Prayer

The campers have left, the staff are gone, and I am back at camp ready to experience what God has planned for me in the few days I have left here.  As I have been cleaning and organizing a messy office, I have also been inspired to read through my notebook that include a variety of contents.  In the mess of all the randomness, I discovered sermon notes from Felch Mountain Bible Chapel.  as I read them, I was reminded of many quotes and ideas, but one section stood out above the rest (maybe because it was highlighted...but still ;)...).  It is simply four results of praying:

1. Unity- Col. 3:14
2. Share one another's burdens- Gal. 6:2
3. Like-minded- Phil. 2:2
4. Submit ourselves to the Lord.- James 4:7

Normally, these would be just words on a page, but they are not any more.  I can personally testify that these four things will result from prayer with others, whether this prayer is from a community unified hand-in-hand or a group praying with each other across the world.  Praying with others is truly indescrible and incredible.  In fact, praying with others has become one of my favorite pastimes.  I simply cannot describle it, but it truly is incredible...just ask if you want more details because I am currently at a loss for words.

The closest explanation I can come up with right now is that praying with others gives those involved a glimpse into what heaven might be like.  Granted, there is definitely more to it than that and that is not a statement meant to be taken as is word for word, but the peace, joy, and other emotions that result from praying together with others truly is indescrible, similar to the heaven "described" in Revelation. 

Philippians is filled with these ideas, but these two verses most concisely make my point
"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ,...then make my (Paul) joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose."  How is all this possible?  I would argue that prayer makes all these things possible.

Where has the summer gone?

It is incredibly hard to believe that I sit here now reflecting on 5 incredible, tiring, and rewarding weeks of camp.  It is interesting that everytime I have decided to blog since I last had at the end of June, I was detoured by other committments or necessary priorities.  Now, however, I sit here with some time to spare before I head to bed.  As I reflect on the summer I cannot believe what God has allowed me to experience thus far.  Because each experience itself could be its own blog (and indeed I originally intended it to be), I will do a quick overview of a few themes that have come out so far.

God's sovereignty
One lesson I have been learning is about the fact that God already has everything planned out and under control.  He knows when a camper is going to name Lake Ellen Camp as the "place that changed their life" when Christ is fully understood and accepted as a personal Savior; he knows when I am going to be stressed and feel completely overwhelmed; and he knows everything that will happen in the future as well.  Nothing takes God by surprise, which is only one of the many reasons that we do not need to worry while he is in control. Praise the Lord!

Prayer
No matter how hard I try, I cannot describe in words what an incredible blessing and honor it is to surrender everything to the Lord in prayer (Phil. 4:6).  Praying truly is an experience as it allows an opportunity to bow before the One and Only great, awesome, powerful, and Holy Lord of Creation.  He is so mighty he created the universe by speaking and yet he chooses to listen to us.  There are specifically two lessons that I find and have been learning thus far though:
1- Bond of unity.  I can honestly say that Mindy (my partner) and I would not have been successful as a team without prayer.  We are two totally different people with different ideas, etc. Yet, through God's power and our submission in prayer, we were united to accomplish God's purpose and plan for the program. Yeah!

2- Answered Prayer
Mindy and I were so inspired by the ways we saw God working that we couldn't help but praise the Lord.  We placed posterboard on the wall and named it our "answered prayer wall" where we wrote and encouraged others to write down evidences of God working through prayers that were noticably answered.  The wall is nearing its limit and we are left praising the Lord.

I suppose that is enough for now.  I still need to work on writing concisely (help me Mindy!).  I have so much more to say and in God's perfect timing it may get recorded.  As Brindy (Mindy and Britta) say, "God's will not my schedule."

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." ~Ephesians 3:20-21

Amen.  Praise the LORD!