Summer Camp From A Child Of God

God is massive. In every season. Always. So I thought I would share someone else's thoughts about summer camp. Check out what Stephanie Nielson has so say about this past week. It's rad.

I don't even know where to start.

On the first night, Monday, when people went forward to become humble instead of prideful here was one of my observations…usually people wait awhile before going forward or wait for two brave people to step forward before they do…this time it was like a huge wave of people at the same time…like no one could wait to change…it was kinda cool to watch…

The second night, Tuesday, was when everyone let go of things that they had been holding on to…relationships, hurts, pasts, etc…I couldn't really think of anything to let go of so I just went on my knees before God and waited…He told me to have someone pray for me, I went and asked Daniel to…I didn't even know what he [Daniel] was going to pray for so I just told him, "I don't know what you're going to pray for, but will you pray for me?" Daniel heard from God and God told me to let go of my fears and insecurities…that I don't have to do all of this stuff that I feel like I have too, but that He [God] will take care of it because I tend to carry around weights that I don't need…then Daniel started to talk to me, as a youth pastor, about my personality/how God made me and how I'm different from everyone else and why…and how God told him that I'm going to do full time ministry, even though I don't know specifically where yet, and that my ministry has already started…

I then went and prayed for God to take away my fears and to turn those fears into faith (God also told me to take things one step at a time, one step of faith at a time)…my insecurities…I don't even know how to explain what they were, but I'm going to try…they weren't really "what if people don't like me," "what if people think this," they weren't really about what people thought of me…they were more, "no one else has feelings like this, why?" "How come no one else feels like this?" "How come everyone else seems to be going in this direction, but I'm going somewhere else?" "Why did God choose me to do this when there are so many other people?"…more of insecurities with why I felt things that no one else really did…more of insecurities with me then what everyone else thought of me…if that makes any sense…

On Wednesday we learned about having compassion for everyone. They showed this video and then asked us to give money towards stopping human-trafficking…I remember sitting there wanting to give my money, but it was in my cabin and I felt unsure about whether I should leave to go get it…oh before this they talked about how giving shouldn't be your "leftovers" but it should cost you something…then they said if you're money wasn't with you you could go get it from your cabin…I remember watching and participating in everyone getting up really fast and running to their cabins…it was like a huge wave of people…everyone was running, even the guys (they had to run up a hill to their cabin), like they couldn't wait to give what they had…like it was this deep desire to actually do something…then everyone ran back to the chapel…it was amazing to see how much everyone truly wanted to give what they had…

I think this was the same night, not sure though, when everyone who felt called by God to go into full time ministry went to the stage to get prayed for…people prayed almost the exact same thing that Daniel had on the previous night…for boldness, release from fears, a heart for people, and how I was different from everyone else…I remember some of my insecurities going away…I ran to the stage one time because I couldn't wait to get on my knees before God (I love getting on my knees in worship, but usually hesitated before I would actually kneel down)…I remember how sometimes I felt like I was yelling in worship (I usually feel like "screaming" to God, but never really had)…

Thursday, the night people received the Holy Spirit…I prayed with my prayer language a lot that night (something else I had never really done actively) and it felt so good because it was just me and God talking…this was something else God had wanted me to do on Tuesday night…during worship God told me that there were some girls who still had things that God wanted to release them from, I remember telling that to Shane, I didn't hesitate…I just went and told him…something else I used to hesitate before doing…

This is what God did in my life at camp…I know it's a process, but I'm starting to lose some insecurities and fears…not only did God do a lot in my life, but He did a lot in everyone else's life…I could see it on their faces…they couldn't wait to find God, to change their life, and everyone truly wanted to go deeper…

This time let's stay this way. Let's continue to seek after God. Let's continue to be compassionate to other people. Let's continue to do what God tells us. Let's continue to show others how much God loves them. Let's continue what God started at summer camp.

So, this is what God did for me…what did He do for you?