My CYM week 4:...and then some!

Joshua had to have gotten frustrated while he led the Israelites around the city of Jericho. People had to have started to complain.

"it's hot!"

"i'm tired!"

"i have to go to the bathroom!"

In my mind i see Joshua reaching his boiling point, turning around and saying "stop that or we're going to turn this army around and we'll go home!"

But the key to the walls of Jericho falling was the children of Israel marching around the city all 7 times.

When God calls us He expects our complete obedience. How many times do we expect God to come through us, but we've not obeyed Him completely. We attend church when it's convenient. We give when we want to. We pray every so often. Give give God only oart of our livrs but we want to reap the full benefit of His power and blessing.

God wants all of us because He wants to use all of us. He has a plan for every part of us. So when God sets a task in front of us, He wants our full attention and focus. So let's give Him what He deserves...all of us!

My CYM week 3: the greatest story of all...a changed life

Luke 8

It's amazing to think about the man who was demon possessed in Luke chapter 8. Luke doesn't give how much time he spent in this session, but one can imagine that it was a long time. He spent possibly years tormented and in pain; with no hope in sight. One was a literal prisoner in his own body.

But then Jesus steps onto the scene.

And Jesus frees this man from his prison. But then the man begins the long journey of being freed a from, quite possibly, an equal prison. The prison of reputation. He was well known through out the area. In fact, when the other people saw this man in his right mind it scared them.

A bad reputation is easy to build and hard to change. In fact,most high school student's reputation is formed in the first two weeks of school. And that can feel like a prison.

School has only been in session for 1 week and already some are feeling labeled and imprisoned by a reputation.

But there is freedom. That man was freed from his prison...and the sheer transformation of his soul was enough to transform a city. Look at the woman Jesus encounters at a well. She had a severe reputation in her town. But after she meets Jesus, her story was enough to change the entire area.

If you feel trapped by a reputation in your school, first encounter God. Then live your story in front of others; which is a story of grace. If others doubt your story and try to lay those old labels on you, remember, your story is unfinished!

Live your story and watch those around you be amazed!

My CYM week 2: It's Your Turn

Joshua 24:15

I wonder if Joshua knew the gravity of what he was saying when he stood in front of an entire nation and declared, "As for me and my house we will serve the Lord."

I wonder if his voice squeaked?

I've often looked back at my life at some of the "Big" decisions I've made and thought, "It's a good thing I had no clue what I was doing, otherwise I wouldn't have made that decision."

We all seek wisdom in our lives.  We all want to make the best decisions, but sometimes Faith trumps wisdom.  Sometimes the faith that God knows what He's doing outweighs us knowing what we are doing.

I remember making the decision to pack up everything and move with my BRAND NEW wife to Oklahoma. I had NO clue what I was doing.  But I knew I had to follow God.  So we plunged ourselves into His will..all the while not having the faintest idea of what was coming next; and it's been amazing.

Following God is like that feeling you get on a roller coaster when you crest that first hill and the speed takes you with it and you know that you no longer have any control, you just have to hold on.

Sometimes it's messy, sometimes it's rough...But sometimes you just gotta stand up and say, "I don't care what you are going to do...I'm serving God!"

And then you close your eyes and step.