Fuge-Week 2
Hey guys
Week two is over and I can hardly believe how quickly it flew by! My cough is SOOO much better (thanks to all who have been praying for me), and I was not as fatigued this week as I was last week. This week was much different than last week, simply because the campers I had were tough. It seemed that the general struggle throughout the camp was complacency. Many just didn't seem to care, and no matter how much James (our camp pastor) or myself or other Bible Study leaders poured out, they didn't seem effected. That was such a struggle for me. We desire so much for them to catch the passion, and when you are pouring your heart out and you aren't seeing results, or that they seem to be falling asleep in your room.... or quiet time... it can be rough. I will tell you that God has taught me how out of control I am of the situation. I can pour out my heart, use emotional flowery, convicting words, but unless God does the work and they hear the message its to no avail. All I can be responsible for is being diligent in sharing the message, knowing that they might not respond now, but hopefully a seed has been planted. I say these things, knowing that at times it's so hard to remain in this truth. Pray for me in this area. Sorry for the mini-sermon. I have had quality time with a couple of the people i n the group, as well as had a chance to pray with some campers last night.
But despite all this, God still proved Himself faithful! We raised close to $5,000 for missions this week, as well as had some incredible salvation stories. One girl was baptized in our pool, because whenever she goes home her dad will not allow her to go to church. He is Athiest. Pray for her, because she is going to struggle to grow, and pray that God would break her father's heart and allow her to find a church home.
As for me personally, I've been struggling to remember that I am not trying to please men, but God. I have been struggling with motives here at camp. I mentioned my feeling that the campers were complacent, and I wondered if I didnt' care more that I might not be doing a good job of teaching the lesson instead of that they weren't getting the message. I don't know if that even makes sense.... but continue to battle for me, pray that my motives would be completly pure, and that I would be faithful to gi ve the coming weeks my all. I also lack boldness, and I realize how quickly the weeks pass by. I need to really be intentional about getting to the heart of these youth. Well, I geuss that's it for now, but I will leave you guys with a song that our camp pastor wrote about a missionary who died on the mission field a couple of years ago... I feel like it reflects my heart and what I am learning:
His Grace, my reward- James Tealey
"Surrender always has a price
commitment comes with sacrifice,
but when God's love gets through to us, we see the world through different eyes:
Chorus:
And His glory is my reward
god's glory is the only thing I'm livingt for,
To obey is my objective,
My suffering is expected
My life is the Lord's
His glory... my reward.
Verse 2
His voice is quiet but its clear
Calling me beyond my fears
To speak His name, to seek His fame
That all might have the chance to hear
Bridge:
For Him I'll care more than seems wise,
and I'll risk more than some think is wise
And I will risk more than somewould advise,
and I will dream what seems impossible
2 Corinthians 5:11-21
Week two is over and I can hardly believe how quickly it flew by! My cough is SOOO much better (thanks to all who have been praying for me), and I was not as fatigued this week as I was last week. This week was much different than last week, simply because the campers I had were tough. It seemed that the general struggle throughout the camp was complacency. Many just didn't seem to care, and no matter how much James (our camp pastor) or myself or other Bible Study leaders poured out, they didn't seem effected. That was such a struggle for me. We desire so much for them to catch the passion, and when you are pouring your heart out and you aren't seeing results, or that they seem to be falling asleep in your room.... or quiet time... it can be rough. I will tell you that God has taught me how out of control I am of the situation. I can pour out my heart, use emotional flowery, convicting words, but unless God does the work and they hear the message its to no avail. All I can be responsible for is being diligent in sharing the message, knowing that they might not respond now, but hopefully a seed has been planted. I say these things, knowing that at times it's so hard to remain in this truth. Pray for me in this area. Sorry for the mini-sermon. I have had quality time with a couple of the people i n the group, as well as had a chance to pray with some campers last night.
But despite all this, God still proved Himself faithful! We raised close to $5,000 for missions this week, as well as had some incredible salvation stories. One girl was baptized in our pool, because whenever she goes home her dad will not allow her to go to church. He is Athiest. Pray for her, because she is going to struggle to grow, and pray that God would break her father's heart and allow her to find a church home.
As for me personally, I've been struggling to remember that I am not trying to please men, but God. I have been struggling with motives here at camp. I mentioned my feeling that the campers were complacent, and I wondered if I didnt' care more that I might not be doing a good job of teaching the lesson instead of that they weren't getting the message. I don't know if that even makes sense.... but continue to battle for me, pray that my motives would be completly pure, and that I would be faithful to gi ve the coming weeks my all. I also lack boldness, and I realize how quickly the weeks pass by. I need to really be intentional about getting to the heart of these youth. Well, I geuss that's it for now, but I will leave you guys with a song that our camp pastor wrote about a missionary who died on the mission field a couple of years ago... I feel like it reflects my heart and what I am learning:
His Grace, my reward- James Tealey
"Surrender always has a price
commitment comes with sacrifice,
but when God's love gets through to us, we see the world through different eyes:
Chorus:
And His glory is my reward
god's glory is the only thing I'm livingt for,
To obey is my objective,
My suffering is expected
My life is the Lord's
His glory... my reward.
Verse 2
His voice is quiet but its clear
Calling me beyond my fears
To speak His name, to seek His fame
That all might have the chance to hear
Bridge:
For Him I'll care more than seems wise,
and I'll risk more than some think is wise
And I will risk more than somewould advise,
and I will dream what seems impossible
2 Corinthians 5:11-21