Generosity Makes God Real Every Day

God is a generous God. This is one of the first things campers will learn about while experiencing the lesson of 1 Corinthians 12:1-26. To paraphrase the scripture, Paul is writing to the Christians in Corinth offering them advice on how to address many of the difficult problems that are coming to the forefront. His biggest theme is getting them to recognize that they are the body of Christ. He uses the example of the human body and relates it to the church. There are many parts to the body, eyes, ears, feet, hands, toes, etc., and all are important parts, each coming together to accomplish great things. Each person within the greater church is also important as God has generously given gifts and talents to everyone, and used together, great things can happen. And God has given those gifts based on what He knows you will need, they aren’t just randomly drawn from a hat, but are selected specifically for you.

At camp, the outside influences and stigmas fall away, campers are free to remove the labels that others have handed them. Campers are able to stretch themselves and learn about things they may not have seen before. Because of this, campers may realize they have a knack for a certain activity, may recognize that they are able to help others understand a scripture, or discover they have the potential to become a great leader someday. This is evident in many places throughout the Dwight Mission family. In each camper group, the campers come with different gifts and are able to use those to get through challenges as a group. The staff members all come together and with all of their different gifts, they are able to challenge and teach the campers in many ways. The adults, whether parents of campers or former camper or staff members, are able to use their talents to help make Dwight a thriving place.

So we know God is a generous God, but how can we relate that to our every day? It’s not every day that we realize a gift or talent we have, but it is every day we can use the gifts we have been given. It is every day that we can show our gratitude to God for giving us these gifts (You see how I tied that in to the Gratitude Makes God Real Every Day theme?). We can realize the everyday moments that show us how generous God is. Knowing that God does provide for our needs and our challenges by equipping us with the needed skills and gifts gives a sense of calmness as you become less anxious and more trusting. His generosity is something we can celebrate every day.

Hospitality Makes God Real Every day

Is hospitality something we only show to others, to our guests? If you had asked me this question before reading Luke 24:13-35, I would most likely have said yes. But in this scripture, two men are walking down the road, when they meet a stranger. The stranger engages in their conversation, and as the two men are distraught by the recent events of Jesus’ death and then missing body, they start to express their view of what is happening. To step into their shoes, they have been following this man, who they know and believe is the Messiah, when everything goes to pot. Everything they knew in their human mind went away. Sure they knew what the prophets wrote about the coming Messiah, but when reality hit, they had trouble believing. The stranger (who is Jesus, but they do not recognize) proceeds to remind them of what the prophets wrote and yet, they still do not recognize him all while walking along the dusty road.

Then, as the sun is fading and the two men make it to their destination, the stranger start to continue on. The men invite the stranger in, and he accepts. But this is where the hospitality part turns on its head. Instead of sitting and politely eating the food, and offering to clear the dishes, the stranger starts to act as host and breaks bread with them. Immediately they recognize that this stranger they have been speaking with all day is Jesus. Jesus became the one giving the hospitality, even after everything He had been through, to open their eyes so that they might see. Both parties were engaging in acts of hospitality, which as defined in the dictionary is “a cordial and generous reception of or disposition toward guests.” It was in the men’s hospitality toward this stranger that they were then shown hospitality by God as Jesus.

So what can we take away? Is God sometimes a stranger in our lives, either because we don’t recognize Him or at times, don’t want to recognize Him? And if so, will He let it stay that way? It doesn’t seem that way. With all of the rapture talk that has been going on, we know that only God knows when He will reveal himself, (Mark 13:32-33). But in the mean time, shouldn’t we be ready? Shouldn’t we always show hospitality to others and not just expect it in return? Nothing is a one way street, and even though we know God loves us unconditionally even though we can’t ever measure up to what He wants us to be, we can still try. We can still be generous with our love towards others. If someone is showing hospitality to you, don’t they then deserve that hospitality back? If we don’t practice this with ourselves, can we really practice hospitality for God? Now that is some food for thought at your next dinner party.

