Generation Next Should Be On Now

Yesterday we were blessed to have another successful Youth Sunday at our church. Our children and teens led the worship and a couple even brought the Word. It was so encouraging to see the kids giving God praise in their own way.

A lot of churches have some sort of Youth Sunday or even Youth Church where the young people lead the service once a month or even their own services on a weekly basis. I think, however, that we should encourage the youth to lead alongside the adults. Not only will it help encourage and strengthen the young people's faith, but it will help the older generation get a fresh outlook as well.

We all have something to learn from each other. And the young people can add to the mix as well. I think a lot of young people are leaving the church because they don't feel that their opinion is valued or wanted.

The older generation has to loosen up the reigns and let the young people in. We shouldn't be running everything. And, if we've trained them up in the right way, we can trust that they will lead accordingly.

Yeah, their tempo may be a bit faster than we'd like. And, yes, they may not dress as traditionally as we would prefer. But, if their message is Christ and their presentation holy, who are we to stop their praise?

There's something about watching a young person who is truly in love with God participate in worship... We all need to see that on a more regular basis. The young people who fill the pews need to see that more than once a month. Teens need to see adults enter into the presence of God at their lead.

We cannot ignore and neglect the upcoming generation. We have to embrace them and include them fully in order to keep them in the church. Plus, they have some wisdom we can glean from them as well. The prophet himself said that in the last days a little child would lead us. (Isaiah 11:6) We all need to be reminded of the power of child-like faith.

Verse of the Day: But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 19:14

Thanksgiving Friday!

Well, saints... We made it to the end of another week. So thankful! God certainly has been good this week.

This week I'm thankful to be back in school. I am proud that I'm making the effort to get some more knowledge. This class is proving to be a challenge already. I have so much to do! Reading, watching lectures, reading, writing discussion boards... did I say reading?

But thank God that He's given me such a remarkable mind! I can and will get an A in this class! Thank you, Lord, for giving me the ability to do it!

I am also thankful for inspiration. I have been mulling over some things this week, and God is bringing up some projects that He's given me to do. I'm listening to His voice. Gotta keep moving forward. I can't go backwards or stand still.

Thank you, Father, for reminding me about your purpose for me. I give you praise for Your words to me on this week. I'm going to do it!

Lastly, I'm thankful for health and strength. Too many people are sick around me. People are coughing and sniffing. There was even a couple of cases of pink eye in the school this week. However, they may fall on my right or my left, but I won't fall with them!

I have remained healthy and strong, and I am covered by the blood of Jesus. Sickness will not come near my dwelling place. Thank you, Jesus, for bearing those stripes so I can stay whole.

What are you thankful for this week? What has God done for you? Send up the praise!

Verse of the Day: And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Colossians 3:15

Still Good

God is good!

God is good all the time. And all the time God is good.

Despite what's going on in my life right now, I take comfort that through it all God's goodness is shining through.

The Israelites were slaves to the Egyptians, yet the Lord blessed their numbers to increase to the point where Pharaoh was threatened. When they were travelling in the wilderness, God sent countless miracles, fed them out of thin air, and caused them to be victorious over every enemy that crossed their path.

Despite how it seemed that they were down and out, God was still good.

When Esther was orphaned, she was left to her cousin Mordecai who took care of her as his own. Then, she was stolen away to become a part of the king's audition for a new queen. God allowed her beauty (and quite possibly her intelligence as well) to make her stand out from the impressive group of women. Esther was chosen to be queen, and was in the right place to save her people.

In spite of how her life twisted and turned, God was still good.

Daniel was taken as a hostage from his homeland. He was brought to a foreign place and forced to take on a foreign culture as his own. Still God allowed Daniel's wisdom and comeliness to give him a place in the king's palace. Even when Daniel faced having to surrender his religious practices, God granted Daniel favor with those over him. Daniel received special treatment because of his devotion to the Lord. And, because of Daniel's continued devotion to the Father, he moved up to one of the highest positions in that kingdom.

No matter that Daniel's entire world was taken from him, God was still good.

So, what's going on with you? What has turned your world topsy-turvy?

Are you still recognizing God's goodness in the midst of it all?

Or are you just focusing on the negative?

Just some thoughts for you as you go about your day.

Verse of the Day: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. Psalm 23:6

Afternoon Ti: Hidden for a Purpose

I am by no means a huge Tyler Perry fan... but you cannot deny that the man is successful at what he does. I came across this video in my daily reading today and was blessed by what was shared.

