By Kristin Ashley

I love summer camp!

I am so so thankful that as a child I had the experience of attending Lake Lundgren Bible Camp. There is something amazing for kids and adults when they can retreat to a beautiful natural location and focus on our creator. The simple joys of singing songs so loud they echo back to you around the lake, to trying a greased watermelon race for the first time, creating tie-dye masterpieces, and hearing about real-life missionaries who make a difference around the world create a lifetime of memories.

While attending summer camp as a child, teenager, and a staff person, there was always a boldness in talking about temptations that surround us. It is humbling to reflect that “all have sinned.” We are not alone in this journey, we all have areas of our lives that tug at us, and there is importance in sharing our struggles.

For some time, I can firmly testify to the power of memorizing scripture. It is so important for us to fill our mind with God’s word. We face personal issues every day, those small things that take our focus off of God and our only weapon against giving in is bringing our thoughts in alignment with God’s way of thinking through scripture and prayer.

When I reflect on memories of summer camp, I am reminded of sweet voices singing the sweet verses of childhood songs. I picture children singing, “Be careful little eyes what you see...Be careful little ears what you hear...Be careful little mouth what you say...For the Father up above is looking down in love.”

How true these words are for all of us. Are we truly protecting what messages and images we hear and see? Are we guarding our mouths and minds from impure topics? Are we building others up with our words and actions? Are the words we speak drawing us closer to “worship”?

I am reminded of all the distractions and secular messages that bombard us and try to rob our time and attention every day. It is truly my prayer that we can circle back to the cry of the childhood song to be careful of what we are hearing, seeing, saying and doing. Today I am inspired to seek God with childlike faith to truly worship through my daily choices.