Though Sunday, Jan 22nd marked the 39th anniversary of the 1973 Roe v. Wade verdict around 3,500 people stood at the steps of the Capitol to rally for life in the second March for Life. Among them were the 11 of us from Holden Baptist. With signs taped to our shirts we walked to the capitol with the rest of the 3,500+.
Some of our signs read:
“Smile! Your Mom Chose Life!”
“Thanks Mom!”
“Dad For Life”
“If You Can Read This Be Glad You Weren’t Aborted”
“A Person Is A Person No Matter How Small”
“…because everyone deserves a birthday”
“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart. – Jeremiah 1:5”
“FORGIVENESS…If we confess our sins He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness – 1 John 1:9”
“He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her
Yeah I forgot that we took pictures of the New Years party at the house. We invited the seniors from the youth group over to celebrate the New Year with us. Check out the pictures.
This past week our youth attended REV Conference 2012. We had an amazing time and walk away from the conference with so much. Friday we entered into worship, which by the way was amazing. No help from the Explorers, lol! Long story if you have no idea what I’m talking about. Then Adam Roth took the stage to bring the message of how A.D.D. is okay, lol! Just kidding that wasn’t what his message was on but he did claim to be a black belt in A.D.D. From my view, he mastered it! Adam is a great guy, definitely in love with Christ as he brought his message on the Father’s love. If anything stuck, it was his story at the end with a father and a troubled teenage son, Micah. I’d love to share it with anyone that wants to hear it or you could ask one of the youth. Or I may post it later.
Saturday students gathered back together to get breakfast at Mcadee’s and get juiced up on “Christian Crack”. Calm down! We’re talking about coffee, no body wanted to be a zombie walking around.
The day was full of worship, morning speaker Trey Major, several break out sessions, evening speaker Adam Roth and don’t forget food.
I attended a Leadership Breakout-Class with a few of our youth that hit home for me as minister of youth. I thought I was the only one that had trouble motivating people but as a leader it encouraged me to not give up because Christ doesn’t give up on us.
We also attended a Discipleship class and a Creative Arts class which were both very good.
There’s a lot we can do in our church, from programs, ministries, service, etc. But if we don’t have love it’s all pointless.
Accept the Love of the Father
And spread that love to others.
Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
Well the ministry has been packed, coming out of the holidays and into January full steam. January's events are non stop: 5th Quarters, Youth Conferences, March for Life and the beginning of the GOSPEL Journey. Seems like every weekend is full….wait it is, lol! But something just hasn't felt right. Is it the new year or is it that we've become too relaxed? I'm not quite sure what it is but I believe God wants to shake us up a little.
Today I read a devotion by Oswald Chambers on obedience.
"If we obey God, it is going to cost other people more than it costs us, and that is where the pain begins. If we are in love with our Lord, obedience does not cost us anything— it is a delight." Oswald Chambers http://www.utmost.org/Jan 11, 2012
Do we find delight in obeying the Lord? The scripture with this devotion came from Luke 23.
Luke As the led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon…, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus.
To carry Jesus' cross, if you stop and think about this it's emotional. Take Simon's place for a moment: Pulled from a crowd by the soldiers, you're friends and family stand there devastated as the cross is placed on your back. Beside you is the Savior of the world, beaten and determined to go on He looks at you... I wonder what Simon was thinking? Was he worried about his family? His life? Wonder if he had the thought that he was helping crucify Jesus by delivering the cross? Or do you think he found peace and joy in carrying the cross for the Savior Jesus Christ as he brought glory to God through his obedience? I'll never know what was going through his mind but I imagine his life changed forever.
2 Corinthians "….a new creation in Christ..."
What about our life? Has it changed forever? I wonder why we get comfortable sometimes; like we've taken carrying the cross and put it on cruise control or maybe placed it in a wheel barrow to make the load lighter. However you can think of it its like we become relaxed and we've made it easier. This reminded me of this cartoon illustration below.
Mark Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me."
Endure the Cross and know God finds glory in our obedience. Don't make it comfortable so it pleases you and others, do it for God our creator.
Oswald finished his devotion with:
"We can disobey God if we choose, and it will bring immediate relief to the situation, but it will grieve our Lord. If, however, we obey God, He will care for those who have suffered the consequences of our obedience. We must simply obey and leave all the consequences with Him."
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.
Psalms 34:14
But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, “You are my God!”
