Half way through!

Posted on by stevenlucht1

It’s an interesting concept, isn’t it? When you come down in the valley it seems like all your problems you have had before stay out of the valley. This is one reason I love being down here in the valley.

This week is high school camp. There have been some great message times and solid teachings. The biggest prayer is that these campers grow in their relationship with Christ. (as always) Last night we were on the climbing wall, zip line and the giant swing. The days might become long but they are still full of good times. Today we are headed to lake Arbutus for the day.

During this week and previous weeks God has been teaching me an important lesson, and it comes from Isaiah 55 verse eight and nine.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
~ Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV)

There are so many things that happen in our life, whether that’s daily issues or weekly, that we can’t explain. However, it’s so comforting to know that God is in control of all of it. There is nothing that we need to worry about. When we worry, we look up at God and basically spit in His face and say that we don’t trust Him and that we are going to take things into our own hands. Stupid idea.

All in all this summer is going better than I could have imagined. My relationship with God has been challenged to a whole new level. I absolutely love being apart of this ministry! I want to thank all those that have supported us in your prayers. Prayer is the only way we would be walking today as it gets to be very long and tiring days.

Prayer requests:

  • Sleep would be wonderful
  • Energy to get through the day (besides just drinking coffee all day)
  • Prayer that more campers sign up for the weeks to come
  • That campers will put their trust in God <— duh
  • I may be coming down with a slight cold so that would be a nice prayer request

Again, thank you for all your prayers and encouragement!

A Delayed Update…

Posted on by stevenlucht1

Kids Camp #1:

I love having the opportunity to dorm lead. This past week it was the third through sixth grade camp. Third through sixth grade camp has always been one of my favorite camps to be a part of. However, I’m writing this just hours after saying goodbye to the kids that I have so much enjoyed learning from and teaching. I have always had a hard time saying goodbye. Not only did I say goodbye to all the kids but also to my family that was serving down at camp for the week.

All in all the week went far better than I could have imagined. I don’t remember the exact number, but there were several kids that either accepted Christ into their lives for the first time or reassured their faith. Every time a child puts their faith into Christ I get tears in my eyes and goosebumps on my arms.

Now that the kids are gone, I constantly wonder if we truly made a difference in their life. All I can really do now is to pray for these kids. God is good and even though we as dorm leaders aren’t in their lives anymore I know that the Holy Spirit is alive and well.

We had an amazing group of dorm leaders, teachers, and staff down here for this past week. It was such a blessing to be encourage by those around me. I also want to thank all those who are supporting me through prayer that it definitely is helping. God has given me an incredible first week with working with kids.

Boys Camp:

The above was meant to be posted earlier but hadn’t had the time to finish. Now it is the end of Boys Camp. I will admit, I was quite tired from the week before and was so saddened that I had to say goodbye to all the kids from the week before. However, I was soon showed how much enjoyment it was to be with the older guys.

My biggest challenge at the end of the week was if I made a true difference on these guys lives. I will admit, it was a challenge for me. On the last night we had an open sharing time with the campers of what they learned and what they were challenged on. The majority of them made a strong point that they wanted to continue/start a daily devotional and increase in their relationship with God. My biggest prayer request is that they not only desire to build that relationship and quench their thirst for Christ, but actually follow through by being doers of the Word.

God is good and has all things in control. It’s amazing how God can use us for His glory. I want to thank everyone that has been so diligent in praying for us and the work that is going on down at camp.

Prayer requests:

  • Sleeeeeeeeeeeeep. It’s been a tiring week and there is still sleep to be had.
  • To have focus on Christ and to be able to tell all the more people about Christ’s love
  • More people to sign up for camps

Again, I can’t thank you all enough for all the prayer and support you have been showing me. The encouragement from my brothers and sisters in Christ means the world to me. If you have any questions, please let me know I would love to tell you more.

