CAMPING VS GLAMPING
How do you feel about camping? Most people are either hot or cold about it. I want to talk about Camping vs. Glamping, but my meaning of Glamping is Camping with God. Both of these were around even way back to the time of the Israelites. Look at the book of Joshua, we can see where they were camped in Acacia Grove prior to Joshua leading them to cross the Jordan River.
Let’s talk Acacia Grove for a minute.
· ACACIA GROVE: The Greek translation of Acacia is the word shittum. Look at the phonetic spelling of shittum. SHIT-TEEM.
I don’t know about you ladies, but I know there have been many times in my life when I found myself into deep SHIT-TEEM
· Now, this word shares the same word origin as shotet. The definition of shotet is scourge (skerj).
· Slowly, and thoughtfully, read the definition of the word Scourge: A place or thing causing great trouble or suffering.
The Israelites were camped in a place or thing causing great trouble or suffering.
What no one realizes is the fact that almost every single one of us is camping somewhere emotionally from day to day. Some of us even get stuck camping in an emotional place we can’t get ourselves out of. Much like the Israelites many of us, especially women, have remained in a place or held onto a thing causing us great trouble or suffering. Statistics show that 8.7% of women suffer with depression. Something happens either in a career situation or a relational situation that literally hits us like an uppercut to the gut. We begin to lose sight of who we are. We begin to forget how loved we truly are. These are two very powerful attachments the enemy uses to strengthen his weapon of depression. The enemy skillset at using this weapon usually is dependent upon how high or low a person’s faith tank level is.
The great news is in the Good News of Jesus. The Lord, our Savior, has outlined in his Word that He will always send a helper when ours is low, the Holy Spirit. Our biggest hurdle as believers is seeing the Holy Spirit in the earthly bodies, He presents himself through. One of the greatest examples of this found in Ruth. Naomi, a woman who had great strength and much hope while her son and husband were both still alive found herself alone and unsure of what laid ahead for her. She eventually would believe there was nothing ahead for her but loneliness and struggle; because of this she would attempt to send her daughters-in-law away from her. God had already commissioned a helper in life for her through her daughter in law, Ruth. Ruth’s words to Naomi are so Spirit-filled and reflect God’s greatest commandment to us all, love one another as I have loved you.
But Ruth replied, “Do not ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish e severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to with her, she said nothing more. So, the two of them continued on their journey.
It’s in the last places we look that we found what we needed. It’s in the places furthest from our mind that God uses to bring us to a new place, and it is the people we never expected that the Holy Spirit walks in with.
You may need to be still and say a simple prayer asking the Father Almighty to help you in your situation. Trust me, He will send you what you need, when, how and through whom you need.
*NAMES CHANGED FOR PRIVACY*
Naomi 2021: I am just trying to come to terms with I will die alone. I don’t know how to get back to being me without that. There nothing anyone can say or do, this is just how things are for me. Appreciate it, but there is no hope or help for me.
Ruth 2021: But God.
Naomi 2021: No, it’s fine. There is no hope or help for me. You can leave, I’ve heard it all before.
Ruth 2021: But God. Do not ask me to leave you and terever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish e severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!”
Naomi 2022: (with God) “I have to say I have not felt this content in a long time. It’s not the carpet, it’s what it represents and it’s knowing how loved I am and remembering/coming back to all the good things that God has made me and given me. You told me once not too long ago something to the effect of, I want that Naomi back; I don’t necessarily need to be or want the old Naomi back, but I get the intent of that message and I’m getting there.
**After months of prayer by many, soul searching by Naomi and the unwavering love of God and those who love her. A simple act of replacing carpet showed God's hand reaching for her to Naomi herself.
Thank you, Jesus, only you.
Are you ready to go Glamping?