God is.

I spent my last night in Colorado surrounded by sweet friends on a quiet dock, with the sound of the water softly lapping up against it and the dark silhouettes that were mountains all around.  The sky was black and filled with tiny shining lights that sparkled in our eyes.  We sang some, we laughed some, we shivered in the cold and at the thought of leaving the place and people we had come to love.

Endings and beginnings are funny things.  And at the end of my time at camp, I was reminded of the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord.  He always knows what I need far better than I do, and He knew that I needed to be there.  It was hard in a lot of ways.  I was lonely at first, I felt disconnected from the people around me.  But that deeply felt loneliness drove me even further in pursuit of the Lord, and for that I am thankful.  Along the way He blessed me with friendships that pointed me to Him.  And now here I am, a little bit different than I was 2 1/2 months ago, grateful for where I was and how He used it in my life to teach me more about Himself.

I was challenged this summer to write an A-Z list of who I know God to be through His Word.  Every time I look at it, I am encouraged but also compelled to further seek after the Lord and find out more about His character and His promises.
God is
Awesome, Abba Father, and the One in whom I abide. He adopted me.
He is my beloved, His blood shed to cover my sin.
He is Creator, consuming fire, crucified He cleanses me.
He is my Deliverer and my delight, His Spirit dwells in me.
He is my ever-present help in trouble, He's eternal; the exalted one.
He is faithful Father, He's my firm foundation, He forgives-- "it is Finished" in Him
He is good and glorious, the Giver and the gift, He is GRACIOUS.
He is holy, He is healer, in Him we have hope.
He is infinite and immeasurable, HE must increase (but I must decrease)
He is just and jealous, joy is found in Him
He's the King of Kings, He is kind, and He knows me to my core
He is love, He's the life-giver, He's lion and lamb, He is light, He is Lord
He is the Maker of all things, majestic and mighty.  He is merciful.
He never fails, He makes me new.  One day His name will be proclaimed among all nations.
He opposes the proud and welcomes outsiders.
He is pure and perfect, He brings peace, He is patient.  He pardons sin, His power is made perfect in my weakness.  He's my portion.
He quiets me by His love.
He's the ruler of all, He's my rest and my refuge.  He's redeemer and He's righteous, He restores and reconciles us to Himself through the risen Son.  He's my rock.
He is sovereign and sustainer.   He's my Savior and my strength.
He is trustworthy, He transforms hard hearts, He sits on the throne.
He is unchangeable and understanding, He upholds the universe by the word of His power.
He is the true vine and has achieved VICTORY over sin and death.
He is wrathful.  He's worthy of all glory, honor and praise.  He is THE Way, He is wise and wonderful.
He is excellent in all His ways.
He is Yahweh, my soul yearns for Him.
He is zealous for His name and His glory.

I'm faced with an ending and a beginning-- the summer is coming to an end, and I'm about to start another year of school with all sorts of exciting and difficult things ahead.  But the God that I know never ceases to be everything that He is.  Above all, I can rest in the unchanging nature of who He is, and hopefully point others to Him.