Poetry

About 12 years ago I wrote this poem. It came into my head with a melody. I need one of my composing friends to help me out!

I BELIEVE by Deb Horst

I can’t begin to understand all the riches of His plan,

It’s far above what my mind can perceive.
But this I know;
That here below, I will trust Him as I go,
And every day I will say, “I believe!”

Along the way I’ll suffer trials and some pain a little while.
Sometimes it’s hard, but to His arms I can flee.
But this I know;
I will grow into His likeness as I go,
And then with joy I can say, “I believe!”

In God’s great love for all mankind, He works a plan with you in mind,
“Adopted child, through Jesus Christ, My grace receive.”
Oh, this I know;
His Spirit flows on you, His child, as you go,
So you can say for His praise, “I believe!”

I believe in His plan of salvation!
I believe in Jesus Christ my Lord!
Lord, take my hand, and lead me through, I want to be more like You.
Make me more, make me more, like Jesus.


Peace, ya'll.

Hope and Shoveling Snow

     I shoveled some sidewalks today. The snow was about 4 inches thick but very light and fluffy so it was not very difficult. While I was shoveling it began snowing; big fluffy flakes gently falling. It did not take long for the sidewalks to get recovered in a dusting of snow. But that was okay, because it is much easier to keep periodically shoveling a walk than it is to wait until there are 6 inches accumulated! Continued shoveling keeps the edges of the sidewalk marked so that it is easier to know where to shovel. If I wait until no snow is in the forecast before I even attempt to shovel, it is much more back-breaking and I may not have any indication where the sidewalk actually is.

     I read Jeremiah 29:11 this morning and I have been focusing on the word hope; I even wrote it in Hebrew on my wrist. I prayed as I shoveled, “Show me your path, God. Clear the way. Give me hope.”

     Then I realized that seeking God’s direction is a lot like shoveling a sidewalk. If I patiently persevere in prayer, asking God for wisdom and discernment, I essentially am keeping the “path” cleared.  Yes, I may have to keep asking for awhile, and the path may get covered up a bit, but with continued prayerful clearing the edges of my journey remain visible. Meaning, I at least know the direction I’m headed! And I’m continuing the dialogue with God through that prayerful process, which means I will not be overwhelmed and buried by life’s circumstances.

     So, hope keeps me persistently shoveling sidewalks even while the snow is falling. And, hope keeps me prayerfully seeking God’s guidance, even when I am not sure of the next steps in my life. 

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord  Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Rm 5:1-5.

Hopefully,
Deb

How do feathers make a noise?

The other day I took my dog for a walk. I looked up at the brilliant blue sky and noticed an enormous approaching flock of grackles and black birds that rose from our woods and headed south over our house. These flocks form every winter, disband every spring and are always impressive and awe-inspiring to watch as thousands of birds stretch in a huge black band across the sky. The flock moved as one body, rising, twisting, flowing, and sometimes descending on trees, shrubs and lawn with noisy squawking, clicking and chirping noise. I have often wondered which bird dictates their direction. It seems like some bird has to lead and some bird has to be last! Sometimes the middle of the flow bulges and forms a new direction that sort of sucks the ends along. Sometimes the entire flock reverses direction upon itself looking like a wave of the ocean hitting the beach and then receding; the following birds then become the leading birds. Is there purpose in their direction? Are they actually headed somewhere or do they fly for the sheer joy of being able to do so?

This particular day the flock flew directly overhead stretching across the sky like a black ribbon. There was no sound other than the combined whoosh of thousands of wings. Just how do feathers make such a noise anyway? Awestruck at the sound I wondered, would true worship look like this moving, shifting, flowing flock? Would true worship sound like the awesome noise made by something so fine?  Would true worship create a response in the observer of awe and wonder?

“And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech…” NRSV Ezekiel 1:24a.

           This feeling of being awestruck is similar to what I experience during camp worship, especially with the campers under the age of 12 years. Their worship is uninhibited, energetic, and pure. If the words say, “dance,” they obey! These youngest of worshipers, whose movements of praise appear like the moving, shifting, flowing flock of birds, are small in size, their hands and feet have trouble with rhythm, and their voices may not produce harmony, yet their praise is awesome. They worship for the sheer joy of being able to do so. And the Almighty Observer responds with sheer holy joy, and He dances with them.

“The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great joy in you. He will quiet you with His love. He will rejoice over you with singing." Zeph 3:17

Whoa....what's happening?

December 27, 2010, 9:30 AM. The exact time when I received my first ever manicure, for the wondrous occasion of John (my son) and Katie’s wedding! The bridesmaids and both mothers had bright red fingernails, which perfectly matched the wedding colors.

I normally keep my nails well trimmed; I’ve never liked long fingernails on myself and I cannot stand the feel of fingernail polish—its “heavy” on the ends of my fingers (some of you will understand that). However, since I knew I was going to get a manicure for the wedding, for several weeks I had carefully grown my nails. It made me very aware of everything I did with my hands because having a longer fingernail changes the dynamic of touch (especially typing, texting, and picking one’s nose). But I succeeded and the manicurist praised me for my diligence, nail shape, and bravery (although she took pity on me and gave me a free bottle of polish remover because she thought I’d take it off as soon as the wedding was over, which I did not do; it lasted until Wednesday).

