Worship Wednesday night was a night of keys. We were each given a key and the sermon was about being willing to use the key to unlock the cell we have put ourselves into through our own doings and THEN we were to give the key up so we could not unlock the door and go back in. I have to say the teens were all for giving up the keys (except the one who thought his key was really neat) but a few of us adults have grown accustomed to the cell and are not willing to step out of it as it is unknown territory and little frightening. I gladly accepted the key so I can let myself out but I held onto it not really ready to stay out....well, let's just say God had other plans. After being home a couple of weeks, I have discovered my key is gone. I let myself out and now I cannot get back in! Yikes! God what are you thinking!!???!!! Oh, you probably think I can handle it....well....I'm glad You can because I am going to be following YOU! Oh yeah, I'm supposed to be doing that anyway aren't I???
Also, during the sermon, Pierre stopped and said "I see someone under a tree tomorrow afternoon reading their Bible. I don't know who you are but you need to know that God will show you the scriptures you are looking for" Well, I made the joke along with several other counselors about "wonder how many kids will be under trees reading their Bibles tomorrow" LOL! The next afternoon, I was trying to get the counselor I had loaned my swimsuit to so I could go swimming. I sat down on a bench basically between the two camps and sent her a text. While waiting for her response I decided to go through the scripture for our next small group session. After I had done that, I decided maybe it was time I sought God in my struggles....gee, what a novel idea? LOL! Prayer is one of my strong suits and some have said it is my calling but, I have really strayed away from it over the past couple of years because I didn't want to hear what God had to say so I decided to look up scriptures on prayer. The first one I read was 1 Sam 12:23 "As for me, far be it that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you..." Ouch...talk about slapping me right in the face. This was followed by 2 Chron 7:14 which was a scripture aimed at me and my friend who I was also looking for scripture for her and then Rom 8:26 which spoke to both of us as well. So here I am still waiting for a response to my text and thinking "God, I will do better. I make that commitment now" I gathered my stuff and stood up and as I did, I realized I was sitting under the biggest darn tree at camp. Needless to say, I told Pierre what had happened when I got back to our camp. He asked me to share that with the group that night and I did. And, I am still holding to that commitment and going to Him in prayer everyday lifting up those I know are in need and those who He places on my heart.
Thursday night at camp is usually a night of tears and LOTS of them! This thursday night was different. Altar calls had been made and answered through the week and the focus for this night was on taking the next step. Understanding who we are, why we are here, and what we can do when we let God take the lead. As he finished, he had kids stand up according to what they felt called to do. One of my youth stood under a call as a teacher or youth director. I stood and prayed with Him knowing that God is going to do great things through this young man. As we walked out of worship that night, the youth and I began plans to start a Bible study to get further into the Word and it is now in its 3rd week. God is Good.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
It's coming, we have just had company!
I will give my last church camp installment tomorrow. we have had company and I am just now getting caught up on my house!
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Church Camp Part II
Second day of camp....
We have worship and small groups and free time in during the day and then our main worship service at night. During our small group session in the morning, I was finally getting the kids started talking and we were headed in a good a direction when my co-leader got to the group and blew the whole discussion out of the water. Talk about frustrating! I just tried to go with the flow and roll us somewhere close to back on track. By the afternoon, small groups was not an interest to them and the session was crazy. No one wanted to do anything but talk to the person next to them about what they were going to do when they got back home, who had met up with who, and who would make a cute couple.....anyway, when we finally got a topic going that everyone was interested in (okay, so it was nothing to do with our curriculum but at least we were all talking together) here comes my co-leader and it all goes out the window.....Argh!!!
So we get to worship. They band is awesome, again! And then Pierre starts talking about forgiveness. About God's forgiveness, about our forgiveness. Well, I don't know of anyone in our camp that could not relate to at least some form of unforgiveness at some point in their life. One of my ADHD Asbergers kid was still for the entire 2 hours we were in worship. Talk about a milestone (and he wasn't asleep either, he was listening). Then he hit the nail on the head where I am most impacted....forgiving yourself....."Don't even go there!" I shouted in my mind. "There are things in my life that I have done that forgiveness of self is not possible!" That is when I heard the message loud and clear, one that I have heard before but it just slapped me in the face..... "If God, who is the creator of all things, all-powerful, all-knowing, can forgive me for my sins - no matter what they are - who am I to put myself above him and not forgive myself" Yep, a lot of junk went in the trash on Tuesday night that should have gone there a long time ago. Funny how we hold onto things.
