Yet another annual camp! That was the response from most of the church :-) There was less response this time around - but as we assured ourselves - many are called but only a few are chosen!! 78 is all (one big bus full).
Ok. Enough of that blah blah blah...
Let me narrate the incidents and highlight key takeaways for my dear Young Adult Fellowship members.
We took off from the church by around 7ish. Weather was pleasant and we were all excited!
Dr Philp Anbarasan prayed for a safe journey.
We are reached the campsite Joe Beach and had a sumptuous breakfast.
The theme of the camp was taken from Proverbs 24:3-4.
This was the passage we were meditating for 2 days.
Build Your Home and Fill Your Home.
Prov 16:24
Gracious words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
4. Pray regularly with one another
Col 4:2
Ok. Enough of that blah blah blah...
Let me narrate the incidents and highlight key takeaways for my dear Young Adult Fellowship members.
We took off from the church by around 7ish. Weather was pleasant and we were all excited!
Dr Philp Anbarasan prayed for a safe journey.
We are reached the campsite Joe Beach and had a sumptuous breakfast.
The theme of the camp was taken from Proverbs 24:3-4.
This was the passage we were meditating for 2 days.
Build Your Home and Fill Your Home.
Now, what does it mean by "Building" your home? Why do we need a camp to meditate on this topic, intentionally?
Mrs Sheela Isaac - speaker for the morning sessions dispelled these doubts in the morning session.
She introduced AMC to a word called ENTROPY - It means when something is left unattended or to itself - will definitely degenerate.
She moved on to what it takes to build a Christian Home.
BE INTENTIONAL
If we leave our spouse and children thinking that they will take care of themselves - there will be disorder and chaos. This is exactly what ENTROPY will lead to. This is the same with any family - it could be a church fellowship. If not catered to INTENTIONALLY, there will be a degeneration - a slow downfall.
Be intentional to see a change.
It takes determination to build a family.
There might be times when as a family we might go off track. There can be moments of disagreements and discouragements.
As long as Jesus is the CONTROL TOWER - we will keep coming back on track.
RESPOND AND NOT REACT
We are endowed with very special gifts. For example, we have
a. the ability to choose
b. the ability to use our imagination
c. the ability to exercise our freewill
BE SELF AWARE
You and I need to change first - before a home is built.
Christian life is NOT automatic.
It has to be cultivated. Takes time and effort.
Humble yourself.
Phil 2:3-8
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves
4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
Give Thanks Always and for Everything
Eph 5:20
20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rejoice Always
1 Thes 5:16
16 Rejoice always,
Phil 2:14-15
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”[c] Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky
God can change negative attitudes!
Personal Transformation is key to Building Your Home
The four points below should help us transform our personal lives which is the foundation to building your home.
1. Power of the cross
2. My identity in Christ
3. Renewing of my mind
4. Walking in the spirit
The first 2 points are gifts from Jesus. He died for OUR sins. He has made us heirs to His throne and we can rightfully call Him - Father. Our identity is in Him.
The last two points concern our daily life - helped ably by the Holy Spirit.
To be very sure that you belong to Jesus, read Ephesians Chapter 1 fully.
The afternoon session was handled by Mr Jacob Isaac.
Started with 4 types of communication.
Cliche: Allows a person to remain isolated and alone. Greetings with no opinion or feelings
Fact: When a person talks about others not anything about themselves.
Opinion: When a person shares ideas and opinions that opens a person up.
Emotional:This involves sharing feelings, emotions, etc.
Mr Jacob also dwelt on behavior types.
DISC
Dominant
Inspiring
Steady
Compliant
4 steps for transparency
1. Be OPEN with God
Read Ps 139 - HE knows us completely. We cannot hide anything from Him.
1 You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
2. Create an atmosphere of love, commitment and forgiveness at home
Col 3:12-14
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
3. Affirm one another when they practice transparency
Prov 16:24
Gracious words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
4. Pray regularly with one another
Col 4:2
2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
Mrs Sheela Isaac then took over the next day morning on Fill Your Homes and she touched up the Family Altar.
As Prov 24:4 says
through knowledge its rooms are filled
with rare and beautiful treasures.
with rare and beautiful treasures.
Be intentional and consistent so that you can fill your homes with principles and values.
Concerning
Work
Money
Pleasure
Friends
Enemies
God
Self
Invest a lot of time on your children.
Remember Love is a verb - It's a choice to love or not. Express that love. Work on it.
According to the iceberg principle, the more you fill your homes with values and principles - aligned to Jesus Christ, the more good practices will be evident.
Ask yourselves these questions:
What kind of family do you really want to be?
What kind of home would you like to invite your friends to?
What makes you feel open to your influence?
3 Things that can help Fill Your Homes
Time
Healthy conversations with spouse and kids. Have meaningful conversations everyday.
Trust
Earn trust through your deeds. Value promises you make to spouse and kids. With each fulfilled promise trust is earned like a bank account.
and Transparency
Be transparent and willing to change. Do not hide finance matters from spouse and kids.
Work as a team.
Pray the following prayer aloud together with your spouse.
A scene from the movie WAR ROOM
A prayer for your children.
Closing with a few snaps taken :-)
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