I've been back from Lakeside since Friday and I've been contemplating what I should even type. God is so good and I experienced so much in just 3 weeks! So may the words that I type not be from myself but be what God wants me to share with anyone who may end up reading this.
Two weeks before Lakeside I was so stressed out about camp. I was a nervous wreck about junior high lakeside and things just weren't going my way. The weekend before Lakeside I went on Chrysalis and I spent a lot of time in prayer there about camp. When I came home from Chrysalis, with just a week before Lakeside, I was at peace with camp. I was not nervous or stressed and I knew that God was in control.
I knew that this year Lakeside would be a little bit different, but that it would be ok. God was going to move in mighty ways, just like He does every year! On Sunday during our Cridersville CIT meeting, Jeff asked us to think about what our purpose was for the week. Normally I struggle with what my purpose is for the week, but by Monday night I figured it out. In the past 4 years since I've been a CIT my purpose has always been to serve the camp as a whole. Something was different this year, and I realized that my purpose was to serve my youth group, get to know the teens in our group better, and step up and be a leader.
Our theme for this year was formed out of a tragedy. One of the camp's CIT's was killed in a car accident back in November. We know that God has a plan and during that time we learned that we truly are a family! I am so blessed to be a part of this Lakeside family. Camp was different without her and it just didn't feel right with her not being there. I cried during "a year in review", "revelation song", and when they played her "hallelujah" video one last time during week 1. During week 2 I couldn't help but smile during "Revelation song" because I knew that she was in Heaven singing at the top of her lungs and dancing. She was praising Jesus just like she'd always wanted to do, face to face with the one who gave her life.
During chaplain's hour throughout the week we learned that:
~Light is different than darkness
~It's warmer than darkness
~It's brighter than darkness
A city is:
1.) A place of refuge
2.) A beacon of light in the darkness
3.) A place for the church to act as it was intended.
We can be light and Hope.
1.) it's not about the right answers, its about the hope (1Peter 3:15)
2.) Its not about you, it's about others
3.) It's not about your glory, it's about His glory
3 Keys to a healthy relationship with God:
1.)Faith is essential (John 20:29)
2.)Time is crucial (Nehmiah 8:10)
3.) True Love is modeled. (Zephaniah 3)
*What you believe will affect how you act
*God loves each one of us as if there were only one of us
*God simply loves you
*It all comes back to the simple fact that PEOPLE ARE WATCHING!
*It's time to grow up.....
1.) When you demand your own way
2.) When you want what you want no matter the consequences
3.)When you can not admit you need to change
*Guys, if you aren't ready to lay down your life for someone, then don't play the role of a husband
*My past mistakes do not define me or disqualify me, but I have to move forward
*If God is for you, who can be against you?
*What we do right now in life will echo in eternity
During devos on Thursday night of week 1 I got a cold dose of reality. I realized just how hard satan is working against the lives of the students in my own youth group. I know that I have my own problems and issues that I'm working on, but if i could take away the pain, hurt, tears, and fears that the teens in my youth group have felt I would. I don't like to see anyone hurting, and that night just made me realize that I'm doing the right thing in still being as involved as I am in youth ministry. Thursday night I also let go of the things that were holding me back from my own relationship with God. I missed devos with my group that night because I was leading the prayer path, but when I got back I was given the opportunity to write down things on a rock that were holding me back with my relationship with God. I walked down to the pier with Josh and some of our CIT's. After tossing my rock in the lake, I just sat on the pier and prayed. I didn't sleep a lot that night after hearing what the kids in my youth group were dealing with. Needless to say I was soo angry with satan.
Week 2 was nothing short of awesome as well. The camp was a lot smaller but God was working on changing hearts. For some reason God always works in a mighty mighty way on Thursday night! Thursday night during praise and worship several teens gave their lives to Christ for the first time!! Many more teens also re-dedicated their lives to Christ that night! Earlier in the week during devos we also shared the things that were holding us back from our relationship with God. Once again, listening to everyone's burdens, struggles, fears, tears, and pain made my heart ache. I've realized that I tend to take on the burdens and pain that others are feeling (and that isn't necessarily a good thing)
I was blessed when one of the girls at my table trusted me enough to open up to me. She even asked me to be her accountability partner. During that week I really realized that it really does come down to PEOPLE ARE WATCHING US! As Christians we need to be setting the example and living like Christ. Obviously none of us will ever lead a sinless life, but we can sin less.
I'm not going to sit here and act as if I was not scared to death of junior high lakeside, but the truth is I was terrified. Yes, after 6 years of being a counselor at junior high lakeside, I was terrified and I don't know why. But don't get me wrong, I had an AMAZING week and an AMAZING experience, and I would not take any of it back!! From the moment I arrived at junior high lakeside I felt as if satan was attacking me. I don't know what my deal was. Maybe lack of sleep from the previous 2 weeks, and I just really wanted senior high lakeside back.
