VBS Week: God's Week, My Week
This past week, July 29-August 2, God's church Covenant Presbyterian Church in Harrisonburg, Va hosted about 500+ children from the surrounding area and churches. I think this was by far the greatest amount of children ever to be part of Vacation Bible school. How wonderful is that?
I never had the opportunity to be part of VBS. Mostly because of distance and my physical issues. This year, I decided I didn't want any of my physical issues (though they may have seemed to keep getting worse) to be a factor this year for me to sign up to be part of VBS! The distance issues (I live 45 minutes away) was quickly resolved when my best friend said I could stay with her in the Harrisonburg area during the week of VBS. Although I knew that at times my physical issues could play a role, I prayed that the 9a-12p time slot wouldn't be a "bad chunck of time" for me physically.
Before I go on, let me share one secret about me. I get panic attacks. I am claustrophobic as well. In addition, even though, I'm consider mildly deaf in my right ear, very loud noises can increase chances of my panic attacks too. (I have an interesting story to tell you about if you want to know....it happened on a bus down in Disney this past November). Anyhow, the FIRST day of VBS, I walked into the building at 8:15 AM and already, I heard noise so loud, my heart began to race a mile a minute. I was excited about VBS, yes... but I also thought "Oh, Lord, please don't let this be a panic attack!" We had kids coming in early & new walk ins. Yes, I was excited and overjoyed. it was wonderful. After signing in, going to my assigned area, sitting down, and then looking at all the smiles on the boys and girls, my heart didn't race...out of panic. it raced out of joy and happiness. There were SO MANY kids, so eager to learn. What did I do? Cry out of pure joy.
Our theme this year at VBS is "Stand STRONG in GOD'S Strength!" How simplistic, huh? NOT!!! If you answered yes, I'd love to meet with you and tell me why you think it is simple. Each morning we pointed out 5 key points to the boys and girls of how to or where we can "Stand STRONG in GOD'S Strength!" (Sorry, would love to share, but I can't give it away; you'll just have to go to Cov Pres on Sunday). As, I sat there with the boys and girls around me.....in front of me, beside me, behind me, on my left, on my right, everywhere.... and see them attentive to Lisa, our Children's Ministry coordinator, I heard words like "wow" "really?" "cool!" I also thought about it within my own heart. How many times have I tried to do things on my own? Sometimes we think it's so much easier to do this or that by ourselves without taking into account that we need help from others, whether it is family, friends, or most importantly God AND prayer. It wasn't just a lesson for the boys and girls. It was a REMINDER for myself as well! I pray that the boys and girls would really grasp what the meaning of "Stand STRONG in GOD'S Strength!" really is. Our songs of standing strong says it all. On my Facebook page one day, I put up a song about Christ giving us His love for us by sacrificing his Son. This is one of the ways of how and why we need to live our lives for Christ and how can Stand Strong (oops....gave a point away!): This has been one of my favorite Kingdom Rock song:
Lord, I want to be; Pleasing to you; In everything I do. And I want to love You more, More than yesterday. More than words can say! 'Cause You gave your life; You lived and died for me, for me. You paid the price; You sacrificed for me, for me. And now the least that I can do, Is live my life for You.
My prayer for the coming weeks is that the children will come to know Christ as their Savior and know that they can stand on the Rock that will never roll.
I never had the opportunity to be part of VBS. Mostly because of distance and my physical issues. This year, I decided I didn't want any of my physical issues (though they may have seemed to keep getting worse) to be a factor this year for me to sign up to be part of VBS! The distance issues (I live 45 minutes away) was quickly resolved when my best friend said I could stay with her in the Harrisonburg area during the week of VBS. Although I knew that at times my physical issues could play a role, I prayed that the 9a-12p time slot wouldn't be a "bad chunck of time" for me physically.
Before I go on, let me share one secret about me. I get panic attacks. I am claustrophobic as well. In addition, even though, I'm consider mildly deaf in my right ear, very loud noises can increase chances of my panic attacks too. (I have an interesting story to tell you about if you want to know....it happened on a bus down in Disney this past November). Anyhow, the FIRST day of VBS, I walked into the building at 8:15 AM and already, I heard noise so loud, my heart began to race a mile a minute. I was excited about VBS, yes... but I also thought "Oh, Lord, please don't let this be a panic attack!" We had kids coming in early & new walk ins. Yes, I was excited and overjoyed. it was wonderful. After signing in, going to my assigned area, sitting down, and then looking at all the smiles on the boys and girls, my heart didn't race...out of panic. it raced out of joy and happiness. There were SO MANY kids, so eager to learn. What did I do? Cry out of pure joy.
Our theme this year at VBS is "Stand STRONG in GOD'S Strength!" How simplistic, huh? NOT!!! If you answered yes, I'd love to meet with you and tell me why you think it is simple. Each morning we pointed out 5 key points to the boys and girls of how to or where we can "Stand STRONG in GOD'S Strength!" (Sorry, would love to share, but I can't give it away; you'll just have to go to Cov Pres on Sunday). As, I sat there with the boys and girls around me.....in front of me, beside me, behind me, on my left, on my right, everywhere.... and see them attentive to Lisa, our Children's Ministry coordinator, I heard words like "wow" "really?" "cool!" I also thought about it within my own heart. How many times have I tried to do things on my own? Sometimes we think it's so much easier to do this or that by ourselves without taking into account that we need help from others, whether it is family, friends, or most importantly God AND prayer. It wasn't just a lesson for the boys and girls. It was a REMINDER for myself as well! I pray that the boys and girls would really grasp what the meaning of "Stand STRONG in GOD'S Strength!" really is. Our songs of standing strong says it all. On my Facebook page one day, I put up a song about Christ giving us His love for us by sacrificing his Son. This is one of the ways of how and why we need to live our lives for Christ and how can Stand Strong (oops....gave a point away!): This has been one of my favorite Kingdom Rock song:
Lord, I want to be; Pleasing to you; In everything I do. And I want to love You more, More than yesterday. More than words can say! 'Cause You gave your life; You lived and died for me, for me. You paid the price; You sacrificed for me, for me. And now the least that I can do, Is live my life for You.
My prayer for the coming weeks is that the children will come to know Christ as their Savior and know that they can stand on the Rock that will never roll.
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