Days of Training

Posted on by stevenlucht1

This past week was absolutely amazing. Not only do I have the opportunity to serve side by side with some incredible people, I get to learn more about me amazing Savior! I do apologize for not posting more often and more information.

Today we had the privilege to do some climbing wall, giant swing, zip line and the tree climb training. As long of a day it may have been it was really cool to be able to utilize these tools for Christ.

There are so many fun activities that are being planned and prepared for this summer that is so cool. My favorite part is being able to share those activities throughout the summer. God is so good and I am constantly seeing Him work around the camp in teaching us.

We all have been working hard trying to prepare for our different nature times that we have so that we are prepared to teach the kids. It would be really appreciated if you could pray that we can convey the message of Christ to these kids through the different nature times. There is a lot of reading and studying going on, and it’s so exciting because of the end result that God can use us as a tool to teach these kids.

I want to thank you. I want to thank you for praying and reading what’s going on down in the valley. We are all getting very anxious to use the training we have been going through to teach all that are coming to camp.

Again, if you have any questions or want to know a little bit more (it’s hard to get it all down in a limited time frame) I would more than love to talk with you and answer any questions you may have.

Prayer request:
~ That the sunburn that the sun so graciously gave me would dwindle down as in some parts are quite painful
~That we would be able to have our nature times ready for the kids
~ That we who have extra messages to get ready for would be ready and be able to convey an amazing teaching and share Christ’s love through it
~ Sleep would be nice and being well rested for each days activities

The New Upcoming Chapter…

Posted on by stevenlucht1

It’s amazing the kind of gift that God has so graciously given me. I love utilizing my gift for God’s Kingdom. Working with kid’s brings so much enjoyment into life, and can brighten up any kind of day that I previously have been going through.

Sound asleep, while volunteering at camp, I felt poking on my face. After realizing this poking was not in my dream I saw a kid from my dorm attempting to wake me up. Quickly sitting up, I asked the little guy what was wrong. He very softly explained that he couldn’t sleep as he had a question. I sat with Him for at least an hour as he asked some of the most in depth questions about who God was and what it meant to be a christian.

I would do absolutely anything for a kid, and I live for moments like those.

As some people know, I will be spending my summer down in the beautiful valley of Living Waters Bible Camp as Program Staff. I will have the privilege to grow with some amazing people down in the valley along with utilizing God’s gift he has given me in teaching kids about His AMAZING love for us

The decision:
At first, I wasn’t looking into going to camp. Financially I didn’t believe it would have been a wise decision along with job prospect that I knew would turn me down if I were to leave for the summer. Despite all that was holding me back I decided to pray about it. Most people that know me, know I have a burning passion in working with kids in a children’s ministry and didn’t want to completely shut out this opportunity.

I prayed about this opportunity.

About two weeks into constantly having this on my mind, I decided to go to my boss at work and ask if it was possible to take the summer off. He told me that he would need to talk to his district manager to see if it was possible. The next day my boss explained that it wouldn’t be a problem. That was a huge door that opened for me.

After praying about going to camp, I finally made the decision of going. I am not only going because I want to but because I truly feel God leading me to go. Every door that I felt was prohibiting me from going to camp was being opened by God and I knew this is where God wanted me.

Throughout the summer, I will do my best on posting here what’s going on down at Living Waters. I want those around me to be apart of this ministry with me. (THAT’S YOU!) I’ll post different prayer requests and of course praises letting you know what’s going on.

Not only will I need prayer, but those around me at camp also. I will have the amazing privilege to grow spiritually alongside some incredible people. Throughout the summer there are times that are going to be tiring and exhausting, those are the times that we need your prayer all the more.

I am so excited for this new, even though short, chapter in my life and the ability to have you apart of it. Join me through the summer as we can impact rambunctious kids all the way to young adult. Prayer is such a powerful tool that we have to confess, ask and give praise to our incredible God.

