Months after I have returned from project in Ocean City, New Jersey, I'm reeling from the impact it has made in my life. Not only from what I've learned, but the friends I made there. The theme of the first week was Setting the Pace, I'd like to believe that I did exactly that for the rest of my life.
The more I reflect on the summer, the more I realize that each of the weeks has impacted my life in different ways and continues to do so. And every time I see project people again, I realize more about the relationships that were made there. These different aspects continue to affect my life in positive ways.
In this post I'll look at the first half of the summer. The next one I'll look at the second half and friendships.
Weekly Themes
With staff
Setting the Pace. This week didn't seem to make much of an impact at the time. But because I took the theme of that week to heart, I believe I not only set the pace for my summer, but for the rest of my life. The steps of faith I began taking were ones that would continue to impact me. It was that week that I went sharing with my discipler TJ Habel for the first time. That would plant the seed that would grow into a love of sharing. It was that week that I began to make friends with those on project who would become like family, even if I never got to know them deeply. The connection of the summer was enough to make us family. We shared our stories with each other and got to know each other deeper than we had anyone else in our lives. I praise God for that.
Thirsting to Know Him. This was the first week we went through our Thirsty devotional with our action groups. It talks about walking with the Spirit and thirsting to know Him. We talked about Psalm 63 where David was in a desert. I'm not sure if it was literal or spiritually that he was in the desert. God is the only thing that can quench our thirst, not food, not friends, not relationships, not things. Only God can. David saw God's glory and wanted Him. The more tastes of God we have, the more we desire Him. I only find that to be more and more true the more glimpses of God I have.
Killing the Giants. If greatness is your goal, safety can be your enemy. On a scale of 1-10, how risky is your walk with God? If you want to grow like never before, start giving God things that are hard to do. These are just a few quotes from the week. Its a week that reminds me that with God, I can kill the Giants in my life, whether it is sharing with someone or going outside of my comfort zone. In Joshua 3, the Israelites had to step into the Jordan, a raging river, before it would be calmed. Sometimes in life God calls us to step into the raging river before He calms it. When we step into the unknown Jesus meets us there.
All for One. Looking back at this week I'm reminded how important it is to work as the body of Christ. One day this week we had to rely on one person to wake us up because only one alarm could be set that day to meet a challenge. Its important when we speak truth into others lives to do it in love. We learned how we need to bear each others burdens together. We need each other in community to build each other up and spur one another on. Know there is no true christian maturity or ministry without love.
World Vision. This week possibly has had the biggest impact on me. Its where I learned more about God's heart for the world. Its this week I believe I met the four things to know I'm called to full time ministry. I'm convinced the world's problems are spiritual. I'm convinced Jesus is the only answer to those problems. I'm convinced God can use me. I'd rather do ministry than anything else. Four perspectives of mine were shifted. From What is God's plan to my life? to What is God's plan and how do I fit in that? From I will stay unless I get a special call to go to I will go unless I get a special call to stay. From God please tell me if I should go to God please send me. From Here I am, send Him to Here I am send me. God has put it on my heart to serve Him by reaching the world. I don't know what that looks like yet. I could go over seas, or I could stay here in the U.S. and mobilize others to go themselves. I may end up only supporting a missionary who goes overseas and praying for the unreached people groups of the world.
Agape. The staff were leaving this week and they showed how much they loved us and how important love was. People want to follow a loving leader. There are different things in our lives that keep us from seriously experiencing Christs love for us. An improper view of God, a lack of faith, not listening to those He has put in our life, not using the gifts He has given us, and not using the logic He has given us. These are a part of the 5 spiritual senses God has given us. God wants to have a personal relationship with you, a part of that is leading you by listening to the 5 spiritual senses. I find myself using these sense more since project has ended.
This is just half of what God did this summer. God is BIG. He did big things. more to come later on what he did in Ocean City.
#OCSP12
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