Warrior Dash 2012: We Are Warriors!

Stopped at Subway in Livingston to get lunch before we headed out.

Just happened to have my friend's gym in the background.

None of us go to BION. Thought it was funny we posed as phonies! 

Jason got a good laugh out of it.

The crowd gathering at the stage to dance to the music.

Lacing up the shoes and getting ready.

Zechariah 10:5

They will be like mighty warriors in battle, trampling their enemies in the mud under their feet. Since the Lord is with them as they fight, they will overthrow even the enemy’s horsemen.

Maddox was all excited that he saw the Ninja Turtles at Warrior Dash. 

He insisted on taking a picture with them.

 Headed to the starting line

 3...2...1.....GO!!!!!!!!!

Here we come from out of the woods, swamp and MUD!

 Making sure they're still behind us.

 Almost there!

Had to put it in slow motion to make sure everyone got a picture.

 One last obstacle: The Mud Crawl

 The dash to the Finish Line.

My Little Warriors!

What's Really Important

So, last night while watching The Voice a car commercial came on. My eye didn't catch the brand of the car at first but there were two little boys washing a car and having a blast. You first see the soap suds and water spraying everywhere. Then you notice that the windows are down in the car along with the sun roof wide open. The next camera shot shows the little boys inside the car scrubbing away at the dashboard and even one with a brush polishing the dashboard controls. As water is being sprayed inside the car, one of the little boys standing up through the sun roof empties the bucket of water across the top of the car.

Yeah sounds like a nightmare…right?

Then the dad walks up with a shortly lived look of shock on his face. The boys freeze... "Hi Dad..." and the dad smiles, picks up a sponge and says "You missed a spot" and proceeds to wash the windshield. The commercial ends with "One day I'll look back on this day and laugh. Love, what makes a Subaru a Subaru."

It hit me quickly…How do we respond to life's situations?

Here you see a father walking up on his two boys working hard trying to please him by washing his car. At that moment He could have went berserk, yelling at them and throwing a fit. Probably how we would have all reacted. But the father's reaction wasn't one of anger where he screamed at his boys probably embarrassing them and cutting them down in their attempt of a good deed. He came with a smile and love.

God has blessed us with all kinds of things. The most valuable are the relationships He has given us. So why do we place material things above these? Most of us are taught to react to life's situation with panic and anger. But what if we had the wisdom to take a moment to think and respond properly. It made me think about how I react to situations and what it will teach my boys. Honestly it’s easy to see all this through someone else’s life. But I pray I'm able to respond with wisdom and love and to one day sit back and laugh at the moments that pass through my life.

"Love, what makes a Subaru Christian a Subaru Christian." 

1 Corinthians 13:13 

Three things will last forever: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Lord, I pray that you guide me with Your wisdom and strength to deal with life's situation in a way that shows Your love and mercy. Let my actions and reactions prove that I have received Your love and that I have shown love to the ones You have placed in my life.

Psalms 25:4-7

Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.

Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, 

and my hope is in you all day long.

Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.

Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good.

Check out the Subaru kid car wash commercial 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWB1kdbMLwM

AWAKEN SYATP RALLY 2012

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father... 

See You At The Pole was another great event. The students started off early that morning lifting up their prayer request to the Lord around the flagpole.

That evening students met in the gym for a SYATP Rally. They started off playing some games, then we had the band lead us in worship. 

I brought a message from Joshua 1:1-9 where God tells Joshua that he will lead..."Therefore, the the time has come for you to lead these people,..." and then God gave Joshua the command..."Be strong and courageous."  

We talked about the bravest things we've ever done? The students expressed their bravery from standing up for what they believe in, to risking their lives and even some thoughtless acts. But where does that courage come from?....God, Yes God. No not the courage to do some thoughtless act that we consider brave, but to stand up and live for God in a world that is falling away from bringing Him glory. To stand up even when we can't see the results. To trust in the Lord. 

I challenged the students to search for that strength and courage. This story of Joshua shows that he found the strength and courage from the Lord and so can we. So we also need to pray for the Lord to strengthen us and to give us courage to share Christ with this world in every way possible.

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen. --Ephesians 3:14-21