From quitting my job, to lifeguarding at camp, to making life-changing decisions, to a bus accident that took my friend’s family members away… There is a lot that has come to pass in a month!
It is too easy for me to go through life without acknowledging the overpowering work of God in my life so let me start with this: God has been working! What a phrase… Can you think of a time when God stopped working (besides the Sabbath)? The universe would cease to exist if God said, “I’m taking a little vacation so peace out. See you in a week.” Why do we feel the need to take a break from the work God has appointed us to? Well an easy answer to that would be that we’re human and cannot do as God does. True, but we can depend on God for the strength and often times we fail to even do that. What pathetic people we are. Praise God for His willingness to use a loser like me and never ceasing to love me (Romans 8:38-39).
In my previous post I mentioned and requested prayer for deciding whether or not to sign a contract to cook at the Wilds for a year or two. I am happy to announce, after much prayer and counsel, that I have signed a two year contract for the Wilds. I am thrilled to be serving the Lord in this capacity and I would covet your prayers during this time. For those who are unaware, cooking requires a lot of hours and early mornings so strength and stamina will be tried but I trusted God to bring me to camp and I will trust Him during my time there.
Just a few weeks ago I was privileged to lifeguard up at camp for a whole week! What a great time of ministry. There was a guard who was attending the CIT Program at the Wilds of New England so I was there to take his place. One of the best parts of being there was that my brother and sister were at camp also. This is my fifth year serving at camp in the summer and this is my siblings’ fifth year of camp (except my sister – it was her fourth) so it was great to be able to see them and get our annual family photo of just the three of us.
As much as I desire to be active duty and in MARSOC, I am in a tough spot where I want to do great things for my country but my current leadership is convincing me otherwise. With this two year contract at the Wilds I am praying it will provide enough time to train physically for MARSOC and to hopefully allow leadership to figure out what they want to do with their military. So basically any effort for activation is suspended (self-initiated) and I am praying for direction in my Marine Corps career. Please join me in my prayer efforts not just for me, but for the United States of America. I love my country, I get chills seeing Old Glory fly, and I am about as American as they come. God bless America.
This weekend we have drill and there is a lot going on. We have a total of three inspections, a CFT, annual classes, and other random training. August drill will be the drill that no exciting training occurs. Hey, it happens. Pray for my CFT (Combat Fitness Test) that I will do well (score 295 or higher).
As a majority of the country is aware, Saturday, July 27, 2013 around 4:15pm Chad and Courtney Phelps, their unborn baby girl, and Mrs. Tonya Weindorf were ushered into the presence of our Lord and Savior after a bus accident in Indianapolis. My camp/school friend, Caleb, was a witness and one of the first people on the scene. He lost a brother and a sister-in-law and nearly his nephew. At the news of this I was filled with a whirlwind of emotions. My first reaction was to pray. To pray for healing, survivors, recovery, and to praise God for a very real example of James 4:14. We read the truth of our lives being short, or like a vapor as James calls it, but we never realize the reality of the shortness of our lives. What are our lives representing today? Are we all for Christ (1 Cor 10:31) or all for self? I know I was personally convicted of my selfishness and the realization that any moment could be my last. So I should make every moment count and glorify God in all things and at all times! I love the testimony of Colonial Hills Baptist Church and the families during this time. There is much pain but yet much rejoicing. These people are with their Savior! What’s it like?
During this transition period please be in prayer for Colonial Hills Baptist Church, the Phelps family, and all of those involved in the recovery process. What a great picture of the body of Christ and the church. On Facebook, twitter, and social media sites my feeds are filled with grieving, rejoicing, prayers, and encouragement from all over the world. The world! The church is more than your congregation, your pastor, and the youth groups in the county getting together for a youth rally. The church is a unified body.
This post is probably way too long so I will end it here. Thank you for your support and prayers. To God be the glory.
rejoice.always
The Wild Ride 