Wednesday, July 16, 2014

sweet spot

There is an essay brewing in my soul, but I am too sunburned to write it tonight.

Today is Wednesday of Kid's camp. In camp culture, Wednesday is usually "sin day". It's the day of recognizing the brokenness that invades earth and seeks to destroy God's perfect plan. Wednesdays are the days where the story becomes real, the plot thickens, the darkness is brought into light.

Camp today was beautiful. Kids were asked to invite their friends and neighbors for FREE and our camp was full of first time guests. The Gospel was proclaimed loudly. Pray for students and the families they represent to be touched by God's mercy and grace.

Then, tonight at youth group, the message focused on John 4. The theme was how God brings our darkness into His Light. Truth. Grace. Good news for everyone.

We also had the greatest water fight I've ever witnessed...

Afterwards, a friend mentioned "You're really in your sweet spot" about the water fight I helped plan. We talked about how different this year was from last year. I would have never expected to see God use my gifts in this way. I figured prophets were supposed to share truth, always. But, it seems prophets can plan pretty great recreation activities, too.

God, grant the humility to follow you eagerly into every adventure. I don't have the strength for these challenges, but you plant me in the "sweet spot" for your credit. Camp and youth group. Work at school. Friends, neighbors and family. In every situation, God provides the grace to love with His love.

That's the gist: serving Jesus is the "sweet spot."


This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.--Isaiah 66:2  NIV
A reminder of the "sweet spot" for 10 months of the year, loving students for Christ at school.

The team of exchange students from the Basque country who only listen when I give instructions in Spanish
(and make fun of it, as they should). 
Our Recreation Lead team at camp, serving God together.

Student servant leaders finding their "sweet spot" at the beach we built in our field.

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Ephesians 5

Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving. For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them, for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light – for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth – and find out what pleases the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. But all things being exposed by the light are made evident. For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says:

“Awake, O sleeper!

Rise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you!”

Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise, taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – he himself being the savior of the body. But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, so that he may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is great – but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

hey guys