The Power of Your Words

You probably remember the commercial from Sprint advertising the efficiency of their Nextel “Direct Connect” where you can communicate instantaneously with groups of Nextel users.  In the ad, you see a legislative hall full of firefighters with their leader standing up front; phone in hand and the text reads, “What if firefighters ran the world?”

Speaker: “Anyone want better roads?”

Firemen in unison: “We do”

Speaker: “All in favor?”

Firemen in unison: “Aye”

Speaker: “Opposed?”

Silence

Gavel strikes…”Done”

The idea is that you can “Get more done Now” if you communicate using Nextel’s phones.  That’s the imagery that came into my mind as I read Psalm 29…

Dependence

Yesterday was a rough day.  I woke up in the middle of the night, and I just couldn’t get warm.  It doesn’t happen often, but I was most definitely sick and needed to be taken care of.  I needed blankets to be brought, medicine to be purchased, and food (but not too much food) to be prepared.  My reliance on others got me thinking about the concept of dependence.

Encouragement To Eat Your Daily Bread

Read Your Bible More and More
by John Piper  posted on Desiring God Blog  January 30, 2011

Don’t rest on past reading. Read your Bible more and more every year. Read it whether you feel like reading it or not. And pray without ceasing that the joy return and pleasures increase...

(to see skipped portion see Piper's blog)...So lets give heed to Mr. Ryle and never grow weary of the slow, steady, growth that comes from the daily, disciplined, increasing, love affair with reading the Bible.

Do not think you are getting no good from the Bible, merely because you do not see that good day by day. The greatest effects are by no means those which make the most noise, and are most easily observed. The greatest effects are often silent, quiet, and hard to detect at the time they are being produced.

Think of the influence of the moon upon the earth, and of the air upon the human lungs. Remember how silently the dew falls, and how imperceptibly the grass grows. There may be far more doing than you think in your soul by your Bible-reading. (J. C. Ryle, Practical Religion, 136)


© 2012 Desiring God, All rights reserved.

Psalm 23 Great Adventure Devotional

Devotional Passages for the Week of January 23-30

Monday: Genesis 46:1-47:31, Matthew 15:1-28, Psalm 19:1-14, Proverbs 4:14-19

Tuesday: Genesis 48:1-49:33, Matthew 15:29-16:12, Psalm 20:1-9, Proverbs 4:20-27

Wednesday:  Genesis 50:1 - Exodus 2:10, Matthew 16:13-17:9, Psalm 21:1-13, Proverbs 5:1-6

Is Life Good?

 I have to believe that most, if not all of you, have seen these great t-shirts with the above logo.  I own one that pictures a fella going kayaking.  I genuinely enjoy wearing it because it reminds me of great times I've had boating various rivers & creeks.  Indeed life is good...or is it?

You may or may not be familiar with the competing brand of t-shirt that highlights the fact that indeed life can just plain stink sometimes.  So which is it?  Which t-shirt would you be wearing today?

• Is the answer to that question merely a matter of your life's circumstances in any given moment?  Any honest reflection would indicate that some people life's circumstances are good, while for others, life's circumstances stink.  
  
• Is your choice of wearing either t-shirt merely a matter of your life's circumstances? 

Devotional Passages for January 16-23

Monday:  Genesis 32:13-34:31, Matthew 11:7-30, Psalm 14:1-7, Proverbs 3:19-20

Tuesday:  Genesis 35:1-36:43, Matthew 12:1-21, Psalm 15:1-5, Proverbs 3:21-26

 Wednesday:  Genesis 37:1-38:30, Matthew 12:22-45, Psalm 16:1-11, Proverbs 3:27-32

A Day at Sea

I have a friend who enjoys sailing. On one of his adventures at sea, he found himself amidst a storm. Listening to him describe the unpredictability of the wind and waves made me very thankful that I was not on board this boat. Picture an epic battle on the waterfront between man and nature. Huge hands of water slapping the sides of the boat while rain blinds the crew and thunder claps on the storm with encouragement. I can only imagine the terror that would swell up inside me, in sync perfectly with the swell of the waves.

A Word for Those Who Have Forsaken Jesus

by John Piper | December 31, 2011 | Desiring God Blog www.desiringgod.org

How eager Jesus was to restore broken fellowship with his apostles after the resurrection! Surely this is a sign of how eager he is to restore us when we have drifted (or bolted) away.

All the apostles had forsaken him. In the garden, at his most sorrowful hour, "They all left him and fled” (Mark 14:50).

Now he was raised. What would he say to those who had abandoned him? Three healing things:
To Mary at the tomb: “Go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” (John 20:17)

“Brothers!” “Your Father!” “Your God!” I am going now. You will come later. We are, and we will be, together. I forgive you. Our Father forgives you.

He finds the apostles, stands among them, and says, “Peace be with you.” He showed them his hands and his side — horrible reminders of what it cost him when they forsook him. And he says again...

