Youth Camp Devotionals for Thursday

S.A.C.'s Got Talent - Devotional

Spiritual Gifts and Personalities

I. Discover Who You Are
1. An awesome God made us wonderfully
"Psalm 139:14: "Thank you for make me so
wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is
marvelous -- how well I know it."
2. We should thank God for all of our unchange-
able features.
3. We should repent / ask forgiveness for messing
up what God gave us.
4. We should commit our whole self to become the
best we can be in every area. I Cor. 10:31: Do
ALL to the glory of God."

II. We are blessed so we can be a blessing
1. Genesis 12:2: "I will make you into a great
nation. I will bless you and make you famous,
and you will be a blessing to others."

III. Importance of Choices
1. All talents must be developed by discipline and
sacrifice.
2. We can choose to:
a. Waste what we are given (laziness)
b. Spend it on our self
c. Invest it for God and others
3. Only giving to God produces a great return and
fulfillment

Wisdom: "Real" Christians develop their talents; spiritual gifts and character to glorify God and bless others.

It's Time for a Reality Check!
Questions:

What gifts and talents do you have?

In what ways have you used them in ministry?

What is an area you feel passionate about?

How can you use that to serve God?

Is there any special training, etc., that you could take that could help you in those areas?

Is there something you want to do, but don't feel you have the abilities to do?

Is that something God has really put on your heart?

Suggestion: Talk to someone about the areas that you feel passionate about and brainstorm ways you could use those to serve Christ.

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Timothy Track

From Discipline to Character

I Timothy 4:7b-8: "Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness -- Godliness is profitable for all things."

I. Discipline is only means to an end (such as
practicing for the Olympics -- "to win the prize",
Phil. 3:14)
a. "Flee from these things" (I Timothy 6:11)

(see verses 4, 5, 9 & 10)"
"Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander and evil sus-picions. These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy. Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world and we can't take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows."
*Use discipline of abstinence

b. "Pursue righteousness, etc." (v. 11);
*Use disciplines of engagement

II. Become Real -- Christlike -- is a continuous
journey; 2 Timothy 2:15: "Be diligent -- to be
approved by God"
a. Don't compare yourselves to other Christians
b. Measure yourself against Jesus

III. Godly Character Qualifies You for Leadership
2 Tomthy 2:2
a. "Flee youthful lusts"
b. Pursuit of disciplines leads to a pure heart

Deeper Wisdom: The journey to godly character is an exciting adventure when we keep our eye on the goal.

Youth Camp Devotionals for Wednesday

Road Rules

Learning to drive responsibly requires:
1. Knowledge and practice on parts of the car
a. Ignition key -- right amount of time to engage starter
b. Steering wheel
c . Pedals
d. Mirrors
e. Instruments

2. Knowledge of the rules
a. Speed
b. Posted signs
c. Traffic lights
d. Conditions -- weather, congestion

3. Knowledge of other people
a. Not being alert
b. Aggressive behaviors
c. Distractions -- "rubbernecks"
d. Yield right of way -- you might be right but you might be dead right

Being a "Real" Christian is achieving "self control", Galations 5:23: "Gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things."

Disciplines which help to break old habits:
* Solitude
* Silence
* Fasting
* Frugality

Disciplines which develop holy habits:
* Study
* Worship
* Prayer
* Service

2 Peter 1:5-9 -- "Apply Diligence"
"In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God's promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins."

1. Faith to
2. Virtue to
3. Knowledge to
4. Self control to
5. Perseverance to
6. Godliness to
7. Brotherly kindness to
8. Loves

Benefits: Useful, fruitful, pure

Wisdom: "Real" Christians live under the control of the Holy Spirit -- mind, affections and body.

Road Rules -- Questions:

Do I understand why "road rules" are necessary in my life?

What spiritual disciplines have I already established? (Bible study, prayer, worship)?

What areas do I need to work on?

What is the hardest thing for me to do? Why?

What could help me to overcome that?

Identify someone to whom you could be accountable.

