Words........

All I can say is ~WOW~
I don't have the words to fill in the details of last week at Thirst Camp. Our middle and high school church camp. It was such an amazing week in so many ways. Where do I start? I do know for sure though that many came away from this - changed. Including me.
Our students - Your children - were stretched in so many ways, we allowed them to get out of the comfort zones and into a place where God can touch and change hearts. I have never cried with so many students, adults and leaders in my life. Camp started with checkin on Monday evening. Teams were gathered together and instantly set off to get to know one another, build team flags, and pray together. Morning devotionals and evening small groups together. Service projects in the community each morning. Some of the things our students did was serving a few families with cleaning out garages, landscaping, moving furniture, cutting trees and branches, cleaning barns and delivering 72 bales of hay, cleaning walkways, pulling weeds, serving the senior homes, folding laundry and sorting clothes, Salvation army as well as serving in the habitat for humanity. It was a busy week and watching our youth take over and do work they have never done and get dirty like I have never thought I would see and all with smiles on their faces was just amazing. I learned last week that our children have a passion for God. A burning passion and a love of serving others. A few things stick out in my mind that I will not soon forget. While at the climbing wall at the Y , a student set her mind to climb the 25 ft wall but heights is a fear of hers and half way up - I was not letting them give into that fear and lifting them with encouragement to not give up. She not only climbed the wall but they came down a different person. I got to see some of our older high school students make sound and clear decisions all week in terms of giving God the glory in those decisions even if that meant them not getting any at all. I was asked on Friday to recognize a boy and girl student on my team and talk about them. I had a hard time with that because all the students stood out in their own way and were leaving camp a much different person than when they came in. After a long struggle with that decision, God told me to talk with these 2 students and in His perfect plan, it was revealed to me that my decision was right on the money. Both students refused to be recognized because they didn't want to take ANY glory from God and asked me to give Him all of it during my stage talk to everyone. What an amazing story .....
God touched us in so many ways last week, through our service projects, worship times, discussion times with the pastors, free time at the pool and during the games, even during those tough moments where the students needed someone to talk to. I really love that part knowing that I am in their trust. I had one student tell me that I was their tree and my roots for them grow deep and she thanked me for always being there for her. God moved especially during the evening worship services. I have never been cried on like by so many before - I have never cried on so many before. We sweated together, stunk together, ate together and learned together. Family ...... comes to my heart when I think back. I do know for sure that nobody wanted camp to end. It was until Sunday that I finally got some sleep even though camp ended Friday night. I just couldn't unwind and my mind and heart still going full steam ahead. I am pretty tired today but I do know for sure.... if camp was again this week... I would be on it.
I was told last week that even though my job is where I work - its just a job and it is not WHO I AM. I found out who I was last week..... I found out what God wants me to continue to pour my heart and soul into. "MyKids" all of them - in every way I can. Let God shine His light through me for them to see. I am there gang..... you have all I can give you.
God doesn't make junk and in His image - He has made you perfectly according to His plan and purposes.
All week I had my girls saying outloud and in some screaming for all to hear. "I am Powerful and Beautiful". Yes you are girls.... you are not what people tell you or who you are. You are who God says you are!!
Thanks to everyone who made last week happen - especially the students! Camp was really over after the Tuesday evening service last week when we all stood together, claiming our mark and taking a stand for God. Its personal ....... its time to let that light shine for our God. Let me share in closing the last chapter in the book of James. It was our study for the week .... and a great one at that!
James 5:
The Prayer of Faith
13Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
17Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. 19My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, 20remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

With all the love and thankfulness I can muster up .......
Lonnie~

The night before.......

This will be my last post for the week everyone. Just letting you know - nothing is wrong, should not be in the hospital or come down with the swine flu - I am unplugging from TV, internet, email, facebook and cell phone. It is going to be a great week and probably wont have time anyways for such stuff and that is what it is ... stuff.
I am sitting here, the night before our middle and high school church camp -Thirst Camp - and I feel like this big huge thing hanging over me. Meaning, I know that God is going to be rocking my world, He is going to be rocking the worlds of those that I will be leading and investing in and honestly - since last Thursday after our Thirst Camp meeting - I haven't slept all that good because of the excitement. I am ready to get the party started!! I am so ready and so pumped to be investing into these kids. Rock Group tonight started with the foundation of camp, house rules, camp rules, and why we are doing what we are doing this week. We will be taking the practical love of Jesus to some families in our community by serving them and working on and in their homes ..... These are families who are in need and if our faith has no actions - then it is a dead faith. So we are reaching out and serving others this week! I know everyone is excited about it and just as eager to experience what God has for us all. For some - it will be a time away from home... it will be a good spread your wings season for the kids as they get away from parents and stretch out of the comfort zones and open themselves up for what God wants to teach them.
Hanging with these kids I know is going to be hard and in case you didn't know - I am 43 and well OLD. So - prayers are welcome LOL. Anyways - I am just really excited about this - I feel in my heart that this in part is in my calling to minister to these young folks. I want to open my heart and life experiences into them all while pointing them to Jesus.

