First off the fact that we even have to have a single mother's camp makes me angry. Angry from the brokenness of our society and the lack of commitment and the lack of fathers or mothers. Sad. I know I don't know all of the full stories of the campers that came to Single Mother's Camp but I do know that there is a lot of hurt and pain. Out of that hurt and pain blooms some of the hardest working women ever. Dealing with fatherless kids on your own has got to be the hardest job on the planet, props, single moms. Now, it's not possible to be patient all the time, or to keep your cool every time your kid throws a tantrum in front of your friends, and well, it's just not possible to be perfect. These moms sure work at it hard. I said that it "makes me angry" that we have to have this camp... but at the same time it makes me SO incredibly overwhelmed with Joy that God blesses these ladies through us, and through this camp. We get the all important, essential, crucial, and fulfilling opportunity to change these families' lives one chapel at a time, one hug at a time, one kind word at a time, and one hours break from their kids at a time. I LOVE THAT!
Lately I have been quite convicted about commitments and promises. People in this day and age just don't know what they are or how to keep them anymore. This upsets me... quite a bit actually. When I look to my Creator and Lord and Saviour, I see the ultimate promise keeper. He has never failed to keep his promises and never will. He is so just and faithful, we should always keep him as our ultimate example. I know that I lose focus of that constantly, but i'm trying my hardest. If you haven't followed my blog for very long, I signed a 5 year contract at Camp Homewood and I fully intend on fulfilling that commitment. Enough said on that matter.
David says it quite bluntly and honestly in Psalm 15.
Verses 3-5 "Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbours or speak evil to their friends. Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of The Lord, and keep their promises even when it hurts. Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever."
Staff retreat this year is a Pirates Of The Caribbean theme. Thus, Mikaela and I are dressed up in our best salty pirate outfits, looking extra menacing. Staff retreat is a 4 day long time of rest and fun for the staff of Camp Homewood in the middle of the summer. We get hosts in, and a very funny folk legend comes to entertain us as well as lead us in worship. The Pirate theme intertwines with some sweet games, a movie, and all of our meals. Good times.
Headaches are doing better. Praise God!
Small blessings: Finding my glasses.
Headaches are doing better. Praise God!
Small blessings: Finding my glasses.
As most great stories start out, it was a hot and sunny day on a remote hippy island of the west coast. My girlfriend Mikaela and I had decided to head down to the ocean for a late afternoon paddle boarding session. Neither of us are really that great at paddle boarding but we tried our hands at it with joyful attitudes and much enthusiasm. After setting Mikaela up on a board, I placed mine in the water. Being the hotshot I am, I, obviously, tried to impress her by sending my board a little ways from the dock and running and jumping onto it to smoothly float away. Well, you know these kinds of stories always end. In the half second it took to fall in, I had many flashbacks of my life... good and bad, happy and sad. In that half second I also remembered that the polarized sun glasses I had just bought for my sun-migraine protection were on my face. Dang. In the water I went... down to the bottom of the ocean my sun glasses went. Now... had it been low tide I would have been more hopeful. It was high tide. Needless to say I strapped on some goggles and went to town. Nothing found... it was too cold and too deep. The next morning Mikaela and I went down to the dock to do our morning Devotionals. I was praying the whole way down "God, I know that sun glasses are just a meaningless possession, but I would really appreciate it if I could find them. "
This time we were prepared... Mikaela laid down on a paddle board with goggles on, searching. I hopped in with my wetsuit on and some snorkelling gear. After about 30 minutes of stressful and cold searching we were about to give up. I pushed one more time... Deep down in the sea grass I spotted a blade that had a tinge of blue to it. Getting my hopes up I dove towards it in a mess of mud, kelp, seaweed, and who knows what else I grabbed a handfull, swam to the surface, and praise The Lord, had my sunglasses in my hand. God is faithful. Even in the little things you ask him for. He loves us.
-Josh
This time we were prepared... Mikaela laid down on a paddle board with goggles on, searching. I hopped in with my wetsuit on and some snorkelling gear. After about 30 minutes of stressful and cold searching we were about to give up. I pushed one more time... Deep down in the sea grass I spotted a blade that had a tinge of blue to it. Getting my hopes up I dove towards it in a mess of mud, kelp, seaweed, and who knows what else I grabbed a handfull, swam to the surface, and praise The Lord, had my sunglasses in my hand. God is faithful. Even in the little things you ask him for. He loves us.
-Josh
1 comment:
SO AWESOME. Loved this post!
Post a Comment