"O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us.Your plans for us are too numerous to list.You have no equal.If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds,I would never come to the end of them." Psalm 40:5
This past week, I've been at a family church camp in Michigan at the Manton camp grounds with my grandparents. In my last post I stated that it was a family tradition that we use to do when I was really little but I haven't been at that camp in 5 years. Before I got there, I had this sense of restlessness. I think I have a post titled that, so refer back to that one. :) I didn't explain that sense of restlessness very well because I didn't fully know what it was an effect of but now I know.
I wasn't doing God's will.
Now there are two parts to this statement. I was knowingly not doing God's will first of all and the second part that comes from that is not fully being able to understand God's will so some of this was also unknowingly because of the first. Isn't it amazing to look back on things and see where the fall took place and how everything after the fall was a direct result of it?
I hope that made sense, I'm no scholar. ha!
Before going to camp, this restlessness took over my whole being to the point that I wasn't satisfied with ANYthing in my life. I wasn't satisfied at my job, at my church, with my walk with God, with my major, with my choice of university even though I've been here for four years now going on my fifth...life was just not up to par for me at this time. I was so tired of working almost 50 hours a week and never getting a break unless I faked being sick and never getting away. Then, in a converstation with my Nanny, she mentioned her and Pops going and I invited myself along but it was okay with her. But, I decided to pray about it because I wasn't trusting God with my finances. I was freaking out because I would be missing a week of work...almost a full paycheck! After much meditation however, I knew it was what I had to do so I left, not knowing what God had in store for me there.
Camp was A-mazing. I can't even think of the words to describe it. When I got there, everything was as I remembered it; buildings, smells, people, and annoying insects. It was beautiful. I feel nostalgic now thinking of it.
7:00- wake up
7:30- eat breakfast in caf.
8:30- prayer meeting (My Pops went to these, while my Nanny and I strolled on the campground)
9:30-10:30 Missionary meeting
10:45-12:00 Bible Study
12:00- Lunch in caf.
1:00-3:00- arts and crafts/or/silent auction til 5.
5:30- eat dinner
7:00-8:30- Evening service
This kept me busy, and in between lunch and dinner I always played basketball with my Pops and a long time camp friend, Amanda (mandy for short). We never played an actual game, just around the world mostly or the best out of ten foul shots. Needless to say, I'm rusty and my Pops beat me plenty, though I did have my share of the winnings. :) I also learned how to play chess with Mandy, but she beat me all the time and I came close to winning only once. Anyway, on to the "meat" of my retreat. :)
The weekly theme at the Evening Services was "Breaking Free". Sunday night was an exception because the missionary spoke that night and his message was so great. More on them later though. So Monday's message was on "Breaking Free, Faith to believe God can set you free". Tuesday's message was "Breaking free from Brittany" which was for the youth and it was really great. It was about sexual purity. Wednesday's message "Breaking free from Bitterness". Thursday's message was "Breaking free from Barbie" it was an okay message but still good. It talked about images and who we are trying to liken ourselves and our children too. Friday's message was on "Breaking free from Brokenness" and this service was also a healing service and was amazing to watch. No one ran down the aisles or anything like that. It was quiet and very reverent, not that the others aren't. Saturday's service was at talk with three pastors and more of a QandA between the congregation and the pastors on stage. It was interesting. And Sunday's conclusion was "Living Free." It was a great conclusion to a great week.
So, to the missionarys. The Peterson family were the missionary's that came to camp to tell us about their ministry in Taipei, Taiwan. They are a family of four with two children, Kristine, who's starting her first year at SAU, and Lindsey, who's going into the 8th grade. They minister in partnership with Overseas Radio and Television or ORTV. The father uses English as a means of reaching people with the gospel through the radio and classroom teaching programs. The mother edits ORTV publications and teaches via raido as well as serving in adminstrative roles within the Free Methodist mission. I got the chance to talk with father for a short time, and the mother as well. They are really great people and have earned a place in my heart. I'll pray for them constantly. Now they are in the states for a year as their daughter settles at school and they travel to talk about their ministry before they go back to Taiwan. Why have they earned a place in my heart? Because God had them there at camp for me to meet them because of what He has placed on my heart but I was scared. This post is already really long, so I'll write a part II. :) My restlessness was settled there at camp, but it was replaced with another sense of restlessness, a good kind. God's will is clearer, and the restlessness I feel now is the urgency to complete it...in God's time of course. :) I'll post more in part II.
"Who is like you among the gods, O Lord—glorious in holiness,awesome in splendor, performing great wonders?" Exodus 15:11
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