Today i was reading Philippians Chapter 3. This is a familiar portion of the bible in that (v. 14) is my life verse. As I was reading I thought myself about how the bible, the entire book is a love letter written by God to us.
Amidst all the hectic-ness of life, the emails, the cell phones, our daily work, isn't it awesome to know that we have a love letter from God that we can open at any time? I too, like many of us, tend to shift my bible reading to the back burner. Yet anytime I pick it up and read, i always gain new insight from it.
Here's an example. About a week ago, I was going through some old books and came across a bible that was given to me by my grandmother in 1987 (I was 14 years old). The bible was large, and as I picked it up I remembered that I wrote some things in it. As I hurried through the front index I came across a prayer that I had written to myself and a note that my grandmother had written to me. It was so cool. i had forgotten that both of these writings were there, and now 21 years later here I was sobbing at the memories this prayer brought back.
I continued reading and saw some scripture that I had underlined, and a red felt cross that was given to me at Vacation Bible School that year. Once again within this love letter there was so much that God had led me to do, and little did I know how awesome it would be to hold that bible open again and read something I and my grandmother had written.
Sadly my grandmother is no longer with me, but that memory that warm fuzzy feeling inside washed over me. Philippians 3:12 states, "Not that i have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me".
The bible is our love letter, our road map when things are not as they should be.
May God Bless your week, and Heaven Smile on you!
PJ
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
To Be Without
What an amazing week we had in youth ministry. We just completed a 30 hour Famine, wherein over 100 teens gathered, prayed and Fasted from Food. In addition teens raised money to benfit World Hope, and organization that cares for the Homeless and Hungry.
I was utterly humbled at the dedication and determination the teens of Crossroads and GAPP had to this cause. At one point i walked into the foyer and realized that many of ouor youth had invited their friends, and they too fasted for the day.
My prayer has been that this generation catches hold to causes such as this. Ones that will help them identify with those less fortunate and not only that but be willing to pray for those who are suffering in various ways.
God is ever faithful and as We have shared in youth each week, he will help you overcome any obstacles that you may see in your way. So if you are reading this and thinkinghow can help build god's kingdom, know that he has a place for you. At CWC that is what we are about, "Knowing God and Making Him Known". As our youth are catching ahold of that vision, are you?
Have an awesome and blessed week!
PJ
I was utterly humbled at the dedication and determination the teens of Crossroads and GAPP had to this cause. At one point i walked into the foyer and realized that many of ouor youth had invited their friends, and they too fasted for the day.
My prayer has been that this generation catches hold to causes such as this. Ones that will help them identify with those less fortunate and not only that but be willing to pray for those who are suffering in various ways.
God is ever faithful and as We have shared in youth each week, he will help you overcome any obstacles that you may see in your way. So if you are reading this and thinkinghow can help build god's kingdom, know that he has a place for you. At CWC that is what we are about, "Knowing God and Making Him Known". As our youth are catching ahold of that vision, are you?
Have an awesome and blessed week!
PJ
Monday, January 7, 2008
Set Apart
A Generation on Fire for God
Beyond the moment
Becoming like Christ
These phrases may seem foreign to you, but I believe they are a reality for many teens right now. I had the awesome opportunity to attend the International Wesleyan youth festival with 23 teens from CWC. What I saw among this generation greatly encouraged me. They were challenged to be Set Apart in Purpose, Purity, and Lifestyle and many of them took the challenge.
In 2008 when you have the sad train wreck that is the life of Brittany Spears, how refreshing is it that there are teens out there (more than we think) that want something more for their lives. They want to stand for the only thing that is true. A relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
I shared with the teens that what they felt at this conference is more than a High, it is Jesus Christ working in you. That very phrase is the focus of a book that many of the teens picked up called, "More than a High" (see Pastor Jason's Pick's).
We all need a little pruning when it comes to our spiritual walk. Whether it be school, work, or just life in general sometimes we let things get in the way of our relationship with God. With all the things going on in this world, just as the teens were challenged, I believe that we need to set ourselves apart. Be the people that Leviticus 20: 7-8 talks about. Set apart to be holy! I am seeing this in many of the teens that I am around every day. This encourages me when I see all the bad that the world says are characteristic of all teens. Well, I disagree, there is a remnant. the true and the Faithful, and the Holy Spirit will pour out his blessings on them giving them the strength to reach a generation.
That my friends is a work of Our Great God, and it is truly something to celebrate. So you ask yourself how can I come alongside those teens that are making such commitments to live a Holy Life? Prayer!
And with that and more of what I saw in Orlando Florida from teens around the world, "The kids are gonna be alright"!
May God Bless you and Heaven Smile on You!
Pastor Jason
Beyond the moment
Becoming like Christ
These phrases may seem foreign to you, but I believe they are a reality for many teens right now. I had the awesome opportunity to attend the International Wesleyan youth festival with 23 teens from CWC. What I saw among this generation greatly encouraged me. They were challenged to be Set Apart in Purpose, Purity, and Lifestyle and many of them took the challenge.
In 2008 when you have the sad train wreck that is the life of Brittany Spears, how refreshing is it that there are teens out there (more than we think) that want something more for their lives. They want to stand for the only thing that is true. A relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
I shared with the teens that what they felt at this conference is more than a High, it is Jesus Christ working in you. That very phrase is the focus of a book that many of the teens picked up called, "More than a High" (see Pastor Jason's Pick's).
We all need a little pruning when it comes to our spiritual walk. Whether it be school, work, or just life in general sometimes we let things get in the way of our relationship with God. With all the things going on in this world, just as the teens were challenged, I believe that we need to set ourselves apart. Be the people that Leviticus 20: 7-8 talks about. Set apart to be holy! I am seeing this in many of the teens that I am around every day. This encourages me when I see all the bad that the world says are characteristic of all teens. Well, I disagree, there is a remnant. the true and the Faithful, and the Holy Spirit will pour out his blessings on them giving them the strength to reach a generation.
That my friends is a work of Our Great God, and it is truly something to celebrate. So you ask yourself how can I come alongside those teens that are making such commitments to live a Holy Life? Prayer!
And with that and more of what I saw in Orlando Florida from teens around the world, "The kids are gonna be alright"!
May God Bless you and Heaven Smile on You!
Pastor Jason
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