I am excited God with what You are going to do this week. I am excited for "MyKids" Lord and what you will be showing and teaching them. Use me as you wish this week to reach these kids in new and incredible ways. I know You will be teaching and showing me things but it is for them that I am shining for you. Help me pour my heart and energy into them this week ... may this be a life changing week all around. Thank You Lord for using me and bringing me to a place of being humble and asking You for more. I pray all this in your sons name in Jesus,
Amen

Cya next week everyone. With love, compassion and peace that only God can give you,
Lonnie~

Busy day today and blessed to have Kyle and Madison this afternoon for lunch and some time at work with me. I do enjoy the time I have investing in them no matter where that may be. They did have to get home in a hurry since Carol called and said that Kyles snake, Kudzu, was missing. After much searching and looking in every crack of the room, Kudzu was found. IN THE TANK. Thank goodness.......... so I eagerly wait for tomorrow to try an afternoon again with the kids. The Beaver family is leaving for Peace University tonight for orientation. Madison will get to spend a few days with us and we are blessed to be able to do that. She is a great kid in so many ways.

I wanted to finish up my time in 2 Peter today - Scripture comes from 2 Peter 3
8-9Don't overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn't late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn't want anyone lost. He's giving everyone space and time to change.
I am reminded of God timing and not my own. I know even after 2-3 days of praying for something or over something - I grow impatient with God as I seek His solution and will. Many times folks pray over things for their lifetimes before it is answered. I prayed for years for Walt to come to know Christ and was blessed beyond measure when he finally accepted Him in his last words on earth. There are many children out there who have parents who are praying for them for years .... often times answered but some that are not. Our time frame is not the same as Gods. It is all in His timing ........ I am also reminded that when we are down and hurting, not seeing a way out and things are just beyond what we know and think can be fixed is when God steps in and does what He does best. He cleans it all up and makes things happen even if we agree with the result or not ... its all good because in Romans 8 it is said that 28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
So no matter your struggles today loved ones, God is in them. It is a topic we will be talking about at Rock Group this Sunday .... I am really fired up for next week and about this topic. I feel so often times that people get weary when they don't get the answers they are looking for or even an answer at all .... often times we quit praying just before ..... God answers us. Like children we can't have it now, all the time, when we want it - even if we kick and scream.... we would be booted out of Walmart too! - God is patient with us and give us what we need when we need it.
I know God loves us ........ and I am grateful He does. He also gives us a great example in how to love others - no matter the circumstances.

I will close today in 2 Peter 3:
11-13Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life? Daily expect the Day of God, eager for its arrival.
Love and peace loved ones,
Lonnie

A quick post....

I have been enjoying learning and listening to the many different preachers of today in the "One Prayer" series. One church, one voice and with one heart for doing Gods work. I do believe there are too many differences in church today and we are losing people left and right and all around us because of the lack of team work together serving Gods kingdom.
I am especially thankful for Kyles Bible study at a local church tonight - its not our own church - but its ok ... they love having them and us when I can get go but we also love going.

I have been in Peter the last few days and this comes from 2 Peter: Hope it speaks volumes to you today.
Don't Put It Off
3-4Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you—your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust.
5-9So don't lose a minute in building on what you've been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can't see what's right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books.
10-11So, friends, confirm God's invitation to you, his choice of you. Don't put it off; do it now. Do this, and you'll have your life on a firm footing, the streets paved and the way wide open into the eternal kingdom of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Continued thoughts...

As I continue to reflect on my past week in the mountains and at the beach - something becomes clear... This recession is hard to find in some places. While out on the boat going up the inter coastal waterways, a place where Carols mom and dad spent a lot of time on their boat, it is amazing to see the $$ going up and down and on the coastline. I often wonder what these folks do for a living, what kind of business do they own or what paths in life they have walked. These are all things that come to mind about my post yesterday - we can't take it with us but in the same breath - did we ruin our chances to invest in family, friends, church, our children to obtain such possessions and things.
I am reminded in Psalm 106:36 for just one reminder in Gods word: 36 They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them.
Sure it takes such a big investment of our time, energy and passion to obtain such things in this life but at what costs?
I am reminded by a few things from an email yesterday and I want to share them now. Great email Carol and thanks for sharing!
~Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your Friends and parents will
~Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone
~Its OK to get angry with God. He can take it
~Its OK to let your children see you cry
~Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
~No one is in charge of your happiness but you
~Believe in miracles
~God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
~Your children get only one childhood
~All that truly matters in the end is that you loved
~Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need
~The best is yet to come
~Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift

Our church Student/Youth camp is starting next week. I am especially pumped for what God is going to do through our kids and our leaders. I am especially pumped to be investing a LOT of myself into my team of kids and those 7 kids that Carol and I are hosting for the week. It should prove to be an awesome week on many fronts. These kids have different strides in life, have struggles and experiences and I look forward to molding them together in unity for Gods purpose for them. I especially am praying hard for their return home knowing that their families are important and their parents, especially dads, leadership for them. If dad is not there - then my role is that role.... I accept that and pray it honors Jesus in doing so.
In the end we each matter .... its personal .... its special. Things don't fulfill us and make us happy but having each other will do that and all through the love that Jesus has for us as He is the example of what Love is for each of us. Our sins put Him on the cross and He came to complete us. Life is not meant to do it alone - reach out loved ones..... there is someone who needs you. A daughter, son, family member, mom or dad, uncle/aunt, church friend, coworker or someone elses son or daughter who you have influence in their lives......
These are the big investments........
Humbled today and thankful for what the Lord has blessed me with - You.
Lonnie~

A fresh start ...

It is good to be back. I basically left everyone - hanging up my keyboard and laptop and basically unplugged. Wow it was weird the first day or 2 but then it was ok. I enjoyed the time I would normally be online, checking email, writing on this blog, reading other blogs and of course facebook. It was a good and much needed time to unplug and unwind from the technology world we live in today. I basically did not even watch much TV.
Vacation was good with time spent with friends to start the weekend off - family with Bob and Katie coming into town from Penn until Thursday and then finishing up the week at the beach with a great family. I for sure got too much sun on my face, played too hard, enjoyed good food and fun and slept like I have not done in years. Usually it takes me days to unwind but this past week was much different. I was content where I was, when I was and who I was and who I was with. Life is good....
First day back to work this morning had me hitting the snooze button - no time for breakfast and really wanting to unwind into a good cup of coffee. I am thankful for my job and once here it was ok. Groove will be back tomorrow.
Have a meeting now so I am off here. I am just feeling very blessed with the people in my life and the people that look to me for guidance, advise, council and for showing them the practical love of Jesus. It is because of Him - I am where and who I am today.
I will leave you with 1 Timothy 6 today ....
6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

More tomorrow about this.
Love and peace always and bless the peacemakers in our families~
Lonnie

Shoulders.....

I have had such a peace about me the last day or so. Trying to work out a deal with replacing the family vehicle, making the decision to trade in a vehicle that I have always wanted and have had for the last 6 months or so - as well as parting with something that belonged to Carol's dad. It was a tough decision choosing what is best for my family and not what feels good and what I wanted. If I had to get the old van fixed - fine. If I got the deal I wanted to get the new van - fine. Its in Gods hands and that is where I placed it. He is in control..... and I realize that this is all part of my story.
See loved ones, we each have a story. Our lives share that story with others. What we do for a living, how we lead and raise our families, where we live, how we treat people, how we adjust to struggles and we even have a story when it comes to God. How we come to a place where we decide to follow Him or continue to reject Him.
I am reminded by a scripture in Romans 10:14
14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
I have been talking the last few days about the grip that God has on you and how folks who have been walking with Jesus have fallen off and are walking alone now. That really does break my heart but what also breaks my heart is the dear ones who we continue to pour into every aspect of their lives and they continue to follow their paths. They have their fingers in their ears so they can't hear like little children. They continue to fall and scrape their knees and cause so much drama. Is that the story for them? Is there a better story? The hope of the world does not rest on your shoulders, but the hope of someone does. Sharing your story is part of a big step forward. As I look around and see so many struggling it is deep in my heart to continue to reach them. My story as an example that God has the shoulders to carry them. When life is hard - don't unplug but PLUG IN. Do the things that allow you to grow in your understanding of God. Even if you are mad and confused - His grace and love will shine through it. As I said in an earlier post - the longer we are away from God and the things of Him (church, small group, quiet time, godly friends) the harder it is to hear, to see, to feel, to know and to experience Jesus.
God uses all kinds of people with all kinds of issues and struggles ... to expand and glorify His kingdom. He can use you right where you are right now. In that place .......
Surround yourself loved ones, feel the encouragement, feel the prayers, listen with open ears, a loving heart and an open mind - share your story. I bet someone listens.......
Who is on your shoulders?
Lord I pray for those who are struggling today. I pray for that person or persons who are walking along side someone today who need direction and encouragement. I ask that You give them encouragement and strength Lord to continue to carry the load. I pray for the person with closed ears who is walking their paths Lord, that they may hear, that they may see, and that they may feel what is around them. I pray that not only are they preaching your word Lord but also living Your word. I pray that Your light shines for others to see who You are and just how big Your shoulders are. Carry us Lord, lift us through those tough places we are in today so that we can build our lives around You. Help us to focus in and stay plugged in and doing the things to keep us walking on Your paths Lord. Surround us in every direction... take our hearts, our minds and our souls. Lord You are MIGHTY to save - You can move our mountains. Help us with our stories Lord.... may they be stories that glorify You and Your son Jesus. Its in His mighty name I pray, Amen
Love you all~
Lonnie