God is God of every inch of your body and every ounce of your soul

If you did not have an opportunity to read Oswald Chamber's My Utmost For His Highest yesterday (Jan. 9th), it is a great devotional entry.

He expounds on a verse from I Thessalonians 5:23, "May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.  May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless."

Chamber's writes:  "'Your whole spirit....' The great mystical work of the Holy Spirit is in the dim regions of our personality which we cannot get at.  Read the 139th Psalm; the Psalmist implies,
'Thou art the God of the early mornings, the God of the late at nights, the God of the mountain peaks, and the God of the sea, but, my God, my soul has further horizons than the early mornings, deeper darkness than...

Devotional Passages for the Week of Jan. 8-15

Sunday: Genesis 18:16-19:38, Matthew 6:25-7:14, Psalm 8:1-9, Proverbs 2:6-15

Monday: Genesis 20:1-22:24, Matthew 7:15-29, Psalm 9:1-12, Proverbs 2:16-22

Tuesday: Genesis 23:1-24:51, Matthew 8:1-17, Psalm 9:13-20, Proverbs 3:1-6

Defeating Loneliness

"You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound." Psalm 4:7

I was recently visiting at a Christian college and struck up a conversation with one of the professional counselors on campus.  I asked him, "What are the most common issues for which students seek out your help?"  One of the first things he mentioned was loneliness.  I was surprised by this answer, especially at a campus where there are so many opportunities for Christian fellowship.  He told me his belief that many students are not pursuing an authentic relationship with Jesus, which is always the first place to point those struggling with loneliness.  Secondly, another problem he pointed to was...

Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread

"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." Matthew 4:4

What are you relying on to fulfill your needs?  How are you thoughts, time, and energy spent pursuing that which fulfills you? Psalm 127:2 warns us about “eating the bread of anxious toil.”  Perhaps you find yourself frequently anxious about the future of your pursuits and relationships.  Maybe you are rising early and going to bed late, frantically pursuing the fulfillment of one goal or another, relying on your own strength to meet those goals.  Or maybe at times you are in the opposite camp – what Proverbs 31:27 calls, “eating the bread of idleness.”  You find yourself lacking proper diligence and passively letting life go by, hoping that taking it easy is the best means to fulfillment. 

Some of us tend to be more prone to one of these extremes, others of us are people of extremes and so we find ourselves often at both ends of this spectrum.  In the middle we find...

Devotional Passages for the Week of January 3-9

Tuesday:  Genesis 5:1-7:24, Matthew 3:7-4:11, Psalm 3:1-8, Proverbs 1:10-19

Wednesday:  Genesis 8:1-10:32, Matthew 4:12-25, Psalm 4:1-8, Proverbs 1:20-23

Thursday:  Genesis 11:1-13:4, Matthew 5:1-26, Psalm 5:1-12, Proverbs 1:24-28

Devotional Passages for the Week of December 26-Jan 2

Monday:  Zechariah 9:1-17, Revelation 17:1-18, Psalm 145:1-21, Proverbs 30:32

Tuesday:  Zechariah 10:1-11:17, Revelation 18:1-24, Psalm 146:1-10, Proverbs 30:33


Wednesday: Zechariah 12:1-13:9, Revelation 19:1-21, Psalm 147:1-20, Proverbs 31:1-7

Devotional Passages for the Week of Dec. 18-25

Sunday: Habakkuk 1:1-3:19, Revelation 9:1-21, Psalm 137:1-9, Proverbs 30:10

Monday: Zephaniah 1:1-3:20, Revelation 10:1-11, Psalm 138:1-8, Proverbs 30:11-14

Tuesday: Haggai 1:1-2:23, Revelation 11:1-19, Psalm 139:1-24, Proverbs 30:15-16

What the Locusts Have Eaten

I have had a number of recent conversations with people whose lives have been ravaged by sinful addictions, vices, and immoral decisions.  All of them have struggled deeply with their faith in the midst of their trials.  Some have pushed God to the margins.  In reading through the book of Joel, we find an event that is descriptive of my friends' experiences.  They feel as if wave after wave of difficulty have come upon them, robbing them of life.

Devotional Passages for the Week of Dec. 11-18

Sunday: Amos 4:1-6:14, Revelation 2:18-3:6, Psalm 130:1-8, Proverbs 29:21-22

Monday: Amos 7:1-9:15, Revelation 3:7-22, Psalm 131:1-3, Proverbs 29:23

Tuesday: Obadiah 1:1-21, Revelation 4:1-11, Psalm 132:1-18, Proverbs 29:24-25

Repentance: A 180 degree Turn

                                                                   Is God at work in you?
"'I have sinned.'  The surest sign that God is at work is when a man says that and means it."
            -Oswald Chambers from My Utmost for His Highest (December 7th)

I was struck by this quote this week.  It got me thinking about how easy I am on myself.  It's so easy for me to not take my sin seriously or many times to not even be aware of my sin and how it offends God.  Every Sunday at our church, there is a time for confession.  Our worship service begins with this act of humility.  I've been convicted lately of the need in my personal time with God to be more pro-active in rooting out the sin of my life and understanding the depths of my sin.  I should then regularly confess my sins before God.  Perhaps you would react to this saying, "Don't be so morbid. Why would I want to dwell on my sin?"  The answer to that question is...

