The End of the Beginning

Posted on by stevenlucht1

Next week is it… It’s the official start of the summer with the kids. My excitement is growing in anticipation for them to be here. At the same time, my heart turns when I think about where these kids are coming from. It pains me knowing that some of the kids that will be here for the first kid’s camp have not heard of the beauty of our Savior, knowing that the some of the kids are coming from very rough backgrounds. I ask that you join me in prayer for those kids, and the kids that do come from good homes.

This past week has been very long. It seems that every time that my heart starts really getting excited and pumped up for the kids to come, Satan decides that he is going to throw a curve ball and distract me from the reasoning that  I am here. It has been quite the lesson to have to endure. Thankfully God is the one in control and taking over. It is absolutely amazing when we truly give things to the Lord that He WILL take over. The catch is that we need to truly give whatever is on our mind to Him (Easier said than done.)

As summer staff, we have gone through quite of bit of training. We have been trained in TAC elements (Team Adventure Challenge), archery, paintball, various nature times, the tower, swing, and the tree climb. Writing it out makes it sound like we just have been playing this whole time. However, these days have become very long with a lot of training. We obviously have been having an incredible time, but it does seem like we’ve been here for at least a month when we only have been here for a little over a week. I can definitely say that I am more than ready for the kids to come.

It’s incredible that God can use us for His work and for His glory. Please pray for us summer staff that we keep in the mindset that we are here to give glory to God and none of it comes to us. It’s too easy for us to get prideful and forget what we truly are here for. God is so good and we are so excited to see what He is going to do and impact this summer.

Matthew 10:13-16 explains how Jesus let the children come to Him. I am so ready for these kids to come so that we can pour out our hearts to them. My desperation to want to share the love of God to them is beyond all measure. Wednesday morning I will be teaching at the chapel time. For approximately six months, God has laid it upon my heart for this message. My biggest prayer is that it is all God speaking through me and not anything of my own accord.

All this said; please pray dearly for my fellow summer staff and our walks with Christ. I have been more encouraged this year than ever in my walk with Christ and being challenged in my own growth. We have a healthy and strong bond with each other and get together each night to spend some time in prayer. We couldn’t do this without God’s help. It truly is amazing what God has been providing already in this summer year.

 

Trust in the Next Chapter…

Posted on by stevenlucht1

Everyone has heard someone say that we need to trust in the Lord. It so much easier said than done. Countless times my trust in God crumbles underneath me and I try so hard to take situations into my own hands.

It’s so easy to trust in God through the easy times and when everything seems to be going the way you want. However, once we hit a rough patch, it seems like our trust flies out the window and we grab the wheel of our life in desperation try to save ourselves.

Last week Sunday was a start of a bad week… It began with a few bad conversations with people and a lack of sleep. My frustrations alone made me more frustrated creating a circle of destruction. I looked at areas of my life and lost complete trust in God, even though I know full well that God is working in those areas. By Wednesday, I wrestled with God still in my own frustrations and failing to see that He was continuing to provide, even when I refused to see it. It wasn’t until I realized that I was trying to take control over my life and lost my trust in God that I gave it back to Him. It’s funny how a seven year old little girl at an Awana club can get you out of a bad week.

Something that helped me gain my trust back in God, was looking back at the miracles that He performed in my life. God has intricately placed the most minute details in place that eventually changed my entire life in a different direction. It’s been an amazing ride and in those times that I have trusted most in God, some of the biggest changes came about.

We need to trust in God to move us to where He wants us. You can not trust in God if you are not into your Bible and in constant prayer with God.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.”
~Proverbs 3:5~

“Trust in the LORD forever,
for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.”
~Isaiah 26:4~

The Next Chapter:
I absolutely couldn’t be happier where God has me in life. The biblical teachings and the spiritual leadership that surrounds this area is absolutely amazing. It seems like God is providing more than I can see. This excites me more than anything.

As I keep turning my pages over in life I reach yet another exciting chapter. God has lead me to become summer staff at Living Waters Bible Camp again this summer. My excitement for the day the summer staff has to be down there is heart pounding. Knowing that lives are going to be changed and to be a part of that is an honor and a privilege.

Talking with some other summer staff that will also be down there only increases this excitement. It’s not only the campers lives that will be changed but also our lives. I look forward to having the opportunity to serve side by side with my family in Christ to serve God and grow with our Heavenly Father.

My prayer requests are simple but so important. Please pray that our hearts are prepared to be down to Camp. That we focus completely on why we are down there in doing the Lord’s work. Help us have a strong trust in God in our lives inside and outside of being down at Living Waters. Trust that God will work His miracles, and use us for increasing His kingdom with giving it all to Him.

I thank you so much for the prayers and support.

God is Good!

The End of the Beginning…

Posted on by stevenlucht1

Words do not really describe the end of the summer. Looking back on all the memories with the other staff and with all the campers. It’s crazy to think that it’s over. I remember one of the first nights, I looked over at one of my fellow summer staff, and told him that this summer was going to be the greatest summer ever. This summer exceeded every expectation I could have put in place for it.

Needless to say I more than miss this summer. It felt that it went by way to fast. So many opportunities to share the love of Christ. I love what God has done down here at camp. Not only do those who come down to camp as campers become impacted but also the staff here as well. I am more than blessed to have had the opportunity to come down here and serve.

I want to thank those who are continuing to pray for me and that have been an amazing encouragement on my life. You are definitely apart of my family and I cherish those who have been challenging me and encouraging me in my walk with Christ.

God has challenged me in a few areas this summer. The biggest area God reached out to me was my trust toward Him. So many times I have been taught in my life that we need to take care of ourselves and make sure we have things under control… I highly disagree. The more I have trusted in Christ this past summer the more He revealed Himself to me.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart,and do not lean on your own understanding”
~Proverbs 3:5~

“Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.”
~Isaiah 26:4~

So many times this summer, and partially before, God kept telling me to just trust in Him. I kept failing at trying to do things myself and I had enough. Life runs so much smoother and easier when we truly put all our trust in Him. A lot of times, I had to just shut up and listen to what He was trying to tell me. It gets too noisy when we keep worrying about what’s next. The peace comes when we trust in God and let HIM work the miracles in our lives.

The second thing that God taught me is essentially that I am not going to understand why everything happens. I have so often tried to understand why things are going on but truly will never understand.

“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~

There are something that happen in life that we are just not going to understand. THAT’S OKAY! We just need to keep in mind who is in control of all things. If we understood everything in this world it would defeat the purpose of having a god because we know all things. It goes back to the first thing God has taught me this summer, in that we need to just trust in Him and allow Him to do the work.

Again, it’s hard knowing the summer is over and most of the staff are gone. I am now back down at camp after a long weekend of traveling through several states. It’s so exciting to see where God is going to bring me next in life. The less I worry about life the more exciting it is to look at God and say “I’m ready!”.

Prayer requests:

  • A possible job opportunity has been in sight for a while down here near camp as a police officer. I would very much appreciate the prayers that I could get this job, but above all that God’s will is done.
  • For camp to get some more help during these next couple of months since most of the summer staff are gone and more guest groups keep coming in.

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!