Eating Right – Making Camp Stick

“God I pray that we would feast on your Word tonight like a couple of guys eating at a barbeque joint. May the barbeque sauce of your Word be all over us because it was so good, then may we desire more.” This was the prayer that Neil prayed as he started his final message to us. It is a great visual picture of what our students experienced this week. They feasted on God and His Word all week. When this happens life change happens. But just like eating barbeque when you finish eating you eventually get hungry again. This will be true of your student. They have feasted well this week and it will last for a while, but they will get hungry again. The question is this: “What are they going to feed on?  God and His Word or themselves and this world?” You, as a parent, can help them eat the right things and desire more.

Here are a couple of ways to help your students remember the feast and continue to eat right:
1.    Talk with them about camp. Have them show you their camp magazine. Look at all their pictures. Ask them questions like:
a.    Who was in their room/family group?
b.    What was their favorite part of camp?
c.    What God taught them this week
d.    What are they going to do differently because of what God taught them?
2.    Read the book “31 verses every teenager should know about The Flip” with them. They received this Bible Study at camp and it continues building on the theme from camp. The speaker put it this way: “For you to endure the trials that come you must have habits, not experiences, to get you through it.”   Not to mention, the study would be good for you too.
3.    Make them be at Church/Youth Group/Bible Study! Yes, I said it!!! I know this is not popular to say but it needs to be said. It is time as parents to stop hiding behind the excuse “if I make them be at church they are going to hate God.” What if God had used that excuse with us? “I don’t want them to be turned off by Me so I am not going to tell them what to do (the Bible).” This is ridiculous. The students in your home need you to point them in the right direction. If their passion for God will last, church must be a part of their lives.
4.    You eat right! The students in your home are watching you. If they seem a Dad and Mom whose heart is growing more and more passionate for Christ then I believe that it will be easier for them to continue what God started here.
5.    PRAY!!! Pray for your student’s heart. Pray that the things they tasted this week will make them want more of God. Pray that their experience will turn into a life long love affair with their Creator.

Thanks for letting our ministry be a small part of your student’s life. May they continue to feast on Christ and His Word! Mmm Mmmm!!! IT IS GOOD!!!!!!!