Saturday, September 29, 2012

The God of Relationships


                          


My church holds an annual family retreat each Labor Day Weekend at Camp Deerpark; a weekend that offers spiritual, emotional and physical renewal to everyone in our church.

 

 
 
 
Camp Deerpark is a treasure in Westbrookville NY.  It’s nestled in 200 beautiful mountain filled acres, with wooded trails, fields, deer, birds, and many other signs reminding us of the amazing beauty and creation of God.



Most everyone in our church attends this weekend get-away, enjoying an escape from the busyness of life back in New York City.  We stay in Spruce Lodge, or motel units tucked away in this hidden refuge.  We are given many places we can retreat to for some personal time in God’s Word and prayer.

 
 



We are served amazing meals which are prepared for us each day.  Everyone from the tiniest baby to the senior citizen enjoys this time together as one big family.

 
 
 
Our Pastor and his wife get a chance to relax a bit more than usual, being we are also blessed to have a guest speaker teaching throughout the weekend.
 
Our worship team assures us of an awesome time of worship in the chapel, where we can celebrate and praise the amazing God we serve. 



 





As I was away during this retreat – of course with camera at hand – I took tons of pictures.  I tried to get a sampling of all that went on during the weekend including the many special, fun times we had with each other during this escape.
 
One of my favorite blessings during these retreats has always been having so much more time with each of those attending; living together, eating together, worshipping together, and having tons of fun together.

 


We usually have some organized games and activities, as well as spur of the moment games that may occur, giving many a chance to play.





When I returned home and was taking a look at my pictures, I saw I had captured many special moments of many walking and talking, sitting and chatting, laughing, sharing, praying, and opening their hearts with one another.

Opportunities for in-depth conversations are endless, being we are all here, with no place to run off to.  Sharing what’s in our hearts with close friends as well as those we don’t usually get much time with, opens the door for new, deeper relationships; continuing to grow, once we return home.
 
I realized that was what makes this weekend the most amazing time ever.  It was a reminder of the God we believe in, and how personal he is with each of us, and how amazing his spirit calls us to love one another as he loves us.
 
 
The God we follow is a God of relationships.  He doesn’t sit high on a throne, pointing his finger, condemning, and getting frustrated with us.  Rather, he is a God who reached down to the world, with a heart of forgiveness and redemption, yearning for a personal relationship with each person he touches.  He calls us, he loves us, and he saves us with the Saving Grace of his only Son, Jesus Christ.  He opened the veil of separation between sinful mankind and His Holiness, allowing us to approach him with confidence in a personal relationship with the Most High God.
 
How amazing is this?  That through His Son, Jesus Christ, we can truly be adopted sons and daughters and receive his inheritance of eternal life baffles me.  That we can come to him, face-to-face, and he hears us and responds with his guidance and love.  That he’s given us His Holy Spirit, as a comforter and counselor. 
 
I was reminded that our God has placed me in his family; to share our joys, cares, and burdens, share the passion of the Lord, encourage one another in our faith, support each other in prayer, reminding each other that God loves us at all times.  This family I was placed in is to help me serve the Lord for the purposes of His Kingdom.  The Lord has abundantly blessed me.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
- John 13:34-35
 


 

2 comments:

  1. Beautiful pictures that brought memories of Mountainview Bible Camp, when my kids were little. I hope we find that kind of fellowship again!
    Glad that you actually got yourself in one of the pictures,and hope Krista eventually got the best of that balloon!
    Such a practical time of being reminded of the importance of being Christ to each other.
    Love,
    Gin

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    1. Ginny - you will be happy to know that not only did I get the best of that balloon...but my team won the balloon competition!!! It's the little things that make me smile! haha :)

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