Overflowing Hope

​            I love how different seasons of life offer us new and renewed perspectives on various situations and circumstances of which we once might not have thought too highly. One of these examples for me comes from something that I will be experiencing again this weekend. By the time the sun rises on Saturday morning, I hope to be sitting in solitude in the middle of the woods. I will be dressed in blaze orange, have a couple of books, some snacks, and be ever watchful and waiting for anything that moves. Who knows? Maybe I will even see a deer or two…unless they happen to walk by while I’m napping.
            I mention this example because I can remember my 12-year old self not finding much interest in just sitting in the woods for hours on end in the cold watching and waiting for nothing that came by. I would look at my dad and wonder how he could just enjoy doing this for hours. I had so many things to do. I had so many other activities that I could be doing instead of just sitting here. Most of the time I could not wait until we got to go back. But the older I get, the wiser I get too, and this means a renewed perspective and appreciation for exactly what my dad did. Now, I have no problem sitting alone in the woods for hours just watching, thinking, and processing the things around me. I enjoy thinking about the life, family, and friends that God has blessed me with, and I guarantee that you all will be on my mind as I ponder life with a thankful heart. Even if I don’t see a thing move but a few squirrels, the time will be well worth it.
            I wanted to take a quick opportunity to provide a highlight and update from this past Sunday. For those of you that were with us this past week, we focused a portion of our worship service highlighting and updating you on our 3rd Quarter Allocation for Overflowing Hope. If you remember from the beginning of the year, as a congregation, we committed to supporting 4 quarterly projects that went to financially support ministries that enhanced the sharing and spreading of the Gospel. The first two quarters involved us allocating $7,500 to help fund a well-drilling business in Chad and $8,000 to help support the training and living expenses of a brand-new Chadian missionary couple to the Fulbe for their first year. This quarter, we are allocating $8,000 to Inspiration Point Bible Camp to help outfit and prepare the beach and waterfront at their new second location: Twin Oaks. Twin Oaks was purchased within the past year as the need for more space was becoming an issue at the Spitzer Lake campus. Hundreds of campers had to be turned away each summer, leaving many without this valuable opportunity to experience Jesus at summer camp.
            Through your generosity and support of Overflowing Hope, these funds will go toward supporting a vital piece of Inspiration Point’s ministry that seeks to bring people one step closer in their walk with Christ. The waterfront serves as a gateway to this next step as hundreds of conversations happen on boats and benches surrounding God’s creation where campers and counselors engage in meaningful discussions about life and God’s role within it. Thank you again for your support of this ministry. It will be a true joy to see and hear how God will use these funds to help grow His Kingdom.