ODAA and Christmas

About a year ago, I was serving as an intern in camping ministry. Trying to write a job description is fairly difficult for such a job, as it can and did include just about anything. Besides there is this addition at the end of such a job description that says, "other duties as assigned". There is a very similar clause at the end of my contract here at Sun Valley as well. It seems to be common in ministries. I think it's actually part of our job descriptions as Christians as well. We're called to love others, and all of that, but I feel there is this extra part at the end, which reads "whatever God calls you to do."

It's so easy to want to yell, "but that's not my job", whether at God or an employer. "I didn't sign up for this!" But as a Christian, as a servant of Christ, we are called to do what he want us to do. It's funny, I never set out to go into missions. Oh, I wasn't against it, but I never really felt like that was the purpose of my life. Strangely though, both jobs God has called me to since college have been in ministry and missions. God has put passions in my heart that have led me into ministry. I love it, but it's hard. Regardless of where I work or what I do though, God will always have that clause at the end of my job description. Ministry is not confined to specific jobs or organizations. It's a part of our life as Christians. Maybe it's teaching Sunday school, maybe volunteering at  homeless shelter. Maybe it's as simple as helping someone pick up something they dropped. I think ministry is not what we do, but how we live our lives.

This last week, we began to study Ruth, which is a book I love. The curriculum suggested we sign "It is well" and since it is one of my favorite songs, we did just that. One of the challenges in my life is to learn to be able to say that. Yesterday was a tough day. It was long day, and it was more than slightly stressful and frustrating. Yet, what do I truly have to complain about? Sure, the fact that I work with kids who can be incredibly disrespectful and defiant is not my favorite. And yes, it's been a long day, and I often end up exhausted every night (and all too often mornings as well). But what I am here for anyway? What is my perspective?

As Christmas time is almost here (yay!), I came across these lyrics again the other day. The song is familiar, but it's story add more meaning. It was written during the Civil War by Henry W. Longfellow. The despair in the third stanza is all too familiar, but the hope in the fourth we sometimes forget. God is not dead, and He does still give peace. In the end, God will win, right will prevail, and there will be peace on earth, even if it does not come till the end of the world.

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along th' unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:
'There is no peace on earth, ' I said
'For hate is strong, and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.'

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
'God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men.'

Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Things to be thankful for.

As a teacher I asked my kids to share things they were thankful for, either to a specific person or just a general list. It so easy to skip over this myself, but I am determined to make an effort to list my blessings.  So here goes.

I'm thankful that I know my God. The God who loves me no matter what happens, who listens to me ask the same questions, who holds me in his hands no matter what.

I'm thankful for my parents. They introduced me to this God, and they support me in pursuing my passions, no matter how little it pays. They love me and show me what faith is.

I'm thankful for my brother and sister, and the relationship I have with them. They don't beat me up, physically or emotionally. They are supportive of me.

I'm thankful for this crazy last year. The ups and downs, the good and the bad. The tears and the laughter. The pain and the joy. I'm thankful (at least I'm working on it) for the hard times, where I could not see where God was leading me. Because I know God has led me step by step, and he has brought me through it all. He has never left me. He has brought me to the perfect place for the perfect time. And he does it continually.

I'm thankful for the opportunity to work in a community of believers. I love the support I receive. It's hard as we sometimes have to remember we are all fallen humans, and we don't have it right, but I am blessed to walk with others who serve the same God.

I'm thankful for heat, light and running water. I may have to carry my drinking water, but I can take a shower and wash my dishes by turning on a faucet. Also, I can stay warm when it's freezing cold outside.

I'm thankful for God's amazing creation I see every day. As I now live in a new part of the country, it's amazing to see what variety there is in this world, and how beautiful it all is.  

I'm thankful for a a job and a place to live (they happen to be the same for me). I love working in a place where you can't go a day without needing God (heck, you often can't go 10 minutes). I love working with these kids, no matter how crazy they make me, because they challenge me, and force me to draw closer to God.

