Happy Father's Day

Happy Father’s day!!!!!! I want to start out by saying thank you so much to my earthly father for being a great example of Christ to me and even at times when he wasn’t, I still grew closer to God through him. He loves me so much and provides for our family. I love you so much dad!!!!! Also, thank you to all you other dads reading this, you have influenced my life in some way and have helped me grow into the woman I am today. But more importantly I want to say thank you to my Heavenly Father. I have been blessed beyond measure with the wonderful group of strong Christian people around me to encourage me and help me get through tough times. Our camp pastor talked today from 1 Corinthians 1:26-31. He started out by saying that we may know what we want, but God, our Heavenly Father, knows what we need. 1 Corinthians 1 talks about how the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. The foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom; Christ sending his one and only son to die for all of us, those who hated him and didn’t even want him, can be seen as “foolish” to us because we can’t even understand that kind of love. God knew what we needed even though to us it looks foolish. God also chooses the foolish, the weak, the lowly, and the unqualified (aka all of us) to use to build his kingdom. He did this so no one could boast in their own awesomeness, for without Christ we can do nothing. Christ is the only one who can take a foolish person to show himself through them and to “shame the wise.” All the glory goes to God.

This past week of camp was a little difficult and challenging. It was the first week of Sr. High camp and so different than the younger kids. The beginning of the week’s devotional and discussion time started out with the other counselor and me asking the girls what they thought of chapel and what they got out of it and them just sitting there asking what we were doing next. I was hurt by that a lot and thought that this week was going to be the worst thing ever. They would not open up and I felt like they didn’t want us there talking with them about the Bible and Christ. I started doubting that I could talk with them, but ultimately I started doubting that God could open their hearts to what he wants us to share with them. The next day Kim (the other counselor) and I gave our testimony to the girls in our cabin and we asked if they had questions for us, but once again I felt like they didn’t even care that we had just told them our struggles and pains in life. The next day the speaker for chapel talked about sin and confession. That night one of the girls wanted to talk one-on-one with Kim and I and she opened up to us and talked about some things she had done in the past that she wanted to confess to God and break down the wall she was building up around her heart. We prayed with her and I rejoiced that she was opening up to us. The next day during staff devotions one of the other counselors reminded us that we cannot save these kids, no matter how nicely we present the gospel to them; only God has the power to move in their hearts and save them. I thank God for reminding me of that and asked him to forgive me for doubting that he could save these girls. The last two days with our girls were so great. They opened up so much and we had great discussions with them. They asked a ton of questions about things Kim and I didn’t even fully understand. There were still a few girls that I worried about, but I continued to pray for them and kept reminding myself that God has a plan for them and I am just here to plant a seed in their life and let God do the growing.

I was continuously reminded of God’s greatness and amazing love this week. One night when we were playing Mission Impossible (you can ask me about this when I get home) another counselor and I were walking outside in the sports field talking about things we missed from home. I said I just really wanted to see a star in the sky, just one. As I said this I pointed up to the sky and as I did a star shone bright for both of us to see. It was just one of the many times God has shone through simple things how much he truly does love me.

We were able to go canoeing down the river and crabbing this weekend. We had so much fun just getting to spend time as a family without having to worry about kids for the weekend. We have Colt camp this coming week from Monday to Thursday. There are over 120 seven to nine year olds coming. It’s going to be a crazy but wonderful week for us. Please pray for strength and patience as many of us, me included, will be going into our third week of counseling we little sleep; not only for physical strength, but spiritual strength. It has been amazing to see how God works through someone like me, someone who messes up all the time, stumbles over her words, fails at loving others as I should, and worries more than I should. He uses me to share his love with these kids and I pray that I continue to shine for him and that these kids would see a difference in my life and wonder why and want that in their lives as well.

Just an encouraging passage my parents sent me for you to read:

Isaiah 55 6-13

Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.
Let the wicked forsake their ways
and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
”As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.
Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the LORD’s renown,
for an everlasting sign,
that will endure forever.”