I received this in an email from Youth Leaders Doug Fields and Matt McGill. I really liked it and wanted to share it with you this week.
For those of us in America, this is the week where we will devour massive amounts of food in the name of thankfulness. It’s easy to get caught up and distracted by planning, house cleaning, stressful travel, football games, overeating, avoiding certain family members, and shopping--all while pretending to enjoy Aunt Gurdy’s plumb-custard-quiche-ala-nasty. We’re going to explore EIGHT WAYS thankfulness and gratitude can transform our heart from the inside out.
THANKFULNESS RE-FOCUSES MY PERSPECTIVE
It’s easy to complain and point out problems, no one ever grumbles their way into a better attitude. Fortunately thankfulness can shift our focus to the blessings we’ve received from God. No matter how bad things get, in Jesus there is always reason to be thankful. It’s our responsibility to receive God’s gift and thank him.
THANKFULNESS INCREASES MY HUMILITY
Every blessing in our lives is a gift from God and not something we could have created or earned on our own. Everything belongs to God, and the only way we “have” something is because of his generosity. Because of the numerous blessings received, it’s easy for a feeling of entitlement to slowly creep into our lives and darken our hearts. Thankfulness turns on the light and recognizes God as the provider for our needs.
THANKFULNESS BUILDS MY FAITH
Gratitude recognizes the past work of God in our lives. When we remember God’s faithfulness, we position our hearts to trust him to provide for our future. God has given us everything we’ve needed, and he will continue to give us what we need. Developing the habit of being thankful also creates the capacity to trust God during the lean times.
THANKFULNESS CHANGES DISPAIR INTO JOY
There’s a lot of pain in this world and sometimes the ugliness is overwhelming and overpowering. Thankfulness doesn’t deny the evil, but it does open the door for joy to enter the scene. Lasting joy is a promise the world makes but can’t deliver, but when we remain in Christ, his joy is a gift for every believer.
THANKFULNESS RE-ORDERS MY PRIORITIES
It doesn’t take a busy holiday season for our priorities to get out of whack. As youth workers, most us have so much going on that it becomes really easy to major on the minors (issues) and slip into a selfish mode of living. A grateful heart is more open and aware of God’s work in our lives. Being thankful helps us understand what’s REALLY important in the grand scheme of things and moves us beyond the busyness of the moment.
THANKFULNESS CHALLENGES OUR WANTS
For both of us, the closer we grow to Jesus, the more we realize many of our “needs” are really about our “wants.” No, we’re not too excited to admit this, but this is a reality that we’ve become aware of in our spiritual journey. Thankfulness can turn our hearts into a fertile soil for contentment to grow into full bloom. Learning to be content in every situation is a measure of spiritual maturity. The power of “I WANT” is weakened in the light of “I’M THANKFUL.”
THANKFULNESS BREAKS THE SHACKLE OF ENVY
When our desires run wild and unchecked (and aren’t satisfied), the result is envy. Few things can rob one of peace like envy. When it gets really bad, envy also destroys community by morphing into jealousy. This happens when we lose our capacity to be excited for others. This is a particularly deep and dark pit of selfishness. When we’re trapped by envy and jealousy, the only way out is thankfulness for what we do have, and for what others have, too.
THANKFULNESS ENHANCES OUR COMPASSION
We have a lot, not just materially, but also spiritually. When we are thankful for the spiritual gifts we have in Christ, we can’t help but to have greater compassion for those who aren’t in God’s family.
For us, it’s abundantly clear that thankfulness is an essential habit for becoming more like Jesus. What about you? What does thankfulness create in your own heart?
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
Look at all this stuff to do!
I know you've got tons to do for school, sports, and other afterschool activities. Teens have busy lives! Don't forget to set a priority to spending time with God. Growing in your faith is important.
Have you checked out the list of events on the side of this page? There's a lot! Here's the rundown of the opportunities for you to sign up for:
Sunday, November 21 - Wallyball! we'll eat lunch after the 11:00 service and head on over to BodyRocks in Livonia. Wear comfy clothes and gym shoes (or bring them). Cost is $5 per person (plus the cost of lunch.)
Tuesday, November 23 - Presbytery meeting for the Youth Mission Blast participants (and anyone else who wants to come and support us!) leaving Geneva around 3:30, returning back around 8:30.
Friday or Saturday, November 26/26 - Bell Ringing for the Salvation Army. I haven't set a date or time yet. Please let me know what DOESN'T work for you...
Saturday, November 27 - Movie night at Geneva. Bring a friend! We'll have popcorn and drinks and stuff and watch a movie at 8:00. Please let me know if you are coming to this ASAP, so I can reschedule if there won't be enough people.
Sunday, November 28 - Singing "Thankful" at the 11:00 service.
Sunday, December 5 - Mission Trip meeting for parents and youth after 11:00 service. This is a mandatory meeting for all youth and parents who will be going on the summer mission trip to Grand Rapids 6/19-6/24 (well be back Friday night). If you cannot attend this meeting, you need to let me know in advance.
Sunday, December 5 -(after the mission trip meeting)- We'll have lunch and watch old Christmas TV shows (Rudolph, The Year Without a Santa Claus, Charlie Brown... we'll see how many we can watch!) while we make Christmas Cards for senior citizens.