We don't always know the big picture, and God may have us hidden for a reason. The Israelites were blatantly underestimated by their enemies and were able to destroy Jericho as a result. Don't think delay is denial! God has you on course for something great!

Thanks, Tyler, for the inspiration...

Impact

When I was in elementary school, probably around 5th or 6th grade, we had an assembly where a woman came to speak to our school. I went to a Christian school, so this woman's angle was spiritual. I don't remember exactly what she talked about or how her presentation went. I do remember her altar call.

She had us stand and spoke words about the love of God. Then she prayed for us as we stood. I just remember feeling the presence of God to the point where tears started flowing down my cheeks. When we opened our eyes, my friends saw that I had been crying, and a couple asked what was wrong. They hadn't felt what I had felt, and I couldn't form my emotion into words.

All I knew was that I had felt the hand of God, and I wanted to have that kind of impact on other people in the same way.

Yesterday I talked about being the change that you seek. When thinking about how you want to impact the world, just consider what has impacted you. If that person hadn't said what they spoke to you, started the program that engaged you, or ministered to you in your time of need, how would your life be different?

I want to be able to make a difference in the life of a young person. I want to be a vehicle God can use to bring His touch to the heart of a teen. Even if all I reach is one soul, that is one soul whose heart will be changed for the better.

Take some time today to consider those people who have made impressions on your life that changed you for the better. As you appreciate their contribution to your existence, think about whether someone can have those same admirable thoughts about you. Can anyone say that they are better because of how you impacted them?

Verse of the Day: And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works... Hebrews 10:24

Be The Change

What is God showing you?

There's a saying: Be the change you seek. It should be my life's mantra.

Everywhere I look, there are so many things that I see that could be done better, more effectively, more creatively... I have so much that I would like to see improved, implemented, and invented.

I just have to get it through my skull that just thinking about something will not bring about results. I have to put some action with my thoughts.

One of the highlights of my life is a youth event that I started when I was a senior in high school. I wanted to have a night where different youth groups came together and presented their gifts in the arts to the Lord. For about five years I was blessed to see those nights happen on a yearly basis. Our church was packed with young people who came together to praise God. To this day, I still get requests on starting back the youth nights.

This all began because I had a neat idea. I saw something that I wanted to be happening in reality. But I didn't just sit and think on it. I acted on it, put in a lot of work, and saw God move. I became the change that I envisioned.

What things do you see around you that you would like changed? What can you do about them? Scratch that. What is stopping you from doing something about them? If the answer is merely yourself, you need to get up and be the change!

Let's go out and make this world a better place today!

Verse of the Day: Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee... For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:6a, 7

Heartbreak

Last week I ran across the story of Amber Cole. I couldn't bear to watch the actual video, but the stills did enough to shake me. My heart broke seeing how this young girl - and the young boys around her, for that matter - were being so casual and blase' about what was going on. These kids were outside on school property!

So, now it's plastered all over the Internet for anyone willing to watch. And people are going in on this little girl. I mean, they are attacking her as if she is a grown woman. This child is 14!

If that wasn't enough, the follow up pleas from supposed friends or just sympathetic people also raised my eyebrows. They insisted that she had done nothing wrong, and did not deserve the onslaught of criticism and derisive comments she was enduring.

So, of course I had to have a talk with my teen ministry about what was going on. We've had talks about sexual promiscuity before, but this conversation was a bit more real. Folks, our young people are not seeing their value and self-worth. Some of the things we would have never done so casually, these kids are doing the first time they hang out. It's one step over making out to them.

Young girls are thinking that they are saving their virginity, but are still performing oral sex. They don't see the big deal. They don't recognize what's so wrong.

And our young boys... like the Amber Cole video so sadly depicted, if they can get it... They will take it.

I had a true heart-to-heart with my teens. And I'm glad to know that I'm in touch with them enough to know that they are not engaging in such reckless behavior that is not pleasing to the Lord. However, they represent a small sample of our youth population at large.

There are more Amber Cole's out there. There are more young boys who are willing to take advantage of a situation. There are many young people who don't see what the big deal is.

Saints, we cannot sit silent. We cannot sit back and just shake our heads in judgment. We have to go and talk to them, mentor them, show them their value and worth. We have to be that light that will help them to think of how God sees them, how they should see themselves, and how the world sees them.

It's all of our responsibilities to help better the world around us. The Christ in us has to stand up and show our young people a better way.

Verse of the Day: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1