It is important to your spiritual growth to understand that you must love Christ enough to desire to BE "Christ-like" in all areas of your life.
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Timothy Track
Doing what you love -- Loving what you do!

I Timothy 1:5, "The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart." "The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience and pure faith."

1. Choose to do what you love

You will ultimately follow your heart (affections), not your head (logic). Matthew 6:31: "So don't worry about these things, saying, "What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?"

What you love you will think about. Proverbs 23:7: "They are always thinking about how much it costs. 'Eat and drink', they say, but they don't mean it'."

You become what you think about and do. Phil. 4:8: "Think on these things." "And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."

II. Commitment to Daily Discipline

You become good at what you practice:
~Swim to become a good swimmer
~Pray to become a good prayer

Develop completeness through disciplines (list of 17 disciplines at end)

Guard the treasure. 2 Timothy 1:14: "Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you."

III. Loving What You Do

~Make Jesus your hero and stay in love with Him.
~Love the people you serve
~Delight in God - Psalm 37:4: "Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires."

Deeper Wisdom: Love of God and others will make you complete and give you a fountain of joy.

Disciplines of Abstinence:
Solitude
Silence
Fasting
Frugality
Chastity
Secrecy
Sacrifice
Watching

Disciplines of Engagement
Study
Worship
Celebration
Service
Prayer
Fellowship
Confession
Submission

Yes, I can ... No, I can't ...

Tyler seemed to be arguing with himself. Kamen didn't want to let him into his room and I told him he had to leave Kamen alone.

I heard him talking to himself, "Yes, I can .. No, I can't ... Yes, I can ... No, I can't .." No, I can't won out but he wasn't necessarily thrilled. Oh, well!!

Youth Camp Devotionals

This may be of no interest but I thought I would include it in case it does -- a long post, probably! But, I'm always so intrigued by the great spiritual growth during the youth camp. Of course, there are fun times, too ... Like last night (during 'after hours' fun -- about 9pm or so) when Sandi said she laughed until she couldn't talk! "S.A.C.'s Top Model" .. and "S.A.C.'s Got Talent"!! (South Atlantic Conference for those who might not know.)

But, thought I would share just the devotionals and the Timothy Track. This does not include the many workshops and the evening sessions. Every year, Sandi has given Bob her theme and her theme verses and he has developed the devotionals from there. The Timothy Track, she developed completely. Already, young people are responding. And I am always anxious, when they get home, what great things God accomplished throughout the week! They are halfway through now -- hard to believe it has gone this fast!!

So ... here are the devotions for yesterday -- sort of behind, huh? Sorry ...


INK'd -- Tattooed on Your Heart

Devotions for Youth Camp -- Tuesday

2 Corinthians 3:3: "Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This 'letter' is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts."

Jeremiah 31:33: "But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day," says the Lord. "I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people."

Becoming a Real Christian

Unreality -- temporary (world is passing away -- I John 2:17, "And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.")

1. Getting a label or a tag (barcode religion)
2. Getting new clothes -- dress for id
3. Infatuation -- never lasts

Reality -- permanent

1. Repentence / Humility
2 Corinthians 7:9: "Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way."

2. Letting God Love You
I John 4:10: "This is real love -- not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins."

3. Learning to Love God
Matthew 22:37: "Jesus replied, 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind'."

4. Getting Wisdom Ink'd on your heart
Proverbs 3:3: "Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart!"
Proverbs 7:2-3: "Obey my commands and live! Guard my instructions as you guard your own eyes. Tie them on your fingers as a reminder."

Write them deep within your heart!
Learning to think like God -- Act like God -- ReAct like God.

Wisdom -- "Real" Christians are those whose life is permanently "ink'd" by God.

Questions:

It's time for a REALITY CHECK!

*Has your Christianity been based on the "unreal" (temporary)?

*Can you recall a time when Christ was "Ink'd" on your heart?

If so: When was that?
(Describe time / place /
experience)

*What steps have you taken towards spiritual growth? (Bible study, prayer, Sunday School, youth group, accountability, etc.)

