Karyssa is a passionate, fun-loving, athletic gal who has experienced amazing transformation in the past few years . As a recent college grad, God has recently led her from the comforts of her home in the U.S. to serve with YWAM ministry in Australia. Read her story of how she got to where she is now.
It was the summer between my freshman and sophomore year of college. I had been going to church and slowly walking with Jesus for about 5 years, but I was ready for more.
That summer I worked at a camp in Sebastopol, CA and I would drive to Salmon Creek beach in Bodega Bay at least 2 times a week to go skim boarding before I had to work. During this time I had some of my most intimate talks with Jesus- I don’t know if it was the crisp morning air or the empty beach that helped me sense the vastness of his presence when I was out there alone. But He was with me and I was so desperate for more of him.
During the last week of camp I was standing on the shore of Salmon Creek starring out into the ocean. God is so sweet when he speaks to us through experiences we have had in the past. I was standing there with my skimboard watching some surfers and I just thought to myself, God I want to be out there. (Do to an accident when I was a bit younger, I was so afraid to go out into the ocean and surf.) Here’s a quote from my journal that day:
“I stood on the shore and watched some surfers paddle around right outside the peak. A sudden rush of fear flooded my body as I remembered the time I almost didn’t make it. I stood there for a while and then said to God- ‘I want to be out there! I want to play. I want to go experience the depths of this ocean. Being on shore is fun, but I bet it is even more fun out there. And Jesus, I think this is true in my relationship with you. I am tired of splashing around on the shores of your love. Help me experience the depth of who you are and the vastness of your love for your children. If your love is like the ocean, I want to be out beyond the waves where I am surrounded by you.’
I stood there for a while thinking about the cry of my heart to experience more and more of our sweet Jesus. And I left that day determined to figure out what that looks like.
A few weeks later I was at my first leadership retreat with WJU. We were sitting around the camp fire and I could not stop thinking about being baptized right there with my community and friends. Daniel just happened to be sitting next to me and out of complete obedience I asked him if there was anyone there who could baptize me that week and if we could make that happen asap. After a conversation about all that was going on in my heart we decided it would happen the next morning and my heart exploded with joy.
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| GLORY! |
Looking back on this day, I am amazed at the powerful love of Jesus. I always refer to my baptism as the catalyst to the incredibly fast transformation that I have experienced these last three years. God takes you seriously when you say I want to experience you more. I could never have imagined the depths in which he would dramatically change my life from this day on.
God has worked wonders in my life as I have sought him daily. He has healed me and made me whole. He has opened my eyes to new possibilities and revealed to me incredible workings of his love and grace. I am convinced that because of this decision that I have experienced Jesus in the ways I have over the last few years. This moment changed everything about my relationship with Jesus and in return changed everything in my life.
Y’all if you want to experience Jesus in increasingly more ways, jump in and enter the depths of his love. Our God is so desperate for you, he longs to know you and to lavish his love over you. Risk it all today and jump into the depths of his love- you will be amazed at what happens!
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Oh Karyssa! This is wonderful! I loved it and was so encouraged by your story this morning! ” God takes you seriously when you say I want to experience you more. “…so true! Thanks for sharing and lifting Jesus high in this!
Karyssa, you are such an inspiration. I feel blessed to know you and learn from you!
Amen, Karyssa! You are a true blessing and light of God’s love! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
I love that you can see and encounter Jesus in adventure.