Week 5

This picture is a good summary of the past week..Don't I look cute?

Week 5 was different than every other week. The kids who were at camp were older and there were fewer of them. It was very laid back! One of the activities we did was have a competition between teams to see who could dress their intern up the funniest. I'm still trying to figure out if I looked funny or scary..or maybe a little bit of both?

The kids loved dressing us up! They especially loved it when I tried to wash my face and realized the marker wasn't washable...such is life! I had a bluish/red face for the rest of the day. 

As the summer starts to wind down I'm beginning to process everything that I've learned over the past several weeks. I would be lying if I said that this learning process has been enjoyable. Examining unrefined areas of my life is no easy task, but it is a rewarding one. 

I may have mentioned this before but one of the biggest things I have realized is that there is joy to be found in doing what I was created to do. Why do I have a hard time finding this fulfillment at home? Because my time is seldom spent doing what I was created to do. I serve myself and submit to my own desires far too often. I think that being comfortable might be one of the biggest deterrents to the fire of my faith. Yes, the Lord has blessed me with financial stability, opportunities, family, and comfort. These blessings are not bad, but it’s the place of residence I give them in my heart that poisons my passion for the gospel. These blessings become my stumbling block. I use them to justify complacency. The minute I become comfortable is the minute I lose sight of what is eternally significant. I don’t want to go home and be comfortable.

Another thing that I have learned, which hopefully I can find the words to communicate, is how having too many “options” can make a simple, and clear, decision very cloudy. How many times in my life have I asked God this question, “Father, what is your will for my life? I sit in angst over which decisions will be best and most pleasing to God. What direction should I go academically, which ministries should I be involved in, which church should I go to, which relationships should I pursue, which job should I have…etc.. I’m sure that everyone reading this can relate to the feeling of uncertainty that comes with having “options”. I’ve made the mistake of over thinking truth rather than walking IN truth. The answer to all of these questions is so simple. It’s clearly laid out in the bible. Here are just a few of those truths:

*Remain rooted in Christ, strengthened in faith.

Colossians 2:6-7 “So then just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

*Love the Lord above everything else

Luke 10:27 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and, love your neighbor as yourself.”

*Actively practice the word of God

Matthew 7:24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock”

*Love others (even when it’s hard and costs us something)

1 John 3:18 “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but in actions and in truth”

*Keep in step with the Spirit,

Galatians 5:24-25 “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature along with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit”

*Devote yourselves to prayer

         Colossians 4:2 “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful”

*If you don’t know what pleases the Lord, then find out.         

         Ephesians 5:8-11 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live     as children of light (for the fruitof the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them”.

We usually know what God’s will is, we just don’t do it and we think that some options are better than others. The truth is that it doesn’t matter where you are in life, or what job you have, or what social circle you run in. What matters is this, are you walking in truth? I know that I have a hard time dying to myself even when I know what is right and what is wrong. Knowledge is knowing the right thing to do, and Wisdom is doing it. 

This upcoming week I have been given ANOTHER opportunity to spend time with the babies! There will be a team going every morning who I will be able to join and assist. I love those babies and I'm thankful for another chance to spend time with them.