Gratitude Makes God Real Every Day

Mahalo. Gracias. Danke. Grazie. Merci. Thank you. There are so many ways to say thank you, and even more ways to show gratitude. Gratitude is a big part of what we do to show others we care. But how often do we show gratitude to God, the One who gave us so many awe-inspiring and wonderful things? In the story found in Luke 17: 11-19, we find ten men with leprosy searching out Jesus as he walks the road to Jerusalem. They are hoping that Jesus will have mercy upon them and heal them so they may continue home to their loved ones and neighbors. And, probably to their amazement, Jesus heals them and sends them to be declared clean. This was more than just a plea for healing. The disease they had wasn’t just a physical ailment, it took them away from their families, friends, jobs, and essentially their lives. Then one of the men returned and “praising God in a loud voice. ¹⁶ He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him.”

This man had just gotten his life back. Of course he would go back and thank Jesus some might say, “It’s the least he can do, I would do the same thing.” But only one of ten came back, and he was the Samaritan, the non-neighbor. Nine out of ten went on their way. Maybe one was late for a meeting. Maybe another just had to get to the bakery before it closed to pick up the cake for dinner. Maybe one was just so tired he just needed to go lie down. We don’t know. What we do know is that they didn’t show the same gratitude that the Samaritan did.

Where do fit in this story? Sure it’s easy to say, of course I would thank God. But do we show gratitude often and joyfully enough? Yesterday I had the tread of a tire come off while driving down I-40 in a construction zone. Thankfully a construction worker stopped, looked at the problem, told me about a tire shop at the next exit and then followed me to make sure I got there safe, you can bet I was praying to God I would make it through. And when I did, I gave a long prayer of thanks as I drove the rest of the way home. But what about the not-so-life-threatening moments, do we stop and show gratitude in the every day? The little God moments that happen every day are just as important to God. Each and every day is a day of gratitude, so let’s sing His praises.

Wonder Makes God Real Every Day - Psalm 8

"I wonder who else is going to be in my group at camp.” “I wonder what group I will be in.” “I wonder who my counselors are going to be.” “I wonder what we’ll do at camp.” Are you hearing any of these thoughts being uttered as summer camp nears? The first day of camp is all about wonder. Wonder is a great thing, it is exciting and amazing, but it can also be scary, as we try to wrap our minds around something unfamiliar. In Psalm 8, the first day of camp’s scripture talks about the wonder of the night sky and the incredible creation God has put around us. The author then goes on to consider the fact that God then gave all of this wondrous creation to man to care for. Some might wonder why in the world He would do this.

Many years ago, I was a summer staff member at Dwight Mission, and like all staff members and campers, I would go outside in the mornings for morning watch and take some time in the morning to be with God. I don’t think I have felt a sense of wonder more than these moments. One time I got to watch a mole digging a tunnel towards the sidewalk, and then poke its head out of the hole as I am sure it was frustrated as to why it could no longer move forward. Another time I saw a little ant, carrying something on its way to the colony. The more I watched the ant zoom up and down the cracks and fissures in the side walk, the more I started thinking about how amazingly wondrous this little creature was. I started putting what the ant was doing into scale for me, and well, I don’t think I will be scaling any 10-12 foot walls within two seconds any time soon. And then I start to think that if God can spend time working on a tiny little ant, one small little piece of this enormous earth, and perfect it to what it is today, I can’t even imagine how much time and love He spends on us, His caretakers of this awesome creation before us. That is immense. That makes me wonder.

