How many of you were like me and went to summer camp in the mountains? Ours was a church camp in the pine woods of Prescott, Arizona, Prescott Pines.
There are many things I remember fondly about Prescott Pines. The cabins, mess hall, swimming pool…the ball field, the big A-framed recreation hall, mail call. Learning to play Heart & Soul on the rec hall piano, the camaraderie…
The chapel services and the chalet-style prayer chapel where we could go to be alone and pray. Year after year, it was something I looked forward to. It was the place that I felt closest to the Lord in the early years of my life.
Last night my heart was filled with those memories as I sat under the pines with Dave. Looking up, as darkness fell, the trees began to make their silhouette against the night sky, the first stars glistened like diamonds, the air was fresh and clear and I could imagine the Lord smiling as we enjoyed all He had created.
I began to ask the question “Who made…
- the stars to shine
- the moon to reflect the sun
- the planets to fill the heavens
- the oceans ebb and flow
- the seasons to change
Of course I knew the answer. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth!
“In the past God spoke to our people through the prophets. He spoke to them many times and in many different ways. 2 And now in these last days, God has spoken to us again through his Son. He made the whole world through his Son. And he has chosen his Son to have all things. 3 The Son shows the glory of God. He is a perfect copy of God’s nature, and he holds everything together by his powerful command. The Son made people clean from their sins. Then he sat down at the right side of God, the Great One in heaven.” Hebrews 1:1-3 ERV
Our great God, Almighty God and Heavenly Father, created this world with His Son and now it is Jesus who holds it all together through His powerful words. The One who made all that we see and enjoy is the same Jesus who made us clean by paying the penalty for our sins!
“God—the one who made all things and for whose glory all things exist—wanted many people to be his children and share his glory. So he did what he needed to do. He made perfect the one who leads those people to salvation. He made Jesus a perfect Savior through his suffering. 11 Jesus, the one who makes people holy, and those who are made holy are from the same family. So he is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.” Hebrrews 2:10-11 ERV
Jesus, who was there at creation; Jesus, who gave His life for me, is not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters. His love for us is so great, so amazing!
Yes, those few summers at camp made a lasting impact because they gave me an awareness of God’s greatness and it was there I fell in love with Him, heart and soul!