That red nail polish was beautiful and I felt confident that when I pointed at something people would really notice and look where the laser-red nail was pointing. Or when I talked with my hands (which I do a lot) the flashes of red would keep listeners’ attention. I felt more mature; like that 15 minutes of trimming, emery-boarding, lotioning, and polishing were rites of passage into a more fashionable adulthood.

I was sure that after the wedding I would trim my nails to return them to their normal length, however when I prepared to do that I just couldn’t. In fact, this morning I looked through my daughter’s polish and chose a light lavender shade, which perfectly matched my shirt. And before my morning devotions, I polished my nails. Whoa….what’s happening to me?

This little experience reminds me of change; specifically the change that is happening here at camp. Our new vision and new logo will be launched this month which will bring excitement and energy into our already vital ministry. It will also bring adjustments; we will feel this change in profound ways as we strike out in faith following God’s lead. The new vision will change the dynamics of this camp; some changes we will embrace and enjoy, but other changes will bring frustration and sorrow. All change, even good things, ushers in a grieving process, so we must be attentive to the rites of passage that will shape this ministry into a more mature model of God’s Kingdom on earth.

Another change will result from the fact that I have resigned from the Camp Director position effective August 31, 2011. God is calling me to embark on a new journey with Him which will involve pastoral ministry of some sort (He hasn’t told me yet). For me this is a lot like the fingernail polish story. I’ve been involved in camp ministry for ten years and I like it (most of the time I even love it). But I know that God is ready to give me a “spiritual manicure”—something new that I have not ever done before. So I’ve been allowing some new growth within my mind & spirit, and it is changing how I think and how I function. I feel this process deeply—sometimes with deep sorrow, sometimes with relief, sometimes with a bit of panic; but I know it is what God desires for me, my family, for the camp, and for whatever new ministry I enter. It will feel and look different from anything I’ve known so far but it certainly will shape me into a more obedient and mature follower of Jesus Christ!

So please pray for the camp, the Board as they conduct a search for a new Director, for the staff, and for me as I faithfully serve these last eight months in a remarkable ministry!

Prayer based on Camp Luz’s “Statement of Faith”

We believe that…

·         God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things and is revealed to us through His Son Jesus Christ.

     Creator and Sustainer, you breathed life into creation; each part intricately designed by you from nothing. You continue to breathe life as you sustain creation, flawed as it is by sin. However old the earth is, this particular plot of land known as Camp Luz was seen by you at creation; known by you as a place where thousands would come to know Jesus Christ! Fifty-six years is just a blip on the heavenly timeline.

            Thank you for sustaining this ministry and thank you for allowing us to partner with you.

                        Please, have mercy on us!

·         Jesus Christ is God’s only Son, the Savior and Lord of all.  He bore our sins on the cross, was resurrected from the dead and sent His Spirit so that we might have new life in Him.

     In the beginning grand design you set apart small sacred spaces where people would come to know Jesus Christ as Lord. This is one of those sacred spaces. If we only knew the global reach of this place; the people who heard and committed their lives to Jesus and then committed to carry the Good News out to the world! Only you can see the far-reaching fingers across continents and generations! This place is a sacred blip on the heavenly landscape!

            Thank you for allowing us to partner with you!

                        Please, have mercy on us!

·         The Holy Spirit of God empowers and directs Christ’s followers and His Church.

     Your Spirit hovered over the chaos before you created. You breathed life; Creating Breather, Divine Respirator. You knew that the only way we humans could live was for you to continue to breathe. This ministry is a divine expiration of your supernatural power. Only your Spirit empowers and directs your children whom you allow to work alongside you. You continue to breathe on, in, and through this ministry and through your children!

                        Please, have mercy on us!

·         Salvation is received by faith in Jesus Christ who reconciles us to God.

     Celebrate! This place is a place of celebration! For here people have heard the Good News of Jesus Christ! Dance, sing, shout, run, and worship for salvation is near, salvation is here! Come and drink, breathe, and receive eternal life! Go and invite others to the party!

                        Please, have mercy on us!

·         The Bible is the inspired word of God and is central to understanding God’s will.        

     You gave us words, you gave us the Word. We proclaim it, we stand on it! The Bible is the sacred text for this sacred space; it is what we point to, read, preach, pray, and give away. Come and hear the Word; the Way, the Truth and the Life!

                        Please, have mercy on us!

·         A person must voluntarily choose to be a follower of Jesus Christ by surrendering to and accepting His Lordship; by becoming a part of a community of believers for worship, prayer, teaching, fellowship, and mutual accountability; and by seeking to grow into His likeness, reaching out to others and living out the Kingdom of God.

