Volume 89: Rest in Joy

Joy. Anger. Disgust. Fear. Sadness. The original emotions of Inside Out.

Anxiety. Envy. Embarrassment. Ennui. The new emotions introduced in Inside Out 2.

Another great, creative movie accurately depicting the constant battle of our emotions and thoughts. Yet, joy remains the main character. Joy is the glue that holds all of the other emotions together.

I've been thinking a lot about joy recently - laughter, smiles, freedom, yelling, dancing, clapping.

All things we are surrounded by every day at camp.

And not only at camp, but throughout the gospels as well.

Jesus heals a leper - joy!

Jesus heals 2 men with demons - joy!

Jesus heals a paralytic - joy!

Jesus heals 2 blind men - joy!

Jesus heals the woman at the well - joy!

In each of these interactions with Jesus, the other walks away filled with joy. Filled with stories to tell (stealing phrase from Pastor Eric!).

Jesus cleanses the leper and "he went out and began to talk freely about it and to spread the news..."

Jesus healed the 2 men with demons and "the herdsmen fled, and going into the city, they told everything, especially what happened to the demon possessed men."

Jesus healed the paralytic and "they were all amazed and glorified God, saying 'we never saw anything like this!'"

Jesus healed the blind men and even though He told them to not say anything, "they went away and spread his fame through all the district."

Jesus healed the woman at the well and she "left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 'come, see a man who told me all that I ever did!'"

(Watch starting at 6:02 - 7:10)

May we respond to Jesus as she did!!! Recognizing how worthy or praise he is! Running off with JOY!

All of them interacted with Jesus and had stories to tell... They couldn't help but share what they had seen/heard/experienced!

We may not be revealing secrets to a woman at the well or removing demons or helping blind men see or cleansing lepers or healing paralytics... But at camp, we are given endless opportunities to be the hands and feet of Jesus to over 800 staff and 7,000 campers.

And more than the fun activities, the friendships, and the beautiful landscape... that's why we are here. To be a small part of building His Kingdom here on earth.

Sounds like a daunting task eh?? But it is not because He is the one who works through us!

LIE: I do not have enough strength to serve others as Jesus did.

TRUTH: "But the fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; and those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."

DECLARATION: I am NOT led by my flesh. The same Spirit that lived and worked through Jesus lives in and works through ME. Therefore, I am:

loving

joyful

patient

kind

good

faithful

gentle

self controlled