"It's going to be good, Beloved"

"It's going to be good, Beloved."  These are the words my Savior spoke directly to me just over a week ago.  I was up at Delanco camp, a place I both love and struggle with, when I heard those words loud and clear.  I had found a moment of peace amongst the crazy and was standing out on the party deck.  The weather was beautiful despite the predictions of wet conditions for the entire weekend and I couldn't help but worship the Lord and thank Him for the beauty of His creation.  The water was calm, the sun shining, the fish jumping, and the leaves falling ever so gently.  It was a very sweet, very private moment between me and Jesus.  He had my attention, my full attention.  My focus couldn't waiver in that moment.

"It's going to be good, Beloved."  I love it when He calls me beloved.  It's such a sweet term of endearment and it reinforces the fact that I'm His.  Simply amazing, isn't it?  The God of the universe, Creator of all, the Great I AM claims me as His own.  Not only that, He knows me intimately and cares for me.  He calls me beloved.  Me, the worst of all sinners, beloved.

"It's going to be good, Beloved."  I've been bringing Him plenty of situations, pleading on my behalf and on the behalf of others.  I'm consumed by work and school and I just keep adding to my list of responsibilities.  I feel so inadequate most of the time.  His words to me, at just the right time brought comfort and peace.  I don't know exactly which situation, condition, or feeling His word was referring to... maybe all of them, but I don't need to know.  Anything His hand is in is good.  I trust Him and I think He was reminding me to keep doing so.  

"It's going to be good, Beloved."  Doesn't that just melt your heart?  Praise be to God.

Aside from the privilege of of hearing those words, camp was pretty good.  My lesson went well and I think many of the kids went away desiring to know God deeper by exploring His many names.  I was pleased with their openness a really loved getting to know a handful of new kids.  During the afternoon of free time on Saturday I focused on just being with the kids.  We fished, boated, wandered around, chatted, and laughed... a lot!  Most of the staff decided to play their own game of volleyball (which I would have loved to do seeing as though it's my favorite sport to play), but I really felt like it was more important to just be with the kids since we had such a limited amount of time with them.  

I headed home that evening because I knew I needed to be at my church on Sunday morning.  It was the last Sunday of the same schedule with the worship team playing at the early service and the last Sunday before my senior pastor would be away for 4-6 weeks with a knee replacement.  Being at home with my church family was a must in my heart.  Right after the first service, I headed back up to camp to finish off the weekend with my youth.  

With camp finished, my focus turned toward Yield.  Yield is the new contemporary service we're offering on Saturdays at 4:30.  This service has been in the works for over a year, but has really been a focus for me for the last few months.  We have worked really hard to come up with a format and style, a logo, advertising, and a whole bunch of other stuff to make this service work.  

This past Saturday was our inaugural service and it went very well.  A few of us spent many hours this past week making sure that things would run smoothly and it really paid off.  I get to bring the sermon message each week which is exciting.  That's one of those areas that I feel so inadequate in, but Jesus is enough so I'll continue to trust Him.  Now that I have the first service under my belt, seminary doesn't seem like such a bad idea.  :)  The best part about the whole service, in my opinion, is that it was all about God.  It wasn't about my abilities, inabilities, strengths, or weaknesses but about the way that God was moving and working.  People were relaxed, laughing, worshipping freely, and really enjoying themselves.  It felt like home; the Body of Christ united.  So grateful to Jesus.  I'm really looking forward to seeing this service grow and morph.  I believe the Lord is using this ministry to further His kingdom.

Anyways, school is very time consuming these days.  Each week I have either 2 papers, two quizzes, or exams.  The material is really important to grasp, especially for when I start my masters course.  Somehow I'm making it.  Sleep is scarce, but as long as I continue to get A's on everything, I'm ok with that.  

So each week is full of school, youth stuff, young adult ministry, sermonizing, organizing, building relationships, meetings, and trying to keep up my house and animals.  I'm feeling very blessed.  

Here's a song I've been loving these days.  Oceans by Hillsong United.