I'm thankful for the kids I serve every day. I often forget that my job is not to parent or teach first and foremost, but to serve them and show them Christ. That is so hard to do, and it takes a lot of work. But I'm thankful for the opportunity to serve them.

I'm thankful for friends, the ones I can call at any time, who love me and push me to seek Christ in new and different ways. I'm blessed to know so many people who challenge me to pursue Christ and walk that path with me.

I'm thankful for my grandma, who let me crash at her house countless times last year and continues to store a little bit of my stuff, for the open door she offered. I'm blessed to have family who love me and care for me.

I'm thankful for camp, because I know it has changed my life, and challenged me so much. I'm thankful for leaders who have pushed me. I'm thankful for being able to watch over 100 kids come to know Christ this summer. I'm thankful for the summers and year I spent at Miracle Ranch, and the summer at Arrowhead Lutheran Camp. I'm thankful for the staffs I have worked with and the amazing people I have met.

I'm thankful for Sun Valley Indian School, a place that was never on my radar, that I have come to call home. I'm blessed to work at such a place.

I am above all thankful for Jesus, who died on the cross for my sins that I might have a relationship with him. I all too often take for granted my relationship with Jesus, and forget that there was a big price tag attached to it.

Hey look! An Update!!!

Well, it's been a long time. Which, really, is not unusual. Plus, it's been camp season, which translates to pure craziness all the time, and blogging is last on the list of priorities.

You may wonder how camp has gone this summer. That is a difficult question to answer, so the quick version is this: long, hard, challenging, tears, joy, confusion, frustration, hope, Jesus, exciting, and so much more. Kids have come to know Christ. In fact, so far this summer, with 2 weeks left (ok one, but I don't know the stats from this week) 105 campers in our traditional and day camp programs have made first time decisions to follow Jesus. Another 95 have recommitted their life to Christ.

God is so much bigger than us, and in my worst week, He still moves. It's always good to be reminded that it's not about me, or my feelings, or anything. It's about God, moving in the lives of campers. It's about being faithful to the call God has placed in my life, even when it's the last thing I want to do. It's about putting God first, and trusting he's going to pull me through. It's about trusting Him with everything I have, and everything I don't. Camp teaches me total dependence on Him, again and again and again.

Knowing that one short week, I will again be homeless and jobless is scary beyond belief. Yes, I have a place to go, and I'm very thankful for that, but it's hard to wait and see what God might have next. There are a few things that have popped up recently, but until I know more, I don't really feel like sharing all of that. However, I know God has me. He has awesome plans for me. He will lead me in the next hour, the next day, the next week. When I look back a year from know, I will be able to see all those steps God has brought me through. And though I may not know why, I know he is the one directing my path. He never lets me go. I am blessed to serve a God who never lets me go, and won't lead me astray. I serve a God who empties me only to fill me again, and that's pretty cool.

That said, any job ideas for my life, please, please pass them on. :)

I may have lost my mind...

Bethany ponders... Random, but when I typed the word ponder it looked wrong. Don't you hate that? I mean, I start second guessing myself, and then I can't spell anything right... Sorry, I got distracted there for a second. So anyway, back to the purpose of this thing.... actually, I don't think there is a purpose. Today I spent over an hour looking for a chalkboard. I know, I'm not teaching, why would I need a chalkboard, right? But here at camp, many things become required. The chalkboard in this case is for our signs for the new coffee shop. Speaking of which, I officially made coffee in there today! You have to understand, after watching it be built all year (and getting my hands in there a few times), it's so nice to have it nearly done.

On other topics, summer is coming soon. For those of you who live in a cave, and have no idea what that means, I will officially have no life in just over a month. 18 hour days, meals on the run, and other craziness. Yes, oddly enough, I enjoy this. In fact, I'm looking forward to summer. I think I need therapy!

Oh, and if you thought our blogging was sparse before, get ready for even less! Peace out Brussel sprout!