Well it's been a while. I haven't had too much to write about lately...well maybe that's a lie...I have had plenty to write about and no time to do it. I figured with this being my first week at camp it would be the perfect time to update.
I am working at a beautiful camp called Glorieta in the wonderful land of New Mexico. This camp is located in Glorieta Pass in the mountains. It's quite a sight to see! Pictures to come later.
Today has been one of those days that God has hit me in the face with so many lessons. For the sake of time and energy I will share one of these lessons with you. It all started a week ago while Joshua and I were hanging out in a coffee shop in Albuquerque. I was really struggling with being in a new place so far away from home. I began to read 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." I have heard this verse a million times, but never before have i continued reading...
"All this is from God,who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us."
Then in chapter 6 it goes on to say that no matter our circumstances we should never lead people astray from the gospel.
I had been in a bad mood all week because of my circumstances...lack of sleep, new place, high altitude, away from family etc... I realized then that ABQ is such a lost city and I was letting my circumstances control the way I was presenting the gospel. I have been entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation! How could I waste that? I was convicted then.
That brings us to today... In one of our rotations we were given a paper that said...
Our understanding of who God is reveals our understanding of our identity which reveals our understanding of our purpose. As everyone was discussing this I was brought back immediately to 2 Corinthians.
Here we go...stay with me...
My understanding of God comes in 2 Corinthians 5:21 "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." He is the PERFECT Lamb who came to be our substitution so we may know the righteousness of God. MY IDENTITY in Christ is revealed in verse 17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." I am a new creation and the old self doesn't matter anymore. My new self moves me to action and defines my purpose in verse 18
"All this is from God,who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us." My purpose is to spread God's mission and ministry of reconciliation! I have no excuses!
These verses have started to become my theme verses for the summer and life! They are beginning to speak straight to my heart! I love it!
I will try to update more about camp because I am confident that God will do so much this summer!
