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Dear Church Family,
It's hard to put into words what this week brought. It was the hardest week of the summer for me, but it was definitely exactly what I needed. I'm coming out of the week more in love with my Savior and realizing even more His strength compared to my weakness. Going into the week, there were just a lot of "life things" that were either disappointments or burdens on my heart. Last weekend I began having trouble with my sinuses and getting sick, which continued throughout the week. I also found out I would be in Junior Boot Camp again, which is a whole lot of fun, but I was disappointed that I would not be in teen camp with our youth group. As I got my campers on Monday afternoon, I soon realized I would be doing a lot of refereeing, trying to keep them from arguing and hurting one another's feelings. In one-on-one time, it became obvious that a few of them weren't saved. I shared the gospel with them and had them explain each part back to me, but at the end they just lacked understanding and wanted to go back and play. On Wednesday morning, I was convicted that I was letting some of these things steal my joy. During cabin devotions that night I apologized to my girls...but they just laughed. I read Isaiah 53 to them, describing what Christ did on the cross for us, but again, they just laughed. On Friday morning, I was so burdened and discouraged in seeing many of them lack any desire for God that I began to question what I was doing wrong. I felt like I was totally failing, and it was then that I was reading in Romans 7 and 8 and the truth of God hit me. Romans 7:24-25a, 8:15 - "O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord...For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." I may not have been as joyful at the beginning of the week as I should have been, but I am forever grateful that my standing with Christ is not based on my "results" as a camp counselor. Servants weren't allowed to use the word "Abba" in the house, but God made us His children! My God adopted me, and that is a forever thing! If I share God's truth with His love, God is just as pleased with me this week as He would be if every one of my campers got saved, got assurance, and surrendered to preach in the same week (which would be interesting since we're all girls). Going forward with that in mind, Friday was an awesome day. We had a ton of fun as a cabin and I was able to follow-up with some of them and go back through the gospel. I still didn't see any of my campers get saved, but they went home having heard the truth. Isaiah 55:8-11 has been an encouragement to me - "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater: So shall My Word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." My way would be that my girls would have accepted Christ this week, but God has a plan in mind and promises to use His Word. He is so good to us! Please pray for my health. Late Friday night one of my eardrums ruptured, and I am much sicker than before. I know that God is using it to show me even more that He is enough, that He will give strength, and that He should be my only desire. I can't wait to be back with our church family! I have been laboring over our church in prayer this week and was overjoyed to see that our youth group made it home safe and rejoicing. God has been so good to us this past year! May He continue to use this "tragetunity" to bring Him glory. In Christ, Brittany Sherrill Comments are closed.
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