Travels & Taking Stock

Our experiences often prompt us to evaluate our thoughts, beliefs, and lives in general. I think this is why travel can be so good. New experiences, new places, new people (or old friends seen again!) open us, challenge us, and refresh us!

Our family had a quick weekend away for a ministry thing. We had a large and successful event for Whisper Mountain Camp down in Fort Myers, Florida. A place full of people I’ve grown up around, have become friends with since then, and a place where people love and support our family and the work we do at camp! But each time we go down, we add onto the family of people that shape, challenge, inspire, and walk alongside us!

When I talk with people, I’m always answering the question: what’s the best part of being at Whisper Mountain Camp? Without hesitation, and after the obvious of seeing teens come to Christ, I say it’s the way God orchestrates people’s lives. We get to see and hear firsthand how God did this and this, or wove these details to bring about this and that. On repeat! My eyes brim with tears often as I hear testimony of God’s powerful, personal, and kind heart changing people’s lives time and time again. Hearing from so many and experiencing His goodness in my own life deepens the overwhelm of grace, and moves me to keep finding ways to extend that grace and goodness to others. That’s the way of God - His heart for people is contagious.

As you begin this week, can I encourage you to take stock of how God has been personal to you; how He’s orchestrated your life up to this point; how He’s shown His kindness and grace to change your life? When we recognize and remember His work, it not only feeds our hope to keep going, and strengthens our faith to keep believing Him, but it moves us to share Him with others. That the world may know!

(PS: I’d love to hear how God’s been personal to you recently — use the comments section to let me know!)