’t say, ‘Who will go down ...

My Black Diamond Internship

When Easter 2021 came around, I had no idea what I was doing with my life. I had just spent the previous two years dedicated to missions in the South Pacific Islands when suddenly Covid started to spread around the world. This led me to move back in with my parents in Arizona as I tried to figure things out. Through this, I decided that I should move back to my hometown, Auburn WA, to look for new opportunities. Right away I got reconnected with my home church ...

The Weight of Encountering God

As I write this my neck and shoulders are still sore from moving, lifting, and dragging 24,000 pounds of roofing shingles with 3 other guys. About two weeks ago we got a call that a couple wanted to donate the materials for two huge roofing projects here at Black Diamond Camp. This was a jaw-dropping, heart-stopping, lightheaded-inducing act of generosity.   We were in the process of psyching ourselves up for a big development campaign over the next couple of years ...

Unexpected Destination

Unexpected blessings. If I could sum up what these past few months have looked like for me, it would be exactly that, an unexpected blessing.   About a year ago, I graduated from Liberty University without a clue of what I was doing with my life, and it felt like I was in a huge “in-between.” I had accomplished so much, but I wasn’t where I wanted to be. In all of this, I wondered, “How long? How long would ...

For all Those Facing Hardship

For all those facing hardship and in harm’s way. To all those who are terrified in spirit and soul.  Standing with You! Receive these words from God for you today: Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap ...

Food for Living

"But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” -Matthew 4:4 NLT "Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the ...

Focused Action

“But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.” -James 1:22-24 NLT  Confession: I have been on a “mission” to get something from the next room only to arrive and think, “What did I come in here for?”  It usually ...

Cole Marshall, Black Diamond Intern

I love being an intern at Black Diamond Camp for many reasons! I love the community I get to work in and be surrounded by. I love getting to serve others every day and know that my actions are making an impact on the lives of the people who come to camp. I also love working with others while running different activities, it’s great to see people come out of their comfort zones to try things that might be daunting ...

Prayer of Completion

Photo by Chris Liverani on Unsplash I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began. -John 17:4-5 NLT Jesus prays about completing the work He was given to do by God the Father. I have long believed that Jesus was the only one who could ever make such a statement in prayer.  After all, who can complete the work ...

Working at Camp changed my life!

I was 8 years old when I went to summer camp for the first time. It was the first time I had been away from my family. It was the first time that I made friends outside of school and the first time I ever bought a drumstick ice cream cone from a snack shack. There were a lot of firsts for me in my first week of camp (including my first mud pit). It’s where I experienced the depth of God’s love for the first time. I’ll never forget the impact that first week of camp ...