Crazy Games, Worship, Bible Study, and the unexpected angel
Jess, Sara Kate and I just got back from a weekend student ministry retreat to the lake. I am tired. When you spend 4 days strait with any group of teenagers in an enclosed area you are bound to come away tired or humbled, I am both. We played lots of goofy games, swam in the lake, went on a trust walk (everyone follows in a line blindfolded and holding on to the person in front of them), sang songs, and had Bible study.
The retreat was a success in every sense of the word. I have no doubt that each person’s life was impacted and that God is moving and working in the lives of the students even now after the retreat has ended. Chad Hambrick was our speaker and he taught about dying to self and living for Christ. God worked in everyone’s heart dealing with selfishness and showing us things that we could fast from in order to draw nearer to Him. One student felt led to fast from video games for 40 days; others gave up movies, TV, internet, and many other things for a time. During the time that the students would normally do those things they committed to seeking after the Lord through prayer, prayer walks, Bible study, meditation, singing songs, etc. As far as I know, every person on the retreat left the lake having committed to fast from something and use that time to focus on God.
Because no good trip can be complete without car trouble, we had our share on the way home. One of the church vans overheated, which was no big deal, except that I didn’t realize that at the time. We stopped at a gas station and I did what any good group leader would do. I popped the hood, looked at the engine and did my best to look like I knew something about the metal contraption in front of me. One of our group members came to my aid and started talking about the engine to me, he was either talking about engine parts or speaking Japanese, neither of which I understand. Fortunately about this time a fellow pulled up, said he was a mechanic and asked if we needed help. I readily accepted his help and he had us fixed up and ready to roll in no time. Apparently all the engine needed was a little water and this man (our angel in human garb) even went into the gas station and bought us a gallon of water to use. He was a Godly servant in every sense of the word and I am thankful even now for the grace that he showed us.
I hope that each of us can be an unexpected blessing for someone like this man was for me. God is still providing for us, all the time, in ways that we see and in ways that we don’t.
August 7th, 2006 at 8:29 am
Have you read the devo book “A Call To Die” by David Nasser? I really liked it and it’s about fasting from something for 40 days.
August 7th, 2006 at 8:39 am
I haven’t read it yet, but that book was part of the basis for our weekend. I’m going to be getting it and going through it soon. Thanks for the heads up.