As I sit in the Memorial Student Center on A&M's campus trying to come up with the motivation to study for my last Children's Literature test, a better idea came to me. Why not start a blog for this summer?
Well, if you haven't heard or seen my many posts on any social media site, this summer I will be working as a Recreation Leader for Student Life. What's Student Life? "Student Life is an inter-denominational ministry that exists to help people know Christ through His Word. We accomplish this by offering Gospel-centered, high energy summer camps and youth conferences that explore the Bible and life with Jesus Christ." (Coming straight from studentlife.com) My team and I will be traveling the nation to put on youth camps for church youth groups. As a Recreation Leader, I will oversee and run the daily recreation time for students at camp and have many other random jobs. One of these random jobs is to lead a devotion for my Blue Crew squad of 75-275 students.
While I am super pumped about traveling the nation to serve middle and high school students, I am also somewhat anxious. I feel that I am very inadequate to stand in front of that many students and give my story of how The Lord has worked in my life, let alone stand in front of that many people at all. As I began to confess this worry of mine, The Lord put me right in my place and reminded me that I am, in fact, very inadequate. I cannot, by myself, muster up enough courage to stand in front of that many people and tell them anything. In this, The Lord has been so sweet to remind me that I am not doing this job for myself or by myself-- He called me to this role, and I believe that he will "equip [me] with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." (Hebrews 13:21 NIV)
Remembering this, my prayer for this summer is that it will never be about myself. I don't want to stand up there and tell them how I have made myself into a better person. I pray that when I speak, the students will be able to see the weight of who He is and His glory, and lives would be changed in light of it. I pray that they will see how The Lord has changed my life for His glory, not my own.
"For from Him and through Him and to Him are all tings. To Him be the glory forever. Amen" (Romans 11:36 ESV)
As I get ready to spend two and half months of my summer with Student Life, I ask you to spend time praying for me. Throughout the summer, I plan (Lord willing) to post blogs about how The Lord has worked at camp. I also will post prayer requests so my prayer warriors can know what to pray for specifically. As I prepare for this summer, I ask that you join with me in praying for these things:
The churches we will be serving.
Students that come to camp and don't know The Lord.
Boldness and courage for myself.
Unity as a team.
Selflessness.
I am so very thankful for each of you and your prayers! I can't wait to see what The Lord does through them!
