Influence

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

I am over the Monday blah's from last week - this fabulous weather sure has been helping with that! First long run outside has me a bit sore, but a good sore. It is also Spring Break for Emma and she is hanging out with mom all week. Today we are in the Elm Grove office and she is "helping" me. I think it just connected with her today that I "am" Camp Tamarack now.

I have been thinking a lot about how camp will go this summer and trying to listen to all the different ideas and suggestions. Emma just gave me an idea that each night the cabin leaders should read a Bible verse pertaining to the lesson - she said she would really like that. I think we have a great theme in Journey (not the band :-P) that will lead to some great discussions.
Our overall verse is:
Judges 18:6 "Go in peace," the priest replied. "For the LORD will go ahead of you on your journey."

Back to the original verse at the top of the blog...my husband and I were having a discussion this weekend about Emma's friends and as any parent does, you worry about them being a bad influence on your child as they get older. I thought about it the other way though and maybe Emma will be a good influence? At my other day job, I like to post random questions as a type of fun/teambuilding. This week's question was "What is something everyone should know how to do?" I asked Emma this question and her first response was - everyone should know how to pray. Yup, I think she will be a good influence.

What do you think everyone should know how to do?

How is your Journey going?  Whatever it is - go in peace :-)

Monday blahs

I have the Monday blahs today. I went to bed with a headache and woke up with a headache. Plus, it is thunderstorming. Don't get me wrong, I am excited for the rain and it washes away all the dirt and junk from the winter. I am just not my normal self to be a writing a blog.

So, here are some random thoughts and updates for the week:

• I am working on a brochure for the updated Basile building at Tamarack. I have not visited it in person yet, but the pictures I have seen look great and the plans sound great. 
• I am looking for lifeguards this summer to work on staff at camp - if you know anyone, send 'em my way!
• I started looking at what t-shirts/sweatshirts I want to order this year for Camp.
• I am Irish so looking forward to this Saturday. I am not a good cook, but every year I do make Corned Beef and Cabbage. Plus I found a baked cabbage recipe this weekend. In about three weeks I will also get to visit Ireland briefly.
• Legend says that each leaf of the clover means something: the first is for hope, the second for faith, the third for love and the fourth for luck.
• Was St. Patrick Irish? Nope - he was born in Britain.

Hope everyone is doing well and I leave you with a prayer from St. Patrick:

"St Patrick's Breastplate"

This prayer is also sometimes called "The Deer's Cry" or "The Lorica".

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through the belief in the threeness,
Through the confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth with his baptism,
Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,
Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,
Through the strength of his descent for the Judgment Day.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In preaching of apostles,
In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me:
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of demons,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.

Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation.

The Spark

He makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire. Psalm 104:4


A couple weeks ago, for my other job, I went to a conference that had a motivational speaker. I usually like that type of thing anyway, but this message has stuck with me for awhile.
The name of the speaker was Lance Secretan and his book is called "The Spark, The Flame, The Torch". He was focused on leadership, but at that word spark, I immediately went to the song Pass It On where it only takes a spark to get a fire going.
That was his message really, but his twist is that the spark is really a dream and how do you take your dream and turn it in to a flame to inspire others and then a torch to inspire the world.
It is amazing what a "spark" can do to some one's mood, vocation, faith. I have been thinking about my dream for Camp Tamarack and how does that translate overall as my dream may not be the same as someone elses, but I don't want to put water on their spark as adding all those sparks together gives you the flame and eventually the torch that goes out in to the world.

Do you need a spark right now? Have you seen a spark in action?

My dream is to work with youth in way to help them see the love of Christ and have fun along the way. It seems pretty simple, but I have already seen how my sparks have helped others and it is enough to keep me going!

I would love to hear your dreams or how you have seen the spark in action.

Shalom!



P.S. Here are the lyrics to Pass It On in case you aren't familiar with them:

It only takes a spark to get a fire going,
And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing;
That's how it is with God's Love,
Once you've experienced it,
Your spread the love to everyone
You want to pass it on.

What a wondrous time is spring,
When all the tress are budding
The birds begin to sing, the flowers start their blooming;
That's how it is with God's love,
Once you've experienced it.
You want to sing, it's fresh like spring,
You want to pass it on.

I wish for you my friend
This happiness that I've found;
You can depend on God
It matters not where you're bound,
I'll shout it from the mountain top - PRAISE GOD!
I want the world to know
The Lord of love has come to me
I want to pass it on.

I'll shout it from the mountain top - PRAISE GOD!
I want the world to know
The Lord of love has come to me
I want to pass it on.