This week I was at a ministry conference in East Texas and saw something pretty cool….

That photo was taken at Camp Deer Run in Winnsboro, TX in the chapel at that camp facility.  They have the tradition of letting the campers make their mark on the rafters, beams, and ceiling of the outdoor chapel.  It was really cool to walk around and look at all the different messages, images, and memories from the last 30 years.

I couldn’t help but think about the campers who had left their name and where they are now.  Some would be my age or older.  Some had just been there last year.  The group would consist of teenagers, college students, young adults, married couples, and young parents.  All of those people and the thousands of lives that they have touched over the years since they made their mark on that old chapel…

Our girls with Miss Vera in the Fall of 2014.

Our family has been thinking about a sweet lady who made her mark on us.  Our sweet friend Vera died last week at the age of 101.   Think of all the events she saw in life and the changes that swept through the course of a century of living.  I will always remember Vera’s contagious enthusiasm.  I am glad that our entire family was able to spend time with this sweet lady and we are blessed that she left her mark on us.

We too will leave our mark on the people of this world, whether good or bad.  When we turn on the news we see a lot of the bad things folks are doing that leave behind hurt, sorrow, and confusion.  It is good to know that in the simplest of day to day interactions we can leave behind a hope and example that cannot be erased.  Grace, love, charity, patience, laughter, enthusiasm, dedication, and compassion are just a few of the ‘marks’ that we can make on those around us.

Written On My Heart – Week 4

There is no better mark to make in our own lives and on the hearts of our children than God’s Word.  I hope you have been enjoying challenging yourself, your kids, and your friends to learn more scripture.  This is your chance to “make your mark”!  Here is this week’s worksheet… Written On My Heart – Week 4