All Things Are Possible!

I was driving to Starbucks this morning, and "Trading My Sorrows!" was on the radio. I have not heard this song in FOREVER. My first thought? I screamed "AHHH! CAMP!" Something about this song brought me back to the 3 summers I spent at FaHoLo Kids/Junior High Camp. Seriously 3 of the best summers of my life. 

I've had camp on my mind a LOT the past few weeks. It's currently Senior High Camp week at FaHoLo, and many kids from my church are currently at camp. I've wished I would have gone through high school. I've wished my siblings would have gone so I could experience the "rush" of drop off day even if I wasn't the one going.  I've seriously wished MANY times that I could go to camp as an adult. Seriously, they need to have camp for people working in ministry. I'm not talking like a conference, I'm talking like CAMP. Bunk beds, mud fights, weird food and all. 

I've missed all the lessons I learned through camp. I learned how to make new friends, try new things, and most of all, learned what it mean to actually be a Christian. My youth pastor talks a lot about how God does incredible things through camp, including calling people into ministry. I do believe that I was called into ministry my 2nd year of camp, but I did not understand to what extent at the time because I knew that God wasn't calling me to be a pastor, and I didn't feel like I was supposed to be a missionary either, so I kind of forgot about it until today when I heard that song. 

I realized today that God did call me into ministry, just ministry that I didn't even know existed as a kid- ministry with severely broken teens. For most of my time at Shelterwood I was hesitant to call what I was doing "ministry" simply because I didn't have the title of Pastor or Missionary. But really? I was a missionary. I was spreading the gospel. Just not from a pulpit on Sunday mornings. I think of the passage in Matthew 25 that says 

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?"The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."

Matthew 25:35-40 

Ministry isn't always as clear cut as it appears... Sometimes it is giving money to the homeless guy even though you are worried he will use it for drugs. Sometimes it's being nice to your family even when they are driving you crazy. Sometimes it's giving a co-worker grace when they've really been slacking off. Sometimes it's taking lunch to your local police officers and telling them you appreciate them. 

I've really struggled the past few weeks with accepting the fact that I am in a season that is not exactly what I'd like it to be. I'd like to be doing hands on ministry with teens, but instead I am changing poopy diapers, and cleaning up baby throw up alllll day long. A few new opportunities have been on the horizon, but nothing is official yet. And to be honest? I am SO sick and tired of waiting. 

And yet, I think of my young, camp age self who was called into ministry and didn't even fully recognize it. I had the faith of a child. I trusted that if this was actually from God, He would make it happen, and He did just that. I didn't stress about it. I didn't spend hours crying over what I should do to make God's plan happen. I simply said "If this is supposed to happen, make it happen, and that was that. WOW. 

I think of the lyrics of the song I listened to earlier... 

I'm pressed but not crushed, persecuted not abandoned

Struck down but not destroyed

I'm blessed beyond the curse for His promise will endure

And His joy's gonna be my strength

Though the sorrow may last for the night

His joy comes with the morning

And I'm trading my sorrows

I'm trading my shame

And I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord, yeah Lord

And I'm trading my sickness

And I'm trading my pain

And I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord

For the joy of the Lord

I say, yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord

Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord

Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord, Amen

How powerful is that? I am now an adult, and spending so much time in this sinful world has brought on a ton of pain, shame, and sorrows into my life. And yet, all we have to do is say "Yes Lord!" And He will take away our sorrow, shame, worry and pain and replace it with HIS joy. He will give me patience, he will give me strength. All I have to do is say YES to his plan, and he will take care of all the details. How incredible is that? 

I was talking to my best friend last night and telling her how overwhelmed I've been in this season, and sick and tired of trying to figure all of this out. And she reminded me that that is NOT in my job description at all- that is only HIS job. I never thought that it would take a simple reminder of camp to remind me that I am His Child, I am following His plan, and He will protect me and guide me no matter what! 

I had a youtube playlist going while I wrote this from worship songs from my church and this song came up: 

And my heart got stuck on the part where it talks about filling my life with greater joy as I delight myself in the Lord. 

My feet are planted on this rock and I will not be shaken

My hope it comes from you alone, my Lord and my Salvation

Your praise is always on my lips, your Word is living in my heart

And I will praise you with a new song, my soul will be bless you Lord

You fill my life with greater joy, as I delight myself in you

And I will praise you with a new song, my soul will bless you Lord

When I am weak you make me strong,

When I'm poor, I know I'm rich for in the power of your name

All things are possible, all things are possible

And so now I sit here, in my favorite Washtenaw Ave Starbucks, and my heart is full. My fifth grade self has reminded me that "All Things are Possible!" I know that as frustrating as this season has been for me, God is filling my heart with greater joy each and every day that I will need to take with me to the next season whenever that may be- in a month or 5 years. So here is my random thought of the day for you.... What promises did God tell you as a kid that you've kind of forgotten about over the years? Take some time today and bask in those promises. Ask God to remind your heart what He's called you to do. It may mean quitting your well paying job and becoming a missionary. Or, it may mean taking time and talking to your kids tonight instead of watching TV. It may mean giving more at church on Sunday, or volunteering to take over the youth group. Whatever it may mean for you, I challenge you to rediscover your childlike faith, and dare to dream that God may be calling you to something more than this. 

And a little shoutout to the people at FaHoLa, thanks for running an amazing ministry where I know my life was changed along with thousands upon thousands of others.