Made for Peace
What makes you stand up and take notice?
What moves you to do something, rather than sit on the sidelines?
Be joyful in the Lord, all you lands; serve the Lord with gladness and come before his presence with a song. Know this: The Lord himself is God; he himself has made us, and we are his; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise; give thanks to him and call upon his Name. - Invitatory Psalm
I chose this psalm today because it makes me want to get out there. I want to walk with the Lord in the pasture and be joyful, knowing I am doing something that pleases Him.
That is the kind of day I had yesterday, and it is fitting that we are described as sheep, since Acer Farm, where we are gathered to work with kids from the Middle East and U.S. was once a sheep farm.
On over two hundred acres, we find time to study, pray, share a meal, listen to amazing speakers and play.
I forget that I am nearly a half century older than these kids, and my back is reminding me this morning that I need to act my age.
When we acknowledge that we are God's, we accept the call to be his instruments on this earth. At least, I believe that is our mission, our purpose, our need.
One of the speakers we heard yesterday spoke of forgiveness in a way I had never heard before. He struggled with his father's ability to forgive those who persecuted him, and when the gun turned on him and he was paralyzed, he learned why and how his father's faith led him to that place.
We are learning at the camp. We are picturing ourselves in situations in which we hope we would never find ourselves. We are giving thanks for what we have and what others have shared.
When this trip ends tomorrow, the camp will continue for another week, but we will return to NY. We will stay connected with those who support this ministry and with those who have grown through it over the past five years.
Can we make a difference? Can we build peace one child at a time?
If we hope to be joyful and go before the Lord with gladness and song, we must.
It is what we were made to do.
More to come...