It's been far too long, but I really have thought a lot about some great series which I hope to kick-start. I've been working at an outreach camp at my church. The project is to reach out to the community. I've made a close friend- a fellow teen attending the camp, and I have found a place in my heart for some of the younger children. We're focousing on "the four big things.". The first big thing is that Jesus loves us. The second is that we're all sinners or "rebels". The third is that Jesus died on the cross for us and came to save us. The forth lesson is yet to come, but it's that we need to make a decision whether or not to let Jesus in our hearts.
As I've been working at this camp I've dealt with a lot of people. I've met people who are very sweet, but want their mom's- or those kids you get that you ask for an oppinion and they tell you what you want to hear even though they don't actually think that. I've met this girl who's had somebody very close to her diagnoised with a very serious illness. I've met kids who wish they could be lounging in front of the TV and their mom's just forced them to go to camp. I've also gotten to know some people that can be very loving, but are trying to find your limit and test you and how much you'll let them get away with. All in all it's been utterly exhasting. From the tears I cried being there for the children when something is (actually) utterly wrong such as the illness indirectly affecting one of the campers, to actually having to help take a child home for their behavior, to acting enthusiastic to try and get five year olds to play "simon says" when they think it's "too baby-ish" or "too boring", there are times when it's tough.
But it got me thinking about relationships. The whole camp is a) trying to encourage a relationship with God and b) trying to form relationships with other people. There are times when that's not easy, or when it costs literal money, or when it takes time, or when I have to pray to God to give me the strength to be patient and loving. But essentially this is all what's required of Christians. So my series will be on relationships. Now before you jump at me and say the whole Bible is based on relationships (which I suppose it is), it's not going to cover the whole Bible. It's going to start out with loving the people we don't want to love, then we're going to focous on friendship and what the Bible says about friendship, and then finally why our relationship with God is vital to really loving others.
love you all. you're sister in Christ,
Christina
