2022 Year-End Devotion from Lydia Darden

Christmas is such a joyous time. However, before the birth of Christ, His people were calling out and crying out for the Messiah to come and deliver them. After many years of waiting for their Savior, His people started to lose their hope and faith. When would the Messiah come? They grew bitter. God chose a young girl to become the mother of the Savior. Though it was incomprehensible to her at the time. This, of course, was Mary. Biblical names often have significant meaning to who that person will become or the purpose that person is given to fulfill. "Mary" means “bitter.” Mary was given the gift to bring Christ into the world and heal the bitterness of His people. The past couple of years with the reality of covid; life changed, group gatherings changed and the atmosphere at Green Pastures shifted. Green Pastures felt the silence of camps not on the grounds and hoped for a "normal" that would hopefully come back again. God placed my family and me here at the end of April and we walked into a season that has become full of hope and harvest. As I was cleaning one of the many toilets here at GP, God laid on my heart that I am here for a purpose. My name, Lydia, biblically means “woman of purple." God spoke over me in parallel to Lydia in the Bible that I am a host inviting people into her home to have a place to find sanctuary with Him. What a gift! What a gift to have such a purpose to meet others and allow them to find sanctuary on His land here at Green Pastures. What a gift to have people coming out to camp on the weekends during the Spring, Summer, and Fall months. What a gift that God is bringing Green Pastures a season of harvest after such uncertainty in the world. I am certain of God's leadership at GP and as the words of Bud Groat, “It (GP) is serving its purpose. We just want to see more people come to Christ.” Since our family moved here, we have seen lives changed. People have come to Christ here, surrendered their lives to the ministry, and found respite, healing, and sanctuary in God’s presence. Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of a perfect child who would one day be the perfect Savior. This year as I celebrate His birth, I celebrate His vision for Green Pastures. I celebrate the selflessness of the Groats and all of the volunteers that have worked, and continually work, to allow His kingdom to grow through Green Pastures. Thank you for being a part of His church. Thank you for your prayers, gifts, and time here at GP. Merry Christmas and may your New Year bring you a harvest as well.

— Lydia Darden, Camp Host

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11