EN COURAGE CAMP
WELCOME TO CAMP! Staff meetings, early mornings, late nights, routines, activities, and mountains of expectations. We have a lot to look forward to as the weeks unfold. May God prepare each one of our minds to take action and to be His humble servants. May our participation at this Camp exemplify such godly character and what it means for brothers and sisters to dwell in unity together; that all who come and go from here will have a growing desire of their own to glorify God. Please Lord, let all we say and do leave a lasting impression of what it means to really love You. Shine through us Your Word and Power!
Memories from camp last summer are continual reminders to me of how important it is to communicate with God and with people. What better way to Praise Jesus' name than by making every effort to speak of what He has done? What hope do we have worth sharing? As we make it a priority to spend time with God and keep Him first in our thoughts, and do what is pleasing in His sight. We will see the fruit of obedience impacting those around us in ways we never imagined. Abiding in Him is the only way to accomplish our Father's will...to love Him with all we are and love others deeply from our hearts. Apart from Him we can do nothing. There is nothing too hard for God. So let us pray and believe with confidence and receive the answers to our prayers.
I remember the first day that I arrived at camp. My luggage was a few days behind me or for all I know "lost." A few days went by and I realized I did not need anything. God was with me and provided all I had need of (sleeping bag, towel, and a thankful heart). Thank God for every opportunity great and small that prove our faith and where we put our trust. Every day we have a choice to trust God or to fall apart; to be thankful or to complain, to keep our focus on eternity or get lost in the temporary, to get irritated or to patiently wait. Let us ask God to rid us of the worthless negativity that attempts to make us unfruitful and idle. By His strength alone we can cling to what is good and right and true.
The words PRAY and COMMUNICATE continually came to my thoughts as I was meeting and working with new people of all ages. Encouragement came by the Holy Spirit as I remained thankful throughout the back to back schedules, chores, and constant changes of camplife. Seeking to please God in being mindful of others (to bear up under others weaknesses and short comings), taking responsibility for attitudes and actions (our behaviour and attitudes are contageous), and encouraging others to talk to God often, by doing so myself. By the mercy of God, even through all the non-stop noise and motions of each day --- I was able to see life through the eyes of truth. It is possible to be more encouraging and less critical. Asking God to reveal ways that we may lay our lives down. "Ask and you shall receive..." Matthew 21:22"
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?" II Corinthians 13:5 How can we encourage others to do anything that we are not actually living out ourselves? Can I show the world who God is if I do not take the time to know Him truly? Talking to God will eleminate and dissolve conflicts, keep us from the deep black hole of laziness and disobedience, and will enable us to be merciful and compassionate Sons and Daughters of the Living God.
I pray your camp is encouraged in Jesus name.
Memories from camp last summer are continual reminders to me of how important it is to communicate with God and with people. What better way to Praise Jesus' name than by making every effort to speak of what He has done? What hope do we have worth sharing? As we make it a priority to spend time with God and keep Him first in our thoughts, and do what is pleasing in His sight. We will see the fruit of obedience impacting those around us in ways we never imagined. Abiding in Him is the only way to accomplish our Father's will...to love Him with all we are and love others deeply from our hearts. Apart from Him we can do nothing. There is nothing too hard for God. So let us pray and believe with confidence and receive the answers to our prayers.
I remember the first day that I arrived at camp. My luggage was a few days behind me or for all I know "lost." A few days went by and I realized I did not need anything. God was with me and provided all I had need of (sleeping bag, towel, and a thankful heart). Thank God for every opportunity great and small that prove our faith and where we put our trust. Every day we have a choice to trust God or to fall apart; to be thankful or to complain, to keep our focus on eternity or get lost in the temporary, to get irritated or to patiently wait. Let us ask God to rid us of the worthless negativity that attempts to make us unfruitful and idle. By His strength alone we can cling to what is good and right and true.
The words PRAY and COMMUNICATE continually came to my thoughts as I was meeting and working with new people of all ages. Encouragement came by the Holy Spirit as I remained thankful throughout the back to back schedules, chores, and constant changes of camplife. Seeking to please God in being mindful of others (to bear up under others weaknesses and short comings), taking responsibility for attitudes and actions (our behaviour and attitudes are contageous), and encouraging others to talk to God often, by doing so myself. By the mercy of God, even through all the non-stop noise and motions of each day --- I was able to see life through the eyes of truth. It is possible to be more encouraging and less critical. Asking God to reveal ways that we may lay our lives down. "Ask and you shall receive..." Matthew 21:22"
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?" II Corinthians 13:5 How can we encourage others to do anything that we are not actually living out ourselves? Can I show the world who God is if I do not take the time to know Him truly? Talking to God will eleminate and dissolve conflicts, keep us from the deep black hole of laziness and disobedience, and will enable us to be merciful and compassionate Sons and Daughters of the Living God.
I pray your camp is encouraged in Jesus name.