Tonight, I watched two of the youngest Idol contestants ever both perform so well on television, and they both seem like, from what I have seen, to love the Lord, which is awesome. Music is one of my biggest passions in life, and I love to sing for the Lord and for the joy it brings to me. 1 Chronicles 16:23 says, "Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day." Psalm 100 says to come before His presence with singing! Camp Greystone really is one of the greatest places on earth. I've been searching for some great, kid-friendly, fun songs to add to my Itunes for camp this summer, and I am anticipating camp more and more. Singing at camp is one of the best parts for me because it is something that we do to give God glory and to demonstrate our love for Him, and I love being a part of a large crowd of people worshipping the Lord. We worship in a group, but it is an individual experience, and it is wonderful. When I'm by myself at home or in the car, I often turn on some contemporary Christian music and begin singing. Sometimes though, we forget that the songs are meant for worship, and we do not always think about what we are singing and whether or not we mean it. We do this with other types of music as well. I confess that I occasionally listen to hip hop and rap songs and do not agree with the lyrics, but love the beats enough to sing along. It's similar to listening to contemporary Christian music and singing along but not taking the lyrics to heart. I've been a lot more careful about listening to lyrics lately, and worshipping through song is so much more meaningful because of it.
Now, more about Camp Greystone: less than a week until I am back, yet it feels like I just left in the middle of August! So much has happened since then, and God has been working a lot, but it still doesn't seem like it's been almost a year! Because of the impact that Greystone had on me in less than 6 weeks of being there last summer and the things God taught me and revealed to me through it, I could not be more excited and anxious to return for 9 weeks this summer. In fact, I'm sure that it's not going to be enough because of how fast I know it will fly by! I don't like the phrase, "it's like heaven on earth," but being at Greystone does give you a little taste of heaven. Galatians 5: 22-23 says that "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." I experienced all of the fruits of the Spirit at Greystone, and learned a lot more about each one. At Greystone, I learned how to be more loving, more joyful, more peaceful, more patient, etc. The campers and the counselors teach you so much, and the Lord works through everyone and every experience that you have while at camp. There is no greater love or joy in my opinion than the love and joy that younger children and teens bring, especially when you are able to share your love for the Lord with them. Having this opportunity for a summer is amazing, and the Lord shows you your imperfections, but also shows you His perfect love and grace and the chance to grow in the fruits of the Spirit.
Also, in Matthew 18, when the disciples are wondering about greatness in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus calls a child, stands him in the midst of the disciples and teaches. He says that you have got to become like children to enter the kingdom, and the one who humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom. "And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, 'Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'" Children who love Jesus are humble and innocent. They are also often extremely perceptive and love to ask questions. I LOVE being able to share my biggest passion, my passion for the Lord, with an innocent child, and I pray that I can become like the child in Matthew 18. Last summer at Greystone, one huge work the Lord did was confirm to me and encourage me, through my experience and through a sweet lady named Smith Houts, that it is the Lord's plan (as of now) for me to become a teacher of some kind after graduation. Smith saw how much I loved my 7-year-old girls in August, and she said that I would absolutely love teaching. She has taught kindergartners for years and is so great with children and the Greystone campers. I started babysitting when I was 12 with the sweetest family of 3 kids, and I have always had a passion for being around kids and spending time with them. I'm 21, and I would say I'm mature for my age (I hope this is true!), but I can relate well to kids and i love being around them and acting like one myself (and by that I mean playing games and laughing all the time). I came into college a journalism and mass communication and vocal performance double major. I love both writing/editing and singing, but I do not think I can do either one of them for the rest of my life, at least not as my main focus. I do think I can be around kids ALL the time and never get tired of it. I don't think that teaching is one of my spiritual gifts, but I love to be challenged and I do believe that God can grow me in that area. I think that, because I can relate to kids well, I can serve the Lord by working with them.
I'm not sure right now if God wants me to teach elementary school, preschool, or work in a preschool or children's ministry or something like that, but I am excited to see what He has in store for me. I am also anxious about what He is going to reveal to me this summer. I'm praying that He will work in all of us at Greystone and that the staff and campers can learn to be lights for the Lord and to shine His light in everything we say and do. We don't know His plans, but all of us can live everyday for Him and shine the light He has brought to our world and that He brings to our lives!
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin." 1 John 1:7 (camp verse for the summer!!)
"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16
