QMCC 2015

Last week our whole family was at Bible camp when my husband and our oldest son directed the session for 7th-12th grade. It was a great week studying the book of James and using the theme, "Under Construction".

The counselors and staff for the week met early Sunday morning for breakfast, worship, a meeting, and lunch, then we decorated the mess hall and got ready for the campers to arrive.

It was fun getting it ready and organized in advance, and made the check in time a lot less stressful!

Sunday was spent getting the campers into their cabins, organized into families, and introducing one another to each other and the counselors.  

Later that evening they had a devo on the bigger mountain near camp.

There's just something about being out in nature and worshipping God.  There's nothing else like it, actually!  I'll share more about the week later!  It was a GREAT week!

The Chronicles of Biscuit - Pros and Cons

The Chronicles of Biscuit: Stories about our younger son whose nickname is Biscuit.

Decisions and choices are hard for anybody at times, but for a 12 year old, they can be really tough.

Our younger son is at the right age where he can still go to the younger kids' session of Bible camp or to the older kids' session. The whole family will be at the older session, where only a few of us will be at the younger one.  He was planning to go to both.

But then we realized that there was a conflict with the younger session week.  The BIG Texas-Oklahoma Junior Golf Tournament (T/O) is scheduled the same week this year!  Biscuit wasn't sure what to do.  We didn't care, since he was already going to camp the next week. If he hadn't been, we certainly would have chosen for him, but since he had the option, we let him chose.

Fast forward a few weeks:  Biscuit's next older brother is going to be a counselor during the younger session. When he came home after a camp meeting, all excited about the week and its activities, Biscuit began to second-guess his decision.  Bigger brother encouraged him to make a list of the pros and cons of going to each, which he did.

(Pros)

After Biscuit made the lists, he still wasn't sure. I told him to go to bed, pray about it, and that God would help him make the best decision.  He wasn't in bed long (not long enough to sleep, but long enough to pray), but soon came and told me he was going to camp.  He had made his decision.

(Cons...*And a not about the 'fights between a family member'....It's not our family he's referring to!)

I wasn't sure the decision would stay the same the next day, the next week, or even especially after the first golf tournament of the summer (which was Tuesday), but it has. He hasn't wavered in his decision.  I'm pretty sure it's because he knows which decision was directed by God and is most important, spiritually.  There are worldly things at camp, no doubt, and he even lists some "bad" that can be found at camp just the same as it can be found anywhere, but there are many things that are at Bible camp that you can't find anywhere else.  You can't grow spiritually the same way anywhere else.  There's something about Bible camp that makes you feel even closer to God than anywhere else.  Biscuit knows that, and he knows the fun that's there, as well.

We would have been proud of Biscuit no matter what decision he made because he thought about the choices and considered the aspects of each.  I actually was a little sad that he wasn't going to do the golf tournament, but that's selfish of me!  I was sad to not be going to the younger camp, too, because I've been a counselor there the past two years!  Conflicts aren't fun!

But we're extremely proud that Biscuit chose the better.  He chose the best. He chose spiritual over worldly.  That's the best decision anyone could ever make.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Psalm 32:8

CAMP TIME!

During my first week of camp this year, I had seven young girls and two junior counselors in the cabin.  These girls were SO MUCH FUN!  They enjoyed dressing as ladybugs using my favorite costume accessory - trash bags!  The girls were so cute. They thought the trash bags made cute formal dresses, and they were serious! Ha ha! Some parents could get by pretty cheap using that idea some day!

 The junior counselors made up some little songs to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot" and "Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes", but using ladybug lyrics.  It was so cute!

 The theme of the week was "Answering Questions". We taught that the BIBLE, God's Word, is the ONLY source we should use for what is true and right. The girls asked some GREAT questions, but thankfully had them answered in the WORD! I know they learned a lot!

 We decorated the cabin with red bows and lady bugs, which was perfect for a group of 9-12 year olds!

 Camp looked beautiful this year, thanks to the blessing of rain!  After a long drought, this rain has made it more lush than it's been in a long, long time.

 My oldest son served as a counselor this year. That was neat, since the youngest was there as a camper. That's the oldest flying through the air!

 Cute Bible skits were written by one of the directors. This is "Wiki" and "Google" asking questions about what's true and what's not.

 Mr. "Truth" used the Bible to answer questions by the "Question" character, played by my daughter.

Our youngest had lots of fun at camp this year, making more friends and growing in God's Word. The games and activities made it extra-fun, like this "Minute to Win It" game. He did it! He balanced four dice on a tongue depressed being held in his mouth! 

At Last I Realize

The Mountain Song

O Lord, I need a mountain to climb on,

Just a quiet place to go and know You’re there.

O Lord, I need to spend some time with You,

Spend the night with You, dear Lord, in prayer.