Relive Summer Life Night at Lake Gloria

Devotional Passages for the Week of Dec. 4-11

Sunday: Daniel 11:36-12:13, 1 John 4:1-21, Psalm 123:1-4, Proverbs 29:2-4

Monday: Hosea 1:1-3:5, 1 John 5:1-21, Psalm 124:1-8, Proverbs 29:5-8

Tuesday: Hosea 4:1-5:15, 2 John 1:1-13, Psalm 125:1-5, Proverbs 29:9-11

Relive Summer Life Night at the Que

Relive Summer Life Night at Lake Gloria

Relive Summer Life Night at the Que

Whose clock do you go by?

As humans, we are obedient to time.  We can do nothing to change it, stop it, or manipulate it. Every day I wake up and wish I could turn the clocks back and allow myself a few more hours to sleep.  And every day, time continues to plunge forward not seeming to care about my sleeping patterns.  I drag myself to the coffeepot grumbling because my sleep is at the mercy of the ticking clock on the wall. Yet isn’t it amazing that we serve a God who is not restricted by time? The one who is the Creator of time?

Devotional Passages for the Week of Nov. 27- Dec. 4

Sunday: Daniel 4:1-37, 2 Peter 1:1-21, Psalm 119:97-112, Proverbs 28:17-18

Monday: Daniel 5:1-31, 2 Peter 2:1-22, Psalm 119:113-128, Proverbs 28:19-20

Tuesday: Daniel 6:1-28, 2 Peter 3:1-18, Psalm 119:129-152, Proverbs 28:21-22

Wednesday: Daniel 7:1-28, 1 John 1:1-10, Psalm 119:153-176, Proverbs 28:23-24

Thursday: Daniel 8:1-27, 1 John 2:1-17, Psalm 120:1-7, Proverbs 28:25-26

Friday: Daniel 9:1-11:1, 1 John 2:18-3:6, Psalm 121:1-8, Proverbs 28:27-28

Saturday: Daniel 11:2-35, 1 John 3:7-24, Psalm 122:1-9, Proverbs 29:1

Sunday: Daniel 11:36-12:13, 1 John 4:1-21, Psalm 123:1-4, Proverbs 29:2-4

Are you aware of just how much you will inherit?

I have a confession to make.  Last night my wife and her sister were watching a girly movie.  I was reading in the next room over, but falling asleep in the process.  So I made my way over to the tv room sat next to my wife figuring I'd fall asleep.  Nope!  Yes, I watched it...well... the end of it.  It was called "The Inheritance".  The storyline is about a servant girl, Edith, who is blessed to have masters, the Hamilton's, who treat her like one of the family, better than she deserves.  Edith had been a maidservant's daughter of Mr. Hamilton's deceased brother.  In his kindness Mr. Hamilton had chosen to take her into his own home. The climax of the story involves Mr. Hamilton's death and Edith being wrongly accused of stealing from the family.  When all seems lost we find out...

Devotional Passages for the Week of November 21-28

Monday: Ezekiel 42:1-43:27, James 5:1-20, Psalm 119:1-16, Proverbs 28:6-7

Tuesday: Ezekiel 44:1-45:12, 1 Peter 1:1-12, Psalm 119:17-32, Proverbs 28:8-10

Wednesday: Ezekiel 45:13-46:24, 1 Peter 1:13-2:10, Psalm 119:33-48, Proverbs 28:11

Relive Summer Life Night at Lake Gloria

Relive Summer Life Night at Lake Gloria

Devotional Passages for the Week of Nov. 13-20

Sunday: Ezekiel 27:1-28:26, Hebrews 11:17-31, Psalm 111:1-10, Proverbs 27:15-16

Monday: Ezekiel 29:1-30:26, Hebrews 11:32-12:13, Psalm 112:1-10, Proverbs 27:17

Tuesday: Ezekiel 31:1-32:32, Hebrews 12:14-29, Psalm 113:1-114:8, Proverbs 27:18-20

Circumstances got you down?

"Seek the LORD and his strength; seek His presence continually." Psalm 105:4

Why?

"You [God] make known to me the path of life;
   in your presence there is fullness of joy;
   at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Psalm 16:11

Devotional Passages for the Week of Nov 7-14

Monday: Ezekiel 16:42-17:24, Hebrews 8:1-13, Psalm 106:13-31, Proverbs 27:7-9

Tuesday: Ezekiel 18:1-19:14, Hebrews 9:1-10, Psalm 106:32-48, Proverbs 27:10

Wednesday: Ezekiel 20:1-49, Hebrews 9:11-28, Psalm 107:1-43, Proverbs 27:11

So what are you eating? Part II

How good are you at identifying what is good and what is evil?  On a scale of 1-10 (10 being really adept) how would you rate yourself?  How would you rate yourself in comparison to say...

