a little overdue. but better late than never :)
camp was God's grace right from the preparations before camp, during camp and right up till today. I pray that the fire still stays in our hearts and that it would burn brightly.
it was encouraging to see each person come and be a part of the camp. the camp committee really did a good job and i think God also opened the way as we trusted in Him. He provided a venue, provided the speaker, Pastor Daniel Tan, and most importantly, He called the people :) in about less than three weeks.
there were times of uncertainties and stress along the way; money, payments, sponsorship, pull outs, etc. but God proved to be sovereign over these things. no problem too big for Him :)
I enjoyed the fellowship with the people :) getting to know some better as well as strengthening the old friendships. there was a sense of unity and genuine relationships built. camps have that ability to bring people together :) and I pray that these friendships continue to grow throughout our uni years.
That's our theme for this year. N.O.W. It's to remind us of the urgent times we live in. Pastor Daniel did a great job with the sessions. He began with very fundamental things for our faith in the first session about "Hearing God's Voice". Because when we are in a two way communication with God personally and intimately, we will know His will. He gave very practical ways to this. First knowing how God speaks: through the Word of God, prayer, Holy Spirit, people, dreams and visions, circumstances, and sometimes in the audible voice :| (whoa, i wonder what that would be like). He taught us then how do we listen to God's voice? We need to take on the right postures: Seek, Surrender (humility), Silent (to listen), Stay (to wait and dwell in His presence) and to have hearts that are like good Soil (hearing and obeying the word).
The second session was about the Narrow Way which echoes our theme that there is no other way but through Christ. There's the Broad way and the Narrow way.
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Matthew 7:13-14
It was a reminder that we cannot live our lives any way we want or do things just because the world is doing it. It meant living in Christ, following His word rather than the word of the world. Muuuch easier said than done, but we do not walk alone, nor do we walk by our own strength. God grants grace for us to finish the race, to walk this journey with Him. The narrow way is only possible through Christ :)
The third session was entitled "Disturb Us, Lord". It challenged us to live for a cause that is bigger than ourselves. To look beyond "me" and to look to God. When God disturbs us from our comfortable and safe lives, how do we respond? Taking the encounter of the first calling of the disciples in Luke 5:1-11, where Jesus came into the boat of Peter, taught the crowds from it and later told him to put out to sea and let down their nets for a catch after a loooong night of catching no fish. When Peter obeyed, they caught a crazy amount of fish. This opened his eyes and he fell at Jesus' feet knowing that Jesus was more than just a man. Jesus then calls Peter to follow Him and that He would make them fishers of men. Peter left all he had and followed Jesus. Our response, when God comes into our lives and rocks our boats is to
start small - obey. Jesus came into their boats and told Peter to 'put out a little from land', God doesn't always come in all His glory with a mission impossible task right away to us. It's when we start obeying Him in the little things that He then gives us bigger tasks. He knows how much we can handle. We then need to
go deep! Jesus told Peter to go deep and to let down their nets for a catch. Peter's answer was, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing;
nevertheless at your word word I will let down the net." He was listening to Jesus teaching the crowds prior to this and because of that, it gave him the faith to obey. We need the word of God in our lives, to convict us to go deeper than we normally would, to try again even after a whole night of catching nothing. The last thing is to
surrender all. Right after catching the mother load of fishes, their eyes weren't fixed on their success, instead their eyes were fixed on Jesus. It was a reminder to us not to let our success take us away from God. Humility. So, start small, go deep, surrender all.
The final session was about How do we Shine? Pastor Daniel brought us back to the point and purpose of the church. He said the church is the hope for the world. The world can only see Jesus through us. No other way; only through us.
Let your light shine before all men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16
How do we shine?
Be genuine, let people see Christ in our lives. Don't just do things so that we can preach to them. Don't do things with ulterior motives. But love, because Christ first loved us. Love because that is what God calls us to do; to love God and to love others.
Give what you have, not what you don't have. We'll never start if we keep saying, "Let me have this first, then I will..." or "I don't have anything to give." Give what you have :) God is able to provide for our needs. We need to
stretch out our hands and lift others up. We need to touch lives, not just meet their physical needs. The human being is more than a body, it has a soul. People need acceptance and freedom for their souls. Lives are never transformed by silver or gold, but by the touching of the human soul. So, let's go and shine our lights. :) Pastor Daniel said, "You say 'turn on the light' and 'turn off the light' but no one says 'turn on darkness'. Light always conquers darkness. It's when the light doesn't shine, that's where darkness is."
Let your light shine :) We live in urgent times. May all who see our lights, come to God.
Dear God, thank You for camp, for Your word spoken and each and every person. Thank You for the work You have done in our lives. Help us to continue running the race and going through the narrow way with You and with the people You have brought alongside us. May we continue to spur and encourage one another until we reach our goal. You are our goal. Lord, I pray that we will have the same love and passion You have for others in our lives that we would see the world through Your eyes. Commit each one who was a part of T.H.E. Camp 2012 into Your hands and pray that You continue draw us close to You. In Jesus Name, Amen :)
