Do We Accept What We are Offered?

Christ's Banquet Table

Hey guys. I set this post up about a month and a half ago. I hope you guys are having a good Thanksgiving Break and that you are having fun seeing your families and all that good stuff. This post came from the awesome folks over at creativeyouthideas.com. It's perfect for this special time, so hope you reading and take it in well.

Imagine that you have been invited to Thanksgiving dinner at the home of the richest man in the world. You pull up a chair at a table two football fields long that's piled high with so much turkey, dressing, potatoes, bread, carrot cake, pumpkin pie, mixed vegetables, milk, and anything else you can think of that the table is about to break under the load. Your host tells you to take your fill of anything you see.

Thank you very much,' you say. 'Might I please have half a cranberry?'

Your astonished friend nearly chokes on a candied yam and replies,
'Please have all you would like. That's why I invited you! You're hungry, and here is everything you need to get full.'

'Thank you so very much,' you say. 'Perhaps I will have a sip of water.'

Ridiculous, we say. Who would ever act like that? If it were us, we'd gobble up so much food they'd have to use a bulldozer to move us out.

Why is it, then, that when it comes to getting full spiritually, we settle for a half a cranberry?

Paul doesn't want that for us, and in this passage he reminds us that in Christ we have all we need to be all that God wants us to be.

Not infrequently you'll come across people who say either in word or deed that their lives are impoverished. Sometimes, remarkably, you'll find a believer who for some reason is looking for something else.
He is not satisfied. She is not filled full.

Remember: The extent to which you need something else to fill you full is the extent to which you find Christ deficient. If you find Christ deficient, then you have found something in contradiction of Scripture, which says that in Christ all the fullness of Deity resides in bodily form.

We've got to decide, Is it true that in Christ we have all that we need?

You'll find in the church today many people propagating all kinds of things that believers 'need.' Not infrequently these things that Christians 'need' have exceedingly tenuous connections to Christ, 'in whom all
fullness dwells.' As soon as someone tells you that you need this, that, and the other thing, ask yourself, Is this in any way diverting my attention from Christ? Is there any sense in which this is perverting the gospel of Christ, which tells me all fullness is in him? If I get into this
particular thing, will it in any way subvert the authority of Christ in my life?

Beware! Scripture declares that in Christ is all fullness, and if you are related to him, you have been given all fullness. We don't need something super-added, extra-plus to Christ. What we need is to daily
discover all that we already have in him.

How much have you eaten off of Christ's banquet table? How full are you?"

Ride out the Storms

Hey guys. Hope everyone's Friday is going well. I found this devotion Wednesday while I was under weather lock-down at Southern Poly and figured it fit the bill pretty well. The storm that hit Marietta was so bad that it actually wiped out all the wifi in the entire area, so I didn't get a chance to post this then. But here it is now! So, I hope you enjoy this message from cbn.com

Do you see the storm clouds on the horizon of your life? Do you know that the Rescuer waits to take your hand so that you are not blown away? There are so many trials, problems, and chaos in families. You shake your head, throw up your hands, and the only prayer you can really utter is “Help, Lord!”

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9, NIV).

Obeying the above Scripture is not always an easy task. Like powerful winds that shake your house, you can feel uneasy and begin to tire just from the anxiety of the unknown. That is what it feels like in the daily hassles of life. Where is the peace and rest? It is under the shadow of the Almighty. He is the secret place, that shelter from all the storms.

When storms are raging in your life, you must grab a hold of The Rock—that is Jesus. He is your refuge, your shelter, the only secure, safe place. He is the bright ray of sunshine in any storm that comes your way.

Think of the enemy as the storm and you are a ship out at sea in the whirlwind of the storm. You are being tossed by the waves, which represent anything that is thrown at you to bring you turmoil. You see a light ahead from the lighthouse, who is Jesus your Rescuer, to guide you to safety. You begin to sense the calm inside of you. The fear leaves, and you have the needed hope to weather this storm and reach your destination. There is no other way to safety. You can’t fight the storms of life without the help of the Lord. He shows you the way. He provides the Holy Spirit for comfort.

Your life might be smooth sailing, but then there might be those who try to make it rough waters. Don’t let any kind of storm rock your boat. Call on the Lord for strength and support. Remind yourself that He is the Captain of your ship.

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you. “O afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted, I will build you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with sapphires. I will make your battlements of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones” (Isaiah 54:10-12, NIV).

Are you a Zealot?

Hey everybody. Hope you had a good start to your week this Monday. I know it's tough to go back to school, but just hang in there, Thanksgiving break is just around the corner. For now, here is a message from Lindsey Berndt at youthsource.com. It's a message about service, which is something that is very near and dear to my heart. I hope it has an impact to you, too.

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Romans 12:11

This stinks. Another well planned event with only two kids. Another night of trying to do a Bible study and 75% of your time is spent telling the kids to pay attention or quiet down. Another time when a member of the congregation cornered you about having the youth work at a dinner they're planning another dinner to help with!

All of this work and what is it really for? My heart is a heart of service, a heart for people. That's why I do what I do.

Then why does it seem like it's so hard to serve others?

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Romans 12:11

So many times I find myself needing to refocus. I get so pumped up thinking about doing God's work, but these tough/frustrating situations challenge me. I have to remind that my time in youth ministry is for God; it is for serving Him and serving Him with zeal. When frustrating or challenging things happen, praise God!

Those two kids who came to that well planned event will appreciate that they didn't show up for nothing and your genuine excitement that they showed up will stay with them. That 25% of your Bible Study that students actually heard could impact and speak volumes to a hurting/healing heart. The selflessness of the youth group and the eagerness to serve at any church event might impress those potential church members coming to events.

Zeal is enthusiastic devotion to a cause or a person, and then following through with it! Paul is telling us to be zealots when it comes to serving the Lord. Let us move forward in our youth ministry programs with zeal. Form a team of zealots for youth ministry. See where God takes you.

Prayer -

Lord, take away my frustrations. Renew and refresh my heart. Help me to serve you with enthusiasm and joy. Help me to be an example to the youth of my congregation. I love you. Amen.