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Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Philippians 2:12-13 NLT The power to please is something most people value. We appreciate it when someone does something to encourage or bring ...

Project Sanctuary believes when one person serves the whole family serves. We take a human-centered, solution-based approach to helping military families heal and move forward in life. Through innovative long-term programming focused on connectedness, we restore hope and empower families to recover and thrive. Warm Beach Camp helps us create an environment conducive to healing. With beautiful surroundings and loving staff, the families on our retreats can relax and let down all the walls they have built up. The scenery ...

Photo by Ron Lach from Pexels You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.  Luke 6:36 NLT  https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.6.36.NLT  “You are just like your father” or “You are just like your mother” are phrases describing similarities for the better or worse with those who have raised us.    When Jesus says “ just as your Father in Heaven is, so we should be” it is a big statement to receive.  As a Father of 9 children, I know that my contribution to their lives is mixed, because I have done some really good things while also ...

Our community is a huge part of who we are as The Lights of Christmas. Our staff and volunteers help put the event together, local businesses help with promotion, donors support the big picture, and the people attend the event with their friends and family. Over the last year, we worked to create bigger and brighter displays and I am excited for what we are accomplishing together. Volunteers were here all summer working on new displays like Icicle Falls, The ...

The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm. Exodus 14:14 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/exo.14.14.NLT “Slow down and let me help you with that.” Many a person has said something like this to a friend, family member, or co-worker. A person is getting worked up over something. Anxiety, fear, or a legitimate concern is creating stress. Often times, someone else can see a way to help. The first challenge is providing help is simply bringing a sense of calm to the ...

For a few days we get to be together this summer. It will be a time of Oasis. Family and friends connecting after a long time apart. Its time. I am excited to be with you. I sure hope you can come. Our gathering will be filled with fresh simplicity and a relaxed space. Enjoy the pool, hike some trails, take in mini golf, disc golf, ride your bike, kids concert on the lawn, and make some incredible memories. Bring ...

I volunteer with Warm Beach Camp Horsemanship. 2020 was my first year with the program, and it was remarkable! At first, I was a little bit wary of connecting with another group of horsewomen, as I had "PTSD" of sorts from my experiences at stables with other strong horsewomen. I felt God tugging at my elbow though, so I went through the volunteer registration process and set a date to meet Ginger at the Warm Beach Camp stables. Ginger and ...

I am so excited Warm Beach Camp is able to offer Oasis Family Camp this year! It will be Wednesday, July 28-Sunday, Aug. 1 and it's going to have a new look and feel this year. The focus is on connecting and having fun together as a family. Your family can connect with God through worship, devotions, hospitality, fellowship, and creation, and with each other through fun activities and time spent together! Due to COVID related restrictions, we will not ...

My daughter, Israel-- also called Izzy, is known as the wispy curly-haired girl with the vocabulary of a thirty-year-old rather than a 3-year-old. Her favorite phrases are, “I’m just feeling frustrated” or “Mommy, I need some space.” Let me tell you, she used those phrases a lot being stuck in the house without her friends during the pandemic. Izzy loves to socialize; she is what you would call a social butterfly and she has a butterfly rain jacket to prove ...

From Tim Marshall on Unsplash When somebody shows love to us first, there is a natural and healthy desire to do or say something nice in response to the expression of love.  We want to give love in return.  Often, we may even ask a simple question: Is there something I can do for you?  When we consider God, we know that He has shown us love before anyone else.  It creates a wonderful opportunity for us to consider what ...

Please join us in giving a warm welcome to Dwight, our new Volunteer Coordinator! Many of you will recognize Dwight who also serves as our Accommodations Manager. Dwight and his wife, Cheryl, joined Warm Beach Camp thirty-four years ago in 1987 and had three children while on staff; Jonathan, Joshua & Janie. They have recently welcomed daughters-in-law, Trisha and Tasha, and are grateful to see all of their children established and doing well as young adults.  When asked “What do you love about working at Warm Beach Camp?” Dwight answered “I am ...

Photo by Courtney Hedger on Unsplash I am grateful for...  God. He has been showing His faithfulness and drawing me closer to Him.  The generosity of others. People have been supporting the ministry with a level of generosity that is so encouraging through this time. Thank you!  The Lights of Christmas: “A Drive-Thru Christmas” in 2020. It has brought encouragement to so many. It is quite likely that more people have come this year than ever before. Wow! It has brought provision to Warm Beach Camp ...

Despite the COVID pandemic The Lights of Christmas presents: “A Drive-Thru Christmas” is shaping up to be one of the most successful Christmas seasons Warm Beach Camp has ever seen. Tickets are selling out, donuts are flying off the shelves, and the retail tent is running to keep up with the demand. One Saturday night a volunteer named Ron was helping a guest at the end of the event. A man in his 60s pulled in and began asking Ron ...

Photo by Brittani Burns on Unsplash Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. Lamentations 3:23 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/lam.3.23.NLT This morning was a beautiful time with God. He met with me in the early morning hours around a warming fire and a cup of dark roast coffee. In prayer and reflection, God showed me His faithfulness in my life. He led me to a view point where all I see is His faithfulness. To be sure, there is much ...

On countless starry nights, or warm summer days, happy, chattering groups of Warm Beach Camp guests have spilled out of the doors of the Program Center and into the courtyard. After a night of worship, or a day of spiritual renewal, people gather in groups and catch up on life, what they learned, and what is to come. These conversations are just as much about the ministry of Camp as are the sermons and songs. Inevitably these conversations go on ...

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 NLT Jesus Christ provides the strength to endure hard things. We don’t have to look any further than the cross, death, and resurrection of Jesus to recognize that no one has endured more. Jesus endured all sin for everyone. I am overwhelmed by my own sin. The thought of carrying the sin of the world is staggering to consider. It is completely beyond you and me. He ...

Photo by Kristopher Roller on Unsplash "The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” Exodus 14:14 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/exo.14.14.NLT  I have come to understand in the human experience there are the “Just before” moments that tend to call into question everything that is about to happen: Just before the wedding, a nervous bride or groom thinks or says “should I really be doing this?” Just before opening or expanding a ministry or business, there can be a wave of ...

I love to garden. Shrubs, flowers, trees – I love the shapes and colors, the textures and fragrances of each one and how they come together to make surprising and unexpected beauty. Being in my garden feeds my soul. But gardens need care – weeding, pruning, dividing, and transplanting occur frequently. It’s part of the deal – part of the joy – at least most of the time. When it comes to pruning and moving and removing, I am often ...

Photo by Rod Long on Unsplash So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. -Hebrews 4:16 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/heb.4.16.NLT Take time to listen to these words. Read, speak and own them. These words are for you and me. So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us ...

To see Warm Beach Camp empty at a time of year when it would normally be flooded with guests and campers is an odd sight. The past four months at the Camp have been challenging to say the least. Camp staff have made drastic adjustments at work to adapt to government requirements and the lack of revenue the Camp is experiencing. But, in all of this we have seen God’s blessing and provision every day. The blessings come in big ...