A Great Gift.

This week's blog comes from Capt. Dave Shull, who is a Salvation Army officer and the pastoral voice for camp, especially during the summer. I can still remember the greatest gift I received at Christmas. My parents bought me a set of blocks that were new to everyone at that time. They were called Legos. My parents bought me one of the very first sets of Legos available in America. They were a far cry from the Legos of today; there were no cool shapes, or rubber tires, or little people, and one had to use their imagination to build whatever came to mind--but they were the coolest thing I had ever seen. I have no idea what happened to that set, but I would love to have it back again. Every New Year God gives us the greatest gift possible, and that is the inability to see into the future. Think about it: if we could see into the future with all of the horror, disappointment, tragedy, and whatever else life would hold for us, and see all of this outside of the context of God’s grace, we would never get out of bed again. It is God’s grace that changes everything that life hands us, from the things that destroy us, to the things that make us stronger people. It is His grace that helps us be holy, just as He is holy. Paul knew this grace well, and he held it as the key to growing in the midst of life’s disappointments and hardships. He wrote to the church in Corinth, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” This thorn in Paul’s flesh could have destroyed him; however, it was God’s grace that changed everything for him. As you think about this New Year, and what your summer might hold for you it is natural to feel some anxiety, or even wish that you could go back in time to a great summer you might have had at camp. But remember, the future belongs to God, and He desires for us to move forward in faith. He is the God of the future, trust Him!