Well, it has been a hard few weeks.
Since the beginning of the summer I have been working as a counselor at a Christian camp that is nested on a small peninsula in the middle of a beautiful Minnesotan lake. As I began the summer I knew that counseling would be hard, but I didn't realize just how much of myself I would give to the large amount of campers that would be running through the grounds of our camp. Leading, loving and sharing the wonderful news of the gospel to the young girls in my cabin has been the most rewarding thing that I have done in my life so far. Each week I have the blessing to welcome a new group of eight girls into my cabin and tell them about the free gift God has given to them through Jesus Christ. I get to see firsthand the effects of such an incredible message as God works in each one of their precious lives. As I watch this happen I can't help but think of how unworthy I am to be able to have a front row seat as God works in them. I think of this because I realize that I alone cannot do this work. I shouldn't be able to spend week after week running, playing, and singing with the kids. I shouldn't be able to show love to my campers when they continuously fail to listen or put down others. I shouldn't be able to be excited and upbeat when my campers want to go swimming on the coldest and windiest day of the week. I shouldn't be able to have the compassion to listen to all of the tough, troublesome and grievous lives that many of these kids have to live. I really shouldn't be able to faithfully do my required job and the "more" that we do to make each week the best week of every camper's entire year. The only reason that I am able to do these things and more is because Christ's overflowing love in me. He promises that when we are weary he will give us strength, when we ask for wisdom he will give it to us, and when we are empty he will fill us with his love. The only way that I am able to do these things is because it is God who empowers me.
