-Camp in July is H-O-T. Even in the shade - yep, it's hot.
-You discover a love of oscillating fans you never knew you had.
-One broken spring on a bunk bed can make turning over a challenge!
-You know that you are taller than the average bear when you are looking above the shower head. My chin was extraordinarily clean at camp.
-Little girls, flashlights, and fresh batteries are an interesting mix after midnight.
-No matter how old you are, popsicles are still really good on a hot, hot day.
-Kids are a lot of fun if you give yourself a chance to be silly and play along.
-A slip-n-slide, powered with dish soap, can get messy - but it's entertaining!
-If you give them an opportunity, kids can learn, understand, and share truths from God's Word.
We even learned a little about gardening...
-You always reap the same thing you sow. If I plant watermelon seeds and water it with tomato juice, won't I get tomatoes? No. Even as much as I like tomatoes, I will still get watermelons from a watermelon seed. In the same way, if I say that I love someone and yet hold a grudge against them in my heart - the only thing I'm really sowing is a grudge. I need to examine the things I am sowing in my life. I need to be planting love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Add in some forgiveness too for good measure.
-You always reap more than you sow. We don't get one green bean for each green bean seed we plant. We get several from one little seed. In the same way, when I harbor a grudge, it multiplies - and quickly. So pretty soon, not only do I have a grudge, but also I have hurt feelings, anger, resentment, bitterness, and the list goes on. But what I could have is more love in my life. More peace, patience, kindness - the things I really want. But I have to choose to let stuff go - even when I know I'm right, I was wronged, or someone really hurt me. If I give that to Christ and choose to forgive, what do I reap from that? Forgiveness. Peace. Love. Joy. Those are pretty good returns.
-You always reap later than you sow. In a society of "instant" this is always a hard lesson. But some times we do not see the consequences of our words, feelings, or actions until much later. Lamentations 5:7 says "Our ancestors sinned, but they are dead, and we are left to pay for their sins." My words, feelings, decisions, and actions really do have an impact. I need to keep my sin list short. I need to be right with God so that all will go well with my future generations. A fact to remember: Sin will take me further than I want to go; cost me more than I want to pay; and keep me longer than I want to stay.
-You cannot stay where you are AND follow Jesus. It's physically impossible to follow and stay at the same time.
-It's not the big picture I need to know, it's the Big Person in charge that matters.
-If you happen to play cards - Spades (one of our favorites) - we always know that the ace of spades trumps everything else. Even another ace. Heart, club, diamond - doesn't matter - ace of spades has them all beat. In the 52 cards of life, Jesus is the Ace of Spades. When Jesus says "do this", that's the time to move.
-If you follow Jesus one day at a time - faithfully each day - you'll always be right where He wants you to be. There's no need to worry about tomorrow because He's taken you right where you are supposed to be if you've followed Him to the best of your ability and with your whole heart.
-Faith is knowing and believing that God has a plan for your life. You trust His perfect timing. Each day we will have exactly what we need if we are trusting and following Him.
Here's hoping you've had a wonderful summer. Love to you!
-You discover a love of oscillating fans you never knew you had.
-One broken spring on a bunk bed can make turning over a challenge!
-You know that you are taller than the average bear when you are looking above the shower head. My chin was extraordinarily clean at camp.
-Little girls, flashlights, and fresh batteries are an interesting mix after midnight.
-No matter how old you are, popsicles are still really good on a hot, hot day.
-Kids are a lot of fun if you give yourself a chance to be silly and play along.
-A slip-n-slide, powered with dish soap, can get messy - but it's entertaining!
-If you give them an opportunity, kids can learn, understand, and share truths from God's Word.
We even learned a little about gardening...
-You always reap the same thing you sow. If I plant watermelon seeds and water it with tomato juice, won't I get tomatoes? No. Even as much as I like tomatoes, I will still get watermelons from a watermelon seed. In the same way, if I say that I love someone and yet hold a grudge against them in my heart - the only thing I'm really sowing is a grudge. I need to examine the things I am sowing in my life. I need to be planting love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Add in some forgiveness too for good measure.
-You always reap more than you sow. We don't get one green bean for each green bean seed we plant. We get several from one little seed. In the same way, when I harbor a grudge, it multiplies - and quickly. So pretty soon, not only do I have a grudge, but also I have hurt feelings, anger, resentment, bitterness, and the list goes on. But what I could have is more love in my life. More peace, patience, kindness - the things I really want. But I have to choose to let stuff go - even when I know I'm right, I was wronged, or someone really hurt me. If I give that to Christ and choose to forgive, what do I reap from that? Forgiveness. Peace. Love. Joy. Those are pretty good returns.
-You always reap later than you sow. In a society of "instant" this is always a hard lesson. But some times we do not see the consequences of our words, feelings, or actions until much later. Lamentations 5:7 says "Our ancestors sinned, but they are dead, and we are left to pay for their sins." My words, feelings, decisions, and actions really do have an impact. I need to keep my sin list short. I need to be right with God so that all will go well with my future generations. A fact to remember: Sin will take me further than I want to go; cost me more than I want to pay; and keep me longer than I want to stay.
-You cannot stay where you are AND follow Jesus. It's physically impossible to follow and stay at the same time.
-It's not the big picture I need to know, it's the Big Person in charge that matters.
-If you happen to play cards - Spades (one of our favorites) - we always know that the ace of spades trumps everything else. Even another ace. Heart, club, diamond - doesn't matter - ace of spades has them all beat. In the 52 cards of life, Jesus is the Ace of Spades. When Jesus says "do this", that's the time to move.
-If you follow Jesus one day at a time - faithfully each day - you'll always be right where He wants you to be. There's no need to worry about tomorrow because He's taken you right where you are supposed to be if you've followed Him to the best of your ability and with your whole heart.
-Faith is knowing and believing that God has a plan for your life. You trust His perfect timing. Each day we will have exactly what we need if we are trusting and following Him.
Here's hoping you've had a wonderful summer. Love to you!
