The week after school got out our family went to Sunriver, Oregon for a week of vacation. It was very relaxing, very restful. I realized how much I need rest for my creativity to get energized. It was our first family vacation without Pattie. That felt weird, sad, and okay all at the same time. I am so proud of her and what she is investing her life in. That helps. We rode bikes, watched cable which we don’t get at home, ate ice cream, played tennis, ate, slept, went thrift store shopping, and relaxed. Paige and I went to the High Desert Museum. Paul and Perry went on a long bike ride. Meme picked movies for us to watch. Papa was chief dish washer. It was good to spend time with Perry’s folks and to see them doing well.
We came back from Sunriver and I needed to really get on Vacation Bible School planning and prep. I was feeling a bit frantic as I had lots to do. Throughout the week I could feel God smiling at me with the thought of just wait, it’s going to be good. It was a super week for many different reasons. When I feel fearful or stressed that usually means something good’s coming. It started with a great message from Dave Bruno on Sunday from David and Goliath. He encouraged us to engage in ministry, to stay away from negative – can’t do it people, be authentic, to remember our lions and bears, and to let God fight our battles. What great advice. I got to really but that into practice this week.
God provided so many helpers and surprises during the week of prep. With each one, I felt like it was a personal gift from God. The topper was finding these perfect mad scientist gloves at Walmart. (Our theme was science) Now, that’s personal. One of the verses God gave me during the week of prep was Psalm 107:14, 43 “He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains. Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the Lord.” Prep week reminded me how important a team is in ministry.
During Power Lab I saw God working in so many ways. One of the neat things about VBS is seeing so many different ages working together. God has been bringing home to me how important unity is and how we are fragmented into so many sub groups. I loved seeing all ages together in one endeavor. When I was planning on VBS I had a list of dream team people to help. God gave them to me. The people that made up our team were working in the places that God has gifted them in and that was fun to watch. From Delouris and Tammy in the kitchen with the gift of serving to Rich teaching children as they arrive about science, from Becky working with preschoolers to Barbara doing crafts. I was blessed just watching them work in their fields of expertise. I was blessed to see the teenagers’ love for kids grow. It was fun to see the kids love the leaders. So many seeds were planted in the fertile soil of children’s hearts. Many had questions about God and were going home and reading the Bible all on their own. I know we had some genuine decisions for the Lord. I was particularly blessed to hear about one unchurched girl who just wanted to come to VBS to learn about Jesus. Her father had apparently come to a VBS at our church 35 years ago. Wow, God, You’re good. I loved watching the relationship bonds in between members of our team. People in our church who previously only recognized another person by sight now laughing with them at our debrief meetings. I saw people working through discouragement, fatigue, and uncertainty. I am so proud of the team.
And the kids! They are so precious. Some pictures I will carry with me a long time are Riley in her blue goggles, Gwyn in her oversized sunglasses, Anna telling me how shy she is and then proceeding to negate that statement, quiet preschoolers rubbing mud all over Ally’s arm, Kody and Mariah at the registration table doing a great job, Ashton standing on the pew singing the worship songs with all his might, concern on a girl’s face because of the uncertainty of her parents’ relationship with God. They are so precious and so worth our investment. Kids teach me lessons all the time.
Well, this was pretty wordy and if you made it to the end, congratulations. I could go on and on. All the blogs in the world could not contain all of God’s goodness. I hope you will consider the great love of the Lord. It’s easy to do that coming off of a good week. The clincher is to do that when in the middle of a battle. Help me to see God that your goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
