Campmeeting

 

 

Today I am heading here! I know - it isn't the greatest picture but it is the only one I could get my hands on right now!  :)

 

Just outside of Muncie, Indiana sits this lovely little place on about 5 acres of beautifully shaded land.  It holds a very special place in my heart!

 

Dave and I started dating in the month of February and that June, he invited me to his church youth camp.  I think a little later in August, I went for family camp but it has been long enough ago that my memory is a little bit "faded"!  :)

 

With few exceptions, we have been at family camp just about every year since then.  If you want to hear any traveling stories of our trips from Florida to Indiana, just ask my kids.  Probably the most memorable would be the time I think David, Jr started out driving us home that Sunday night but shortly after he ran his second stop light in New Castle I realized he was "sleep-driving".  Not good.

 

Anyway - MUCH has changed since that first visit so long ago.  The Central Yearly Meeting of Friends will be convening their annual family camp in just about 10 or 11 hours.  One major change is that Dave is now the Superintendent of this group which is really cool for him and very nerve-wracking for me!  :)  It is an extremely busy time for him but......here is the best part!

 

In my mind and heart, God chooses to meet with us in a very special way every single year.  I would have to say that just about every year is different.  This year will be no exception to that I am sure.  I am ready and that is what I am telling God throughout this day.  I am ready for what He has in store for us!

 

Lately I have been thinking of those older saints who are no longer with us.  I think this is really because of the loss of Sis. Emma Grile in the last few weeks.  She hasn't been at camp for a few years but now she is in Heaven.  There was something about her that absolutely radiated Jesus Christ.  And, when she prayed you knew with no doubts her prayers were being heard.  My prayer is that God will help me have a fresh and renewed vision of the power of prayer. 

 

So - I am anxiously awaiting this day to be over so I can run a couple last minute errands, take care of the last minute things at home, pack the last minute things and not get a speeding ticket between home and camp!  :) Have a blessed day! 

I'm Glad I know Who Jesus Is

  As a wife and mother, I am fiercely protective!  Just ask my husband and children.  Here is what I often say about me at this stage of life - hurt my kids and you better look out.  Hurt my husband and you better be on a dead run somewhere.  I know - doesn't sound very Christ-like does it?  It's just words right?  But there is something profoundly protective in mother that she wants to protect her family.  And I for one believe we can do it in a right way. 

 

But -----------Today, my heart is broken. I have read some of the most awful things on Facebook this morning and I feel something that I can't remember ever feeling before. The things I read were about my Jesus. Horrible, awful things.

I feel more strongly than ever the NEED and the DESIRE to defend my Jesus.  My heart is burdened, broken, crushed - whatever else you want to say.  Someone has been so very mean and ugly about my Jesus.  I feel a deep, deep longing to defend Him because of what He is to me.  Where oh where would I be without Him?  How can anyone turn their back on Him? 

 

I know that everyone has been given the ability to make choices on their own.  No one is forced to serve or love my Jesus.  That is the neat thing about this relationship we have - we can do it because we WANT to. 

Jesus is everything to me!  I cannot imagine my life without Him in it!  My entire life has been surrounded with Him.  I learned of Him from the very beginning of my life.  I wasn't taught to fear Him or to love and serve Him out of fear.  It is because it is right and it is what I WANT to do. 

 

When we have friends and family that are being hurt by others, our natural reaction is to want to protect them.  We want to make sure whoever is doing the hurting KNOWS it is not acceptable.  Why oh why are we not that way even more so with Jesus??  I did my very best to stand up for Him today in a loving and kind way yet firmly so there would be no mistaking where I stood. 

 

I stopped and prayed with the tears flowing that God would see fit to rebuke Satan and the deceit he is sowing in these lives.  I asked my Jesus to forgive me for my lazy approach to defending Him and His reputation as my Savior.

 

And then, I promptly sent all "six" of my kids and text and told them that they absolutely HAD to make sure they were where they needed to be spiritually in the eyes of God.  I also reminded them to make sure NOTHING could ever make them doubt Him!  See - I am just that kind of mom.  I will do whatever I can do to make sure my kids make it to heaven!  And, they all know this already!   :)

 

So - if there has been any doubt before, let me make it clear!  I love my Jesus and am so thankful I KNOW who Jesus is!

 

In a little town of Bethlehem so many years ago,
They told Him there was no room in the inn.
But they had no way of knowing Who they had turned away -
The Lamb of God Who would take away their sins.

Chorus
I'm glad I know Who Jesus is!
I'm glad I know Who Jesus is!
He's more than just a story;
He is the King of Glory.
I'm glad I know Who Jesus is.

So many people still today don't know who Jesus is;
They've never felt His peace within their souls.
But I want my life to show them how His love can set them free
He's the only One Who can cleanse and make me whole!

Chorus
I'm glad I know Who Jesus is!
I'm glad I know who Jesus is!
He's more than just a story;
He is the King of Glory.
I'm glad I know Who Jesus is.
He's the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End;
He's Counsellor, Deliverer to me.
He's the Everlasting Father; He is the King of Glory,
I'm glad I know Who Jesus is!