You can't develop a relationship with someone unless you spend time with them. Your relationship with the Lord requires time to develop as well. There are four ways that we can grow closer to the Lord.

1. Studying God's Word
2. Prayer
3. Spending time with other believers
4. Serving the Lord

Studying God's Word can be done in many ways. However, the goal is always the same. We are to learn what God has to say to us. If we understand God's Word and apply it to our lives we are growing in our relationship to Him.

At camp, when we hear someone speak in chapel or cabin Bible studies, we are studying from God's Word. At home, you may study God's Word in your church youth group or a Bible study group. However, it is also important for you to study God's Word on your own. This time is called personal devotions.

During your personal devotion time you may want to utilize a devotional book that will help you to understand God's Word and how it applies to your life. The following books are recommended personal devotion books.

Recommended Resources:

• Sticky Situations: 1 & 2: 365 Devotions for Elementary Kids - Betsy Schmitt
• Kids-Life Devotions - Cook Communications
• God's Amazing Creatures & Me: Devos for Boys and Girls Ages 6 to 10 - Helen Haidle
• The One Year Book of Devotions for Kids 1, 2, & 3 - Tyndale House
• The One Year Book of Devotions for Boys - Tyndale House
• The One Year Book of Devotions for Girls - Tyndale House
• The One Year Book of Devotions for Teens - Tyndale House
• Secrets of the Vine Devotions for Kids - Bruce Wilkinson
• Studies in Christian Living Series - Books 1 - 6 by Navpress
• Design for Discipleship Series - Books 1 - 7 by Navpress
• Experiencing God Youth Edition by Henry Blackaby & Claude King - Lifeway Press
• Jesus Freaks - Albury Publishing
• The Narrow Road - Revell Books
• Josh McDowell's Youth Devotions - Tyndale House
• Secretmotive.com
• Kids4truth.com

Prayer is two-way communication between you and the Lord. During this time you speak to the Lord about the things that are on your heart. However, prayer isn't just about you talking. In fact, the most exciting aspect of prayer is seeing God answer. Matthew 6:5-15 and Luke 11:1-13 tell us how we should pray. Take some time to read these two passages before you begin praying tonight. Perhaps they will help you develop a more active prayer life.

I have learned a great deal about the Lord from other people. The time that we spend with other Christians can be in worship or fellowship. At camp we spend time worshipping the Lord by singing together and praising Him. We also enjoy the time of fellowship that we spend together because we can openly discuss the challenges and rewards that are a part of our life as a Christian.

The sad thing is that camp doesn't last all year. We need to find Christian friends who we can spend time with throughout the year. I would like to encourage you to attend a church youth group, Sunday school or some other type of Christian program for kids. It's great to grow closer to God at camp, but how exciting it is to grow closer to Him and worship Him every day of the year!

The last thing that Jesus told His disciples is that they are "to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and to teach them to obey everything that He had commanded them" (Matthew 28:18-20). This is called the Great Commission of Christ.

Jesus called His disciples and all followers to serve Him by reaching out to the people around them. As we serve the Lord we begin to draw closer and closer to Him. I encourage each of you to develop an "attitude of service to the Lord." Pray that God would give you opportunities to serve Him and that He would give you the abilities to succeed to bring Glory to Him.

Please e-mail me (Chief Tim) at t.nielsen@sandycove.org if you would like some ideas of ways that you can serve the Lord. I would be glad to help you find some opportunities.