If you are a believer in Christ, don't you find that it is hard to keep a long term/ big picture view of your life? So, seeing your earthly life as only a small precursor to what is in store for us in heaven? It's so refreshing to suddenly come back to the realisation that this isn't all there is and my life isn't all about work/going to church/looking after Chloe/seeing friends etc. There is real meaning to my life!
We have recently been away on a Bible camp for 5 days (can you tell?!). I love times of being with my wider church family and having my horizons broadened. I think church can become very routine and sometimes events like these can break us out of this 'small' thinking. It's so thrilling to hear how God is working all over the place and then be inspired for what he can do back at home.
The best part for me was to introduce Chloe to an event like this. It's a new Bible camp for our church to go to and one that's really geared up for children. Next year she will be able to join the kids' work and I am excited for her to receive some teaching about God for herself. The community feel at Bible camps is great; in the mornings Chloe would be up and out saying 'morning!' to everyone who had emerged from their tents! She had fun getting to know some of the older children who were really kind and patient with her. There was no end of entertainment and people around with smiling faces willing to give time to my daughter and I LOVE that about the kingdom of God! Chloe also loved the meetings, which she came along to for the worship time. She was clapping and dancing and very excited when her favourite song 'Happy Day' came on. What a great experience for her.
I am very aware that I need to take a long term view at Chloe's life and realise that the grace that Jesus has shown me is also for my daughter who is in just as much need of it. I want to do all I can to enable her to experience God's love and know him as her personal saviour. Experiences like this camp are really important for her but Chloe also needs to be in a household which radiates God's presence and where he is talked about often. J and I are still in the process of talking through how our family's spriritual life is going to work (times of family prayer, Bible study, memory verses etc) but I am determined that it will be a top priority. Those of you who know us have full permission to keep us accountable on this!
In God's big picture my parenting isn't just for Chloe's sake or to make me look good. It's to glorify my wonderful saviour and to lead my little one to her heavenly Father x
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