Glory to God forever

This summer, i went to my favorite summer camp in Iowa. It's a christian camp and a great way to having a meaningful experience and alot of fun. during our tuesday night worship tuesday, we sang a song thats main lyrics were "glory to god, glory to god forever". We all paused after the song, everyone  reflecting on different things. Then, the guitar player and camp director, Dan, said something that after 4 months still sticks with me. He said "what if we, in everything we do, were always thinking 'glory to god' in the back of our minds? think how different our lives would be. What would you do differently? what kind of person would you be?" That really struck me as something i wanted to do.
 As usual, your "mountain top" camp experience doesn't last long and life gets back to normal. Of course i learned alot, but nothing really "stuck." I got back to school, and of course, my everyday after school activity, cheerleading. I pride myself on my tumbling skills. I've worked hard to get where i am. I'm working on back tucks and i've had a roundoff flip flop for 2 years.
One day in the middle of september i went to practice and i couldn't tumble. I knew i could, but when i would try, it was like my mind wanted to keep going but my body would stop itself from flipping backwards. I shrugged it off and gave myself a break, thinking it was just an off-day for me.
The next practice i was even more determined, but i still couldnt do it. This continued for weeks. I could tell my coaches and teammates were frustrated with me, and i was even more frustrated with myself. I felt awful about it. The worst part is our first competition was right around the corner, and for every person that doesnt tumble in the routine is a deduction of points. The week before competition with two practices left, my coach told me "Rachel, if you're not tumbling by wednesday, i'm taking you out." That scared me. My goal for the year was to tumble in the routine and i couldnt do it.
I left practice that night almost in tears. As i drove home from practice, "Glory to God" came on my ipod. Dan's words flashed back into my mind. that was when it all clicked for me. Maybe I was forgetting to glorify god with all my talents. After all, he is the one who gave them to me. The day of the next practice, i wrote "Glory to God" on my hand and looked at it all day during school. I went to practice very nerveous, but with a new attitude. When it was time to warm up our tumbling, I got in line, waiting. It got to be my turn so i looked at my hand one more time and went for it. I had no problem tumbling! It was one of the best feelings ever.  We went to our competition tht weekend and got first place out of six teams! we were all so proud of ourselves.
Now, every practice i always think about what i'm doing and glorifying god for the talents I have. Yes, i am the one doing the flips across the floor, but God is the one giving me the strength to do it.

Friends at Camp (:

My team and Coaches at our competition (:

"I can do all things through christ who strengthens me" Phillipians 4:13