Rescue is Coming

Waiting for Canteen on the first night.

I love camp.  Even as an adult I get excited about it.  What’s not to love about sleeping in bunk beds, playing outside all day, making new friends, and worshiping the Lord each night?  Last week I had the privilege to go to Woodland Christian Camp with Northridge [the church I attended when I was in college].  

How staff feels about camp.

I spent the week in a cabin with one other adult and 11 middle school girls.  Each morning we had the opportunity to spend time in the Word as a cabin.  We talked about how God was working in their lives, clarified questions, and prayed together.  I feel incredibly blessed to have had such a great group of girls.  I really enjoyed the week with them.

The theme for the week was ‘Rescue is Coming.’  Each day focused on a different aspect of rescue.  For some reason, I’m always surprised that God speaks to me when I'm a leader on youth trips . . . it’s like I think He’ll put me on hold for the week, when in reality, He’s speaking directly to me. 

I call to you, God, because I'm sure of an answer.

So -- answer!  bend your ear!  listen sharp!

Paint grace-graffiti on the fences;

take in your frightened children who

Are running from the neighborhood bullies

straight to you.

Psalm 17: 6-7 [MSG]

Sometimes, you have to be rescued from yourself – I have to be rescued from myself.  I tell myself lies that anchor themselves so deeply in my heart that I can’t believe anything else.  In my heart I know God is powerful, but doubt that He will do anything.  I forget about grace and that my Heavenly Father loves me, regardless of the sinful things I’ve done and the lies I repeatedly tell myself.  I serve a loving, forgiving God who is mighty to save -- now, only to remember that!

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- 

and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. 

Ephesians 2: 8-9 

 The campers wrote the names of people in their lives who don't know Christ --
the people they are focused on sharing Christ with. 

It was a powerful week for the campers and the staff.  The adults I served with were awesome.  It was such a joy to spend the week with such Spirit-filled men and women -- laughing, dancing, playing sports, and becoming closer friends.  Why isn’t there a summer camp for adults?  

Incredible lady-folk staff.