Our family group met after worship and there was not a kid among us who was not at least slightly moved. I was not in enough control of my cracking voice to pray so I asked one of the young men in the group we married if he would pray, and he did. And, it was an awesome prayer.
Our small group on Wednesday morning was a little better than Tuesday. I paired everybody up and gave them two minutes to learn as much information as possible about each other and discover their greatest dream and greatest fear. We talked about each one and then I gave them "homework"! LOL! I told them they had to seek each other out after we did the ropes course and before our next small group meeting and pair up again and ask their new partners the same questions and share them with the group. They agreed. Oh, and it had to be someone they didn't already know.
We did the high ropes challenge course that day. I have a fear of heights. Not so much the heights (I love the view) but more a fear of falling from a great height! So, my kids are on the course and I am encouraging them every step of the way. The one who is afraid to move because she can't feel the harness, I convince her to step to the lower pole and she will not only feel the harness but will have a wedgie that will remind her it is there for the entire section. *grinning* I convince each of them to keep moving, it is only when they stop their fear can take over. Let me tell you, I can be creative from the ground encouraging these guys! LOL! I had one camper that all she did was climb to the top of the cargo net and come down. I was really proud of her for accomplishing that! Then it was my turn....well....let me just say that I talk a good game. I did make it through and then had to ride the zip line down. Now, I like zip lines. I just don't like that you have to lean forward looking down over the side of a 30ft tower to start the zip. I yelled....loudly.....really loudly....then when I went past the youth holding the ladder I yelled "Wheeeeeeeee!" He laughed at me and said, "That's not what you sounded like up there!" LOL!
To be continued......
We have worship and small groups and free time in during the day and then our main worship service at night. During our small group session in the morning, I was finally getting the kids started talking and we were headed in a good a direction when my co-leader got to the group and blew the whole discussion out of the water. Talk about frustrating! I just tried to go with the flow and roll us somewhere close to back on track. By the afternoon, small groups was not an interest to them and the session was crazy. No one wanted to do anything but talk to the person next to them about what they were going to do when they got back home, who had met up with who, and who would make a cute couple.....anyway, when we finally got a topic going that everyone was interested in (okay, so it was nothing to do with our curriculum but at least we were all talking together) here comes my co-leader and it all goes out the window.....Argh!!!
So we get to worship. They band is awesome, again! And then Pierre starts talking about forgiveness. About God's forgiveness, about our forgiveness. Well, I don't know of anyone in our camp that could not relate to at least some form of unforgiveness at some point in their life. One of my ADHD Asbergers kid was still for the entire 2 hours we were in worship. Talk about a milestone (and he wasn't asleep either, he was listening). Then he hit the nail on the head where I am most impacted....forgiving yourself....."Don't even go there!" I shouted in my mind. "There are things in my life that I have done that forgiveness of self is not possible!" That is when I heard the message loud and clear, one that I have heard before but it just slapped me in the face..... "If God, who is the creator of all things, all-powerful, all-knowing, can forgive me for my sins - no matter what they are - who am I to put myself above him and not forgive myself" Yep, a lot of junk went in the trash on Tuesday night that should have gone there a long time ago. Funny how we hold onto things.
Our family group met after worship and there was not a kid among us who was not at least slightly moved. I was not in enough control of my cracking voice to pray so I asked one of the young men in the group we married if he would pray, and he did. And, it was an awesome prayer.
Our small group on Wednesday morning was a little better than Tuesday. I paired everybody up and gave them two minutes to learn as much information as possible about each other and discover their greatest dream and greatest fear. We talked about each one and then I gave them "homework"! LOL! I told them they had to seek each other out after we did the ropes course and before our next small group meeting and pair up again and ask their new partners the same questions and share them with the group. They agreed. Oh, and it had to be someone they didn't already know.
