The currency of Grace is where my song begins...

A Different Camp of Sorts

Our family spent the last 4 days attending our church's youth camp. Vernon was the camp speaker. When he was asked to speak I got SOO excited because, as most of you know, I would live at camp if I could....I LOVE camp. Where most people get tired as camp goes on, it just fuels my excitement and by the last day I am bummed about going home. I love it. As soon as Vernon accepted the offer to speak, I began dreaming of camp...the competitions, the team colors, the girls in my cabin and the Lord moving among us. I knew exactly who I would ask to watch the boys so I could be a counselor and invest in some sweet HS girls. When I was dreaming out loud about camp, Vernon goes, "Amber, we are are bringing the boys. I am away from them when I am in Sudan, I really would like for them to come with us. Peter already got us a room that fits us all." Sadly, my dreams were crushed in an instant. I knew at that point what my days at camp would consist of: changing diapers, running around outside, naps during the camp rec time, and NO listening to Vernon's preaching.
After some thinking I decided it was going to be so fun having the boys there....and it was! Camp this year was WAY different than any other camp I have gone to because I had 4 solid days, outside our normal home life to invest in our two boys....who will, sooner than I can imagine, be attending HS camp. When my perspective changed, my attitude followed and the Lord blessed us with amazing conversations and LOTS of fun with other kids and moms that were there!
The second to last evening, Titus, Justus and I were playing in a room with Krystal and Jenny and their little ones. Titus had been playing with his friend Ben's car a lot that evening and this evolved into him WANTING Ben's car. We have talked to Titus alot about the Pride in his heart called Greed. He knows that greed can lead to anger and rudeness towards whoever is standing in the way of him getting what he wants. Sooo...that evening when he was begging me for Ben's toy, I said, "Titus, I think I am hearing the greed in your heart." and he got angry and started to hit me...but stopped himself before he did full force. (he doesn't usually hit much so this was eye opening for him) I could tell he was blinded by the greed and had realized that it had progressed to anger....so I grab Justus and Titus and we went to our room for him to receive discipline.
In the room, I got Justus occupied and started talking to Titus about the pride of greed and how anger towards someone he loves is what came of it. This time he seemed to be following me. He got his discipline and I asked him if he was ready to go back and play. He said, "Not really. Mom, Why do I have greed in my heart?" So I told him that we are all born into sin and sin is what separates us from God. He said, "yeah, when you have sin in your heart it is like THIS between you and God" as he held up his hands forming a barrier between me and him. I told him he was right and told him again about the saving power of Jesus and how He came to rescue us from that sin and restore us to relationship with God. Titus then is his own 4 year old words summarized the gospel to me. He is getting it! God is moving in him and I am so excited to witness it! Please continue to pray with us for the Lord to call both our boys to Himself. What a Joy to be a mom.
I am so glad I went to camp and I am soo glad I took the boys!