My Week-End Post....(pics of the show are under this post by the way)...

There was an overwhelming feeling in my heart this morning while driving to church. Don't know why, but I just started crying in my car. I was reflecting on some of the things God has shown me and how the depth of every lesson was so intense. Carefully crafted by God, Himself to show me how much He loves me.

You know when you start to cry because you're so happy, sad, excited .... etc.? Yeah...it was one of those feelings. Happy because, man...who could love me as much as the One who created me? NO ONE! Sad because I know I can do more...I know I was made to acheive great things in the name of Christ! Excited, because there is a greater purpose waiting for me to grab my seatbelt cause the ride's about to start taking off and the adrenaline will soon start to pump through my veins.

I was running the audio/visual aspect of the youth service at church this morning. Pastor Mike, was talking about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Now, I learned about these guys over 2 1/2 years ago by watching a Veggie Tales dvd. Those shows are not only funny, but such a great way to learn about the bible.(no...I'm not a salesman for them) .

Pastor Mike, started talking about how these three guys wouldn't let other people talk them down. I started to think about the times I let other people bury lies within me. I would start to believe that I really sucked. Why? Why do people do this. Pastor put it in words the teens would understand, "cause they're hatin', that's why!" He went on to explain the dedication of the three followers of Christ.

It wasn't only a great message for the teens, but a good lesson for the adult leaders as well. Even as adult leaders, we go through it, but at a different level. I can remember when I was a teenager in highschool going through so much. I wouldn't want to imagine what goes on in the schools now-a-days. The ways we as adults react to a situation could reflect the way a child/teen who looks up to you, will react to a situation. Thanks Pastor Mike!!

Do I want my nephews to see me put someone down? Do I want to tell them they can't do something because they are too small? Would I stand above what the world has made of my faith and rise to what God has done for my faith to grow and mature to levels beyond our own understanding? Am I willing to show the future of our world that, what most of us hold so low in standard...is the very thing we are taking for granted and stand for Christ .... no matter what the cost? We are not only leaders guiding some lost kids. We are in a leadership position, given to us by God...to be vessels. Who are we to think we can mess that up for a laugh or selfishness?

I've been thinking about how my attitude not only reflects on the adults in my life, but moreso reflects on the children..the future of this world that God can use us...as a tool for one or more of these children to be what He created them to be.
It is my challenge to not only you as the reader of this post, but to myself....to rise up to the ocassion and act like we care what the future holds not only for our loved ones, but for all kids that will be facing ten times what we are facing now.

Do you care enough for their soul, even a fraction of how Christ cared for all? Are we willing to set that example and be the leaders God already knows we can be? Do we love Christ enough to let Him use us to full capacity?

Let's start seeing things for the beauty of the whole picture, instead of a fairytale or just a corner piece of a puzzle that we shove somewhere it does not fit. Take the time to make sure the beauty of Christ is reflecting off of your action, reaction, thought, and speak what we know as the only truth through Him, who has died on the cross for these days to take place. And looking towards a greater day when we will bow to Him in heaven and be at peace.