We did the high ropes challenge course that day. I have a fear of heights. Not so much the heights (I love the view) but more a fear of falling from a great height! So, my kids are on the course and I am encouraging them every step of the way. The one who is afraid to move because she can't feel the harness, I convince her to step to the lower pole and she will not only feel the harness but will have a wedgie that will remind her it is there for the entire section. *grinning* I convince each of them to keep moving, it is only when they stop their fear can take over. Let me tell you, I can be creative from the ground encouraging these guys! LOL! I had one camper that all she did was climb to the top of the cargo net and come down. I was really proud of her for accomplishing that! Then it was my turn....well....let me just say that I talk a good game. I did make it through and then had to ride the zip line down. Now, I like zip lines. I just don't like that you have to lean forward looking down over the side of a 30ft tower to start the zip. I yelled....loudly.....really loudly....then when I went past the youth holding the ladder I yelled "Wheeeeeeeee!" He laughed at me and said, "That's not what you sounded like up there!" LOL!
To be continued......
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Church Camp Part 1
I call it Part 1 because there is no way I can possibly get all of it into one post.
Counselors go down on Sunday night for our own worship service to get more in the spirit for the campers arriving on Monday. Later after the service, I walked into our senior high worship area and found a man walking around and praying over all the area and over all the youth to come. Already, I am hooked as prayer is my strength and sustanance.
Monday morning is always hectic with the arrival of the campers, meeting our cabin people, and getting everyone settled. We met with our directors and discovered that this senior high camp was going to be a lot different than ones in the past. I am all for changes but was a little skeptical about some of them.
We met with the youth and broke out into our small groups. These are our families for the week....talk about dysfunctional.....ours definitely was. :) We started out getting to know each other with giving our names and an animal that starts with the same sound. Now my phone has all these new names followed by animals! LOL! Our group definitely did not "gel" at the beginning. Our worship service started with an amazing band. The lead singer fully praising God in all that he did. and then came our speaker....Pierre Moranza....This is truly a man about God. His message on Monday night, although I will admit that I could not tell you exactly what it was about, was very powerful. It began with an introduction as to who he was and what he had witnessed in his international ministry. He spoke of things that occur in other countries on a "regular" basis that are considered "unbelieveable" here in the states as we have so much other "junk" that we worry about that we just don't or won't have the faith to believe in them. He spoke of miracles he has witnessed and ones he had only heard of but knows that they are possible! I think the overall, at least what I got from it, was it is up to us to open ourselves up to the possbilities of God rather than limiting ourselves by our own shortcomings and interruptions.
After worship we met with our "family" groups. The kids that came from our own church. Well, let me tell you about my "family" group. I have two ADHD kids who have also been diagnosed with Asbergers. And then I have one who is trying to figure out what she is supposed to do and one who is looking for answers. They don't "gel" in youth......definitely not "gelling" at camp. So, there was another group, who did not even know each other as they were from different churches so our groups got married. I will tell you how that worked out in another post.
My one camper who is looking for answer is a 6'2" teddy bear. He carries himself as one who does not need anyone yet is so open to God it is amazing. He and I basically met last year at camp and through crazy circumstances (a severe case of poison ivy) he came to know he could trust me. He suffered many hardships this past year and he and I only briefly saw each other during the year but he was back at camp with us and what a blessing. On Monday night he was in tears and wanting to believe in God's miracles but still not letting me know what he was struggling with so I was just there for him. If he had been two I would have scooped him up and held him tight and not let anything hurt him again but he is this very tall young man (I am all of 5'2") who I could hug and talk to and that is what I did. I spoke about God being in his heart and that would be where his strength and comfort would have to come from in the harsh world we tend to live in.
Another thing that Pierre really touched on was prayer and the power of prayer and the importance of prayer. I fully believe God gifts each one of us with something to further His kingdom and through much of my Christian life, I have been told that mine is prayer. Well, let's just say that I have fallen short of this gift over the last year. My prayer life has not been where it should be and the more Pierre talked the more I just say "Amen" and hang my head in the shame of a child who has not held up her end of the bargain....I am changing that....I will get into that in another post....