So what are you eating?

"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the [word] of God.  You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child."  Hebrews 5:12-13

Are you teaching the word of God to anyone?  How well do you know the basics of the word of God?  If you had to share the gospel clearly with someone today...how would you do?  How about the word of righteousness, do you got skills?

SB2W News Post: Snow at SB2W

This weekend we had 5 inches of snow at camp.  Check out these pics.

Devotional Passages for the Week of Oct 31-Nov 7

Monday:  Lamentations 4:1-5:22, Hebrews 2:1-18, Psalm 103:1-22, Proverbs 26:23

Tuesday: Ezekiel 1:1-3:15, Hebrews 3:1-19, Psalm 104:1-23, Proverbs 26:24-26

Wednesday: Ezekiel 3:16-6:14, Hebrews 4:1-16, Psalm 104:24-35, Proverbs 26:27


Thursday: Ezekiel 7:1-9:11, Hebrews 5:1-14, Psalm 105:1-15, Proverbs 26:28

Friday: Ezekiel 10:1-11:25, Hebrews 6:1-20, Psalm 105:16-36, Proverbs 27:1-2


Saturday: Ezekiel 12:1-14:11, Hebrews 7:1-17, Psalm 105:37-45, Proverbs 27:3

Sunday: Ezekiel 14:12-16:41, Hebrews 7:18-28, Psalm 106:1-12, Proverbs 27:4-6


Monday: Ezekiel 16:42-17:24, Hebrews 8:1-13, Psalm 106:13-31, Proverbs 27:7-9

Ouch!! That's Gotta Hurt! (Devo on Jeremiah 42-43)

Zedekiah is chained and brought before Nebuchadnezzar, from Petrus Comestor's "Bible Historiale," 1670.

"The king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah (king of Judah) at Riblah before his eyes, and the king of Babylon slaughtered all the nobles of Judah. He put out the eyes of Zedekiah and bound him in chains to take him to Babylon.  The Babylonians burned the king's house and the house of the people, and broke down the walls of Jerusalem.  Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, carried into exile to Babylon the rest of the people who were left in the city...[and] left in the land of Judah some of the poor people who owned nothing, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time."  Jeremiah 39:6-10 

Why did all this happen? 

Devotional Passages for the Week of October 24-30

Sunday: Jeremiah 42:1-44:23, 2 Timothy 2:1-21, Psalm 92:1-93:5, Proverbs 26:3-5

Monday: Jeremiah 44:24-47:7, 2 Timothy 2:22-3:17, Psalm 94:1-23, Proverbs 26:6-8

Tuesday: Jeremiah 48:1-49:22, 2 Timothy 4:1-22, Psalm 95:1-96:13, Proverbs 26:9-12

Wednesday: Jeremiah 49:23-50:46, Titus 1:1-16, Psalm 97:1-98:9, Proverbs 26:13-16

Thursday: Jeremiah 51:1-53, Titus 2:1-15, Psalm 99:1-9, Proverbs 26:17

Friday: Jeremiah 51:54-52:34, Titus 3:1-15, Psalm 100:1-5, Proverbs 26:18-19

Saturday: Lamentations 1:1-2:22, Philemon 1:1-25, Psalm 101:1-8, Proverbs 26:20

Sunday: Lamentations 3:1-66, Hebrews 1:1-14, Psalm 102:1-28, Proverbs 26:21-22

Devotional Passages for Week of October 17-24

Monday:  Jeremiah 30:1-31:26, 1 Timothy 2:1-15, Psalm 87:1-7, Proverbs 25:18-19

    

Tuesday:  Jeremiah 31:27-32:44, 1 Timothy 3:1-16, Psalm 88:1-18, Proverbs 25:20-22

Wednesday:  Jeremiah 33:1-34:22, 1 Timothy 4:1-16, Psalm 89:1-13, Proverbs 25:23-24

    

Thursday:  Jeremiah 35:1-36:32, 1 Timothy 5:1-25, Psalm 89:14-37, Proverbs 25:25-27

Friday:  Jeremiah 37:1-38:28, 1 Timothy 6:1-21, Psalm 89:38-52, Proverbs 25:28

    

Saturday:  Jeremiah 39:1-41:18, 2 Timothy 1:1-18, Psalm 90:1-91:16, Proverbs 26:1-2

Sunday: Jeremiah 42:1-44:23, 2 Timothy 2:1-21, Psalm 92:1-93:5, Proverbs 26:3-5

    

Monday: Jeremiah 44:24-47:7, 2 Timothy 2:22-3:17, Psalm 94:1-23, Proverbs 26:6-8

Relive Summer Life Night at The Que: Second Term

SB2W News Post- October 13, 2011

Main Assembly at the Que

The Potter's Wheel

I have always aspired to make pottery.  One day, when I was in the art building at college, I decided to swing by the ceramics studio to watch the skillful artists sculpt their work on the pottery wheel. It isn't an easy job to take a lifeless lump of damp clay and shape it into a beautiful piece of work. Many times, the clay crumbles and the Potter has to start over, each movement with careful precision. Observing the intimate interaction between the tough clay and the Potter's gentle hands, I began to wonder what the end product was going to look like. Would it be a vase? A bowl? A cup?

