I am blessed to be able to say, I have gone to MABYC since I was 12. I've loved every moment of it. Possibly even more so as I came back to Jr. Camp on a few occasions. However, don't count me gone just yet. These, by no means, are my last years, I will be back! If God plays out His will in my life as it is in my heart, I will return with "my kids" of the ministry in years to come. I'm very excited for it. As this chapter of my life comes to a close, another begins. But before I turn the page, I wanted to take a moment and thank every one of y'all who have had a part in my camp for what you have done for me. Many did so simply by living their life and allowing me to observe it. So, thank you! I pray I will someday be able to have the same affect on 'my teens' as y'all have had on me. Looking back on these years, my mind is flooded with memories. I've had some incredible highs, and some heart shattering lows at camp. I won't begin to share them all as, there are so many, I would never finish. Camp has been so beneficial to my life...I live for those weeks. I know this, my kids will go to camp! Maybe I want them to experience and enjoy what I have, or maybe it will be a great asset to raising my kids in the Lord, or maybe it's just fun! Really, it's all of the above. There are many reasons why I will send my kids to camp; reasons which stem from what I have walked away from camp with year after year. This will not even begin to scratch the surface of benefits, but it's a start. Here are a handful of reasons, in no particular order, why I go to camp, why you should, and why my kids will go to camp. CONTROLLED INDEPENDENCE. Proverbs 20.11, "Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right." Going to camp is maybe the first time some kids are given responsibility. They learn to take care of themselves without having mom or dad there. (My kids will more than likely have me there, but it's still different than at home.)They learn to do things on their own that build their independence and responsibility. Yes, there are adults continually watching and supervising, however they don't go through the day holding their hand. - I keep saying "kids", but I am in reference to kids and teens alike. Teens are really just big kids anyway. -Campers are expected to get ready, pick up their space in the room, and do certain chores each day. And while there are adults to assist them if needed, they are encouraged do it on their own. The kids learn some independence in a controlled environment. GODLY FRIENDS AND FELLOWSHIP. Proverbs 13.20, "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed." Proverbs 27.17, "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." Amos 3.3," Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" I can't stress this one enough. I'm greatly anticipating this year for this reason alone. The social aspect of camp in incredible.It's so indescribable to be able to get together with a group of people that believe the way you do and simply enjoy each others company. The fellowship shared is sweet and I wouldn't trade it for the world. You walk away encouraged and with friends to last a lifetime. The journey is easier together. REAL PREACHIN' 1 Peter 4.11, "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." The preachers don't preach a watered down, feel good, flowery message. They give it to us hard, and straight, right from the Bible. They aren't afraid to yell, step on peoples toes, or make people mad. They don't "dumb it down" for us. They simply allow Christ to speak through them and the Holy Spirit convicts the hearts where their needs are. It doesn't matter where you are in your Christian walk, every message has something for YOU. I remember one night in particular. The message, the speaker, all that escapes my memory, but it was a powerful break through in my heart. It wasn't the preacher, it was Him. 1 Peter 4.11, that is what camp preachers do! And it's refreshing to get yelled at for a week! ATMOSPHERE OF GODLINESS AND ENCOURAGEMENT. 2 Peter 3.11 & 12, "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God..." Psalms 1.1&2 , "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." This one is hard to explain, and you can never grasp what I mean by this until you have experienced it for yourself. There is an incredible atmosphere about our camp! As I attempt to describe it, these are the two aspects I can come up with. Godliness and Encouragement. First, an atmosphere of Godliness. There is a dress code for a reason. There are rules for a reason. There is distance between the genders for a reason. I could go on and on. The point is, everything we do at that camp (and not JUST at camp by the way) should honor Him, and provide a place with the least amount of distractions from Him as possible. We are then surrounded by music, games, and teaching that brings glory to Him. Second, an atmosphere of Encouragement. Some kids get no encouragement other than at church and a week at camp can do them a world of good. Camp can be highly beneficial, not even just in the spiritual sense. Simply encouraging them in every day things, and who they are; what they do. They may get that encouragement no where else but there. Simply being around like-minded people and teens is more encouraging to me that anything. Everything builds, it doesn't beat you down. And you never know just who needs it most. The atmosphere of camp is uplifting and encouraging. HEALTHY ENJOYMENT. Ecc. 