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God is ever so faithful. We worked hard to make Summer Games 2009 organized, meaningful, have cohesive content, worshipful and open to God's Spirit. We were kept slightly off-balance all week...so we HAD to stick with the plan, rely on the team HE had provided... and most of all on Him. We clearly know it was ALL ABOUT HIM.

This Week (July 11th-18th)

This Week
I learned that I am an eagle
and I need to stop living with the chickens,
spread my wings, and fly.
I learned that it is possible
to throw up for God.
I learned that Christianity IS a crutch,
because I AM crippled without Jesus,
and I need Him to support me.
I learned that I'm not worthy of myself
and that I am so precious to God
that only He is worthy to hold my life
in His hands.
I learned that prayer is the most powerful
weapon, stress reliever, compliment, praise.
I learned that being in community
is one of the greatest gifts to ever be given
and that feeling safe is a part of being a family.
I learned that choosing between two things is difficult
but that when you choose the right one
even when you think it will hurt someone
you do not feel defeat.
I learned that being a united front
is essential to being a parent.
I learned that being a role model
may be a tough job but reaps great rewards.
I learned that having a role model
means showing respect and being able
to admit your weaknesses and doubts.
I learned that I am not the only one who feels dry
and wants to be filled up.
I learned that swaying to a worship song
will always be more powerful when standing
next to your best friends.
I learned that dealing with difficult situations
is impossible to do on my own,
and shouldn't be done on my own.
I learned that when the girls start laughing
it is useless to try and not join in.
I learned that I did not deserve what Jesus did for me
when He gave His life on the cross
but that being unworthy would never stop Him
from saving those He loves.
I learned that being called Christian
means standing up and declaring
"I Am A Disciple Of Jesus"
and feeling your own voice resound in your heart.
I learned that Summer Games has saved my life
one more time.

I learned that God will never
ever
give up
on me.

~K.J.~

Summer Games is . . .

“You are pulling a dumpster.” That’s what Pastor Brian was preaching about when it hit me. I lost my faith so easily because I wasn’t pulling one dumpster, I was pulling 50. He went on to say, “You want to let those dumpsters go…but once they are gone, you feel different. You want to go back to dragging the dumpster because you don’t know how to let it go. The only person who can take it off your shoulders is Christ.”

Summer Games can not be described, it can only be experienced. This year was most powerful for me. The sermons, the crucifixion, but most of all the part where Brian played a song and at the end the whole camp rose to their feet and screamed “I AM A DISCIPLE OF JESUS!” I can’t explain the feeling. The tears poured out my face like Niagara Falls; I flew up from my chair as if angels were teaching me how to fly. To reiterate what the song said, “I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on his presence, walk by patience….My companions are few, My God reliable. I can not be bumped, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed.” The goose bumps on my body turned to mountains and the feeling inside was indescribable. I wanted to run from the camp and tell everyone I knew about God and how he saves.

Not only was God in our presence, but unfortunately Satan was too. He loved how I was away from God for a month and a half due to my job and vacation. But he hated that I confessed on Monday night that I was away and wanted to come back to Christ, and then Tuesday night happened. Around 1 am, I had come back from a meeting and was lying in my bunk. Everyone was sleeping but I couldn’t fall asleep. I closed my eyes and there he was; Satan had sent his demons to haunt me. I saw faces…not beautiful faces, but faces that were evil. The best way to describe them is evil clowns. But, it was worse than that. I opened my eyes and they were still there. I couldn’t escape. All I knew to do was cry…it was my first encounter with Satan…and I just laid there. It felt like forever and I was terrified. They circled me and stared, laughed their evil laughs for awhile and after they had their fun and I was worn out they left.

The next morning I went to my prayer partner, Mrs. Patti. She told me the next time they came to tell them I was protected by the blood of Christ and they couldn’t be around me. That night, she was visited by the same thing I was. As I thought about this event, I realized the devil works in tiny ways: scheduling me to work on Sunday and Wednesday, provoking bad friendships, leading your mind away from God.

Summer Games gave me the strength to stand against Satan, it gave me Christian fellowship I needed , and showed me that God will always be around me. This is my six or seventh year, I have lost count… I plan on going back next year. If your child is old enough and hasn’t gone, send them. There is nothing else like Summer Games and I will never be able to explain how it changes a person. Like I said before…Summer Games is not a describable experience. The feelings, the inside jokes, the lessons, the love, and the life long friendships can’t be explained…they can only be felt.

~J.M.~

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