Fingerprints

Thumbprint At a recent gathering of Camp leaders we had a devotional given on the topic of fingerprints. The man shared how we leave fingerprints wherever we are. On cutlery, windows, tables and such. Then he talked about how Jesus left his fingerprints on different lives. He told how he left more than fingerprints….he left heartprints! Eternal heartprints! The kind of prints that change lives forever. It was a huge challenge to all of us in the room to leave heartprints of Jesus on the campers that will be coming to camp. To leave heartprints on the staff and their families. Heartprints of Jesus smattered on people we meet everyday. This is a wonderful encouragement. Let us be the fingerprints of Jesus on the world we live in. This is what we will focus in on today. Fingerprints of Jesus in the life of the camp and some campers!

Fingerprints for Christmas

Christmas has come and gone already as did another Christmas Camp. Thirty campers braved the elements to take in the camp. At the banquet meal we had about fifty people all-together. It was a great time of fun, games, sword drills and hearing from God’s Word. The speaker was giving excellent talks to the campers when on Saturday afternoon he felt some tremors in his tummy and knew that he better get home as he was going to be very sick. His prophecy came true later on that evening as he started to get out of him some of those tremor tantrums. This meant improvising to get a message for the evening. The verse for this year is a simple one… “Not by power nor by might but by my spirit says the Lord of Hosts” The message was given and the Lord worked a mighty work as more than thirteen of the campers stood up to commit themselves %100 whole heartedly for the Lord. The fingerprints of Jesus were obvious that night in their lives and continues to this day! These little winter camps are amazing as we get to have many kids come and hear many stirring messages for a weekend. A number of key decisions are made in kids lives during this time. Pray for this new year of camps. Coming up in February is a floor hockey and board games camp. It is already full. The All Girls camp is in March followed by one in April and June. Pray that the Lord God of heaven leaves His fingerprints in kids lives.

Fingerprints in Provision

Camp does not come cheap. It costs a lot to keep things going. A lot of prayer. A lot of volunteer labor. A lot of time from people. A lot of money. Watching God provide for the camp and the staff has been exhilarating and cause for worshiping Jehovah Jireh. He indeed is the provider of our needs. In early December the camp was in huge need of dollars and God provided so that for two days in January we were in the black! Praise His name. However this was all short lived as the bills came due for propane, food, kitchen equipment and such Here is the approximate run down on the camp finances as of January 28/08. The General Fund has an actual working funds at about negative nine thousand dollars. The Campership Fund that helps kids come to camp whose parents can’t afford it is at about two hundred dollars. We have budgeted five thousand dollars for this. The bursary fund that helps students with a financial boost for their schooling is at about two hundred dollars and we are looking for twelve thousand dollars. Last year more than twelve thousand dollars came in. One of the staff even had their whole year paid for by the bursary fund. We also are looking to replace horses that are too old or have died. The budgeted amount is twenty thousand dollars. Pray for us about these needs Let’s watch together as we wait on the Lord to see God’s fingerprints meet the need. He had His fingerprints on one Grandma’s heart and purse as she gave a gift to the General Fund and shared that all her Grand kids but one has accepted the Lord at Camp Little Red. Indeed the fingerprints of God are at work through her!

Fingerprints Undeniable

Recently a letter from a fifteen year old boy was given to me. The Lord is at work in this boys heart in big ways. As you read some of it…see if you can see the finger of God in his life.

“God has had a impact on me my whole life since I became a Christian. Although it has been a hassle most times I could get through with his help (after realizing I couldn’t do it on my own). I guess in a way God is teaching to be less stubborn, and realize I can’t do it without his help.

The place where I felt the most comfortable with my Christian life would be at Camp Little Red. This was a place that could help me get back on track when my Christian life was in the gutters, or if I needed to learn something new. Through my camp experiences God has also making me a better leader. A couple of camps I was placed in charge of all maintenance. This was a responsibility where I felt I wasn’t the right man for the job. I realized once again I was stubborn again and I should let God take control again. After a while with God’s help the quality’s of a leader started to flourish, I became more confident with my decisions that I made during the day. The one real problem with being the chief maintenance was leading the devotion. I did tons and tons of devotion by myself, but never leading. I felt like I might fail the group on this on simple thing. But than I remembered a verse I read in Job a couple days before this Job 12:10 In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. This verse meant a lot to me, making me realize that God is always in control, and when you let him in the drivers seat your life is going to be a lot better. I read this verse to the boys that night hoping to get the point across that God is always in complete control and that he loves every single one of them to know end.

Another time God helped me was during teen camp. There was a kid who I wanted to help in a sword drill. He never really stood a chance because he only had use of one arm. So one day I got up there and helped him reach the final’s in the sword drill. There was another kid who I also wanted to help in any way that I could. Then it came to me one chapel. Why don’t I help him reach the finals too. So I got up there and helped him also to reach the final’s. Seeing the look on his face I knew he was happy that he made it there.

I never realized until the next camp, that this was probably one if not the best Christian thing I ever done in my life. I gave people a chance at something they never really had a chance at. I guess that’s our job as Christians sharing the word of God with people that would never have a chance to hear it.

To summarize it all up God has done so much for me over the past year and I expect he will keep doing this for more years to come. During this past Christmas camp we talked about being tools for God. I hope that God will be able to use me the way he wants to use and by doing this I hope I’ll be able to become one of the best tools for God.”

Did you see the finger prints of God littered throughout his letter. God is at work. This is one of many that God is doing a great work in!

Fingerprints Wanted

FUND-RAISING BANQUET

  • Where? Innisfail Baptist Church - 5204 Woodland Road
  • When? March 1
  • Time? 6 PM
  • Project? Upgrade Outhouses in Guys and Girls Tent Areas

Don’t miss out on the banquet. It is a great way for the camp to raise funds for needed items. The old outhouses are not doing so well and need better concealed bottoms. The cost of the project will be about $7,500. Anything extra will be put in the General Fund to help it out. We shall see you there! If you can not make it you may still send a gift to the camp designated Banquet Project. Come and leave a fingerprint of God!

PRAYER REQUESTS

  • God gets the glory
  • Staff
  • Provision
  • Kids to be saved and growing.

Tax-deductible receipts will be given for Canadian donations to the General Fund, Campership Fund, Bursary Fund or Building Fund. Make cheques payable to CAMP LITTLE RED, with a note of designation attached rather than written on the cheque.
CAMP LITTLE RED

Gord Russell, Director

Box 334 Bowden, AB T0M 0K0 office@camplittlered.com