~ Mark 10:13-14 ~
And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them. and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, ” Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” and he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

Kids look up to older people so much and I can’t wait to have that kind of impact on kids again. I want to thank you for being apart of that in supporting me through prayer and encouragement. It means so much to me when someone encourages me as it wasn’t an overnight decision to be led to go to camp. God is SO good!

He is in Control…

Posted on by stevenlucht1

Flying down the open roads of the LaCrosse area, taking hard turns and enjoying the time on my motorcycle. I came up to a ninety degree corner, feeling very confident, at about 30 to 40 miles an hour. There were bushes and trees on the corner of the lot prohibiting me from seeing what was on the other side of the corner. Still confident I entered into the corner enjoying the thrill. In a spit second I realized my life-threatening mistake. There was a large truck right in my lane, that was no more than 20 feet in front of me, headed my way. In a split second I tried to go around the left side of the truck, instead the bike slipped underneath me and took me across the road into a ditch that lead into a corn field. I was inches away from going head on with the truck…

I find it an absolute miracle that: 1) God didn’t take me home to be with Him that day and 2) I didn’t break one bone in my body. Needless to say, I was scrapped up a little bit but it definitely could have been far worse.

As I got up, while still in shock, I pushed my bike out of the corn field and up the ditch to get it on the road. I immediately sat down on the side of the road and felt almost every bone in my body to make sure i didn’t break anything. It took me several minutes to get back on my bike.

…I was horrified…

There was no way I was getting back on that thing, but I had to get back to my grandparents (where I was staying at the time). I very reluctantly threw me leg over my bike and started it back up. I knew I had to at least get back to my grandparents. I didn’t go faster than ten miles an hour the entire way back. In the back of my mind I constantly reminded myself that I almost killed myself.

I got back to my grandparents and looked at my bike. Thankfully, there wasn’t much damage to the bike either. However, I wasn’t getting back on that thing for a while.

I very much look forward to riding my motorcycle. The motorcycle that I was in the accident with has recently been sold mainly because I lost my trust in it.

Now, it could have completely given up on riding a motorcycle. I cringe just thinking back at the experience knowing that it could have been my last ride, and it only happened last summer.

I’m not one to talk about this story because it was very difficult to go through. Why do I tell you this story? The reason I am writing about it is because of certain recent events that has happened that made me remember it.

I learned two lessons from this experience.

The first lesson is that we need to give all of our praises and thanks to God at all times and through all circumstances. I will admit, I was very upset at myself for going too fast around the corner and for the trucker to be in my lane. However, I thank God that I was barely injured physically. I thank God that I am alive. Most of the time I speak very lightly of the matter, but I know if God didn’t help me avoid that truck I wouldn’t be here today.

Above all I am thankful I got in the accident. WHAT?!?! DID HE JUST SAY THAT!?! Yes, in fact, I did. I know how close I came to be taken to my heavenly home, but I know God had a better plan for me. I am thankful I got in the accident because it taught me to take my time and not to be so confident in myself especially when it comes to my safety and the safety of others around me.

~ 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ~
“Give thanks in ALL circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.“

The second lesson that it taught me was God is always in control. Even when I knew I had no control over my motorcycle God had control over me. He could have taken me home to be with Him, instead gave me a quick response to avoid a head-on collision. God will always be in control even when we feel we are out of control.

~ Joshua 1:9 ~
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

 

It’s His Glory

Posted on by stevenlucht1

It’s one of my favorite times to be sitting outside. A small breeze rushing past you while the sun is slowly going over the horizon. Listening to the birds singing their songs that God designed them to do. The occasional rabbit skipping across the yard looking for shelter. This is my favorite time of the day.

This is the time of day that you can really look around at the amazing creations that God has made for our enjoyment. It’s the time of day that you can spend hours enjoying. You want to rest your eyes but there is so much going on around you that at times you keep them open to get the best of both worlds.

It’s this very time of day that I enjoy reflecting on all that God has created for me. Whether this creation is my family He has provided for me, or all that I am surrounded with in nature.

