We have had a wonderful time this weekend learning about God through His word, through our interactions with other campers, and through music. We have learned to declare God in all areas of our life including Work, Arts, Hobbies, and Relationships. We also had the great pleasure of spending our entire weekend in the book of Psalms. The theme of FOCUS was psalm 51 v 15 “O lord my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise”

We started out by looking at psalm 51. We looked at the situation that David was in after he had a man killed because of his own sin. We heard on repeat that someone else can’t cause me to sin because when we sin, it flows from our own heart. We discussed that the heart is not just the place that pumps out blood but it’s the very being of our emotions and your soul. So when we sin, our very soul sins. We saw David cry out to the Lord to make him clean. David understood that what he was writing is a song but worshipping God is more than just songs. We then heard that worship is more than just we hear through music. That just because we sing “worship music” doesn’t mean we are worshipping God. In the words of Jimmy Needham “you can sing all you want to and still get it wrong. Worship is more than a song”. So we ended that session talking about why we should worship God for who he is.

Then the next session we went through psalm 148 and psalm 19. We discussed how we have been invited to join in the cosmic concert with all creation to enjoy and reflect God’s glory. We discussed how God gives us life-giving words to declare that will in turn align us with His will for our lives.

Then this morning we had some great questions that helped us meditate on the word of God because it is true, perfect, and sure. We got to read psalm 136 and learn some of God’s characteristics. Reading about his goodness, his steadfastness, his steadfast love, his comfort, his strength, his faithfulness to the Israelites, him as redeemer, him as trustworthy, him as Just, and on and on we could go. David gives us several reasons to thank and praise God but he also gave us an anchor to release in times of persecution, judgment, and oppression. When things arise like that we can say that the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever. In other words His steadfastness never ceases. Now before we dive into the psalms again in our last and final session for FOCUS 2015, I want to invite us into this cosmic concert again.

One thing that I’m constantly amazed at is God’s beauty in nature. I love to go out and walk and observe the areas around me. This weekend at Camp Copass has allowed me to be washed in the beauty of God in water, trees, and fellowship. Entering into Camp Copass we see these beautiful green trees that outline the roads that meander as you enter into the camp grounds. I was in awe of the beauty of the sun shining through the trees and having my heart be filled by this beautiful scenery. Also the grounds are surrounded by a lake. I had some time and would encourage you to go and just stand in wonder of the lake. I stood and watched the waves roll in and out and thought about how awesome it would have been to be on the boat with Jesus and his disciples before

he rebukes them for having little faith. Read Mark 4:35-41

I imagine being on the boat and being tossed upon the waves and Jesus, God himself, declaring “Peace, be Still” and the waves and sea obey him. The amount of calmness would probably cause me to whelp up with tears and joy.

Jesus calms the sea with such an authority that it astonished the disciples and even us. The fear that the disciples had as the boat was being tore up and over filled with water would concern any of us. But all God had to do is speak with authority and calm everything around them and even us. So often we feel that we can’t do something and sometimes get defeated and that’s very true and very okay.

We can’t do everything and it’s really okay to say that we can’t because in that moment when we say I can’t God speaks and says I will. God wants us to flourish and in order for us to flourish we have to admit that we aren’t strong enough, that we aren’t smart enough, that we aren’t loving enough, so that God can say I am strong enough, I am smart enough, I am the most loving. Knowing that God wants us to flourish frees us up to worship Him as a loving shepherd who wants to lead us into the fullness of life which is in Him. Christ is shepherding us towards the banquet table where we will be with him enjoying a meal with The one who speaks and things come into existence.

Let’s pray.