Sharp Top Cove

Andy had the opportunity to speak this past weekend at Sharp Top Cove...to over 500 high school folks. This was his first time to be the camp speaker and he did a great job, I am so very proud of him. My prayer was that the Lord would use him and speak through him and that hearts and minds would be open to what God was going to say through Andy. On Saturday night there was a chance for kids to have 20 minutes of quiet time outside, silence, a chance to speak to the Lord...or to just listen. I walked outside with these teenagers and sat down in the grass to have 20 minutes to pray to Jesus. I prayed for the lives around me...that they would be changed, I prayed for Zach Weimer's friends and family, I thanked Jesus for where I was, at Sharp Top sitting on the soft grass and breathing in what He had created. It was a time I needed. A time to be still and be quiet before the Lord. It was an incredible night, the moon was out and bright. The wind began to pick up and quickly blow through the trees then all of a sudden there were a few specks of rain. Not much just some tiny droplets of water. I thought to myself...maybe that was someones answer to pray. Thank you God for the way you speak. Thank you God for the way you reveal yourself.

On Friday night I was praying that the Lord would speak to me through Andy this weekend. And he did. During one of Andy's talks he read an excerpt from Brennan Manning's, Ragamuffin Gospel. If you have never read this book-you need to. I hope this encourages you the way it has me.

"The question which the gospel of grace puts to us is simply this: Who shall separate you from the love of Christ? What are you afraid of?

Are you afraid that your weakness could separate you from the love of Christ? It can't.

Are you afraid that your inadequacies could separate you from the love of Christ? They can't.

Are you afraid that your inner poverty could separate you from the love of Christ? It can't.

Difficult marriage, loneliness, anxiety over the children's future. They can't.

Negative self-image? It can't.

Economic hardship, racial hatred, street crime? They can't.

Rejection by loves ones or the suffering of loved ones? They can't.

Persecution by authorities, going to jail? They can't.

Nuclear war? It can't.

Mistakes, fears, uncertainties? They can't.

 The gospel of grace calls out: Nothing can ever separate you from the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord.

You must be convinced of this, trust it, and never forget to remember. Everything else will pass away, but the love of Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Faith will become vision, hope will become possession, but the love of Jesus Christ that is stronger than death endures forever. In the end, it is the one thing you can hang onto."