Lord, thank You for walking us through the 2019 camping season. “I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvelous works.”—Psalm 9:1, KJV.
Thank You for holding us safe in Your arms as we traversed the outdoors in Your divine “lesson book.” Thank You for healing and giving the double blessings of spiritual and physical strength in nature.
Thank You for revealing Your love in the beauty of Your creation—all the wonders of nature continue to affirm Your might and power. From the expansive clouds, towering trees, the orderly flock of birds in flight, the large school of fish, the multitude of God-made colors, to the delicate butterfly, dancing flower, and busy ant, Your creative touch is awesome!
We are eternally grateful for the immense beauty of summer —blue skies, green open fields, rolling hills, cool lakes, singing birds, majestic trees, fresh organic vegetables and fruit, vast oceans, the deer, rabbit, fox, coyote, and moose sightings, and warm summer sunshine on our faces.
Thank You for the open-air fun and fellowship moments; for the tree climbing, horseback riding, rock climbing, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, snorkeling, playing in the rain, gardening, lawn mowing, walking barefooted on sandy beaches, jogging, hiking, star-gazing, geocaching, track and trail, fire-sides, barbecues, and outdoor cooking, swinging, trampoline jumping, racquetball, soccer, basketball, tennis, football, and volleyball games, outdoor concerts, parades, and evangelistic meetings.
Thank You, Jesus, for the 2019 camping season, the rustic living, and the many aforementioned blessings derived therein. Thank You for the sanctified, Holy Spirit-filled moments of solitude and joy that tranquil nature scenes provided.
Thank You for all the summer camp ministry experiences and camporees. Thank You for the international camporee—for all the Atlantic Union campers, all the conference presidents, administrators, directors, and staff teams, youth directors, Pathfinders, Adventurers, Master Guides, club directors and staff, parents, coordinators, all church members, the Atlantic Union administrators, directors, and staff team, and the entire camporee administrators and staff team. Thank You for empowering all to prayerfully support this, the climax of the 2019 camping season. Thank You for one of the most potent lessons of this camping season: “We are Chosen.”
Thank You for this poem that captures the importance for all Pathfinders:
CHOSEN
Friend, companion, explorer,
Ranger, voyager, guide
Handpicked, selected by the Savior
Never to leave His side
Chosen, Chosen, Chosen
Blessed and highly favored
You are, Chosen, Chosen, Chosen,
Love and mirror the Savior
Many called; few chosen
David’s example
Man looks on the outside,
Our God sees the heart
Chosen, Chosen, Chosen
Blessed and highly favored
You are, Chosen, Chosen, Chosen,
Love and mirror the Savior
This is Oshkosh 2019
Fun, sweet fellowship
Pathfinders’ honors, worship
Training for discipleship.
Chosen, Chosen, Chosen
Blessed and highly favored
You are, Chosen, Chosen, Chosen,
Love and mirror the Savior
International Camporee
It’s for thee we came,
God has blessed His youth again
We’ll never, never be the same.
Chosen, Chosen, Chosen
Blessed and highly favored
You are, Chosen, Chosen, Chosen,
Love and mirror the Savior
—Bernice and Nathanael McKenzie
Thank You, Lord Jesus! “I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth”—Psalm 34:1, KJV.
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This article first appeared in the October 2019 issue of the Atlantic Union Gleaner magazine, page 20.
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