Love

1 John 4:7-8   Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has beenborn of God and knows God.  Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Love. It’s been a recurring theme in my Bible study over the past few months. Whenever something shows up repeatedly but totally unplanned in my study time, I know God is preparing me for something. Sure enough, over the past couple of months, multiple challenges to my faith and my peace have come crashing into my life like a bull in a china shop! Many times I’ve felt like I was in the midst of a great battle dodging arrows coming from all around me (sometimes laser beams, depending on how recently I’d watched some sci-fi). In the midst of it all, there was a constant reminder that I’m to love people, and that I actually do love people! That no matter what’s tossed at me (or lobbed like a grenade!), I’m to rise above that hate and respond with love.

It’s sometimes, okay, OFTEN times, difficult to respond to hate with love (and let’s face it, we Christians are HATED). It’s hard to turn the other cheek, to utter a word of encouragement to someone who’s constantly trying to tear you down, to lend a helping hand to one who tries to sabotage you. It’s just plain hard to do! But that’s why it’s important! We are strengthened not by those things in life that come easily to us, but by those things that cause us to struggle, fight, and work hard. That’s how we grow.

So, what am I doing with all of these recent challenges and frustrations? I’m loving my way through it because God has given me the strength to do it! If the Creator of the universe, the Father of all, can love me-a strong-willed (that’s a nice way of saying stubborn), opinionated, mouthy girl with a bit of a temper who fails Him every single day, multiple times a day, then surely I can love that annoying and somewhat hostile classmate, coworker, family member, etc. 

Christmas Hope!

#msccyouth

My niece texted me her Christmas wish list last night. It held the typical things an 18 year old female would be interested in-clothes, cash, a new purse, cash, a couple of movie options, cash, some technology, cash, car accessories, and cash (do we notice a theme here?).  At the very bottom of the list, however, was something that surprised me. She had typed, “Oh…and maybe a little bit of hope that I get through my first year of adulthood in one piece. Do they bottle that? LOL” This was a continuation from a previous conversation, but it really struck me.   

Hope. That’s what the single most important young person in my life (sorry youth group kids! ☺) wants for Christmas. I thought about this for quite a while, until it finally occurred to me, I can’t give her that. I can’t give her Hope that everything will be okay. I can’t give her Hope that the world will someday be a better place. I can’t give her Hope that kindness, love, and light will flood her world.  And this makes me heartsick.  

BUT (and here’s the good part!) I can show her the One that can!! I can tell her about the baby born of a miracle, laid in a manager, and worshipped by shepherds. I can tell her of the child He became who taught in the temple. I can tell her of the man He was who taught, healed, and loved. I can tell her of the savior He is. Of the sacrifice He made to bring Hope to us all. That I CAN do. 

Sharing that HOPE is something that everyone can do! No matter your age, no matter where you are, no matter your gifts. Sharing the hope we’ve found in Christ is one of life’s simplest joys. It’s in the way we live out every minute of our day. It’s in the way we view our future and in the plans we make.

I’ve always viewed Christmas as the season of HOPE and have decided that this year, my gift to one and all is to make sure that I’m sharing the HOPE I’ve found in Christ. Who’s going to join me?

Thank You!

“Thank you”. A two word phrase. Pretty simple to say. It can even be shortened to “Thanks”, for those times when saying two words is just too difficult. It’s one of the first phrases parents teach their children. Most of us can even say it in different languages- Merci, Gracias, Danke, Grazie, I could go on…but I won’t. Most of us say it out of habit, a reflexive response to something. 

That being said, I have a few observations I’d like to share. I work with a lot of young people in various stages of life and sometime ago I observed that as the kids get older, the less often I hear the words “Thank you” coming from their mouths. Upon further observation, I noticed that even less often were those words actually meant.  So I began watching family interactions and saw that this behavior is reflected within the family too. The older the kids get, the less often the words “thank you” are used by their parents and the less meaningful those “thank you”s are. I need to tell you parents out there, kids recognize when you are being false with them. They can tell that that “Thank you” wasn’t genuine. They can tell that you weren’t really engaged with them when you said it. They can tell when it’s an automatic response with no meaning behind it. They can tell. 

And kids (especially teens!), parents can tell when you’re being false with them too (gasp!). They can tell when that “thanks” was just an automatic response. They can tell when you’re not really engaged with them and you’re just going through the motions. They can tell. 

Likewise, God can tell when we’re being false with Him. He can tell when we’re really thankful, and when we’re just going through the motions because it’s what we’re “supposed to do”.  He can tell! 

I’m not saying that we’re never genuine in our thanks, but maybe we’re not genuine enough in our thanks often enough. It’s difficult to be thankful in the little things when they are often overshadowed by such big, bad, scary, and sad things.  It’s a challenge, however, that we as Christians are called to accept! 1 Thessalonians 5:15 tells us Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 

So, as we go through this holiday season, here’s my challenge to you: SAY THANK YOU AND MEAN IT! A habit is developed by repeating the desired behavior for at least a consecutive 28 days. So let’s make it a habit to say a meaningful “Thank you” even in the smallest things. Let’s start first and foremost by developing that habit with God. Doesn’t He deserve our utmost and heartfelt “Thank you” every minute of every day? So let’s make sure that we’re working on developing a thankful heart and expressing it to Him daily. Parents, remember that you’re children (no matter how old they are) are watching you and learning from you. The example you set in having a truly thankful heart is the example your children will follow.  Young people, developing and maintaining a thankful heart is a lifelong journey. Start cultivating that heart now and it will follow you through life.

 Relationships are improved when genuine gratitude is expressed.  You are never too young or too old to show Christ to our world. And it all starts with being thankful for Him and the blessings He’s given you. Even in the midst of the storm, there are reasons to be thankful!

Thank you all!

Time Management!

Time management! Yup, that’s a weakness lately. Normally, I’m pretty good about balancing my time-work, church, school, family, social life, and personal God time- but lately…well, lately, it’s been a struggle.  Some days there just aren’t enough hours in the day to get accomplished all that I think I need too. Those are the days I open my calendar and then quickly shut it because I’m immediately overwhelmed!  This past Sunday, I simply had had enough! I opened my calendar and quickly slammed it shut and then I did what I should’ve done long before now-I prayed! That’s right folks, I prayed over my calendar. When it was all said and done, I realized that there were just too many things going on in that book (yes, I’m old school and keep an actual paper calendar!) So, I took the time to prioritize. The first thing I did was schedule my alone time with God. For some that sounds silly, but since He’s my FIRST priority, I made sure that He is in my book-after all, I definitely want to be in His book!

You’re probably asking yourself “What does this have to do with the youth at Main Street?” Well, ladies and gentleman, it has EVERYTHING to do with the youth!  As adults, we often get bogged down with all of those things that WE think we need to do and put God and church on the back burner.  It’s a lesson that we are teaching our children. They see us putting off church attendance because we have things that HAVE to be done TODAY-sending the message that church isn’t a big priority. Do they see you spending time in Gods word? Do you talk to them about God, about something you’ve studied recently, about what they’re studying? In short, where’s God in your household schedule? Is He in your book?