"Serve Him far and near..."

So... I know it's late, and I should probably be sleeping, but sometimes the Lord just puts stuff on my mind that I just need to write down and share.

I've been at Csehy for a little over 2 weeks now, and the intense schedule is starting to take it's toll on my physical being. Sure, I'm only 21 years old, but anyone who knows me can testify that I'm built like an 80 year old. I'm getting tired, my bones ache, and walking up that hill from the dorms to the rest of campus throughout the day is becoming harder and harder. However, despite the tiredness and aches in my bones, I am so thankful that I still have a little over 2 weeks left here.

God has been doing so much work here this summer, all for His glory! I cannot express how awesome it is to be a part of that. While I cannot go into detail about a lot of it, there are a few things I can share... one which really hit me tonight.

Each counselor at the beginning of the summer picks a "tribe name" for their hall - a Greek or Latin word from the bible from a specific verse. This year, I picked the word "Diakoneo", which means to serve, provide for, or care for. My verse that goes along with it is Mark 10:44-45:

"... and whoever would be first among you much be a slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

I've been talking to my girls about this concept a lot in devotions each night, about the importance of our role in serving as Christians; yet, even as I talked about this night after night, it really took me all this time to realize that God has really been putting this in action in my life and using me to serve him - not just as a counselor here at camp - but in specific ways outside my usual duties. 

I will admit, I am a person that likes to fix things. I see someone in need, I want to find a solution to fix there problems and make everything better. I want to leave that person feeling satisfied and comforted, because I know that I have fixed everything. But recently, I've found myself constantly in a position where that is impossible. I cannot fix everything. Some situations are totally out of my control, and that scares the living daylights out of me. It's uncomfortable. I don't like it at all, and find myself wanting to yell, "No God! This needs to be fixed right now! We cannot leave this situation unresolved!" Yet in this confusion, pain, and uncertainty, I'm realizing something... something that seems like it should be quite obvious - sometimes one just needs to admit they are helpless and just give it all up to God and let him deal with it.  And as I was discovering and meditating on this tonight, God gave me this verse:

"When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust, I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? {...} For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life." - Psalm 56:11,13

What a reassuring reminder that was! Like a really good, comforting hug! I have a problem that I really just want to fix, a friend that I yearn to protect...and I can't on my own strength. BUT GOD CAN!!! He delivered my soul from death and my feet from falling, so he can do it for others that I love as well. This life is temporary, so what can man really do to us? Nothing! Nothing permanent at least, because everything that happens in this world is only temporary, and it will all be forgotten when Jesus comes to take us to our real home with him, to the rooms he has been preparing for us.

God has been using me fully to serve him this summer, and I feel so privileged that he has done so; but not only is he using me to serve, he is teaching me awesome lessons at the same time. As I finished my quiet time with God tonight, I opened up a hymnal and read the verses to the hymn "Let Your Heart Be Broken". As I read the 5th verse, I realized this is exactly what God has been calling me to do this summer, so I just thought I'd share it with you all before I head off to bed. 

"Let your heart be tender and your vision clear -

see mankind as God sees, serve Him far and near;

Let your heart be broken by a brother's pain,

share your rich resources - Give and give again."

Thank you Lord, for blessing me with your rich resources, that I may use them to share the same love you have bestowed on me with my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ!

That's all I have for now... it is late and tomorrow, (or should I say today?), is going to be a very big day.   Goodnight all!

-Erin

"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. {...} Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ." - Philippians 1:21,27