Isn’t it amazing that God created all this in just six days! Shoot, I have a hard time creating a hot pocket in the microwave without it exploding. Just to think that God created all this that we see around us.

From the bleeding hearts (a flower) to the magnificent oak tree. God created these for our enjoyment. The bleeding heart is one of my favorite flowers. It has a vivid pink color to them with a design that looks like a heart you would typically draw on a paper. I love the way God created this flower.

We look around in this world and see some incredible sights. From the Grand Canyon to the Mountains that stretch across the land out west. The most astounding creations is us!  Weird huh? I look around and see some jaw dropping sights yet we are considered the greatest creation.

God has made our bodies so intricate. We are apart of God’s divine purpose and we were created in the image of God Himself! I find that fact absolutely amazing.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

That being said, we should be constantly glorifying God through our bodies. Glorifying God through our bodies could mean how we act, what we say and how we hold ourselves up in difficult situations.

All around us we see God’s amazing creation glorifying Him. All the way down to the bleeding heart that sits so beautifully, and you know that there was a creator of that flower. Let us glorify God with our own bodies.

Since I am getting bit by mosquitoes, and am losing the battle, I will end with a quote that really enjoyed by Charles Spurgeon.

““To whom be glory for ever.” This should be the single desire of the Christian. I take
it that he should not have twenty wishes, but only one. He may desire to see his
family well brought up, but only that “To God may be glory for ever.” He may wish
for prosperity in his business, but only so far as it may help him to promote this—“To
whom be glory for ever.” He may desire to attain more gifts and more graces, but it
should only be that “To him may be glory for ever.” This one thing I know, Christian,
you are not acting as you ought to do when you are moved by any other motive than
the one motive of your Lord’s glory.”
~ Charles Spurgeon ~

A Neglected Conversation

Posted on by stevenlucht1

Do we undermine and underestimate the power of prayer? Is prayer something that we take for granted? Is this “prayer” thing something that we neglect?

I work in a retail store and last week my right foot started to have this shooting pain. At times it was hard for me to even stand, as I have to stand all day at work. As I was helping one of my customers, I started to complain that my foot was hurting and it was hard for me to stand up. The gentleman, who looked like he was in his fifties, looked down at the counter and started praying for my foot. He said something like “God take this man’s pain away in your name, ahmen.” Now I don’t remember the exact words in which he said, however it was on those lines. Immediately I thought, when he was praying, that this is really silly and why would you pray about something so insignificant. I chuckled a little bit and handed the man his receipt and he was on his was way. Almost instantly I noticed that the pain in my foot was gone.

It’s incredible how God works through prayer. I never once thought about praying for my foot to stop hurting, it just seemed like a weird prayer. However, I know that God healed my foot at that moment. It gave me an amazing learning opportunity showing that God knows what’s hurting in our lives but He wants us to tell Him about it and how He can help us. It’s all apart of this personal relationship we have in Christ.

James 5:13a ~ Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.

I’ve always looked at prayer as a continuous phone call between God and me. A phone that I could always pick up and immediately start talking with God. We need to pick up the phone and actually start talking with God.

Imagine a couple that have been together for years. They both know a lot about each other. However, this couple hasn’t spoken in six months. Do you think that this relationship is going to last without any form of communication? Of course not! In the same way we have this relationship with God and we should not be neglecting our communication with Him.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 ~ Pray without ceasing

In the ESV it has the word Pray written in text 94 times and in 90 different verses. That’s a lot of different times saying that we need to pray. It just shows all the more that God wants to have this personal relationship with us.

Matthew 21:22 ~ And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith
Mark 11:24 ~ Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours.

In times that we are struggling with physical or emotional pain we need to look toward God and pray no matter how insignificant it may seem to us at the time. If we trust that God will heal us through His miracles and have faith in Him, God is going to answer that prayer.

So let’s stop neglecting this amazing opportunity that we have to talk with our God. Let’s spend time each day expressing our needs to God. Prayer is a big step in creating our relationship with God all the most stronger.