Relive Summer Life Night at Lake Gloria: First Term

Relive Summer Life Night at The Que: First Term

SB2W News Post

As of today, both campers, counselors, and families can visit us on the Official Summer's Best Two Weeks Facebook page.  Please make sure to "Like" our page when you visit.   Click here for Summer's Best's Page

SB2W News Post - October 10, 2011

Welcome to Lake Gloria - the following pics from this weekend give you a flavor of the beautiful weekend we had here in the Laurel Mountains. 

Devotional Passages for the Week of October 9-16

Sunday: Jeremiah 12:1-14:10, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-2:8, Psalm 79:1-13, Proverbs 24:30-34
Monday: Jeremiah 14:11-16:15, 1 Thessalonians 2:9-3:13, Psalm 80:1-19, Proverbs 25:1-5

Tuesday: Jeremiah 16:16-18:23, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-5:3, Psalm 81:1-16, Proverbs 25:6-8

Wednesday: Jeremiah 19:1-21:14, 1 Thessalonians 5:4-28, Psalm 82:1-8, Proverbs 25:9-10

Thursday: Jeremiah 22:1-23:20, 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12, Psalm 83:1-18, Proverbs 25:11-14

Friday: Jeremiah 23:21-25:38, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17, Psalm 84:1-12, Proverbs 25:15

Saturday: Jeremiah 26:1-27:22, 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18, Psalm 85:1-13, Proverbs 25:16

Sunday: Jeremiah 28:1-29:32, 1 Timothy 1:1-20, Psalm 86:1-17, Proverbs 25:17

No One Likes Needles

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let you requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:6-7

The rubber tourniquet around your arm...the smell of the alcohol pad...and then the needle.  Most people I know experience a small, if not significant, rise in anxiety when they are about to get blood drawn.  My 3 year old son is no different.  The moment he realized what was about to happen...you've never seen a kid move faster into his father's arms.  Like lightning he was in my lap with his arms around my neck.  It was a picture to me of how we should be with God, our Father.  Ready, in an instant, to seek refuge when we experience fear and anxiety. 

 The author Paul makes a distinction between prayer and supplication in the verses above.  Why?  I think by calling us to prayer first, he is telling us to immediately seek God's presence as soon as we experience anxiety.  We should instinctively and rapidly come into the massively strong, powerful, and loving arms of our Father.  There we will find shelter and comfort.  Now my arms aren't strong and powerful, and you'd be very hard pressed to call them "massive", but my son knew that is where he wanted to be.  To him they represent strength, comfort, and love.  Is your instinct to seek God's comforting presence?

It was not long after seeking my arms that my son started to give his supplication.  His request was communicated in one word (and a few tears), "No!".  I got the message.  Once we have put ourselves in His presence, recognizing who He is, then God desires for us to bring our requests before Him.  He wants us to pour our heart out. Why?  Because He cares. (I Peter 5:7)  Furthermore, God wants us to experience peace. I wanted that same thing for my son.  I did not prevent the blood draw from happening, but I did walk beside him through it.  I put my face near his, whispering words of peace and reassurance into his ear, emboldening him to take courage.  I held his hand with a firm grip that spoke in its own way that I wasn't going anywhere.  Together we did it.  His circumstances never changed, but his attitude and ability to meet the circumstances were altered dramatically by his father's presence.

How much more so for us when we follow Paul's advice in these verses.  There may not be a removal of the circumstances causing us anxiety, but there will be our Father's special presence guarding us.  I love that picture of a strong, fully-armored guard  walking with us through the circumstance, protecting our hearts and minds, even as our body moves ahead.  So, dear friends, take courage and do not be anxious.  Rather be quick, like lightning, to jump into your Father's presence.