I am sure you have your own ‘thing’ that makes you wonder. It might be the Redwood forest, the stars in the night sky, the currents in the ocean, or the wind that blows across the plains. All of these things are wonderful and awe-inspiring. Dwight is a great place to really wonder and awe at God’s creation. The scenery is breathtaking, the wildlife abundant, and at night, when the sky is cloudless, you can really see the stars. One big part of Psalm 8 is praise. The author praises God for the wonder and amazement of His vast love. Do we take the time to teach our children to wonder and praise God for His unfailing love? Can this happen in your own backyard? At school? At camp we will talk about how God is real EVERY day, and how we can wonder and praise God all the time, not just in church or at camp. Ask your child if they have ever felt a sense of wonder. Talk to them about the things that amaze them. Then talk to them about what it means to be caretakers of these amazing and wonderful things. Then say a prayer together praising God. You can even say Psalm 8 as your prayer. And remember to take some time to really look at what God has done for us each day, and think about what He asks of us in return.

Dog (Dog), Dog Cat (Dog, Cat), Dog Cat Moose (Dog, Cat, Moose), Froggy! Think you know Dwight’s Top 10 Songs? Check out the list we compiled here (not necessarily in any order)

The Benediction Song

Amazing Grace/Jesus Loves Me Dwight Style

Sanctuary

The Golden Broom Award

One Tin Soldier

Light the Fire

Rise and Shine

Prince of Peace

Pass It On

Buzzard/Turkey Bird Song

The Return is coming! Just a few more weeks and we'll be singing for the return...

Elizabeth Sharp

Summer Camp Reading List

Dwight Mission is not just a place to play games and sing songs, it is so much more, it is a place where kids can be themselves, learn important life lessons about themselves and others, and most importantly, it is a place where everyone involved can grown in their relationship with God. Over the next few weeks, I will be posting blogs that go over the scripture verses the kids will be reading, as well as questions you can ask your child after camp to continue their growth. The more they are able to talk about these things with family members, church members, camp counselors, and friends, the more they will see that these are things in the world around them, and not just on Sundays. If you ever have any questions about any of these scriptures, I am sure your local pastor would love to go over these scriptures with you, and you can always give me a call at camp.

This year, our theme is ‘Keeping it Real.’ We will be discussing what ways God shows Himself in everyday situations. Campers will look for God as Maker of creation, in moments of gratitude, in strangers, in the church, in moments of worship, and in our prayers and acts of mercy for others in Christ’s name. All of these things can be found in the everyday, ordinary moments of life. Campers will also not just look for where they see God in these things, but they will also experience how people respond to God in these everyday instances. Below you will find the Daily theme and scripture to go along with that theme. In the weeks that follow, there will be a blog post dedicated to each daily theme.

Wonder Makes God Real Every Day (Sunday) Psalm 8

Gratitude Makes God Real Every Day (Monday) Luke 17:11-19

Hospitality Makes God Real Every Day (Tuesday) Luke 24: 13-35

Generosity Makes God Real Every Day (Wednesday) 1 Corinthians 12:1-26

Worship Makes God Real Every Day (Thursday) Psalm 96

Living in Christ’s Love Makes God Real Every Day (Friday) John 15:1-17

As campers and staff live and play together over the summer, they will see these everyday acts and see how God is constantly and lovingly present in our lives. We hope that you will take some time to read through these posts and then go back to your children and talk with them after their camp experience. Going to camp, and being in this community should not be just a summer thing. It is a year round thing. Campers will be challenged to see these everyday moments in their lives at school, at home, at church and other places while at camp, but that is as far as our summer staff can go. And that is where the parents, grandparents, siblings, youth directors, and other mentors in the lives of our campers play a role. We are all involved in this together, and together, we will make this summer great!

On another note, mail call has always been a fun time for those at Dwight Mission. Last year we offered camper emails and we are doing it again this summer. The link to this can be found on our website under summer camp, just click on the flashing button that says camper email. The return is coming, May 28. Are you Ready?

