Hey guys!
Georgia your MC back again. I don’t know about you but I’m missing summer camp already.
I’m missing the late nights talking to the people in my cabin and the constant reminder of God always being there. I’m missing being able to throw buckets of water on people and being able to openly share my faith and experiences with God and know that no one is judging me. Good times!
So I don’t know about you but I’m not a runner and I would always try to get out of going to athletics days at school and I would fake being sick but mum would still make me go every year. I remember always being asked to run a lap for the school or do the relays cause they would always need people but I never said yes. Instead, I would just sit in the stands and spectate. It’s funny because you can go to church, worship, and events like this and just sit and spectate and not even notice that you’ve drifted away from God. But God is always standing there holding the baton waiting for you to run the race and get to the finish line. So don’t just sit in the stands watching. This is your year to say yes and run the race.
But, I know it’s not as easy as it seems to run the race however as this was my sixth summer camp I have learned a few tips and tricks along the way on how to make running the race easier.
Tip 1: Stay in contact with the friends you’ve created at summer camp.
Some of my closest friends I met at my first summer camp and not all of them live near me but I have managed to stay in contact with them over the years and that has been a blessing in disguise. Being able to have friends that think and feel the same about their faith helps you to have a closer relationship with God. They are also there to help you get back on track when you start to wander off.
Tip 2: Talk to God the same as you talk to your best friends.
What I mean by talking to God as you talk to your best friends is that you don’t have to be in church just to pray and talk to God. When I was young I thought that the only time you could talk to God was at church but I was so wrong. Even if you have a crazy busy life (like me) you can still find 2-5 minutes each day to talk to God. Whether that’s on the bus on the way to school and home, lying in bed before you go to sleep while singing in the shower, or even just sitting on the couch. So I challenge all of you to talk to God for 2-5 minutes every day.
Tip 3: Stay true to your values.
I know at times this can feel like it’s the hardest battle to fight but it is worth so much when you stay true to yourself. I feel your pain when a close friend doesn’t have the same values as you but that doesn’t mean you can’t be friends with them. Just stay true to your values and faith and never do anything that contradicts those values you hold. Remember, if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.
Tip 4: See God in the little things.
Whether that is a stranger walking past smiling at you or someone you haven’t spoken to in ages at school being nice to you. The little things make a difference and make you remember the love God has for us.
Tip 5: Come back.
It’s awesome to come to one event like Summer Camp but after a while, it kind of disappears into the back of our heads and becomes a distant memory. I found that coming back every year has made me the person that I am today and it gets better and better each time you come back. So this is your year to say yes to the race and remember that you are not alone and you have the whole Ignite team behind you. I know that coming down from the high of Summer Camp can be hard, especially as we head back to school and reality in the next few days but hopefully, my tips help you.
Bless you, guys! I can’t wait to see you at the Summer Camp Reunion on the 5th of Feb!