well, actually, though I can understand the sentiments of my Ent friend Treebeard who uttered those words, Psalm One has something else to say,
“How blessed is the man…his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.” (verses 1a and 2-3)
This is how my summer could be described: total dependence on God. 100%-no holds barred-hardcore-reckless-faith in the Almighty dependence on God. Many times throughout the summer, almost every day in fact, I would begin with a prayer to God that went something like this, “God, I have no idea what I am doing. I don’t know how to handle my guys, how to help them. Lord, I need You do to it though me because I can’t. I need Your wisdom and strength.” And what is simply amazing to me is God did exactly what I asked. He was there for me, He helped me. I really shouldn’t be surprised, because my favorite passage of scripture promises this,
“For the Lord GOD helps me, therefore, I am not disgraced; therefore, I have set My face like flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed. Behold, the Lord GOD helps Me; who is he who condemns Me? Behold, they will all wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them.” (verses 7 and 9)
“The Lord God helps me…” That help, I discovered, is a minute by minute help. Like a belayer at the bottom of a climbing tower, God is letting out just a little more rope as I need it, as I climb a little higher. God is my anchor point, my security against falling, but He is also my help. He gives me rope, and tells me which grips I need to reach for and not let go of.
I don’t remember any more the number of kids I was able to lead to the Lord, or how many I opened God’s Word with and gave them hope. I don’t remember all the names or faces, but I know God worked in a great way through me. The only reason that was possible is that I was willing. Honestly, at the beginning of the summer, I did not want to be a counselor. I thought it was a mistake, but I was willing to do it anyway, and God blessed mightly.
During the summer I had the opportunity to go through the book Gripped by the Greatness of God by James MacDonald. This book explored the God I serve through mighty passages from the book of Isaiah. As I read this book and sought the face of my God, I learned and grew much, in understanding and also practical living. Most powerful to me was the section on my identity in God. I am His child and He has gone to extreme lengths to bless me. (see Isaiah 43 too long to reproduce here) I was totally blown away. The confidence of a true understanding of this concept is phenomenal. I would highly recommend the reading of Isaiah in coordination with this book; if you truly seek God, He will reveal Himself and it will leave you different.
Most heartbreaking was the rough lives many of the guys I met had. Sometimes I did not want them to go home. I shed many a tear over a camper and really had to trust God. Sometimes even after pouring into a guy, he did not want to change. In those situations there was only one comfort,
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. For you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” (Isaiah 55:10-12)
So there it is, my summer was amazing, I cannot wait for the school year and summer next. I truly left the summer “with shouts of joy” and peace. God was so good and awesome I cannot help but praise Him.
God is God, and I serve Him.
This entry was posted on Sunday, September 3rd, 2006 at 03:41:12 and is filed under Captain\'s Log, Spirituality. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