Devotional Passages for the Week of October 2- 9

Sunday: Isaiah 66:1-24, Philippians 3:4-21, Psalm 74:1-23, Proverbs 24:15-16

Monday: Jeremiah 1:1-2:30, Philippians 4:1-23, Psalm 75:1-10, Proverbs 24:17-20

Tuesday: Jeremiah 2:31-4:18, Colossians 1:1-17, Psalm 76:1-12, Proverbs 24:21-22

Wednesday: Jeremiah 4:19-6:15, Colossians 1:18-2:7, Psalm 77:1-20, Proverbs 24:23-25

Thursday: Jeremiah 6:16-8:7, Colossians 2:8-23, Psalm 78:1-31, Proverbs 24:26

Friday: Jeremiah 8:8-9:26, Colossians 3:1-17, Psalm 78:32-55, Proverbs 24:27

Saturday: Jeremiah 10:1-11:23, Colossians 3:18-4:18, Psalm 78:56-72, Proverbs 24:28-29

Sunday: Jeremiah 12:1-14:10, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-2:8, Psalm 79:1-13, Proverbs 24:30-34

Did you hear God say, "I love you" last week?

If not, perhaps you'll hear it today.

Your greatest need, whether you recognize it or not, is love.  You expend vast amounts of energy seeking to be loved.  You want to be appreciated, respected, looked up to, cherished, befriended, approved, valued, etc.  Like me, you probably also get caught seeking to satisfy this need apart from God.  At times I easily forget  the only place where my greatest need is met.  This is why you have to read Isaiah 43, to hear straight from God's mouth that He loves us, that He loves you (see verse 4).  Then take a moment to circle all the ways in chapter 43 that you see God's love for His people, and for you too.

I overheard an interview this weekend of the lead singer from Tenth Avenue North.  He said that so often we look for God's love in the circumstances of our lives.  Meaning we feel that God loves us because of a certain provision that day, or a way that He blessed us.  Then he profoundly pointed out that we should look, not at circumstances, but at what God has done on the cross.

The greatest expression of God's love for you has already been spoken.  Jesus Christ on the cross is the biggest, loudest, most affirming "I love you" that has ever been communicated.  It is Christ's sacrifice that is the entire reason why you can read Isaiah 43:4 and hear that verse as words spoken to you.  Don't let your circumstances, whatever they might be, blind you from the reality and intensity of God's love for you in Christ Jesus.

Devotional Passages for the Week of September 25- October 2

Sunday: Isaiah 45:11-48:11, Ephesians 4:1-16, Psalm 68:19-35, Proverbs 24:3-4

Monday: Isaiah 48:12-50:11, Ephesians 4:17-32, Psalm 69:1-18, Proverbs 24:5-6

Tuesday: Isaiah 51:1-53:12,Ephesians 5:1-33, Psalm 69:19-36, Proverbs 24:7

Wednesday: Isaiah 54:1-57:14, Ephesians 6:1-24, Psalm 70:1-5, Proverbs 24:8

Thursday: Isaiah 57:15-59:21, Philippians 1:1-26, Psalm 71:1-24, Proverbs 24:9-10

Friday: Isaiah 60:1-62:5, Philippians 1:27-2:18, Psalm 72:1-20, Proverbs 24:11-12

Saturday: Isaiah 62:6-65:25, Philippians 2:19-3:3, Psalm 73:1-28, Proverbs 24:13-14

Sunday: Isaiah 66:1-24, Philippians 3:4-21, Psalm 74:1-23, Proverbs 24:15-16

Relive Summer Life Night At The Que: Summer One

Relive Summer Life Night at Lake Gloria: Summer One

Don't Begrudge Your Hardships

 Do not be annoyed with the difficulties you face. Isaiah 26 helps us see a profound truth about hardships.

"For when your [God's] judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. If favor is shown to the wicked, he does not learn righteousness; in the land of uprightness he deals corruptly and does not see the majesty of the LORD." Isaiah 26:9-10 

When met in the proper way, hardships help people see and live rightly towards God. Ironically, favor has just the opposite effect, particularly on those who oppose God. When their lives are easy they fall into even deeper patterns of sin and corruption. This is often true of believer's lives as well.  In times of favor and ease we go on our merry way, forgetting God.  So do not begrudge, resent, or be annoyed with your current difficulties.  It might very well be that God is disciplining you so that you can see and enjoy His majesty. 

"O LORD, in distress they sought you; they poured out a whispered prayer when your discipline was upon them."  Isaiah 26:16

Do You Feel Distant From God?

Devotional Passages for the Week of September 19-25

Monday: Isaiah 30:12-33:9, Galatians 5:1-12, Psalm 63:1-11, Proverbs 23:22

Tuesday: Isaiah 33:10-36:22, Galatians 5:13-26, Psalm 64:1-10, Proverbs 23:23

Wednesday: Isaiah 37:1-38:22, Galatians 6:1-18, Psalm 65:1-13, Proverbs 23:24

Thursday: Isaiah 39:1-41:16, Ephesians 1:1-23, Psalm 66:1-20, Proverbs 23:25-28

Friday: Isaiah 41:17-43:13, Ephesians 2:1-22, Psalm 67:1-7, Proverbs 23:29-35

Saturday: Isaiah 43:14-45:10, Ephesians 3:1-21, Psalm 68:1-18, Proverbs 24:1-2

Sunday: Isaiah 45:11-48:11, Ephesians 4:1-16, Psalm 68:19-35, Proverbs 24:3-4

Relive Summer Life Night At Lake Gloria

Relive Summer Life Night At The Que

In God We Trust

"When I am afraid I put my trust in you.  In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid."  Psalm 56:3-4 

