Skip to main content

C.A.M.P.

So in a sermon just a couple of weeks ago, our pastor was speaking of having been at Youth Camp and seeing each day one of our boys during his quiet time. Instead of going and picking a spot in the shade (which there was much of even with the many other students) this particular boy (who remains unnamed but I think I know who he is) would sit out in the middle of a field...and at certain times he would pick up his Bible and march in circles around his designated spot with his nose in his Bible obviously drinking in the Word of God. *Just a side note here: if it IS who I think it is, I can see WONDERFUL things ahead in a ministry for this boy. He is a light, full of joy and excitement and I love getting to see him growing in his faith!*

Anyway, Pastor Ray was explaining that we go to camp to get away from outside distractions...many that we would call modern conveniences: cell phones, computers, television, etc. (And just so you know, I did already know this. It wasn't new to me, however I really needed to hear that on that particular day.) That this time in solitude with God Himself allows our relationships to be strengthened with Him. And I thought to myself...I need me some more CAMP. (Please excuse my poor grammar - that was done for emphasis! :o)

Therefore, this week Kiddo and I have implemented a little something I like to call C.A.M.P. which stands for:
  • Communicate
  • And
  • Meditate
  • Privately

So far it has been going well and it means that each day of homeschooling (and hopefully on Saturdays as well) we will spend no less than 30 minutes reading God's Word, praying to Him, and meditating on what He wants to tell us or wants us to know. More is okay, and while there are certain things that this time MUST include - one being that some time must be spent in reading God's Word...devotionals are okay, but we have to use the Bible to look up verses and such - Kiddo really wants to implement some time singing. (Have I told you that he LOVES to sing and he LOVES music? :o) He originally thought that we would do this together (and we often sing with our favorite radio station - K-LOVE) but I reminded him that this time was to be spent privately. While it is important that we spend time together talking with God, it is very important that we each develop our own relationships with Him as well.

Today was day two of C.A.M.P. and it is really going well. I am very encouraged. AND while I have devotional Bibles as well, I have been using a Bible that belonged to my grandfather who was a deacon in a Baptist church - he passed away when I was probably 10 years old. It is New American Standard Version and I have little experience with that version, but this morning God pointed out a verse to me that I have claimed and begun praying over my health, fatigue, and infertility issues:

2 Kings 20:5b NASB

"I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold I will heal you."

I know that God is good ALL the time. I know that He is my Creator and that He made me perfect in His Will. I also know that He hears my prayers and He collects each and every tear that falls from my eyes. He knows what He wants for my life and I do not because His ways are higher than my ways. I do not know how God will choose to heal me. I don't know if I will have to deal with this fatigue until my last breath, but I know without a doubt that I will one day be healed - whether here on this earth or in Heaven...and I am claiming it now. I will hold on to that hope and I will live my life as though these struggles were not even there. Because I have been given already so much more than I deserve. I have a family that loves me, a stable insulated, air conditioned/heated home, a reliable vehicle, food to prepare. Oh I am blessed! Sure I'll have a bad day now and again, but God has given me this verse to remind me that He hears me and He sees my pain...and I am so grateful for that!

I will go for now - I have more studying to do in preparation for school next week, but I have still been following your blogs and I have been so blessed! I haven't had time to post comments lately, but I've read them. Once we get a schedule/routine going on I hope to be better about that...for now please know that you have blessed me and I look forward to hearing from you again as you have time. Have a blessed rest of the week!

Comments

Beth Herring said…
I need me some CAMP too! This was great Misty. I always enjoy reading your posts and you always delight me!
August 19, 2009 at 11:32 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

On the Brink of More Change...

I can feel it. I am on the cusp of something new. Something different. Something beautiful. I still have no idea what God might be up to - and I am truly okay with that at the moment. I have completed another round of Freedom in Christ. God spoke to me in so many ways...and He continues to do so. I feel so very valued and treasured by my Father. I am in relationship with Him in ways that I always wanted - yet never really felt were achievable. As I have put forth the effort to come to Him more consistently and with a growing desire to go deeper, He has been unendingly gracious and faithful. So as I fall on my face, He gently leans in and scoops me up. The panic and anxiety that once ruled my life are far less, and the calm amidst the  chaos has grown exponentially. I know where to go when it begins to grow again...and it does. Sometimes. Yet God is always ready when I call on Him...and that in and of itself are a learning curve for me. I've learned that others are not constant. Sh...
Post a Comment
Read more

I Have Returned to the Land of the Living...

I promise that I'm around and making it here! It's been pretty crazy what with starting school and becoming a leader in our homeschool support group. (In my defense, I didn't realize that was what I was doing. I thought I was going to coordinate the holiday parties...turns out when you only have one active officer, said officer reserves the right to make you a leader in that group. Hmm. The things you learn. :) School is going okay...or should I be more specific? Social studies, Language Arts and Science are going okay...mathematics? Not so great. We have determined that Hooked on Math is NOT a good match for my child. He gets SO frustrated he winds up in tears within seconds of the MENTION of "Hooked on Math". (While I must admit that a portion of this is due to his processing issues and I want him to learn to be more flexible, I NEVER want him to be THIS stressed out. Therefore we are searching for a new math program/curriculum. I am very interested in Math-U-Se...
4 comments
Read more

Keeping My Eyes Fixed In the Storms of Life

On September 20th, my father-in-law collapsed at home. My mother-in-law called 9-1-1 and emergency crews arrived within a few minutes. During that time, he stopped breathing and had no heartbeat. Emergency crews were able to revive him, and he was transported to a local heart hospital. The next two weeks were nothing short of torturous. In order to stop potential brain damage, he underwent a procedure that chilled his core body temperature almost 10 degrees and then after 24 hours, warmed him to normal body temp. Doctors were unsure if he would awake. However, after 12 days on the ventilator, when it was removed, it was like someone flipped a switch. He simply woke up. Even the doctors were amazed. Still groggy from the medications used during that time, he remembers nothing from that time, until about 5 days later, shortly before he had his pacemaker installed. Twenty-two days after his "cardiac event", he was released from the hospital. Still quite weak, he continues to g...
Post a Comment
Read more