content..?

This morning, I walked from the lodge up to the dining hall for the pre-breakfast staff meeting. I left the lodge a little earlier than the others, so I could have those few minutes alone to pray at the start of the day. It was chilly, rays of sun were streaming through the trees, and a mist was rising off the surface of the lake. As I walked, I whispered to God, "Thank you for the beauty of a new day...for the beauty of being so small in the midst of your greatness...and for the beauty of being right where You and I both know I need to be."

It's now almost exactly 12 hours later. It's been a busy day full of phone calls, registrations, errands, etc, and now I have a little time off before tonight's campfire service. I just read this Scripture:

"I have learned to be content in whatever circumstance I am... in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need." (Philippians 4:11-12)

Those are not words I can honestly say. Because I am not always content.

Right now, I am content in some things. I'm content with my job at camp -- although there are hard days, like any job -- but mostly I am happy and content with this.

However, I am NOT content to be a single woman right now. This is the BIG THING that God and I have spent many hours wrestling over. This is where I cannot honestly speak the words written in Philippians. Paul might have learned the secret of being content no matter what... but apparently I have not learned that secret yet, at least not in the area of singleness. I still pray that God will teach me that secret.

A few minutes ago, I read this quote on another blog (which is what led me to this Scripture). This was posted on The Girl With The Smile 's blog.

"Contentment occurs when Christ's strength is infused into my weak body, soul, and spirit. To infuse means to pour, fill, soak.... How does God enable us to be content? He infuses contentment into us."

Yes. ‎That's what I want.

quiet Sunday morning

It's 10:30am. I'm sitting on one of the ancient, lumpy couches in the staff lodge, listening to soft Christian music and the sound of the leaky faucet dripping in the kitchen. There is some action outside as one of the weekend retreat groups is getting ready to leave this morning, but everyone else in the lodge is still asleep upstairs.

I found the last bottle of orange juice in the refrigerator this morning, and was super excited about that. Love my orange juice in the morning.

Before coming downstairs, I spent some time reading my Bible and praying. The passage I read is still echoing in my mind.

"Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped (or asserted), but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant." (Philippians 2:2-7)

God spoke to me through this today, and I pray that He keeps reminding me of it throughout this week.

Some other things are dancing around in my head, too... some questions, some ideas, some dreams. Things that will continued to be talked about and prayed about, and we'll see what God might have up His sleeve. Dreams that move the mountains...that's what faith can do!

And week 3 of camp begins this afternoon. I wonder what God will do this week.... keep us in your prayers, please?

And it begins.... Summer 2011

One week of summer staff moving up to camp, and working together to get camp ready for kids. Then, the first official week of Summer Camp 2011. That's what my life has been since the last update! It's been a great 2 weeks overall. I love the people I get to work with, and so glad summer camp has begun and we get to be a part of God's work in children's lives.... as well as experiencing His work in our own lives.

Highlights of the past two weeks:
reunions with friends
evenings on the dock watching the stars
lots and lots of laughing
back rubs
hearing God speak in the quiet of the morning
getting lost and almost driving to North Carolina
Ultimate Frisbee
wiffle-ball
spiritual discussions with the camp pastor
mysterious insects
good moments with good friends
being myself and feeling at home
the arrival of children
talking with kids about their favorite parts of camp
watching counselors pray with kids
19+ decisions for Christ

God is already at work.... Lord keep raining down Your presence and Your blessings!!