     We believe this! We exist to offer the invitation to choose to follow Jesus! You knew that each generation would need to hear the invitation—here we are, existing to proclaim, existing to invite, existing by your power. We worship, pray, teach, fellowship, and strive to grow in Christ’s likeness. You continue to invite us to this work!

                        Please, have mercy on us!

·         As disciples of Jesus Christ, we seek to live the life of love that He taught us, working for peace and reconciliation with God, with one another, and with the world.

Creator, Sustainer, Breather, Savior, we are your children. As disciples, we seek to continue your work! What would Jesus do in this camp? Love, laugh, worship, teach, invite, and experience the power of the Spirit! And we get to join right in!

                        Please, have mercy on us!

Amen.

Everybody dance now!

I pulled into the gas station this morning to refill the tank (on the car, not me), and when I opened the car door I was greeted by the disco sound of “K.C. and the Sunshine Band” 1979 classic, “Shake, shake, shake…(ba-da-da-da-da)… shake, shake, shake, …(ba-da-da-da-da)… shake your boo-tay, shake your boo-tay!”

Now I was 14 when this song hit the number one spot on the airwaves. I was a bit sheltered at that time(being a Mennonite child who was not allowed to attend school dances or boy-girl par-tays--although, once I lied to my mom so I could go to my friends party, but that’s a story for another time) and really wasn’t sure what a “boo-tay” was, but it didn’t take too long for my friends, who weren’t as sheltered (meaning they weren’t Mennonite and could go to school dances and boy-girl par-tays) to inform me—“Shake your booty” means “shake your backside,” or “get up and dance” as the first line of the song says, “Everybody, get on the floor, let’s dance!”  

Having grown up without the benefit of learning to dance (I did love watching Soul Train as a kid but never learned the moves, my mother would have been horrified had I even tried, but there was a short period of time when I would wear my black shiny go-go boots and "tap dance" on the fireplace hearth), I had, and still don’t have, any idea how to shake my booty, not do I want to learn at the age of 45. I’d probably hurt myself or someone would think I was having a seizure and call 9-1-1.

Anyway, the gas station was blasting that song and, as I was washing the windshield, I glanced at all the other drivers who were similarly engaged, and had a brief and hilarious vision of everyone suddenly dropping window washing wands and letting go of pump handles, to participate in an extemporaneous, yet miraculously choreographed, dance number, all of us shaking our boo-tays (which may or may not be the same as a “groove thing”)! I saw it in my mind, similar to dance scenes from movies like Oklahoma, West Side Story, and The Home Improvement Show when Tim completes his hot-rod and everyone dances to Greased Lightening. People just going about their normal daily routines, when suddenly music starts playing, people drop what they’re doing, and everybody starts dancin’!

Can you imagine this?! It made me LOL!

“Is there a sermon in this, Deb?” you may be asking. Probably, but I can’t think of one right now. I’m too busy looking up songs from the 70’s and wishing I knew how to dance…

Praying for Camp Luz

“ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’ ” Mt 6:9-10

          Recently, I bought a little book called, “The 21 Most Effective Prayers in the Bible.” While I personally balked a bit at the words “most effective,” I decided to use the book as a devotional for the next twenty-one days. The first three prayers are Eliezer Gn 21:12, Jacob Gn 32:26, and Moses Ex 33:15, which is what I read this morning. I am very careful about these types of books because they lean heavily towards “prosperity theology,” and that is not the direction I lean at all! The danger is that these prayers could become all about me; Give me success, Bless me, Go with me. Really, in context, these prayers are about GOD. All three of these men realized their inability and inadequacy to achieve, accomplish, or acquire anything that God was asking of, or from, them. It was in those moments of sudden realization that they cried out to God for help. In the process of discerning a vision for camp, I have had many such moments!

          This new thing that God is revealing is not about me or about us (camp leaders); it is firmly about what He wants to do in, through, and in spite of, us! I continually go back to Tillie Yoder Nauraine’s words from the late 1940’s:

         

          “I honestly believe that the greatest thing we can possibly visualize for the future of this work is a mere glimpse of what God will actually do for us if we place ourselves and our resources at His disposal.”

          This morning I prayed that God would protect me from trying to accomplish the vision by choosing solutions and methods that are within my grasp; I can be near-sighted when it comes to this vision stuff! I need God to correct my near-sightedness so I can see heavenly solutions and methods. And right then the prayer of Jesus popped into my head, “…your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

          And I asked myself, “How does camp-on-earth reflect camp-in-heaven?” Am I/are we, lifting our eyes above and beyond the earthly paradigms for camp, to focus on God’s Kingdom ideal for this ministry? A profound question that certainly echoes Tillie’s quote!

          We have two sayings that we use for Camp Luz; “Another Place God Is” and “God’s Living Room.” We toss these phrases around casually, but if we really believe that God is present, alive, and active in and through these fifty acres, than we need to PRAY….

         

"'Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored! May your kingdom come! May what you want to happen be done in this camp as it is done in heaven!’”

Amen and Amen.