What’s Up Blog

Sep 02 2021

Fishing Changes Things

You have to know up front that I am NOT into fishing but every summer our team gets to be up and ready by 6:30 a.m. to give campers a fishing experience. Every year I hunt for worms before going to camp and every year I am the one that baits every hook that is dropped in the water. I have even lovingly been nicknamed “Bait Lady” and was known by that name before my real name. So what does this have to do with ministry? Stay with me and you’ll be absolutely amazed at the way God works.

This particular year we were helping Ability Tree launch a special needs camp for adults in Oklahoma and finding a suitable location along the lake was a challenge. Now, I may not look forward to the act of fishing but I do value the time with the campers and the relationships that are built in those early morning hours. This year it was HOT HOT HOT and honestly I was looking for any reason to cancel fishing; it was too far away, not the right bait, campers would get tangled in the debris along the shore, the rods had the wrong reel, it was too hot and the fish wouldn’t bite.

As hard as I tried, Eric, our newest team member, wouldn’t let me “off the hook”. His positive attitude was relentless until we were on the dock at 6:15 a.m. the following day, rods and bait in tow, getting ready for the campers.

Yes, I was still mumbling about the things that weren’t going to work as I prepared to bait each of the hooks . Here’s where God enters the picture. As I baited each hook I laid the rod on the deck so that the hook dangled over the edge. As I went to the second rod, the first one began to move. Not wanting it to fall in to the water I grabbed the rod and pulled it up and to my surprise there was a fish on the hook. What was up with that? I wasn’t fishing. I wasn’t even trying but that fish changed my entire attitude.

God had caused a fish to literally JUMP onto that hook so that I would realize that fishing wasn’t about whether or not I enjoyed the act of fishing, it wasn’t about how hard it was to get up at 5:30 a.m. to get ready or even about the disgusting smell on my hands. It was about building relationships and giving the campers an experience that they would remember. Every morning we had 8 out of 10 campers show up to fish and each morning we caught several fish. Over the week, every camper experienced the joy of catching at least one fish, many for the first time.

God was orchestrating much more than I realized and it took God causing that fish to JUMP onto that hook to change everything. We are fishing for men and we need to be as excited about catching one person for Jesus as those campers were about catching each of their fish.

And Jesus said to them, Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Aug 30 2021

Finally Arrived!!

I couldn’t believe the excitement that was building as campers waited for their friends arrival at Ability camp in Oklahoma. It was the first camp for special needs adults in the midwest and we were blessed to be part of what would happen that week.

Anticipation mounted as camper and counselors sat in the hot sun anxiously awaiting the moment they would see a familiar vehicle enter the parking lot. Campers knew it would be transporting someone they held dear in their hearts and they were having difficulty containing their excitement. And then it happened! That friend arrived, and stepped out of the vehicle. It was like watching someone walk down the celebrity red carpet at the Oscar Awards. There were cheers, pictures, high fives, waves, shouts and hugs. It was both funny and heart warming to watch.

I can’t help but think that this is how Jesus feels about us. He is anxiously awaiting for the day that we will come home. He is preparing to receive us with open arms and to welcome us with excitement and celebration.

Are we looking forward to the moment that we step onto that street of gold and see Jesus face to face for the first time? Will we walk triumphantly toward Him with our arms open wide ready to embrace our savior? Will we have an acceptance speech ready that recognizes and thanks Jesus for the influence and impact He had on our life? Will we be able to speak at all or will we fall to our knees and just worship Him?

As the week unfolded, I watched both the new and old relationships grow. I took notice of the love and acceptance that was evident in virtually every activity. I watched as campers and counselors encouraged and built one another up. There are so many stories that I could share about the week but I can sum it up this way,

A week at Ability Camp is the closest to heaven that we can get here on earth.

That may be an extreme statement but it’s not about the activities, it’s about the attitudes. Every time I spend a week at one of these camp, it puts life into perspective and reminds me of the acceptance and unconditional love that Jesus has for me. It is now up to me to share that love with others with the same excitement and enthusiasm.

Aug 25 2021

Anticipated Prayer

As a children’s pastor and missionary to children, I know the value and the importance of bringing children into a better understanding of prayer and the impact that it can have on their lives. For years, God has been stirring my heart to provide opportunities for kids to experience prayer in different and meaningful ways. It started nearly 10 years ago at district camp. God was leading our team to emphasis prayer options following the evening chapel. That was the beginning of something absolutely beautiful. Over the years prayer during day camps, overnight camps, midweek services and Sunday morning classrooms have become the time that kids look forward to with great anticipation.

July 2021, “The War Room” was introduced at The Good Shepherd Ministries day camp. (The War Room is the name given to our prayer room) Pastor Kenny and I had talked in great length about the idea, the implementation and the expected outcome but I couldn’t articulate exactly what that would look like in a real setting. We might not have known the particulars but Holy Spirit knew exactly what needed to be done to draw these kids into a spiritual realm where they wanted to be and expected to meet with God himself.

The week began with 30 minutes in The War Room. We entered into the presence of God with reference and respect and left after having a meaningful encounter with God. By the end of the week each group was spending upwards of 60 minutes and wanting more time in the War Room with Jesus. They had experienced just a touch of God and were craving more.

Our kids can be drawn into the spiritual realm and have an intimate relationship with Jesus. Are we providing them with the opportunities that they need to draw into that relationship? Are we allowing them time to practice their skills in hearing God’s voice? Are we giving them a variety of ways to enhance their time with Jesus?

Our children aren’t lost because they don’t know who Jesus is, but they don’t know him personally

Aug 25 2021

Tragedy Humanized

For the past 48 hours I have been praying for six Afghan Christians as they made efforts to leave the country to escape the violence, persecution and certain death for following Jesus if caught at any of the checkpoints as they made their way to the airport. I am ashamed that it took a prayer request from a friend, that had direct connections to this group of people, to humanize the tragedy that is taking place in Afghanistan. As events unfolded, I received updates of their progress, their setbacks, and their uncertainties. As more people joined together and prayed for them to make it safely through airport gates and onto a departing plane, God provided. After two days we received report that they had boarded a plane in Kabul to begin their journey to the states where a community of believers are waiting to receive them into their family.

Photo represents the urgency to leave the country and not a picture of the six described in this post. It does represent many others that need our prayers.

How must God have felt during this tumultuous journey? How sad must He have felt that His children had to endure such suffering? How disappointed must He have felt that there were christians around the world that saw the news of what was happening and didn’t cry out for God’s intervention. What will it take to humanize the stories that we are hearing in the news media?

We have freedom in our lives and in our faith but are we taking it for granted? Are we looking at our freedom as an unconstrained opportunity to share the gospel with as many people as humanly possible or are we wasting the blessing that God has given us through this freedom?

“Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, he gives freedom.” 1 Cor 7:13

As we continue to journey through this year together, let’s not allow distractions to keep us from learning, growing, sharing and delivering the word of God to those around us. We must move forward, making Jesus the priority and urgently sharing His word with others. We don’t know the hour or the day that Jesus will return but we do have the good news of Jesus and how to guarantee eternal life with Him. How many will you reach with that good news?