^{There is no "if".  "When I am afraid" is the statement.  We all deal with fears.  We can call it anxiety, worry, fretting, panic, distress.  Whatever we call it, it boils down to us being afraid.  What I love about this verse is it tells us exactly what to do when we have these feelings.  Its a very practical verse.  Put your trust in God.  When you are tempted to be overwhelmed by feelings of fear, open your Bible and remember who God is, remember His promises, remember His power and control.  He is not up in Heaven biting his fingernails.  Trust Him.  Pray and commit yourself to him.  Give up all your fears to Him, because He cares for you. (I Peter 5:7)}

Devotional Passages for the Week of September 11-17

We will again be posting suggested Scripture verses for you to read.  Every week there will be Old Testament & New Testament passages, as well as a Psalm and Proverb.  Know that your ability to live faithfully outside of the camp gates are directly tied in with your reading or lack of reading the Bible.  Make it a point to print out these readings every week and sticking them in your Bible.  Don't feel like you have to read it all.  Pick a passage or two a day, then read and pray.  If you would like to comment on something you read, just click on "comment" at the bottom of this list.  Let us know how you are growing through your reading of Scripture or ask a question, we'll post your comment and respond to you.  We'll keep posting our own devotional thoughts once a week.  Next devo will be up tomorrow. 

Sunday: Isaiah 8:1-9:21, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10, Psalm 55:1-23, Proverbs 23:4-5

Monday: Isaiah 10:1-11:16, 2 Corinthians 12:11-21, Psalm 56:1-13, Proverbs 23:6-8

Tuesday: Isaiah 12:1-14:32, 2 Corinthians 13:1-14, Psalm 57:1-11, Proverbs 23:9-11

Wednesday: Isaiah 15:1-18:7, Galatians 1:1-24, Psalm 58:1-11, Proverbs 23:12

Thursday: Isaiah 19:1-21:17, Galatians 2:1-16, Psalm 59:1-17, Proverbs 23:13-14

Friday: Isaiah 22:1-24:23, Galatians 2:17-3:9, Psalm 60:1-12, Proverbs 23:15-16

Saturday: Isaiah 25:1-28:13, Galatians 3:10-22, Psalm 61:1-8, Proverbs 23:17-18

Sunday: Isaiah 28:14-30:11, Galatians 3:23-4:31, Psalm 62:1-12, Proverbs 23:19-21

Monday:  Isaiah 30:12-33:9, Galatians 5:1-12, Psalm 63:1-11, Proverbs 23:22

Living Amidst Affliction

In what are you being afflicted?  Have you been benched by an injury?  Is there strife in your family or friendships?  Are you dealing with anxiety, discouragement, or disappointment?  For the Macedonians  affliction meant extreme poverty.  It is how they handled this affliction that is so amazing.  What might we learn from them?

"We want you to know brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.  For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints- and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us."  2 Corinthians 8:1-5

How?
 How in the world did they have an abundance of joy in the midst of a severe test of affliction?  Most of us only need a touch of affliction in our lives to become severely cranky.  The writer, Paul, begins by acknowledging that they experienced the grace of God.  God's gift to them was the ability to give of themselves generously and joyfully even though they had very little.  They lived out the truth, "It is more blessed to give than receive." Their affliction did not turn their eyes inward upon themselves in self-pity.  They did not lament their circumstances, complain, or grumble.  No, they overflowed with joy.

Why?
Paul tells us why.  There was something the Macedonians did prior to all this that prepared them to live in such a God-glorifying way amidst affliction.  "They gave themselves first to the Lord."  Sound familiar?  Then they gave themselves to others.  Sound familiar?  God first, others second, I'm third is the way we are meant to live.  As we put God first the rest of our lives are put into proper place around that which is of primary importance.   We must give ourselves to the Lord.  Surrender to him first.  Then seek to give ourselves away for the benefit of others.  What will it look like today, this weekend, and beyond, to give abundantly, joyfully, and beyond your means? 

Chinese Weekend At SB2W

 Over Labor Day weekend SB2W hosted for the 20th time a retreat weekend for Chinese internationals.  Through an organization called China Outreach Ministries we were privileged to have Chinese students from universities all over the US at camp.  They and their families worshiped, played, attended seminars, and ate authentic Chinese food catered to our dining hall.  The purpose of the weekend was to both grow and challenge those who are already Christians and to present the gospel to the many who are not believers.  These students will return to China with a new found faith and help to continue the already explosive growth of Christianity in that country.