Saturday, December 11 - Our first youth group fundraiser of the year! We'll babysit for any Geneva members while they go shopping. From 10-4:00 at Geneva. We'll play games, and hang out and eat pizza with the little ones. I will have a sign up sheet posted to schedule times. You don't need to spend the whole time there, but you're encouraged to!
Wednesday, December 15- instead of LifeStream we'll be participating in a special Christmas celebration at church with dinner, and crafts and entertainment by the youth!
Sunday, December 19 - Christmas Party at Geneva! We'll have food and fun and fellowship together at 5:00 PM.
Sunday, December 26 - Boxing Night... start gathering your boxes and blankets to raise homelessness awareness, and gather clothing and blankets for Fort Street. We spend the night outside the church!
Tuesday, December 28 - Man 2 Man - guys only! Meet at Pastor Bryan's house to do "guy things" and talk about issues that you can relate to. Bring a friend!
Sunday, January 2 - GirlTalk - girls only! Meet at Nancy's house to do "girl things" and talk about issues that girls your age are dealing with or will need to deal with. Bring a friend!
Have you checked out the list of events on the side of this page? There's a lot! Here's the rundown of the opportunities for you to sign up for:
Sunday, November 21 - Wallyball! we'll eat lunch after the 11:00 service and head on over to BodyRocks in Livonia. Wear comfy clothes and gym shoes (or bring them). Cost is $5 per person (plus the cost of lunch.)
Tuesday, November 23 - Presbytery meeting for the Youth Mission Blast participants (and anyone else who wants to come and support us!) leaving Geneva around 3:30, returning back around 8:30.
Friday or Saturday, November 26/26 - Bell Ringing for the Salvation Army. I haven't set a date or time yet. Please let me know what DOESN'T work for you...
Saturday, November 27 - Movie night at Geneva. Bring a friend! We'll have popcorn and drinks and stuff and watch a movie at 8:00. Please let me know if you are coming to this ASAP, so I can reschedule if there won't be enough people.
Sunday, November 28 - Singing "Thankful" at the 11:00 service.
Sunday, December 5 - Mission Trip meeting for parents and youth after 11:00 service. This is a mandatory meeting for all youth and parents who will be going on the summer mission trip to Grand Rapids 6/19-6/24 (well be back Friday night). If you cannot attend this meeting, you need to let me know in advance.
Sunday, December 5 -(after the mission trip meeting)- We'll have lunch and watch old Christmas TV shows (Rudolph, The Year Without a Santa Claus, Charlie Brown... we'll see how many we can watch!) while we make Christmas Cards for senior citizens.
Saturday, December 11 - Our first youth group fundraiser of the year! We'll babysit for any Geneva members while they go shopping. From 10-4:00 at Geneva. We'll play games, and hang out and eat pizza with the little ones. I will have a sign up sheet posted to schedule times. You don't need to spend the whole time there, but you're encouraged to!
Wednesday, December 15- instead of LifeStream we'll be participating in a special Christmas celebration at church with dinner, and crafts and entertainment by the youth!
Sunday, December 19 - Christmas Party at Geneva! We'll have food and fun and fellowship together at 5:00 PM.
Sunday, December 26 - Boxing Night... start gathering your boxes and blankets to raise homelessness awareness, and gather clothing and blankets for Fort Street. We spend the night outside the church!
Tuesday, December 28 - Man 2 Man - guys only! Meet at Pastor Bryan's house to do "guy things" and talk about issues that you can relate to. Bring a friend!
Sunday, January 2 - GirlTalk - girls only! Meet at Nancy's house to do "girl things" and talk about issues that girls your age are dealing with or will need to deal with. Bring a friend!
Monday, November 1, 2010
Summer MIssion Trip 2011
Mission work can bring life change to youth, a community and the Church. Within a relatively short period of time, your own life and a stranger’s life can be powerfully changed through the desire to give to a community. Your presence during a mission trip speaks more than a thousand words through your simple love and willingness to serve.
While there are countless physical and spiritual needs in communities everywhere from across the country, from big cities to small towns and even close to home, we’ve chose to go to Grand Rapids, Michigan for our high school mission trip this year. No matter how far you travel, week-long mission trips are a means to visualize needs in other communities and bring that recognition back to serve in your own home. Whether this is your first or your 6th mission trip, after a week spent in service, you will leave transformed from the love, strength and resilience you find in those you meet. Mission trips are often more life changing and impacting for participants than those you came to serve!
Please consider joining me this summer, as we work together to show Christ’s love in this Michigan community.
If you haven't yet told me your preference of dates for the trip, please do so ASAP!
While there are countless physical and spiritual needs in communities everywhere from across the country, from big cities to small towns and even close to home, we’ve chose to go to Grand Rapids, Michigan for our high school mission trip this year. No matter how far you travel, week-long mission trips are a means to visualize needs in other communities and bring that recognition back to serve in your own home. Whether this is your first or your 6th mission trip, after a week spent in service, you will leave transformed from the love, strength and resilience you find in those you meet. Mission trips are often more life changing and impacting for participants than those you came to serve!
Please consider joining me this summer, as we work together to show Christ’s love in this Michigan community.
If you haven't yet told me your preference of dates for the trip, please do so ASAP!
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