thanks to Him.

As I finished setting up the room for the main meeting during free time two girls walked in and one of the girls began to talk with me. I asked her how she has enjoyed camp and she is loving it. She said that she had heard some of these stories before, a couple in school. She also told me that she goes to church on Christmas. We continued to talk about camp and she told me a story about what happened yesterday. Scott also told me this story and I am so proud of him on how he has stepped up as a leader with his group this week. Scott prayed over his small group (which she is in) and afterwards she began to pray also. She thanked God for things in creation like animals and flowers. She continued on to tell me that she had never experienced the feeling she had after she prayed this time. She felt dizzy. After she told me this she told me that she is not that strong of a believer of God and that one time, I'm not sure how long ago, there were some storm clouds forming where she was at. She didn't want the rain and so she prayed to God to hold the rain and it did not rain! This is the reason why she believes in God. I am not sure that she knows a lot about Jesus and so Scott shared with her who Jesus is and she also excited to hear more of the stories at camp.

Tonight's stories are the "Birth of Jesus" and the "Life of Jesus." I am looking forward to being used to share these stories with the students. Please be praying for those who do not know Jesus to understand who he is and why he came. I will be praying for this as well, it would be awesome if they became believers in Christ, but honestly for me, the most important thing is just that they know who he is and why he came to earth. If they know who he is then I believe down the road of their life they will believe in Him. These students are really awesome and so unique.

I would like to share a verse that sums up this week for me. I have had in my mind all week that this camp is only happening and going so well by the grace of God. Also the only way I can explain how the number of students that are at this camp doubled from just a week and a half ago is because of God's grace. This morning just a little while after I woke up, I read this...

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing." Romans 2:20

The reason I place this here is to say, if I do not recognize the grace that God has poured into this camp and into my life, then Chris died for no reason and I also would have no reason to tell these students the story of God. Thanks to Him for Grace!