According to Operation World, "The staggering recent growth of the Chinese Church has no parallel in history - from 2.7 million evangelicals in 1975 to over 75 million in 2010. [Jason Mandryk, Operation World. (Colorado Springs: Biblica Publishing, 2010), 216.]" Is this not amazing to see what God is doing?  We are blessed to be able to be a very small part of this work of God amongst the Chinese people. 

Relive Summer Life Night at the Que

Relive Summer Life Night at Lake Gloria

Devotional Passages for Week of September 4-11

We will again be posting suggested Scripture verses for you to read.  Every week there will be Old Testament & New Testament passages, as well as a Psalm and Proverb.  Know that your ability to live faithfully outside of the camp gates are directly tied in with your reading or lack of reading the Bible.  Make it a point to print out these readings every week and sticking them in your Bible.  Don't feel like you have to read it all.  Pick a passage or two a day, then read and pray.  If you would like to comment on something you read, just click on "comment" at the bottom of this list.  Let us know how you are growing through your reading of Scripture or ask a question, we'll post your comment and respond to you.  We'll keep posting our own devotional thoughts once a week.  Next devo will be up tomorrow. 

Sunday:  Ecclesiastes 7:1-9:18, 2 Corinthians 7:8-16, Psalm 48:1-14, Proverbs 22:17-19

Monday:  Ecclesiastes 10:1-12:14, 2 Corinthians 8:1-15, Psalm 49:1-20, Proverbs 22:20-21

Tuesday:  Song of Solomon 1:1-4:16, 2 Corinthians 8:16-24, Psalm 50:1-23, Proverbs 22:22-23

Wednesday: Song of Solomon 5:1-8:14, 2 Corinthians 9:1-15, Psalm 51:1-19, Proverbs 22:24-25

Thursday: Isaiah 1:1-2:22, 2 Corinthians 10:1-18, Psalm 52:1-9, Proverbs 22:26-27

Friday: Isaiah 3:1-5:30, 2 Corinthians 11:1-15, Psalm 53:1-6, Proverbs 22:28-29

Saturday: Isaiah 6:1-7:25, 2 Corinthians 11:16-33, Psalm 54:1-7, Proverbs 23:1-3

Sunday: Isaiah 8:1-9:21, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10, Psalm 55:1-23, Proverbs 23:4-5

How do we continue to grow this fall?

"Blessed is the man who...delights in the law of the LORD and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water." Psalms 1:1-3

Where Are You Planted?
Do you recognize this tree?  Some of you might because it sits on the opposite shore of Lake Gloria across from camp.  It is the tree with the rope that the adventure trippers use to swing into the lake.  It is a huge oak tree.  Its trunk is so wide that two people cannot wrap their arms around it.  This tree often comes to mind when I'm thinking about growth.  Our hope is that as you left camp you have had an even stronger desire to grow in your faith.  How have you been doing?  Are you growing?  Are you backsliding?  Are you a tree planted by the streams of God's law (Scripture)?  There are certainly many things essential to spiritual growth, top on the list, according to Psalm 1, is enjoying God's Word.  Have you tasted the goodness and the sweetness of His Word?  You might ask, "what does it look like to experience this goodness?"

The Delights of God's Word
Let me share a recent example from my own experience.  For some time now I have been in the habit of taking a brief moment, before I open God's Word for a devotional time, to write down a couple of statements that reflect the attitude of my heart.  Some days I write about being excited to jump into the day.  Some days I write a lot of things I'm thankful for or reasons to give God praise, other days I'm struggling with a sin, and still other days I'm confused, frustrated, hurting, etc.  After writing this down I pray for God to meet me, and through His Word to set might heart right.  In My Utmost for His Highest the devotional booklet we hand out at closing ceremonies, Oswald Chambers writes, "At all costs [we] must be rightly related to God" (September 1st entry).  What joy, contentment, and sweetness come from being rightly related to our Lord.

Sweet Deliverance
Have you ever had days filled with worry.  Well, that was my day yesterday.  My restless heart was so anxious, so filled with worry that I struggled to think of anything other than that for which I was worrying.  Ironically, I had just read that morning from Psalm 37, which says, "Do not be anxious; it tends only to evil."  Needless to say, my heart was out of whack, and I knew it.  Sadly, as I'm prone to do, I trudged through the day without truly addressing it.  This morning as I woke up I knew my heart needed to be set right, and thank God for His Word.  I read the next Psalm, number 38.  Wow!! Talk about "needing to hear that".  The Psalm begins, "O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath."  I prayed this very thing.  Then I prayed verse 4, "For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me."  True again.  I concluded by praying with the Psalmist (v. 21-22), "Do not forsake me, O LORD! O my God, be not far from me!  Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation."  These verses have been my meditation today, they have been my delight.    They have been so helpful to my soul.  In other words, they tasted really good, like a cool glass of water on a hot day.  God's Word will be like fresh water to your soul also, as you delight to make a daily habit of spending time enjoying it.