Day By Day and Every Hour

Several weeks ago I made this canvas for my sweet camp friend Easter Tweester for her birthday. I realize that I haven't really blogged about camp at all. I learned so much this summer, and will probably continue to see the impact of my time at Pine Cove as the months go on. One thing we said repeatedly at camp has really transformed my thinking. There were so many times when I really did NOT want to get out of bed. Or I did not want to walk up the hill to the ropes course, or I did not want to bake in the hot sun, or I did not want to play the same games and do the same Bible studies that I did every week.... You get the picture. As fun as the camp environment is, at times I wanted nothing more than to get back to Auburn. The staff constantly reminded each other of Nehemiah 8:10 - that the JOY of the Lord is our strength. This verse doesn't simply say that we're going to make it through the day, but that the Gospel is enough to provide us with sustaining joy for every second of every day. God was so good to give me not only endurance, but enthusiasm! At the beginning of every week, right before welcoming a new group of campers through the gate, we sang a short song. At the end of the song we repeated the line "The Lord is my strength, the Lord in His power is my strength day by day and every hour." I have found myself coming back to this refrain even these past few weeks as my crazy schedule overwhelms me. My God promises me what I need for each day - and that's all. As the Israelites were dependent on manna each morning, so I have to start each day with the sustenance he has given me in His Word. And as he promises, his mercies are new every morning. May joy in the God of my salvation uphold me every minute of every hour.