Every year our church denomination has a youth convention Dec. 28-30. It's called 3DYC (3-District Youth Conference). There are always great speakers, and great music, and talent competitions, and sports, and seminars, and fun times together as a group. This year it was held at the Devos Place in Grand Rapids, MI. We had a great time!
What invariably happens is that God really speaks to some (or even all, in one way or another) of the youth who attend, and commitments are made, and minds are changed, and they all come home refreshed and ready to make some changes in their lives.
(And it isn't just the youth who can be changed at this event - God speaks to the adults too.)
And also, invariably, after about a week or two, almost everyone finds themselves back into their "old habits" and modes of thinking, and the glow of the mountaintop experience fades from view.
The question I have is two-fold, and pretty simple.
Why do we fade back to gray, when we were for a short while glowing red hot? It's like when you try to start a fire, and you think it's going to take off, then the flames die down, and soon there is nothing left but a few wisps of smoke. Maybe the thing you were trying to start on fire was never the right material to start with. Hmmmm.
Second part: How do we keep the fire alive after obtaining it?
In regards to the second part: What are some specific things you can think of? List them.
Is it important to do this? Well, I don't know.... were the promises you made to yourself, your friends, and/or to God important?
Accountability, my friends. Let's do it. Start listing.
John 16:33b -- "...In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Proverbs 29:25 -- "Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe."
I remember when Bill Clinton was elected the first time. I was angry that such a person could get elected to the highest position in the land. I worried about the future of the country. I worried about the freedoms we enjoy, about all the talk of banning guns, and other things. I lived in fear of a lot of things at that time. Many of you will attest to that - I was Mr. "Gloom and Doom", and over time people stopped wanting to read my long rants against the government, or against whatever evil thing was in the wings, waiting to take our way of life from us. It does no good to focus on the bad in the world, without a "hope and encouragement" chaser.
I have done much soul searching since then. God has taught me much (although I have so much more to learn), and I can today say without hesitation that fear does not rule my life like it did only a decade ago. It's still there, but it's not what drives my thoughts.
Are you angry about the election? Scared about what is to come? My Uncle Rollan sent an email out to his family shortly after the election. It is full of wisdom and I couldn't agree more with what he says. I reprint it in full here for your encouragement:
Dear Family,
The election is over and it will now be President Obama! Some or all of us may be disappointed in that we believe if President Obama carries through as he promised; our nation is due for a real fast decline, even as the Roman Empire. We could despair as we realize how this will affect each of our families. I believe God has decided to give us what many have been asking for during the past several decades! I believe many of our values and decisions today are dictated more by the culture of these past decades than from our FAITH and RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. And God has responded by letting us have our way and the consequence of going our own way. We reap what we sew. I personally believe this may be God's judgment on our nation. We have been unfaithful, but God will remain faithful. We have had the privilege for many years of living in the greatest country ever to exist. Others in other lands have not been so fortunate. We may suffer as others have even if we have individually been faithful.
But we must remember; we are a very close family and we have each other; out faith in God does not waver. as Job said, "Even if He slay me, yet will I serve Him". Our parents have given us the heritage of Faith. We have God as our protector and Savior. He is still sovereign and on the throne and all that happens must pass through His Will. Our faith is in God, not President Obama nor would it have been in Senator McCain.
Let us not dwell on our disappointment and deep concerns for the future but instead pray as never before for our leaders and especially President Obama and the cabinet he appoints!
May God bless each of us as we put our faith in Him and hold on to each other as a strong Christian Family,
From your Father, as the leader and encourager of our family and your Brother as the oldest sibling.
Dad/Rollan
Not all fear is bad. Fear provides a healthy restraint, and is a good motivator. Fear of being splattered on the ground because of the effects of gravity keeps us from jumping out of a tall tree. Fear of losing our minds keeps us from watching too much Oprah or Jerry Springer. Fear of death motivates husbands to remain silent when asked questions like "Does this dress make me look fat?"
I think Obama's election to the presidency has elicited more fear among Christians than anything since Gorbachev appeared on the scene with that funny mark on his forehead. "My gosh! He's the antichrist! I'm sure that mark looks exactly like a smeared 666!" In fact, it looked more like a map of Thailand, which has never been a very scary country.
We are commanded in the Bible to fear only one thing: to fear the LORD. What follows is a list of some interesting scriptures about the fear of the LORD. Please take the time to look them up (I'd type them all out, but it would make this way too long. Besides, looking up scripture has a very nice calmative effect!) Here ya go:
Have you noticed that in a lot of the scriptures about fearing the LORD, peace and safety are mentioned as a byproduct of that kind of fear? Learn what it means to fear the LORD, and you will not live in fear of the things around you.
Many of us have fears that plague us. These are nothing but lies of the enemy whispered into our ears and hearts to keep us from serving the LORD, and to rob us of the joy we have in Him. More verses about NOT giving in to fear:
Isaiah 8:12-13; Isaiah 35:3-4; Isaiah 41:10-14; Isaiah 51:7-8,12-15 (the whole chapter is pretty good); 1 Peter 3:14
Pray for our leaders. Do not get angry. Humble yourself before God and seek His wisdom and direction. Learn to know Him intimately, and the days ahead will hold nothing that you cannot handle by His grace and help.
Psalm 46:1 -- "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."
And about the times in general... If we are indeed living in the "Last Days", then read Psalm 91, what I call the "Tribulation Psalm". Memorize it even.
You didn't post via email, did you? I was thinking about writing a program to read email from my phone, log into Pleo, and change my blurb, but I never really have time to play around like that.
Arrrrr, me buckos! What be ye doing on this fine mornin'? Hear me well, mates, and swagger not in ye duties o' the day! Praise be, O Captain, for sharin' the pleasure o' sailin' these waters with us. Humble servants we be to ye, ne'er forget that! Arrrrrrr!
If ye want to serenade ye ears with the wonders of Reliant K's song about us pirates, click on the link below! (If you be reading this from Facebook, you'll be havin' to click on "View Original Post" to be able to do that....)
