STEP INTO TOMORROW! (But don’t
forget to live in today!) This Sunday we
have the joy of honoring seven high school graduates in our worship
service! Seven young people stand on the
threshold of a brand new chapter in their lives – where they get to step into a
place called independence … a place in their hearts that has been
long-awaited. Because in this place,
they have tucked plans and dreams and ideas – just waiting for that day when
they will be able to make their own choices and set their wings to flight! In our minds, that is the ideal place. Life doesn’t get any better than that, or so
we think! But, then … tomorrow happens
and shakes up well-laid plans and the perfect ivory towers come tumbling
down. At least for a time. You see, we’ve been there – in our
yesterdays. So we know. And we want you young people to know today
that we believe in you more than we can actually tell you! We know you are not perfect (sorry – no one
tattled on you!); we just know that, because none of us are perfect!! God tells us that. Yet we are loved so fully and so
unconditionally by the God of the universe that there is no place we can go
where His love will not reach us. We
hope by now you have heard us tell you enough times how special and valuable
you are – that you truly BELIEVE it! We
don’t care what the world says: things
like – “you are not good enough, smart enough, or good-looking enough” – and – “you
didn’t grow up rich or popular or talented” – “therefore you will never amount
to anything”. Those are lies straight
from the enemy as he sits in the throes of hell. We want you to believe the truth and know
that there is Someone besides us who thinks you are amazing and gifted and
unique! We want you to know that you
were created for such a time as this in 2014 to take on the mantle of
confidence and boldness that comes from Christ, and that you are empowered by
the living God to step into your tomorrow!
We are smiling … because even though you will “be on your own” … you
will NOT be alone! And not to burst your
bubble – but just because God and your pastor and his wife think you are
incredible – that does not mean that everyone you cross paths with will
agree!! So when those challenges come …
and they WILL, we want you to remember that God is FOR you, so who can be
against you? Take a look at this online
quote and look at the difference of how people treat you and how God treats you
… and then decide who you want to be able to count on as you step into your
tomorrows!
People will
hurt you,
God will heal
you.
People will
humiliate you,
God will
magnify you.
People will
judge you,
God will
justify you.
HAVE FAITH!
We want you to remember that “greater is He that is in you than
he that is in the world!” In Christ, you
have all the power and strength you will ever need. You have all the grace, mercy, and peace you
will ever cry out for. You have all the
resources and talent and opportunities that God has already placed within you that
will only grow to greater fulfillment.
You have all the promises in God’s Word with a guarantee that they will
never fail. You have an Advocate on your
side – Jesus takes your mess-ups to the Father and appeals your case through
His shed blood, and the scale is tipped in your favor. You have a God-given perfect plan already
awaiting you in your future, so pursue it with passion, commitment, and
righteousness. You’ve been given the
gift of ONE life here on this earth – for how long, none of us know. So we want to encourage you to take this gift
and examine it, open it, and use it in every way pleasing to God! There is no place of greater joy and
satisfaction than in the place God has planned for us. So … run and find that place daily now that
you are on your own … but NOT alone! We
love you, graduates! We will always be
here for you ~ only a phone call away, day or night! And, so is God – He NEVER sleeps!
REMEMBER . .
.
“For I know
the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper
you and not to harm you,
plans to give
you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah
29:11
Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
Pastor Doug and Debbie
