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    10 ways to connect with God this summer
vince beresford
In the midst of summer camps, retreats, mission trips and other activities, summer can be a time of tremendous growth for us as youth leaders IF we are willing to be proactive and not reactive in our planning. While most of us spend hours planning the details of activities, here are 10 ways for you to be strategic and proactive so that you can connect with God this summer and remind you that God is WAY more interested in doing something in you than through you.
1) Schedule Down Time
Take advantage of the slower pace of summer and give yourself permission to schedule “down time” We connect the best with God when we are rested. Maybe that’s why God put the “rest” in restoration.
2) Take Prayer Walks
This can be a great opportunity for us ADD types to spend some extended time in conversation with God while enjoying the outdoors and getting some exercise.
3)What Do You See? - Practice Being Fully Present
Sit on the grass and point out what shapes you see in the passing by clouds? Notice the texture of a leaf or sit in a park and identify all of the sounds?
4) Map Quest Your Summer Journey With God
Assess where you are now, then articulate where you would like to be by the end of the summer. Map Quest only works when we are painfully honest with our “starting point” and clear about where we would like to be at the end of our summer journey.
5) Write the Screenplay or Storyboard of Your Life
If your life story were a movie what would be the key scenes? Who are the key characters? What role does/has/is God playing in your movie? What hero like qualities do you have? What qualities do you need? What is the next scene after the one you are currently in? How does the story end?
6) Take Sabbath Day to Listen
Take a full day where you commit to be silent and listen to/for God.
7) Fast
Each week sacrifice one thing you enjoy for God.
8) Secret Serve Day
Secretly go serve/volunteer for God at a shelter so that God is the only one who knows/rewards what you did.
9) Create a Family Blessing
Create opportunities for you and your family to secretly be a blessing to other families and have great conversations with each other. You can drop off food, cash, gift cards, mow their lawn, or fix a car with the other family never knowing.
10) Schedule/Plan Yourself Mini Retreats During Summer Camp
In the midst of all of your responsibilities at camp, take 30-60 minutes to get alone to do whatever you love with God.
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http://www.simplyyouthministry.com/community-articles-from-the-field.html
vince beresford
In the midst of summer camps, retreats, mission trips and other activities, summer can be a time of tremendous growth for us as youth leaders IF we are willing to be proactive and not reactive in our planning. While most of us spend hours planning the details of activities, here are 10 ways for you to be strategic and proactive so that you can connect with God this summer and remind you that God is WAY more interested in doing something in you than through you.
1) Schedule Down Time
Take advantage of the slower pace of summer and give yourself permission to schedule “down time” We connect the best with God when we are rested. Maybe that’s why God put the “rest” in restoration.
2) Take Prayer Walks
This can be a great opportunity for us ADD types to spend some extended time in conversation with God while enjoying the outdoors and getting some exercise.
3)What Do You See? - Practice Being Fully Present
Sit on the grass and point out what shapes you see in the passing by clouds? Notice the texture of a leaf or sit in a park and identify all of the sounds?
4) Map Quest Your Summer Journey With God
Assess where you are now, then articulate where you would like to be by the end of the summer. Map Quest only works when we are painfully honest with our “starting point” and clear about where we would like to be at the end of our summer journey.
5) Write the Screenplay or Storyboard of Your Life
If your life story were a movie what would be the key scenes? Who are the key characters? What role does/has/is God playing in your movie? What hero like qualities do you have? What qualities do you need? What is the next scene after the one you are currently in? How does the story end?
6) Take Sabbath Day to Listen
Take a full day where you commit to be silent and listen to/for God.
7) Fast
Each week sacrifice one thing you enjoy for God.
8) Secret Serve Day
Secretly go serve/volunteer for God at a shelter so that God is the only one who knows/rewards what you did.
9) Create a Family Blessing
Create opportunities for you and your family to secretly be a blessing to other families and have great conversations with each other. You can drop off food, cash, gift cards, mow their lawn, or fix a car with the other family never knowing.
10) Schedule/Plan Yourself Mini Retreats During Summer Camp
In the midst of all of your responsibilities at camp, take 30-60 minutes to get alone to do whatever you love with God.
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