Chorus:

The greatest friend you’ll ever find Is on a lonely mountain.

The highest high you’ll ever feel Is when you kneel to pray.

The brightest light you’ll ever see Is when you close your eyes,

O Lord, You are my first love, At last I realize.

O Lord, I thought the day would never dawn,

When I would lay my burdens down and walk with You,

But this morning as I greet the rising sun

The fondest of my dreams had all come true.

(Repeat Chorus)

When I woke up this morning, this song came to mind and I began singing it in my head. Maybe it's because the sun is shining so beautifully this morning. Maybe it was because I prayed as I began to sit down and write a post.  Either way, this song is one of my favorite "camp" songs, and brings back special memories of early-morning worship times at camp.

Quite time with the greatest friend you could ever have....that's what this song is about!  If you're like me, I don't have a lot of quiet time.  Someone is always around or something is always making noise.  Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, would retreat to quiet, lonely places. There's a reason He did that. He wanted to talk to His Father - alone.  In the quietness of the day or night.

We will have to retreat or wake up really early (not my favorite thing to do) or "climb a mountain" to get away for solitude to be with God alone.  But, we should strive to make time for quite time with Him....our greatest and best friend.  He wants to be with us.  He should always be our first love.  As the song says above - AT LAST I REALIZE.  At last we should realize all that He is to us and for us.  He is all we need.

Radical - QMCC 2013

It's exciting to share pictures with you from our camp session last week!  The theme was "Radical", with the directors being my brother-in-law and my husband.

Every year at this session, the campers (ages 7th-12th) are divided into four family groups according to their ages and given a name.  This year they were jungle animals.

 They also do some sort of project, which this year consisted of making a large banner with their animal.  The creativity and talent shown on each of the banners was amazing!

On Wednesday night, unknown to the campers, my brother-in-law painted over and outlined the banners so that we could have a black light devotional the next evening.

The top photo shows the banners with the black light. It was amazing.  We also "marked" each camper who said they were a Christian as they came in with a thumbprint.  The focus of the devotional was Christ's death on the cross.  The word for the evening was LOVE.  It glowed in the dark, too, because it was in white. (The word part will be explained below).

My sister-in-law and brother-in-law made these great palm trees for the whole week.  They were made by rolling down brown paper bags, cutting a hole in the bottom of them and stacking them on a PVC pole.  The rounded branches were made by heating PVC pipes and molding them to a rounded shape. Then the leaves were cut and glued into position. The leaves had some glow-in-the-dark paint added to them, as well.

My sister-in-law made these beautiful nail/string art signs for each day.  The word "RADICAL" stood at the tree base each day, then the other words (Faith, Joy, Kindness, Mercy, and Love) were added each day.  The signs were a great addition to each day, but are also beautiful and are a great idea for homemade gifts!

It was a great week, for sure!  We were all tired, but it's well worth it.  To renew our batteries spiritually, grow closer to God, and learn more about being like Jesus.

But the very, very best part of being at camp?  Seeing two new children of God!  Praise God for the hearts of these two!  Please pray for them at they begin their walk with God in the steps of Jesus!

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:13-14

Emergencies

Last week at camp, one of my jobs was to serve as camp nurse.  This was the second year I had done this job.  Last year's responsibilities were to dispense medications, take care of minor cuts and scraps, and deal with the occasional headache.  This year, within the first two hours of camp, I was faced with more serious issues and a trip to the emergency room.

The first emergency was a knee injury.  A young man was playing basketball, but simply ran straight across the court and felt a pain like being hit in the knee with a 2 x 4.  He was in obvious pain and his knee cap had floated up above where it was supposed to be.  We loaded up the camper and took him to him to the nearest emergency room.  His diagnosis was a definite problem - a torn patellar ligament and tibial bone fracture.  His parents were notified and after an appointment with a surgeon yesterday, he will be having surgery on his knee tomorrow. It was a real, serious emergency!

A few days later I had a second emergency.  One of the counselors came running out to tell me that one of the girls was having trouble.  I quickly went to find her laying on the sidewalk.  Because I know this girl personally, it appeared like she had been playing her favorite sport - basketball - and had the wind knocked out of her.  It looked just like I've actually seen it look during games.  But she hadn't been playing basketball.  She had been running quickly back and forth to the cabins during a competitive scavenger hunt game.

The young girl had blacked out, but come to.  She was dizzy, confused, and disoriented.  It was really scary!  Her vision was affected and she was off balance.  After several moments, she was still the same way.  It seemed like a concussion, though she hadn't hit her head.  I called her dad and we determined she should go to the emergency room.  Another counselor and mutual friend and I loaded her up and met her dad and grandmother at the emergency room.  By the time we got there, the young lady had actually gotten some better.  It was a relief to see her coming around and acting more like herself.