Despite my tiredness and grumpiness, God showed up in a big way!! My favorite moment from junior high lakeside, and probably all 3 weeks, would have to be when one of the boys that I brought with me from my youth group accepted Christ into his heart for the very first time!! The coolest part about that was that there was not even an altar call when that happened. I just can not get over how absolutely amazing God is!! He continues to blow my mind every day!
.JPG)
During Junior High lakeside God placed a handful of special people in my life. I am truly blessed to have been able to serve with such an amazing group of CIT's. You lifted me up during the week. You kept me going when I was so sleep deprived and all I wanted to do was crawl back into bed, when all I wanted to do was complain because I was hungry, you made me laugh (and sometimes to the point of tears), you prayed for me, and gave me encouraging words when I needed to hear them. We may have only been together for less than a week but I am honored and blessed to have served alongside each of you. I think of each one of you as family now! I love each one of you and I am praying for each of you. Remember people are watching how you live your life. Be an example and a light! WE ARE.....
During chaplain's hour throughout the week we learned that:
~Light is different than darkness
~It's warmer than darkness
~It's brighter than darkness
A city is:
1.) A place of refuge
2.) A beacon of light in the darkness
3.) A place for the church to act as it was intended.
We can be light and Hope.
1.) it's not about the right answers, its about the hope (1Peter 3:15)
2.) Its not about you, it's about others
3.) It's not about your glory, it's about His glory
3 Keys to a healthy relationship with God:
1.)Faith is essential (John 20:29)
2.)Time is crucial (Nehmiah 8:10)
3.) True Love is modeled. (Zephaniah 3)
*What you believe will affect how you act
*God loves each one of us as if there were only one of us
*God simply loves you
*It all comes back to the simple fact that PEOPLE ARE WATCHING!
*It's time to grow up.....
1.) When you demand your own way
2.) When you want what you want no matter the consequences
3.)When you can not admit you need to change
*Guys, if you aren't ready to lay down your life for someone, then don't play the role of a husband
*My past mistakes do not define me or disqualify me, but I have to move forward
*If God is for you, who can be against you?
*What we do right now in life will echo in eternity
During devos on Thursday night of week 1 I got a cold dose of reality. I realized just how hard satan is working against the lives of the students in my own youth group. I know that I have my own problems and issues that I'm working on, but if i could take away the pain, hurt, tears, and fears that the teens in my youth group have felt I would. I don't like to see anyone hurting, and that night just made me realize that I'm doing the right thing in still being as involved as I am in youth ministry. Thursday night I also let go of the things that were holding me back from my own relationship with God. I missed devos with my group that night because I was leading the prayer path, but when I got back I was given the opportunity to write down things on a rock that were holding me back with my relationship with God. I walked down to the pier with Josh and some of our CIT's. After tossing my rock in the lake, I just sat on the pier and prayed. I didn't sleep a lot that night after hearing what the kids in my youth group were dealing with. Needless to say I was soo angry with satan.
Week 2 was nothing short of awesome as well. The camp was a lot smaller but God was working on changing hearts. For some reason God always works in a mighty mighty way on Thursday night! Thursday night during praise and worship several teens gave their lives to Christ for the first time!! Many more teens also re-dedicated their lives to Christ that night! Earlier in the week during devos we also shared the things that were holding us back from our relationship with God. Once again, listening to everyone's burdens, struggles, fears, tears, and pain made my heart ache. I've realized that I tend to take on the burdens and pain that others are feeling (and that isn't necessarily a good thing)
I was blessed when one of the girls at my table trusted me enough to open up to me. She even asked me to be her accountability partner. During that week I really realized that it really does come down to PEOPLE ARE WATCHING US! As Christians we need to be setting the example and living like Christ. Obviously none of us will ever lead a sinless life, but we can sin less.
I'm not going to sit here and act as if I was not scared to death of junior high lakeside, but the truth is I was terrified. Yes, after 6 years of being a counselor at junior high lakeside, I was terrified and I don't know why. But don't get me wrong, I had an AMAZING week and an AMAZING experience, and I would not take any of it back!! From the moment I arrived at junior high lakeside I felt as if satan was attacking me. I don't know what my deal was. Maybe lack of sleep from the previous 2 weeks, and I just really wanted senior high lakeside back.
Despite my tiredness and grumpiness, God showed up in a big way!! My favorite moment from junior high lakeside, and probably all 3 weeks, would have to be when one of the boys that I brought with me from my youth group accepted Christ into his heart for the very first time!! The coolest part about that was that there was not even an altar call when that happened. I just can not get over how absolutely amazing God is!! He continues to blow my mind every day!
.JPG)
