From May 22 until July 14 of 2012, I was given the opportunity to work for the Kanakuk family kamp –called Kauai– as well as a new traveling kamp – called Kampout. God taught me more about myself, about others but most importantly God taught me more about Himself. God continually reminds me that He never changes, and that fills my heart with joy, but also reveals how much I can never measure up to God’s perfection, which brings me back to praising Him. Here are a few short highlights of what I learned:
- Community. Being apart of a Christ-centered community is important. Not just being surrounded by kind-hearted people who you can call friends, but surrounding yourself daily with like-minded, God-fearing, Christ-following believers who can challenge you to grow and expand your faith. I have many friends who are Christ-followers, but due to one thing or another we do not meet everyday, or challenge each other as deeply as we should. My prayer for this upcoming year (which God is already answering) is to be able to be surrounded by a Christ-centered community each day who will build me up and challenge me and make me more like Jesus.
- Environment. At kamp, there were many restrictions and limitations. Only Christ-glorifying music could be played. Only modest clothes would be worn. Only pure speech would be spoken. Through these “rules” the goal was not to make us dread working, but to set us apart and create a Christ-honoring environment. When Christ goes in, Christ will come out. I absolutely loved being in this environment since it is out of the norm for me to be surrounded by Christians who live as the Light. I loved that being in a “bubble” for three months has made me more aware of how much of the world I have become comfortable with and accepted. I am called to be a light and to be different; not to please man or to attempt to fit in.
- Unity. The first two weeks in Branson were set aside for staff training. During this time, I realized a major focus was to give us all the same vision and to unify us as a family. However, before we could glorify God, we had to cleanse ourselves, to make ourselves right with God. If even one member of the family was stuck in sin, as a body, we would not be unified and could not glorify God. Just as the Israelites cleansed themselves before battle so that God would fight for them, so must we cleanse ourselves so that God may fight our battles too.
- Transparency. I am learning the importance of transparency for a while, but this summer it became a choice of action. I hate being called perfect, because God and I both know that I never was, nor will I ever be perfect. However, I also don’t want people to know that I’m not perfect. Yet, when I become humble and honest and transparent, that is exactly when God will be glorified through me the most. When I come up short, I am able to look to God and give Him the glory. And by being transparent, that allows other people to also look to God and glorify Him because of what He has done through me. For who I am has nothing to do with me, but everything to do with Christ and may I only boast in Him.
- Intentional. As I worked for Kampout, I was counseling a certain age group of about five to nine girls. My desire was to be intentional with sharing the Truth with them. When I first started, I had the mindset that I needed personal conversations with each girl in order to achieve intentional conversations. But I learned that intentionality is not about finding the right time to share Truth, but filling each moment with Truth. By staying focused on God and allowing Him to pore out of me, He spoke more Truth from me than ever. I focused on the power of God’s Words more than my attempts to speak eloquently (what 5-year-old really cares how I speak anyway). While it is important to live the life you talk about, it is just as important to talk about the life you strive to live. You may be the only Jesus anyone ever sees, but you might also be the only Truth anyone ever hears. Jesus did not live a silent life, but He proclaimed the Truth everywhere He went, and we are to do the same and “Go!” (Matthew 28:19-20)
- Esther. Throughout the summer, the staff dug into the book of Esther. The more I learned about Esther’s faults, the more I saw God’s love and mercy and grace. Esther was by no means virtuous, yet God used Esther to deliver her people. Even when Esther acted contrary to God’s will, He still used her to save her people! That is a characteristic about God that never changes. He loves to use ordinary people to accomplish great tasks that no one would have thought possible. I also learned, from chapter 4 and Mordecai, that God’s will is always completed whether you step up to be used or whether He finds someone else willing to serve. Esther also emphasizes God’s timing and His provisions.
- The FRUIT of the Spirit. This was what the kids learned throughout the week at family kamp. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23). All of these characteristics are part of the fruit – singular. When you do not have one, you are not living by the Spirit. This was a new concept to me. Without love we have hate, which is a sin and is of the flesh, not the Spirit. Without joy we have sorrow and depression, which is of the flesh. Without peace, there would be brokenness, no unity and war, which is of the flesh. Without patience, impatience; without kindness, rudeness; without goodness, badness; without gentleness, anger and wrath; without faithfulness, faithlessness; without self-control, chaos and sin and being overcome by temptation, which all come from the flesh. You cannot justify living by the flesh even in one aspect of your life. If you live by the flesh you cannot be living by the Spirit. Does your life reflect a Spirit led life defined in this passage?
- Peace and stillness. This was the main focus and theme for the summer, and Psalm 46:10 was the connecting verse. The challenge was not to be still and do nothing, but to find peace in full and live stillness in motion. Even when life was raging, the challenge is to remain focused on God; to let Him be your rock and your leader. Lay your burdens at the Cross and leave them there. Remember that He alone is God.
- God. I still have so much to learn about God, for He is BEYOND my understanding. But God also never changes, and He reveals Himself to us in many ways. As I have been reading through the Old Testament, God has revealed more of His character to me. Yes, God is just, but He is also loving and graceful. It is God’s holiness and perfection that separate Him from us because of our imperfection and sin, not hatred for us. God loves us more than He wants to judge us for our sin. It was His love for us that caused Him to send His son Jesus to die for us and carry our sins. He is our hope and our refuge, our strength and our provider. For those who call on Him in faith, He redeems and will never forsake (Romans 10:9-10). He hears His people. He refines His people. He answers His people. He cleanses His people. (from Zechariah 9-14 and Malachi 2-4)
I know this was a lengthy “short” overview of some of what God has been teaching me this summer, but if you have any questions or comments, feel free to write them. Thank you for all your prayers while I was at Kamp. It was a blessing to serve and become part of the Kanakuk family. God is so good!
annierebbeka 