The doctor evaluated the young girl and felt like she probably just overheated.  It still seems like the symptoms were more of a concussion-type, but we'll really never know.  Thankfully by the next day the young girl was totally back to normal - just a little tired.  A very scary emergency!

During the whole week of camp as my "job" focused on major and minor physical emergencies, on the spiritual side of what camp was all about, the focus was on the spiritual emergencies in the lives of the campers.  Sadly, for young people and older people, we don't always get as alarmed about our spiritual lives as we do our physical lives.  We don't always pay attention to the warning signs that our spiritual lives are in trouble.   But why?  Aren't our spiritual bodies much more important that our spiritual bodies?  Yes, God's Word teaches that they are much more important.  The condition of our spiritual bodies determines how we will spend our eternity.  The condition of our spiritual bodies is of vital importance!  When our spiritual bodies are sick, it is a most serious emergency!

All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. ¹⁶ Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

¹⁷ Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. ¹⁸ For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹ Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. ²⁰ But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Philippians 3:15-21

As this verse says, when we find ourselves "living as enemies of the cross of Christ", we have a serious spiritual emergency.  So, what do we do about it?  Verse 16 says to "live up to what we have already attained".  That means to live up to what God has given us as children of God - salvation, forgiveness, eternal life!  To "live up to it" would be live according to His will for us.  Not that any of us can be perfect, but that we are striving to live a holy life - a life modeled by the example of Jesus, our Savior.  Yes, we'll fail.  Yes, we'll still have struggles.  But "living up to it" also means having the confidence in the fact that the blood of Jesus will cleanse us when we struggle and fail.  We don't have to worry about it.  We don't have to get down about it.  We can live boldly and confidently knowing that God is there to help our spiritual bodies with any emergency that comes along.


On this Gratituesday, I am very, very grateful that God is the healer of my spiritual emergencies.  In fact, He can help me with any emergency I have.  

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

QMCC 2012

My family spent last week at one of our very favorite places - Quartz Mountain Christian Camp.  This camp is special to us for many reasons, but the main two are that my husband and I met there and his uncle began this very session that we attended and now he and his brother are the directors for that session.  It's been a family thing for many, many years.

On Sunday evening the campers hiked to the top of one of the bigger mountains.  They had a devotional and ate a Passover meal of lamb, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs. 

This years' theme was an Olympic "Go for the Gold" theme.  The main lessons/classes were on the book of Ephesians.  Each "family" group came up with a family name, a flag design, and an anthem.   The flags were flown on the flag pole and used in other ways, as well.

Since July 4th fell during the camp session, we had a special evening of red, white, and blue activities.

We had purchased a LOT of glow in the dark balloons, called Lumi-loons.  They were so neat and were blown up and floating in the swimming pool.  It was going to be the location for that evening's devotional.  However, many of the balloons blew away and popped because of the wind.  We were disappointed, but the campers were asked to throw their glow stick necklaces into the pool to help with the "glow" effect.  It ended up very neat, even without all of the balloons.

The greatest part of the evening was that one of the campers decided to commit her life to God.  She decided to accept God's gift of His Son, Jesus as the sacrifice for her sins.  She boldly proclaimed her belief in Him and was baptized with her fellow campers, counselors, and friends standing all around the pool to help welcome her into the family of God.  What an awesome sight!

Thursday nights devotional focused on the cross.  Many cross pictures were taken by staff members.  This one, taken by a friend, turned out very neat for the slide show.

Earlier Thursday evening, the families presented their flags and we had a mock Olympic torch lighting ceremony.  My husband and brother-in-law dressed up in togas to receive the flags.  They also had funny shirts - with hot dog and hamburger/fries motif - to wear for the rest of the evening.

On the last morning of camp, some of the Seniors of the campers went up "Devo Mountain" for one last time.  My daughter took this beautiful picture.  

There is nothing like the experience of camp - especially a camp like QMCC.  It's a mountain-top experience like no other.   This song below sums it all up very well!

The Greatest Friend

Author Unknown

Verse 1
Oh Lord I thought the day would never come
When I could lay my burdens down and walk with you,
But each morning as I greet the rising sun
The fondest of my dreams have all come true.

Chorus
The greatest friend you'll ever find is on a lonely mountain.
The highest high you'll ever reach is when you kneel to pray.
The brightest light you'll ever see is when you close your eyes.
Oh Lord you are my first love,
At last I realize.

Verse 2
Oh Lord I need a mountain to climb on.
Just a quiet place to go and know you're there.
Oh Lord I need to spend some time with you.
Jesus spent the night with you in prayer.

Chorus

The Chronicles of Biscuit - Camp Countdown

The Chronicles of Biscuit - Stories about our youngest son, Tyler, whose nickname is Biscuit.