*What areas do you need to work on (what separates you from growing in Christ)?

*Find someone that you trust and share these things with them so they can help encourage you and help hold you accountable!

If not:
~Why? (what is holding you back?)
~Do you understand that we all have sinned and that Christ died and provided forgiveness for us?
~If you talked to God right now, what do you want to say?

Are you ready to ask for forgiveness and accept His free gift of salvation?

If so, why don't you find someone to pray with you right now!

If not, why don't you find someone to talk over the questions you have!

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Timothy Track (for those going into ministry or wanting a deeper walk)

Finding Your Mentor

A mentor is a life coach -- one who can train and explain and model - 2 Timothy 1:2,5

"(2) I am writing to Timothy, my dear son. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy and peace. (5) I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you."

I. Mentors lead by influence and inspiration rather than by control.

Early mentors are:
~Parents / Teachers -- from control (parents) to (teachers) inspiration.
~Peers -- mentors of adolescence and teens
~Heroes -- ultimate mentors

II. We only temporarily follow those who control us but will give our life to those who inspire us.
~Paul became Timothy's life-long mentor.

III.We adopt the character of our mentor.
~Character is "caught" more than "taught".

Birthdays, boys, bugs ...

After Tyler asked me if my son-in-law was old, I was reminded that Tim's birthday is right around the corner -- like two days. So, I'll say an early 'happy birthday' but he won't be paying much attention right now since he and Sandi are off at youth camp. They are having an awesome time and God is doing great things.

In the middle of that, they do have fun times. Tonight was "S.A.C.'s got talent" -- S.A.C. standing for South Atlantic Conference. Okay, so I know that will be funny but when Sandi called to talk to Tyler tonight, she said she had laughed so hard already she could hardly talk. Evidently it had been S.A.C.'s Top Model that sent the entire place into gales of laughter. I'm not sure who did the modeling or what they came up with, but if laughter is the best medicine, those campers will be the healthiest they have ever been when they return home! But, with all the seriousness during the day -- devotions, workshops, even worship sessions, they balance it out with fun, hysterical times. All in good taste! Christians can have fun!!

Okay, so now it is about 11:22pm and my mind is getting foggy after keeping up with Tyler today. Actually, he has been very good (for the most part except when he wasn't too happy with a rule I had given him and he pouted for about 3 minutes). I've actually gotten quite a lot done -- more than I thought I could with a seven year old busy little guy around.

How in the world did I raise my kids? Four of them -- all of them active critters .. all going different ways and not always knowing how they would get back when they left the house. (Sound familiar??) We survived and I'm sure they will, too. It's funny that I only do well (relatively speaking) when it's one on one. Somehow when I get more than one and the dynamics completely change, it's much more of a challenge. So, I'm sure I will have movies scheduled with Kamen and RJ soon .. at least in the next month or so. And it will be over to Winter Haven again to visit the gang there which make up one half of the grandkids!

Someone who is having their first grandchild, "Isn't it great to have a grandchild?" I assured her it was but when I didn't get up and do some type of dance, I'm sure she figured out that I was a seasoned grandmother -- and that could conjure up all kinds of visions so I think I will stop and call it a night for now.

And I'm yawning so much I can't seem to see the screeen -- that's scary. Now I need to carry Tyler off to bed and he weighs a ton, it seems. Now I've gone to ramblin'!

'Nough for now .. oh, the 'bug' thing? If you see the movie, Wall-E .. I think that's how you write it out -- well, he has a pet cockroach. That may be well and good for him -- but for me, I will pass on it, thank you very much!

"Is your son-in-law old?"

I never know what to expect from Tyler who is 7 years old going on 25! He is spending the week with me while his parents direct a youth camp about an hour from here. (That's a prayer request!)

Today, out of the blue, he asked, "Nana, is your son-in-law old?" Knowing he's really into relationships, I knew he was talking about his dad.

I answered, "What do you think?"

He said, "I don't know. That's why I asked you!"