3.1, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:" Ecc.3.13, "And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God." Church camp is like the Christian's Disney World. It's the "funnest" place on earth. We can have fun! We know how to have fun! Following Him isn't a boring, dull life. It's the best, most exciting life you can have. And just because you are at church camp doesn't mean you can't have fun. We are some of the craziest people you will ever meet. We laugh more than probably reasonable. ;) We have fun that is REAL fun. We don't just enjoy the pleasure of sin for a season, we enjoy life in a God-honoring way. We come home from camp with crazy inside jokes that are so random, we can't even explain them. We start laughing in dead silence about something that happened at camp weeks ago. We cry because we laugh so hard. It is amazing! Ask anyone. ;) POSITIVE EXAMPLES. Matthew 5.16, "Let your light so shine before me, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." The group of campers and counselors at MABYC are full of godly men and women in the ministry. Not strictly full-time workers either. There are great examples of committed laymen, parents, husbands, wives, and people who give their all to Him. It is encouraging to see good men and women who truly want to serve Him with everything in them. Be it from the aspect of godly fathers, husbands, or respectfully, simply servants of Christ. The standard is set high for my future husband, and they have a big part in that. As with godly mothers, wives, and wives of the ministry. Personally, I observe these people very closely. Some may barely know I exist, but I watch them. We are surrounded by those who have failed to do things right. We are surrounded with the casualties of this war. It is really good to be around those who have done things right and observe their lives in contrast to those we see every day. RE-FOCUS. Colossians 3.2, "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." If every camper and counselor gets this one, everything else falls into place. A week of camp does so much good in this aspect. 360 days a year, we are surrounded by the world. It's ideas are sneaking into our head. It's philosophies are being thrown in our face constantly, and slowly make their way into our hearts. But those five days, if they're used right, can work wonders in the next 360 days. With everything set aside and left behind, surrounded by a godly atmosphere, powerful preaching and people who encourage you to go to Him, its incredible. To have a week to focus on nothing but Him, it changes your focus on everything. It puts everything back in it's right place, and brings your life back into focus. That's where "Life in Focus" came from. Your focus goes from anything and everything, back to Him, where it belongs. HEALING AND ESCAPE. Jeremiah 17.14, "Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise." Psalms 27.5, "For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me upon a rock." Camp, for some kids, is the most calm they have. It is their escape. Their escape from normal life. Their escape from their family, their past and any reminders. Camp doubles as an escape from home, stress, and pressures. Quite often, that escape is very much needed. Through it, they can focus on Him and find some healing from what they are escaping. SEPARATION. Romans 12.1, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." Psalms 101.3, "I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me." I notice this more as I return from camp. Throught the week, we are in a bubble. Technology, Media, and worldly influences (for the most part) are shut out. And as we are placed back into our normal lives, our eyes are more aware of those things that we have become callused or at the very least, used to. The camp experience doesn't, or at least, shouldn't, stop when we leave camp. What we've learned, and the experiences we've been through stick with us. What we see changes. Instead of overlooking sin, we are become more aware of it so we are less prone to "fall" into it. Being around it desensitizes us to it, while separating ourselves from it for a week makes us more sensitive to the harmful things that try to sneak into our hearts. "ROUGHING" IT. Psalms 8.3 &4, "When I considered thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the starts, which thou hast ordained;What is man that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?" I absolutely love the outdoors! In fact, I am slightly disapproving of the inclosed tabernacle as it looses the "Camp Meeting feel". However, the outdoor activities, gorgeous scenery, and newly added goats are often just what I need. Even the bugs, sun, and heat...everything we complain about, add to the experience. The gross dorms, toilet/shower duty, and green film on the bottom of the pool, it's all part of camp. It desensitizes us to dirt,and that's a good thing! ;) Too many teens have everything handed to them, and we end up with "pretty boys" and "prissy girls". But after a week of camp, hopefully it can change that a little bit. :) These are deff not half the reasons why I go, why you should, or why I will send my kids to camp, but it's a start. I say my camp is the best, because it is. The people are amazing. The atmosphere is incredible. I love everything about it. Looking forward to an amazing week! See y'all at camp!
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Lizzy parkerMarriage.
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January 2023
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