THANKFUL THURSDAY!!!

Today is a very special day in my book! I have one of my middle school students in our small group at church in our middle school minsitry called Xtreme boarding a plane for Kenya TODAY heading for a mission trip there along with her parents and their team! She is a TRUE shining light for Christ in EVERY sense of the word and at her age it is amazing and goes to show that age does NOT matter! She makes me proud that's for sure! While reading my Bible this morning there were a couple special verses that made me think of her and also made me think about mission trips in general and sacrificing ourselves for the greater good in life and serving God and others above ourselves.

 Here are two different translations for your reading pleasure!

 

LUKE 9:24-45 "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world and yet forfeit his very self?" NIV

 

LUKE 9:24-25 "If you give up your life for my sake you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?" NLT 

These verses simply mean that if this present life means the very most to you no matter what then you would do everything you can to protect it and be as comfortable in it no matter what that means or takes or looks like for you. You may not do certain things for fear of getting hurt or taking risks. You may hold onto your money tightly or treasures so that you are secure in your finances. You may do those certain things to you secure your place here on this earth while you are here and make things better here and now.

 

By contrast if following Jesus Christ is the very most important thing to you no matter what, you will do things that may seem a little different to others. You may take risks, find yourself in unsafe places, just like Lauren and her team may be when they will be in Kenya while on their mission trip and like so many others before and after them on many other mission trips. You may even risk death for the glory of God but you will not fear because you find comfort and have faith in Jesus and you know that the kingdom of Heaven awaits you. We as followers of Christ should spend our lives serving Christ and other people instead of ourselves and holding onto material things and way of life. We can't take anything with us when we leave this place. We only can leave behind a legacy of what we have been able to do for others for the glory of God in serving Him! Give to others who are in need. If we have more money or food or clothing or even shelter, why would we hoard it all to ourselves and not share it with others? Why would we not share the wealth that God has given us. The things, the money, the clothes, all the things are only in our possession because God has given them to us. Only God has granted us the abilities to earn what we have so why not pay it forward to those that may be struggling or less fortunate than we may be at the time? So what if it puts is in an uncomfortable position? Do we not have faith in God to see us through tough times? God blesses those who bless others and serve others with a cheerful heart! If we have extra time to give to serve then give it, make time, serve others in a big or small way! It will be pleasing to God, this is what we have been called to do. Love each other and serve one another. Help your neighbor! It's simple really!

 

 I today am thankful to have a wonderful middle school girl in our small group in Xtreme like Lauren that at such a young age just gets this and so soon in life! She is inspiring to me! I, at her age was so immature and not with it. I, at her age was no where near where she is. I, at her age was selfish and would NEVER consider giving up a portion of my summer break to go serve in a foreign country, and serve foreign people who I didn't know. That wouldn't even have registered on my radar at all. I am thankful to know her and get to see her light shining BRIGHT for God and get to see her be a role model in such a HUGE way! I am thankful that she, at her age can inspire me to be a better person and serve more, and better, and stronger, and harder!!! We can all learn from others around us and it doesn't matter if that person just so happens to be younger than us. Age is just a number. NEVER underestimate the power of the young! We can all stand to improve ourselves and the outlook of the world. Learning and improving is an ongoing process. Thank you Lauren for inspiring me and for shining your light for God here and in Kenya! You are a beautiful creation of God and never let any person tell you different!

 

Dear Lord- I thank you for this beautiful day! I thank you for the people in my life that continue to inspire me and help me grow closer to you each and everyday. Thank you for allowing me to become a better person and want to serve you better. Thank you for opening my eyes. Thank you for helping me through my struggles this week. Thank you for sending me friends and a sister and a husband to help me and lift me up at just the right times and some that were unexpected but very awesome. Thank you for blessing my life in ways that I cannot even begin to imagine. Lord I pray that people will begin to see the importance of giving and serving others and you Lord. And that by hoarding all the treasures that you have given and blessed their lives with is just not the way and that they will not gain anything in this life by doing so. I pray for those people who look down upon young people Lord. I pray that they will see the power the young have over this world and that they will see that the young are the future and that they have something to learn from these precious creations of you Lord. I thank you for allowing me to continue to serve in middle school ministry and thank you for teaching me so much throughout the process! It's amazing! Thank you for each and every breathe you allow me to have! I pray that I can be a bright shining light for you and that SOON I too can take a mission trip to a far away place and help shine your light in an unfamiliar place that may not be comfortable all for your glory Lord! I pray for the Kenya team while they are traveling to Kenya and while they are there. I pray that they arrive there safe and sound. I pray that the lives of the people there are touched by what is going to be done by the team that is about to decend upon them by your grace. Let your light shine upon them through the vessels of the people you are sending!!!