Biscuit was crying on the Wednesday night of camp during the last evening devotional.  Tears were streaming down his sweet little face.  I asked him what was wrong - in the midst of my own teary eyes.  He said that he was sad that camp was almost over.  I told him I was, too, but that we still had a few more days to enjoy being there.

Biscuit went on to say that he loved singing the devotional songs.  I agreed with him.  I encouraged him that next year he would be old enough to attend camp at the 4th - 7th grade session.  He said, "But that's not where all my friends are.  They are at this session. (which is the 7th - 12th grade session)."  I reminded him that a few of the bigger kids often serve as conselors for the younger session.  He wasn't phased by my logic.  He was still crying.  It was so sweet.

This morning, a few minutes after Biscuit woke up, he was crying.  I wasn't sure what was wrong, so I asked him.  He replied, "I miss camp.  It's a whole year until we go back."  He says this same thing every few days.  He even has this camp countdown posted by his dresser to mark off the days.  He wants his 3rd grade to go by quickly so that it will be time for camp again.

Biscuit's tender heart loves camp because of the closeness that is there between the campers and counselors.  There is a special feeling recognizing that God is in the midst there....just as He is everywhere. Biscuit loves singing praises to God with all of his friends at camp.  His "friends" are all 8 - 20 years older than him. It's so sweet! 

Oh, that we all would have a heart like Biscuit and other children!!  It's no wonder that Jesus loved the little children and stated that we should all be as children.  Their hearts are so pure.

On this Gratituesday, I am grateful for Biscuit, for camp, and for the hearts of children.  Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

Oh, Did You Ever Hear of QMCC? - 2011

I've mention before (probably many times) that my husband and I met at Quartz Mountain Christian Camp (QMCC).  Because of that, it's always had a special place in our hearts.   

 We're both active in the work of the camp. I organize the annual ladies' retreat and help for other camps/events. He helps with many things, but also serves on the camp board.

 I have had the opportunity to stay at camp many times over the past years, but my husband really hasn't.  He hasn't minded though and helped on day to day things as needed.  However, this year he had the opportunity to help direct one of the session of camp this summer.  I was so excited that he decided to take on this awesome task!  That meant we would all be together at QMCC for one week.  The first time in 25 years!

My role during the session was to be the camp nurse.  Another role was doing afternoon crafts.  I also usually decorate on Thursday's for this session - even when it was my brother-in-law helping with the session.  This year I also decided to string lights outside.  First of all, because it's really dark around that area at night, but second of all, because it just made it pretty!

 This is Joe passing out the mail at lunch....but he "threw" it out to the campers.  His own idea of air mail!

Oh, and another one of my "jobs" that week was judging the cabins - for cleanliness, etc.  One girls' cabin used dry erase markers on the bathroom walls.  They had scriptures and goals specifically targeting teen girls.  Such a neat idea, but one that was inspirational, as well!

 The theme for the week was "WANTED". Each day during craft time, a banner was made with the theme for the day.  This one says, "Bought 4 A Price".  Thanks, Mark, for doing this each day!  Thanks to his daily helpers, too!

One craft that the campers did was this cute little foam cowboy.

Each camper had their picture taken in this "Wanted By God" cut out.  The campers were given their pictures.  All of the lessons throughout the week stressed to the campers that we are all wanted by God.

 It was great having all four of our children at camp with us.  The oldest two were campers.  The youngest two just played and went to singing and worship times.  Here is our oldest, Lauren, having fun with our youngest, Tyler.  I love this picture!

 On Thursday evening, each of the four family groups of campers each made forts for a fun family competition.  Their weapons were water balloons. 

 Notice the little "hideout" in this fort.  Also notice the little boy inside of it with his hands over his head!  Every time a balloon would hit the fort, he would cover his head!

This new-to-us game is called "9 Square".  It's made of PVC pipe and it was purchased online.  The campers had a blast playing this game!  It was a hit!

Apparently my husband liked it a lot, too.  I think that's why he was dubbed the "King of 9 Square"!

Each night (as well as throughout the day) we spent a lot of time singing praises to God.  A tradition of this session (and was even when my husband and I were growing up) was to end the day/camp session with the song, "God Bless You Go With God".  For this song, we all stand in a huge circle holding hands.  So very special.

And, the very most special thing about camp is when someone decides to become a Christian.  Desi made the confession that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and decided to put Him on in baptism.  Praise God for this new sister in Christ!

...and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

1 Peter 3:21-22

In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

Colossians 2:11-12

Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.

Romans 6:3-5

On this Gratituesday, I am grateful that we were able to spend the whole week together at QMCC and look forward to doing again for many years....if it is the Lord's will.

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