And we know that God causes
everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called
according to his purpose for them. ~Romans 8:28
My past summers in high school and college all have had the
same purpose to them. The main purpose of those summers was to train for the upcoming
cross country season. I had summer jobs, of course, but they just served the
purpose to collect a paycheck. They were pretty comfortable summers and I never
had to embark on improving other people’s lives, just my own. In past summers,
I would be a slave to my own routine; running at the same times, eating the
same things at the same times, interacting with the same people, etc.
I also neglected to test myself spiritually and now that I
look at that, I missed out on a lot of time getting to know God. During the
school year with all the school work, deadlines, meets, and other extra- curricular
activities, it is easy to get in a spiritual rut and just go through the
motions with prayer and reading the Bible. But all that extra time in the
summer would have been a perfect time to focus on my relationship with God and
study the Word so I could take what I have learned to help shine God’s light on
campus brighter.
Well, let’s just say I have the privilege to do that this
summer.
I will be spending this summer as a camp counselor at Seneca
Hills Bible Camp in Polk, PA. At Seneca Hills, there is no WIFI, no cell phone
reception or television. But replace those things with high ropes courses,
climbing walls, zip lines, 9 square, camp fires, and most importantly praising
God and sharing the love of God with kids 6-18 years of age.
This is my main focus this summer, to share the love of God
with these children. It is my job to let them know that they are loved by the
Creator of the Universe and that He passionately wants to have a relationship
with them and spend the rest of eternity with them.
Cross Country training for the upcoming season is secondary.
To be completely honest, I don’t know how much I’ll be able to train or how
far. Of course this is a little nerve racking considering my routine of past
summers of constantly running, running, running. I trust that God will take
care of this area of my life, if it is in His will. Potentially, this summer
could be the perfect solution to my over-training problems the past 5 seasons. I
can assure you, I probably won’t be looking like an All-American runner at the
camp week tempo this year, but maybe not focusing on running this summer will
allow me to peak better and be at my best when it counts in October and
November.
All things work together for His good for those who love God
and trust in Him and I believe that this opportunity this summer will work
together for His good. I do not know what the summer will hold, but I can only
hope that this summer will be a summer of challenges, faith, worship, strong
relationships, growth, and FUN!
If there was a word for nervousness, excitement,
anxiousness, freedom, faith, and fear; that word would describe how I feel
right now. I know God will be with me and His presence will definitely be
ever-present at Seneca Hills.
So here’s to the Summer Training 2013!!! Goal – The Higher
Prize in Jesus Christ!
That I may know Him, and the power of His Resurrection, and the fellowship of His suffering, being made conformable unto His death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 3:10-14
