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