Wow God!

​Last week was our annual Oasis VBS day camp and as always it was an amazing time. For one week 90 kids from a wide variety of backgrounds had the chance to learn about the love of God for them in a fun and energetic environment. It truly is an oasis for all involved!
 
This year the overall theme was God the maker made you for a purpose.  In the aftermath and as we clean up this has gotten me thinking (sometimes a dangerous thing!). Each day has a theme which focuses on various aspects of the Maker’s plans for us.  Throughout the day the theme will be stated and the kids will cheer enthusiastically- WOW GOD!  So we examined ideas like: God made you-wow God, God is for you-wow God, God is always with you-wow God, God will always love you-wow God and God made you for a reason-wow God.
 
I have to confess, when I first heard this was going to be the cheer I thought it was a bit lame. Wow God, really? That’s the best you can come up with? But as we entered into the week I found it began to not only grow on me but resonate as well. By the end of the week I was enthusiastically cheering also.
 
Here’s where I want to go with this.
 
So the daily points make for a great cheer, but do we? Do we enter in enthusiastically with a sense of awe and wonder?  When you look at the list, can you see it in your life and do you respond ‘WOW GOD!’ Or instead are you left…wondering?
 
That was my question to the kids and leaders regularly as I had the opportunity to do the Bible teaching each morning (in a dramatic setting complete with armor, swords, costumes, etc…..see why I love it!). It’s easy to be in awe of God when you’re in the safety of camp, or perhaps leading at Oasis or at church, but what about in the day-to-day? What about when you don’t feel like it? When bad things do happen? When you feel far from God?  Do we have a sense of wonder at who He is and what He’s doing? Even more do we trust Him?  It’s at moments like these the reality of what you profess to believe is shown. Here’s where the rubber hits the road.
 
Having a sense of wonder leads to trust and I see that illustrated in Jesus’ words in John 14:1-“don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God”.  Trust is about letting go, its seeking an assurance which is outside our control. We are challenged through trusting and grow through having a sense of awe and wonder for our creator God.
 
Good advice and very true. But how do we trust God and have that sense of wonder in times of difficulty or struggle? Our afternoon craft activity this year was an amazing memory box. Instead of the usual crafts that the kids make at other camps that promptly get thrown out the next week this was a box filled with memories that they could customize detailing the kid’s camp experience with pictures of them, the camp, song lyrics and each of the themes and key verses for each day. It was awesome! (I wish I could have made one!!). This can then be used as a reminder of our amazing Maker, help us to trust Him and then lead us to a sense of awe which can help us experience His purposes and plans for our lives.  Who’d have thought you could get that all from a craft box!
 
God has a purpose and plan for us (Eph.2:10), loved us enough to send His son to die for us (John 3:16) and showed that love enough to die whether we accept it or not (Rom.5:8). Doesn’t that cause you to want to stand up and shout: WOW GOD!  It also should help us to trust Him.  We read in Proverbs 3:5-6 trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on our understandings. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Notice he doesn’t say easy but straight. As the saying goes: God doesn’t promise a smooth trip but a safe landing. 
 
For anyone who is in Christ is a new creation (2 Cor.5:17) so that means not only is our future destination of Heaven secure but also our present can be filled with His presence. How can we not say WOW GOD at this?  I know I am.

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