http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Musician-Makes-Young-Flutists-Dreams-Come-True-226678441.html

Courageous

The only way we'll ever stand

Is on our knees with lifted hands

Make us courageous

Lord, make us courageous

Seek justice

Love mercy

Walk humbly with your God

These lyrics are from "Courageous" written by Casting Crowns.

I know this song was originally written for the movie Courageous and mainly focuses on getting men to step up and become courageous men of God. Yet, every time I hear this song. This part of the song always jumps out at me.

We are being called to come to God on our knees with our hands held out waiting for his call. Whether be keeping the accounts balanced, greeting guest, or working with all the campers who come to camp. But, it could also be a calling of go to India and serve along side others who are helping women get back on their feet, or leaving the comforts of the known routine into the unknown of what God has for you and keeping you on your toes to be able to grow, trust and, like the song says, walk humbly with your God.

As Christians that is something we are all striving for is to be courageous; by stepping out of our comfort zones to show others the love of Christ and to share the Grace we freely accepted when we understood what Christ did for us over 2000 years ago. We may not always be welcomed with open arms, but that is when we need to continually go to God praying for those around us and continually be the light in the darkness.

In thinking about the light in the darkness I think of what is happening around the world and all the Christians around the world who have to hide and meet in secret. They still go out and spread the word to others in their countries. To me that is courageous. They can be beaten, ridicule, or even worse killed, but because their hearts are so on fire for God they will do whatever it takes to grow God’s church. That is something we should be doing more of. If you haven’t read Frances Chan’s book, Crazy Love, I would highly recommend it. He shares about people in his life who are super crazy in love for God and shares some of their life journeys and what God has done in their lives. There are many parts in the book that will convict you. Yes, I threw the book across my room several times while reading the book. Other parts will inspire you. All in all, I see this as a book that captures the needing to be courageous and seeking justice, showing love, mercy, and grace, and walking humbly with God.

As this fall season continues, I know I look forward to all the challenges God puts on my plate and seeking what God has in stored for me after this fall season and awaits for me when I head back to the east coast.

Teamwork in ministry

1 Cor. 12

⁴ There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. ⁵ There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. ⁶ There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

As I contemplated on where to focus this article, all week I kept getting the word "Wait". I didn't understand why I was being told to wait on writing this, but I just let it sit staring back at me and I became more and more frustrated about what I was going to focus on.

Today (Sunday April 28th) I had it hit me why I needed to wait. Through a phone conversation with my mom and dad it hit me. All of chapter 12 of 1st Corinthians really helps define how teamwork in ministry go hand in hand. So, the verse above is a small focus of how we are all empowered by God to be one body with many parts to do his ministry and all working together to grow the church.

So, when thinking about teamwork in ministry it includes everyone who works together on the day-to-day bases, but it also encompasses everyone who supports us outside of camp life. 

With the internal team we all are given different gifts that help support each other in our daily jobs, and if we did not have our different roles to play the operations would not function the way they do. Also, with working with each other on a daily bases we better understand each other, and can be there for each through thick and thin. As I think back to the Focus meeting and how important communication plays a huge role in keeping everyone connected. Then we are able to come together to support each other and help carry the yoke. With the different gifts God has given us we can step in when we are needed to be more of a support and step back when someone else needs to step in and be more of the strong support and still be a support on the side.

Also, through the support of our friends, family, church family and supporters of camp, we each gain our individual base structure to help us. This happens through their prayers, thoughts, moral, and some maybe financial support. They may personally not see this as being a team member, but I personally believe they make up a huge part of a larger team in ministry. Even by just having one person on the outside looking in on what you do daily they sometimes can see the picture more clear than we can and have a different view on things. Their advice just maybe the thing that can helps us out. God uses them in those moments when we most need it. Sometimes we may not catch it right then and there, but when you look back on it afterwards all you can say is, Thank you God for putting them there when I needed that extra push.

so, my prayer for our team as that we keep supporting each other as we serve as tall as our trees, and share in the ministry God has given us here at Alliance. Also, that we remember to keep those who support us included with what has been happening so they know how to be praying for us.