Retreats, Camps and Conferences OH MY!

Summer is the best time of the year for kids and youth to grow in their relationship with Christ. There are a lot of opportunities for young people to focus on that relationship. No school and breaks from many activities and athletics, allow more time for God. I remember that it was at summer camp that I felt God tell me to go to a Bible college and it was at a summer conference that I knew I was supposed to go into youth ministry.
It is amazing what we can hear from God when we give Him the time of day. He still speaks today. The problem is that we normally don't slow down to listen to what He is saying.

I want to encourage you to seriously considering giving God time in your day, your week, your summer. Make spending time with Him a priority. I guarantee that, if we do that, we WILL hear HIM!

Thanks Vacation Bible School Workers!

Every June our church is buzzing with Vacation Bible School. 5 days, 3 hours per day, hundreds of kids having a great time! This week I walked around and tried to thank as many of the 100+ volunteers that I could. It is such a blessing to have this ministry to children, but I know that it can't take place without the selfless volunteering of our volunteers.
So, here's a message to all of our volunteers. "THANK YOU FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR ETERNITY!"
You weren't JUST a class helper, teacher, snack helper, craft helper, music person, etc., you were an expression of God to the hundreds of kids who you impacted. We will never know the eternal impact of your efforts until we get to heaven. Thank You!
Pray with me for the children who were here. Especially the children who do not have parents who follow Christ. May they pursue Christ and help their families to find the way into the TRUTH!
Thanks again,
Jeff

Created to Remind!

I just got back from Table Rock Lake with my family. We had a great time relaxing and hanging out with my outlaws. Every summer we go down to Jennifer's dads timeshare to hang out. This past week I was blown away (again) by God's creation! I still don't understand how people can believe that all of creation just happened. The perfect order of the universe didn't happen by chance. It happened through an all-powerful God who loves His creation. The creation story says He is most pleased with His creation of us. Now as His creation we are to give Him glory and reflect His love to this world. Just as His creation of nature reminds me of Him, so we are to remind the world of Him and His love. How are we doing?
Created by Him,
Jeff

88? Are you serious?

I had an interesting call this week. It was from a friend of mine who is in her eighties. She goes to a church that I use to work at. She called me with a request. She asked me if I would be willing to baptize her friend. She was very enthusiastic about the events that had transpired and was eager to share them with me.
My friend has been a widow for many years. Her deceased husband use to work at a company with two guys that he was very close to. My friend told me that the Lord had been putting those two gentlemen on her heart and she had to find out where they were spiritually.
She tracked one down in Texas and found out that him and his wife had become Christians and were living a life of faith.
She tracked the other one down to a small town south of Wichita. Over several conversations she asked him if he had ever received the gift of salvation that Jesus offered. He said "No," and she went to work. She told him about the cross and that being the only way to be saved. He is eager to turn his life over to Christ, and will be getting baptized on Saturday.
Craziest thing about the story . . . he is 88 years old!
How cool is that! A widow in her eighties still sharing her faith like God asked her to!
May we all take lessons from my friend and share with those outside of Christ, before it's too late!
Jeff

Don't Worry!

Don't Worry, Be Joyful! That is the title of the sermon this Sunday at Riverlawn. It is based on Jesus' words in Matthew 6:25-34. There is a lot of great stuff that Jesus reminds us of in that passage, yet I still have a hard time making sure that I don't worry about things. I know it is a spiritual issue and I need to surrender control, but it is harder to do than it is to say. I saw a church sign the other day that said, "Well done is better than well said!"
A lot of times my worry comes in the form of worrying about finances. This past week we had to spend $600 on my car, money on sprinklers, medical bills, dental bill, yard bill, and the list goes on.
As a follower of Christ I know that I need not "worry" about these things, but be diligent in paying for services rendered and honoring God in my finances.
I have been telling several people in counseling this week to "surrender" their will to God's and to leave Him in control.
The ironic thing is that Holy Spirit is trying to get that very thing through to me too!
So, here's to not worrying and to being joyful!
Jeff

Bragging on my 3rd born!

As a parent it's okay to brag on your kids a little bit, as long as it brings God glory!
I went to my 3rd grade son's awards ceremony today and was very proud of his academic achievements in reading and math. He got awards in both categories. . . BUT I was most proud of him for the class award that he received. The school does Character Counts awards in each class. The awards are voted on by the class. Eli got the "Fairness Award" for his class. I have thought about those awards today, as a follower of Christ, and I am most proud of the Character award. It is the award that is about caring for others above himself. (I am proud of the achievements in reading and math as well, but not in the same way!)

Congratulations Eli! Your earthly father is proud of you, BUT more importantly your Heavenly Father is proud of you!

Character Does Count!
Jeff