Reading, Writing, and Walking

This past week I have been down at Montrose Bible Conference’s Kids’ Camp where I have been teaching the chapels. If you have never been down there, I would recommend checking it out. They have quilting weekends, scrapbooking weekends, women’s retreats, a men’s retreat, and various week-long camps. The programs they run have a comfortable homey-feeling, and the people there are wonderful! Check them out! www.montrosebible.org

Anyway, this year Ryan and Caleb attended the camp while Miriam and Tim stayed home. Therefore I had all week to myself (besides preparing for and teaching chapel 2x’s a day!). During my free time, I did three primary activities: read, write, and walk.

For my reading, I chose a book on ministry to families. Because my theme for this year’s Awana will be trying to reach out to families, I thought this would be appropriate! I was challenged by the immense responsibility we have as parents and grandparents to impart God’s truth to the next generation. (If you would like to help with our Awana program, I am always looking for volunteers, or if you have children ages 3 years – 6th grade, we welcome them!).

As far as writing goes, I had an interesting experience. On Sunday night, in order to introduce the Old Testament Walk Thru the Bible, I decided to have the “applicational focus” be on God’s eternality. Only when we believe that God has been the same and will always be the same can we truly learn from the Old Testament. Anyway, one activity that we did that night at chapel was to divide into small groups and read a portion from a family devotional that I am attempting to write. The next day Becky, a wonderful woman who is the wife of the Conference Director, encouraged me to attend their annual writer’s conference so I can get some tips on how to get published. I have been encouraged by others to try to get this project published, so I am grateful for Becky’s information and encouragement. The conference is in a couple of weeks, and I would greatly appreciate your prayer for this project! Needless to say, I spent quite a bit of free time working on the section about the Doctrine of Jesus in order to have as much written by the conference as I can.

The Bible Conference has a wonderful woodland path named “The Scripture Trail.” Periodically on this trail they have nailed to the trees plaques with Scripture verses on them. Twice I walked this beautiful trail, taking my time to pray, reflect and think. Two verses (one was on a plaque, one was from my memory) repeatedly came to mind, and I tell them to you so that, hopefully, they can encourage you as they did me…

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:29-30

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I know that many of you who read this are involved in various aspects of ministry both at church and personally. Do you ever feel that serving God is a heavy burden, with the weight of ministry sometimes overwhelmingly stifling? Read these two verses again. Jesus’ yoke is easy, and his burden light. I don’t think he means for service to him to be a stifling burden. The second verse echoes that thought: “Be joyful always.” This doesn’t meant that we should step back from ministry when it seems overwhelming, but that we should continue with God’s job. How do we keep a the perspective of Jesus’ light yoke and the undercurrent of joy running through our lives? I think we have the answer: “Pray continually. Give thanks in all circumstances.” Prayer, thanksgiving…these attitudes and actions will give us joy as we continue to serve God.

And so, I had a wonderful week. Thank you to all who pray for the various ministries, including things at the church and the speaking opportunities, that I have! I appreciate you.