Barton Camp is a great venue, especially
when ‘Grace’ gathers as a family. We were well over seventy of us this year. -
Wonderful to feel that it is Jesus has called us together, and that we are come
up into the mountain with him, for refreshing, yes, and commissioning before he
sends us forth again.
It would be our third year in this venue,
and I knew I would be spoiled. A room to myself instead of bunk beds, and
excused from washing up or cooking rotas.
No Kids Club for us. Our own wonderful
youth had come from Uni to care for the little ones. Why then did I have
misgivings about coming? I may be of the same age as Caleb who at 85 was ready
to claim a mountain, but not too steady on my pins, I was afraid of being a
liability. Should I stay home and enjoy my lonely comfort?
But no. Our wonderful leadership team had
been working so hard to give us all a special time of blessing. All they wanted
was for us to come and be blessed. Thank God I had sense not to let the enemy
rob me of this blessing.
Nearing meal time, the dining room (or was
it the dinning room?) was filled with happy families, the children so happy
with their playmates even when rain kept
them from adventure playgrounds outside. Always a happy hustle in the kitchen
where cuppa’s were on offer while they prepared tasty meals and treats, and a
special ‘tent of meeting’ where we met for worship. (With special drapes on the
ceiling, it has the appearance, but not the discomforts of a tent.)
Each year the ministry is different. This
time Ewan and Tom brought ministry from Ephesians, all to the end that we might
be ready to go out with the gospel. And while the wind roared around the
buildings, God’s Holy Spirit was moving so that, as a field of corn, we bowed
before his great strength.
But now we got to the nitty gritty.
Teaching on Spirit-led holiness and Spirit-led power are all to the end that we
might put on our shoes of the Gospel of Peace, go forth and tell others. This
is the hard bit.
Oh dear, whatever wonderful opportunities
God gives me, in the schools and through my writing, still there is this issue
of personal evangelism. I was not the
only one feeling convicted. But no – ‘there is no condemnation to those in
Christ Jesus.’ Once I win the struggle of telling God that I am willing for him
to use me, all I have to do is go out into the world, knowing that it is he who will create opportunities for me to
tell others that God is willing to be to them too a wonderful Saviour.
Thank God for his family of Grace, and for
his ministry to and through each one of his children.
