Renewed Mind

I'm at camp this week. And every time I'm privileged to go to camp, there are always a few things that I excitedly prepare for: getting to know teenagers, sweating a lot, and getting some time alone with God. The latter is my favorite.

It seems that I get more excited about spending some good QT with God when I'm getting ready for camp. I'm not sure why I don't have that passion on any normal work day, but that's not really the purpose of this blog. I digress.

At this particular camp, the band, "Pocket Full of Rocks" is doing the music portion of the worship service, and it's been amazing. They lead authentic worship, and are really cool people to be around. They're straight-up anointed.

In the middle of one of the services, I sat down to contemplate what God was doing in my heart at that moment. I began to think about the big job God has set before me, and the shoes that I have to fill. I started to think about programs, and talks, retreats and camps. I know where my focus is "supposed" to be, but to be honest, it can be shifted.

God, though, in the middle of a worship service, began to work on my heart and remind me to simplify it all to prayer. I was able to breathe easier knowing that I was not the one doing the work, and that the job didn't fall on my shoulders. In fact, the job NEVER fell on my shoulders. God ALWAYS had it. If I'm going to do anything, it's through the power of God working IN me. May we never forget where the power for catalyzing a generation comes from.

"The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." - James 5:16

Cell Phone Contact List

This past Saturday night, as I was packing some things up in preparation to move, I took a break to sit out on my deck for a while. I pulled out my cell phone and started to do something I've been meaning to do for a while - I cleaned out my contact list.

Every once in a while, I look through my contact list to find phone number I saved in well-meaning to call and also those that I'd just felt bad about deleting in the past. It's almost like cleaning out your closet. If you're anything like me (pack rat), there are some things that almost seem too sacred to throw away. What that usually means is that they will be thrown out the next time I clean my closet, and I come to the same conclusion as the last 18 times.

As I began to clean some numbers out of my phone to prepare for new ones, though, something popped out to me. I had phone numbers of students all over Columbus, Ohio in my phone. It's funny how on a weekly basis, I was always yearning for more students to love on and to point to Jesus.

As I cleaned out number after number, I realized God had given me more opportunities than I had realized, or thanked Him for. I began to see that I was able to be a looking glass to Jesus to more students than I had previously realized.

May we never forget to stop and realize all that God is doing in the day-to-day, and even the minute-to-minute.

If God exists in the margins, why am I so attracted to the bright and beautiful? I pray my focus is always on the here-and-now, and on those God has entrusted to me.