A Quest for Peace

God is faithful each summer to teach us things we thought we already knew. This summer is no different. He is stretching us to trust Him, depend on Him, and seek His favor above all else.

Each Saturday evening we spend time in Bible study with our summer staff. These studies are intended to be small in number in hopes that accountability, change, and deep discussion will occur. We challenge our staff to spend three to four hours weekly in their study. They dig deep into either a specific topic, passage, or character from the Word of God.

Last week, the girls in my study asked God for specific things for which to pray. We were challenged that often our prayers are routine...boring....mundane. We wanted to ask big of our big God. While journaling, I began to ask God for peace in my home. He spoke some hard things to me. My definition of peace....classical music, quiet, calm, obiedence...isn't what I asked God for when we were struggling with infertility. What I wanted then was the patter of feet and shrieks of joy. I would have given anything to have the home we have now. So often I forget to remember God's blessings and fulfillment of promise.

God continued to speak deeper things to me. Specifically, that peace in our home, begins with me. It begins with my self-control. MY dying to self to invest in my children in loving, peaceful ways. MY choice to battle (with gentleness) when tantrums abound. MY choice to pray fervently for their souls to fall in love with the things of God. God is doing a good, hard work in me and I am thankful. Here are a few pictures from the last week:

Our sweet boys waking up after afternoon naps. Of course Josiah's beloved Cow is in the picture.



Jen and Noah at Festival morning during Shock week

Mark, attempting to complete some office work while Noah sleeps

Noah Wyles, already a fan of Eagle Lake Camps!!

Off and Running

  

Mark and Josiah Kayaking with Morgan

 Eagle Lake is in full swing! We are already enjoying a hot, beautiful summer in Pike's Peak National Forest as we watch God amaze us in His work here.

Last week, eight children gave their lives to Christ for the first time! We trust that God is influencing and drawing many more through the lives of our summer staff. What an incredible ministry of which to be a part.



This week over half of camp is filled with children who are a part of our No Empty Beds program. Seventy-five ethnic minority campers were able to attend this week of camp for free thanks to those who partner with us in our campership (scholarship) fund. We are praying that God would use this week to surround them with love, fun, and His presence. Would you pray with us for these children?



Our new water toy, the AquaSlide, is a HUGE hit!

View our staff hiring video for a glimpse into the heart behind  who we are. Would you pray with us for our counselors this summer? Pray for strength, humility, and much love for those they will be impacting.






The Newest Addition!

"I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Psalm 139

Welcome, Noah Wyles!

On Saturday, April 2nd, we welcomed God's newest blessing into our arms and home. Weighing in at 8 pounds, 6 ounces, Noah has brought much joy (and change) into our lives. Through these first sleep-deprived weeks, we are thanking God for His presence and goodness.



A family of 4!





Josiah's reaction to his baby brother! He has been very loving toward Noah and
continues to remind our visitors that they "can't take his baby home!"













10 Years and Counting!!

Ten years ago today Mark and I were married (at this Church in SC)! We stand in amazement today of all that God has done in our lives. Today, I've been pondering our marriage verse, Romans 15:5-6.

"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Marriage is definitely an endurance sport. Through struggles with communication, years of infertility, and our search to find balance in ministry and family, God has provided ample room for our growth and trust in His provision and goodness. Our seasons of heartache and triumph have brought unity and encouragement. What an incredible opportunity for sanctification He has designed within the marriage relationship. 

We are grateful for the years together and look forward to the birth of our son, Noah, in just a couple of weeks!

Back in one piece!

"This conference was so good." remarked one airman at the end of our time in Austria. We had battle two nine hour drives, a week of skiing (I know, the sacrifice!), language barriers and an eighty year old castle once owned by the Nazis’ now owned by Calvary Chapel (the irony!)

The conference and the time in Europe were incredible. I was able to speak four times and your prayers were felt. The talks went well but the time that God had me spend with the airmen was incredible. Not only did I get a chance to talk with then at meals, during van rides and while we were skiing, but they really opened up. I was humbled by the experience and saddened by the needs each of these folks face. God is working in Germany and I saw that everywhere.  

The club, Club 7, is run by Nav staff on the Ramstein AFB is very nice. This is due to the support the staff is receiving from the base leadership. God has blessed them with a Chief of Chaplains that is a believer and whose life has been impacted by the Navigators. The impact is being seen even by the base commander.

I was humbled by the opportunity to be a part of such a special ministry. It got me thinking about the great need that is all around us. The staff that serve on the base are former military and this is a huge blessing because they are granted privileges that civilians have a much harder time getting such as base access. They have instant credibility with the airmen and they understand the politics of being on an Air Force base.
            Is there an area around you that you have the privilege of being a part of? Maybe it is a health club, golf course, business group, or maybe you have the expertise to connect with others in your field of work or hobbies. The thought is you are looking around at the daily opportunities to live Christ in front of other people. It doesn’t matter your age, job, city you live in, etc. The opportunities are there to interact with hurting people.

Would you pray that God would show you the hurting in your community and give you the courage to interact with them? It can be as simple as a smile, or helping to fill a need someone has, and the great thing is it all starts with one.

The passage I spoke from the last night was John 15, the true vine. Jesus reminds us that He is the vine and we are outpouring of the goodness that comes from Him. In fact He tells us that apart from him we can do NOTHING. God care for us so that we can “bear much fruit” but the fruit only comes from the vine through the branch. We are simply the avenue the God chooses to use to bless others.

Go ahead and be a blessing today!

Austria

Mark flies to Germany--today! He will then travel to Austria where he'll be speaking over the next couple of weeks to a group of young military men and women. We both are trusting God to use this time in a very significant way.

Would you join us in prayer as he speaks on a four-part series "A Savior Worth Dying For"?  Specifically, he'll be covering three areas from the Gospel of John: Nicodemus, the blind man, and the Vine. Would you pray that God would reveal Himself in powerful ways during this time? That His character and infinite power would transform and encourage the lives of these men and women?

Jen is currently in her 33rd week of pregnancy with our second boy, Noah Wyles. It is an exciting, yet tiring time of life. We are trusting that Noah's development and growth will continue to progress and that he wouldn't be making an "early arrival" while Mark is in Europe! We cannot thank you enough for your prayers, support, and love. We cherish each of you.

Technology has found us...

Well it is 2011 and we feel like it might be time to jump on board with the technology of the future. We hope to bring quicker updates of the things that we are experiencing here at Eagle Lake Camps. Hope you enjoy...