E-News Article (Page 6)
Summertime
The sun is shining, warmth is in the air! We all know what that means; summertime is here! For many youth ministers across the country, that means camp is just around the corner. I am in full camp mode getting every detail locked in and ready to go for a fun week with high schoolers this July. The camp theme this summer is “You Be the Judge”. I will be challenging the campers to make good Godly choices in their How COVID has affected us
Seasons of Life
Life seems to ebb and flow like waves on the ocean. Change is a constant in our world. Today you may be young and single living alone and going to school. Tomorrow you are middle-aged, married, and working 40 hours a week. Today you may be standing up at your best friend’s wedding. Tomorrow you are mourning with family as you say “Goodbye” to a loved one. Life can drag on for years or come at us in a second. How COVID has affected us
Shout for Joy
Shout for Joy: LOUD WORSHIP & OPEN HEARTS (PSALM 100:1) Have you ever felt a surge of joy so powerful it demanded expression? Maybe a victory, a breakthrough, or simply the overwhelming love of God. The Bible is full of examples of this kind of uninhibited praise, a worship that isn’t afraid to get loud! In Psalm 100:1, we are called to “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth!” This isn’t a quiet, reserved kind of joy. It’s a How COVID has affected us
Jesus Wept
I wish I had been more prepared for grief…and I am simultaneously thankful that I had no experience with the level that I would be in. Grief is a club that nobody wants to be a part of, but EVERYONE will someday join. My sweet friend of almost 30 years lost her 3-year-long battle with terminal brain cancer on March 10th. She left behind 2 beautiful girls (young adults) who had recently also lost their father. My heart was broken. How COVID has affected us
The Next Gen
“He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.” Psalm 78:5-7 These verses teach us the importance of making sure the next generation knows God, His laws, and How COVID has affected us
Lessons From Eve
The first mother, Eve, had 2 sons, Cain and Abel. Cain worked the soil; Abel kept flocks. When taking their offerings to God, Cain was jealous of his brother, because Abel’s offering was accepted by God, whereas his offering was not. Cain killed Abel over this jealousy. Does this make Eve a bad mother? Was it Eve’s fault that Cain acted out so drastically? Hardly. But it was in fact, the sinful nature of mankind rearing its ugly head resulting in How COVID has affected us
Immeasurably More
I attended the Michigan Christian Convention over the weekend. It was a great lineup of speakers, all speaking to the theme, “Immeasurably More.” Ephesians 3:20-21 was the core verse which reads, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Toward the end of one of How COVID has affected us
Forgiveness
Let’s talk about forgiveness. It’s a powerful concept, but sometimes it feels impossible, right? We hold onto grudges, hurt, and anger, or we ourselves feel unable to be forgiven. We become shackled to emotions as a form of self-conviction. The Bible tells a different story. In John 19:30, Jesus says, “It is finished.” Those three words hold immense power. Jesus, on the cross, took on the burden of all sin and suffering. That includes the pain caused by others, as How COVID has affected us
Fruit
Have you ever been somewhere and seen a nice big bowl of fruit and went to grab one, and realized it was plastic!?! How disappointing! Usually “fake fruit” is made to look extra appetizing. But if you went to take a bite, you would be met with shards of plastic and air. The same could be said for someone who encounters a “fake” Christian. Someone who professes to be a Christian, yet does not utilize their “fruit.” As Christians, we How COVID has affected us
Did You Know?
Bible Trivia! Some cringe when they hear this game is up next, while others pump their fists in excitement. Maybe you’re the person everyone wants to be on their team, or maybe you’re the one no one wants on their team. There are so many fascinating things in the Bible, many of which most people didn’t even know were there! So, I’d like to take this moment to share some of my obscure, but cool, facts that will help you How COVID has affected us