Elizabeth

Improving Dwight Across the Board

The Ping Pong Shelter's roof is DONE! It looks great and we owe a lot of thanks to all those who worked on the roof getting it ready for the summer! That is not the only thing that looks great at Dwight, the Guest Lodge renovation, if you haven't seen photos, is moving right along. Two rooms are done (and look fantastic), with the third room being completed this weekend, and we still have one room available for a individual or group to donate, design, and work on the room to complete the Guest Lodge redesign. The roof is also getting a bit of work done this May, and once we do some more minor cosmetic things in the screened-in porch area, the guest lodge is going to be a whole new way to stay at Dwight Mission. This is just our first phase in getting our current lodging up-to-date, if you or your church are interested in helping donate time, money, or materials to working on the dorms or Walkingstick, please let us know. We are excited about improving our site to be more comfortable for youth and adults alike. As part of our improvements, we have a new front gate! This will help with security of all of our campers and guests, and it looks good, too!

Camp is filling fast, and this summer is going to be even better than before. We are working hard to provide better opportunities for everyday learning, will have even more crazy fun games, and are being more intentionally focused on our scripture based themes each day. Starting next week we will have information on the scriptures and themes campers will be discussing each day so parents will be able to continue conversations started at camp in the home. If you haven't registered yet, there are still spots available, but who knows how long that will last. Register online today at www.dwightmission.org.

And this just in, a once long-time fixture at Dwight is making a triumphant return after being gone for over a decade. Do you know what/who it is? Stay tuned, more clues to follow.

Have a marvelous weekend, and enjoy this beautiful GREEN Spring God has given!

Elizabeth Sharp

The roof on the Ping Pong Shelter is almost done! Due to severe weather, the Rock Hope Prairie Work group from Wisconsin was able to get all of the trusses up, but to their dismay, not able to get the metal up to complete it. Our maintenance guys have been working between the rain to get it finished, and it looks great so far. We will post once it is completed.

First Presbyterian Ponca City has done an amazing job in helping to renovate two rooms in the guest lodge. Ever since window units were installed in each of the four rooms, we have been working to make this lodging option a better one for our families and guests who stay here so that adults may feel more comfortable in this more rustic facility. After putting together a great design plan, several members of the church came out to get things started with painting, varnishing, cleaning, electrical work, and more, they are ready to finish up the work during Spring Break. Once the rooms are complete, we will post pictures with all of the terrific details (including framed pictures from Dwight Mission School.) If you or your church is interested in helping renovate the remaining rooms, please let us know.

Camp registrations are pouring in, especially those for family camp. This is a great camp for families of all ages to come together and retreat at Dwight Mission over the Memorial Day weekend. Family camp tends to fill fast, so if you are interested, get your registrations in today. Registrations on other camps are also starting to fill. If you register before March 15, you will receive a $25 discount at the register for all youth camps. Brochures have been mailed out, so look for them in your mailbox and church today!

Dwight is Warming Up

The snow has melted (for now) and things are heating up here at Dwight Mission. Registrations are coming in, summer staff are being hired, and guest groups are coming out to help get camp ready for summer. During December, our ping pong shelter's roof was torn apart by some tremendous wind. Jerry and the guys have worked on getting the entire roof down in order for a group from Rock Prairie Presbyterian Church in Janesville, WI to see about putting a new roof up. This group is also doing other work projects around site, and we are very grateful to have them. If you have a group from your church or another organization that is looking for a mission project close to home, please remember us, as we are in the process of a plan to renovate the lodging facilities we have on site. Part of this plan has already started with First Presbyterian in Ponca City helping with two rooms in the Guest Lodge. We have one more room that is available for renovating, please contact our office for more information.

Dwight Mission is also looking for stories from those who Dwight has had a impact on their lives. We are looking for short stories that detail how Dwight Mission played an important role in your life. These stories will be featured on our website, facebook, newsletters, and other media in allowing others to see how Dwight Mission has played a significant role for so many lives, and how we continue to do so today. If you have a story you would like to submit, please email it to elizabeth@dwightmission.org along with your name and address.

Enjoy the weather as we are starting to warm up and begin to once again hear birds singing and see flowers blooming, Spring will be here before we know it.

Elizabeth Sharp