Counselors go down on Sunday night for our own worship service to get more in the spirit for the campers arriving on Monday. Later after the service, I walked into our senior high worship area and found a man walking around and praying over all the area and over all the youth to come. Already, I am hooked as prayer is my strength and sustanance.
Monday morning is always hectic with the arrival of the campers, meeting our cabin people, and getting everyone settled. We met with our directors and discovered that this senior high camp was going to be a lot different than ones in the past. I am all for changes but was a little skeptical about some of them.
We met with the youth and broke out into our small groups. These are our families for the week....talk about dysfunctional.....ours definitely was. :) We started out getting to know each other with giving our names and an animal that starts with the same sound. Now my phone has all these new names followed by animals! LOL! Our group definitely did not "gel" at the beginning. Our worship service started with an amazing band. The lead singer fully praising God in all that he did. and then came our speaker....Pierre Moranza....This is truly a man about God. His message on Monday night, although I will admit that I could not tell you exactly what it was about, was very powerful. It began with an introduction as to who he was and what he had witnessed in his international ministry. He spoke of things that occur in other countries on a "regular" basis that are considered "unbelieveable" here in the states as we have so much other "junk" that we worry about that we just don't or won't have the faith to believe in them. He spoke of miracles he has witnessed and ones he had only heard of but knows that they are possible! I think the overall, at least what I got from it, was it is up to us to open ourselves up to the possbilities of God rather than limiting ourselves by our own shortcomings and interruptions.
After worship we met with our "family" groups. The kids that came from our own church. Well, let me tell you about my "family" group. I have two ADHD kids who have also been diagnosed with Asbergers. And then I have one who is trying to figure out what she is supposed to do and one who is looking for answers. They don't "gel" in youth......definitely not "gelling" at camp. So, there was another group, who did not even know each other as they were from different churches so our groups got married. I will tell you how that worked out in another post.
My one camper who is looking for answer is a 6'2" teddy bear. He carries himself as one who does not need anyone yet is so open to God it is amazing. He and I basically met last year at camp and through crazy circumstances (a severe case of poison ivy) he came to know he could trust me. He suffered many hardships this past year and he and I only briefly saw each other during the year but he was back at camp with us and what a blessing. On Monday night he was in tears and wanting to believe in God's miracles but still not letting me know what he was struggling with so I was just there for him. If he had been two I would have scooped him up and held him tight and not let anything hurt him again but he is this very tall young man (I am all of 5'2") who I could hug and talk to and that is what I did. I spoke about God being in his heart and that would be where his strength and comfort would have to come from in the harsh world we tend to live in.
Another thing that Pierre really touched on was prayer and the power of prayer and the importance of prayer. I fully believe God gifts each one of us with something to further His kingdom and through much of my Christian life, I have been told that mine is prayer. Well, let's just say that I have fallen short of this gift over the last year. My prayer life has not been where it should be and the more Pierre talked the more I just say "Amen" and hang my head in the shame of a child who has not held up her end of the bargain....I am changing that....I will get into that in another post....
Friday, July 11, 2008
Church Camp
One word - wow (and I mean that in the most awestruck voice I can muster). Will post more after some sleep and prayer.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Kids and what they say.....again!
I broke my leg at the knee two days before Christmas and I am just now really starting to be able to "get into" my workouts again. Yesterday as I was working out to my tape, my youngest walked in and started watching me. Finally, he just shook his head and said, "That lady is really wearing you out isn't she?" Okay, you try and do step aerobics and laugh at the same time!
Church camp starts on Monday! Yeah!!!!! I am going, my oldest is a counselor, my next two are going as campers, and my youngest 3 will be at grandma's. Yep, my sweetheart is getting a week off.
Church camp starts on Monday! Yeah!!!!! I am going, my oldest is a counselor, my next two are going as campers, and my youngest 3 will be at grandma's. Yep, my sweetheart is getting a week off.
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