Its never easy

God has never promised us easy. He has never promised us peace in our lives either. He has given us a peace in our hearts though if our hearts are really in his hands. There is the trust value that so many miss. Putting our hearts in His hands. Its easy today to put our hearts into other things and even other people. We have middle school students choosing to give their hearts (and so much more) to others because that is what everyone else is doing. We give our hearts to our careers and making money - some even to drugs. Our hearts desire should be the things of God if we have given our lives to following Christ. He should be the center and the rudder of our lives as he guides us. These other things end in empty promises, broken hearts, dirt roads and icebergs ready to sink us. Amazing thing about icebergs are that they are mostly unseen because they are mostly under the water where we can't see them. Just like in life - often times we don't see it coming.
Yesterday we had such a great day at church. Place was packed, the music was off the hook, Pastor JImmy preached a great message, our Student ministry has 50 students - I had an opening message that went over pretty well because of few students texted me afterwards or said something to me after the service, and then Pastor T wrapped it up with a powerful message from Ephesians 3.
When following Christ - there is adventure, passion and significance. These are the things that people look for in life. Does church offer these things? Does our teenagers find these things in our student ministries? I think we have a little more work to do because faith, like our health, needs exercise. Our faith rides on our own shoulders and I had a good story to share with the students yesterday about that. See on mothers day I took Carol and the family out to eat. Our place we wanted to go was busy and took reservations so we couldn't go there. So we went to our next favorite place to eat and it was packed. Funny thing happened though - we ended up at a table that nobody waited on us. So after waiting a long time I could see Carol starting to get upset ... so I got up - got some menu's, utensils and napkins, got a pen and paper - and took everyone order. I then gave it to the waiter who saw me doing this and finally came over to the table. He asked if I was going to tip myself! LOL
Anyways - this is just like our faith. Its nice to be spoon fed at times.... but often times we have to get up and do something. We have to put our hearts and minds into Gods word in order to know what it says. We have to share in a practical way the love of Jesus we have to others.
I want to share Ephesians 4: Living as Children of Light 17So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. 20You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Its never easy climbing the mountains of this life but you get out what you put into it. My mom used to tell me that. So much of her life has influenced me and even through her cancer - I can praise God through it. Everything we do loved ones, has an influence on someone. Put the old self away - let God be the desire of your heart. He has great plans for you, paths you have never seen, and a love like you have never experienced. God for sure offers what we are looking for in life - adventure and significance.
Peace,
Lonnie~