“Long shadows come not by planning large, self manufactured stages upon which to strut the stuff of life and ministry but rather through unflinching faithfulness and faith-focused perseverance to the tasks He has assigned, trusting Him to preserve and multiply the outcomes!” Joseph Stowell
I got behind on many things this summer. One was blogging, the other was keeping up with my Strength for the Journey Devotional book. Since I got about 7 days behind on it, I decided to “catch up”. Reading for August 10th – Matthew 13:8 “Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop – a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.” This verse has always intrigued me….and today it hit home. Let me explain…
I tell people all the time how much I love Camp Pearl. Why is that? What is so special about this place that I want people to know so much about it? For one thing…it’s where I made a life decision – I wanted God to use me in some ministry, some how, someday. That was at Camp Pearl about 1971. The following year…at Camp Pearl, I met Don Barrett. God was already bringing about His plan for me and I just thought I was simply in love! Wow! I loved what God was doing! I loved Camp Pearl then and today…well I love it even more…because I am serving my Savior here alongside Don Barrett! Ok … I’ll quit with the personal love story and get to the even greater one. The only one more important to me than my earthly love story, which is God’s love for people. (I feel very side tracked right now, but hang with me)
So, what do shadows and Camp Pearl have in common? Well, for the past few years, we’ve been privileged to bump into many long time friends of Camp Pearl. Friends who were campers 10, 20, 30 or more years ago. God just keeps allowing us to bump into so many Camp Pearl friends – or should I say “Friends of Camp Pearl”. Just today I bumped into a friend via “facebook” and this friend shared with me of her great memories of Camp Pearl, and of the friends she met through camp that have continued to have a positive impact in her life.
I get emails all the time from people who trusted Christ to save them while they were campers at Camp Pearl, and went on to full time Christian ministry. Friends who were challenged by a speaker, a summer server, a musician, a teacher – to make a difference for Jesus Christ in their own lives, wherever God led them. To me, these are the shadows cast by a place called Camp Pearl. Shadows that provide a sense of belonging and a taste of God’s perfect peace.
So as we continue on here at Camp Pearl, reaching out to the lost, to the lonely, and to those who may be longing for more in their relationship with Christ Jesus, it is my prayer that we will be a ministry that is found faithful and focused — one that stays with the tasks God gives us – and that we can continue to cast those “long shadows” for Him, trusting Him for the magnificent outcome! If all the people whose lives have been touched through the ministry of this place were to stand in the light of the evening sun, we would cast some mighty long shadows across the landscape! Enjoy your view of life through God’s viewfinder, the scenery is breathtaking!
I’ve some catching up to do with my daily devotional readings! I checked out today’s verse. Colossians 1:11 “Being strengthened with all power…so that you may have great endurance and patience.” Guess that means there are more glorious shadows on my horizon!
