Went to a party

Got this via email, posted to blogs and will read/recite to our teens, perhaps the church when it coincides with the message.

Went to a party Mom
I went to a party,
And remembered what you said.
You told me not to drink, Mom,
so I had a sprite instead.

I felt proud of myself,
The way you said I would,
that I didn't drink and drive,
though some friends said I should.

I made a healthy choice,
And your advice to me was right.
The party finally ended,
and the kids drove out of sight.

I got into my car,
Sure to get home in one piece.
I never knew what was coming, Mom,
something I expected least.

Now I'm lying on the pavement,
And I hear the policeman say,
the kid that caused this wreck was drunk,
Mom, his voice seems far away.

My own blood's all around me,
As I try hard not to cry.
I can hear the paramedic say,
this girl is going to die.

I'm sure the guy had no idea,
While he was flying high.
Because he chose to drink and drive,
now I would have to die..

So why do people do it, Mom
Knowing that it ruins lives?
And now the pain is cutting me,
like a hundred stabbing knives.

Tell sister not to be afraid, Mom
Tell daddy to be brave.
And when I go to heaven,
put ' Mommy's Girl' on my grave.

Someone should have taught him,
That it's wrong to drink and drive.
Maybe if his parents had,
I'd still be alive.

My breath is getting shorter,
Mom I'm getting really scared
These are my final moments,
and I'm so unprepared.

I wish that you could hold me Mom,
As I lie here and die.
I wish that I could say, 'I love you,Mom!'
So I love you and good-bye.

Spiritual Streakers

If the Gospel of Christ was our wardrobe, how would the people who know us best judge our wardrobe?
1. Best dressed list - Your life lines up perfectly with a Gospel filled life.
2. Sharp but over done - You're trying to hard.
3. 20 years behind current fashions - You are clueless about the world around you so your efforts are useless.
4. Nothing matches - You don't care about your appearance of what you wear, you just do your own thing.
5. Clothes don't fit / More holes than hems - You occasionally put on the Gospel when it is convenient for you.
6. Spiritual streaker - Nothing on at all, no evidence of the Gospel in your life.

Here is the verse of basis - Philippians 1.27. In the KJV the word, "becometh" is used. It means "fit", "suitable", "worthy".

Thankful Hearts

I was just continuing making notes on class lecture and was reviewing previous notes to get my mind back in the proper context. I just felt led to post them on here and share them. Enjoy!

The context is a study of Philippians 1.3-11 "The Marks of Mature Believers".
Mark 1 is found in verse 3, a thankful heart.

Here are the notes:
Paul was thankful for believers he only occasionally saw. So should we be thankful for each other even more so and let each other know it. Also for all believers everywhere.

A Thankful Heart Comes From:
1. Asking and trusting God for the strength to bear the trials of life.
2. Deliberately choosing to give thanks.

3 Questions:
1a. Why is it so difficult to give thanks during unpleasant circumstances?
1b. How can you prepare your heart ahead of time to be thankful?

2a. Who is the most thankful person you know?
2b. What makes them so thankful?

3a. Are you thankful for your salvation, family, friends, church?
3b. when was the last time you thanked God for each of these?

I would add a 4th question?
4a. Are your kids thankful for anything? Do they show it or say so?
IF NOT, here is one suggestion:
4b. Do you purposefully let your kids and/or your spouse hear you be thankful? To God through prayer, to them for them or for things they say or do, to others for things or services. Help your kids learn thankfulness not by demanding they be thankful (which there is a place for that) but more so by teaching them by your example.

As a youth worker, I constantly have to remind myself that I am don't hold the prestigious title of "has the most influence in my life" for the kids I work with. For some of the kids I come in contact with I really wish I did have that spot as their parents are either abusive or totally uninvolved/uninterested. I wrote an article for http://www.3rdshiftthoughts.com/ entitled "Desperate Consumerism". I see some kids that have a sense of entitlement to the latest and most expensive electronics and gadgets, the "hottest" items and fashions AND WITH NO SENSE OF THANKFULNESS for any of it or to the ones that have sacrificed time and/or money to buy them a desired item. That sort of attitude does not elicit giving by anyone. Rather a thankful spirit/attitude, especially a genuine one makes it easy for others to remember that thankfulness and give more to that person.

Doesn't it feel like robbery when you give a gift to someone that you poured thought and perhaps emotion into, and they say nothing but are totally wrapped up in the gift itself? But oh how joyous we are when we give a gift to someone and they nearly forget about the gift itself but look us in the eye and perhaps they don't say a word, but that look and smile spell out volumes!!

Parents please PLEASE PLEASE teach thankfulness to your kids and to the next generation by MODELING it in your interactions with others. No matter how small it may seem, a straw handed to you or the packets of creme and sugar for your coffee, your "thank you" to the person may be the only genuine one they hear. And that makes a big impact not only on them, but yourself, on those around you (including your children), and blesses the heart of the LORD GOD.

A small practical idea: Start a list of things you are thankful for and add to it daily.
Other ideas??

Faith of a Child > Mustard Seed

One of our friends and youth ministry members was taken to the hospital with heart trouble. They even had to jump start him twice through it all. He has a stent in now and is doing far better.

While talking with my daughter, Meghan, about this, because we were possibly going to visit him and his wife, she declared in no uncertain terms and tone that she wanted to go too and read him her very favorite book, a book of family pictures, because that will help him get better.

Knowing him, he would certainly get a very heart-touched (pun intended) smile, and it just may work. The faith of a child is what God wants consistently from us yet we have so much difficulty allowing ourselves to give Him that much.

The simple faith of a child, trusting so easily and fully that God will do what He promises, seems so far out of reach many times. Why? Because we are sinful creatures and stupidly give Satan just enough leeway to be able to hear the lies he spews forth to cause us to doubt our ALMIGHTY GOD!! And we then continue to sin by justifying our doubt as "being realistic" or "that's just not the way God works" or "God's not going to do that for me" or even the very selfish prideful line of "God could never use someone like me".

Now granted, there is some truth to the study of our God and how He works. Yet we hold that "the Lord works in strange and mysterious ways." Let's face it, God is not a genie to cater to our whims, no matter how noble they are. But I believe we are causing Him to hold back so many wonders, miracles, and blessings because of our doubt.

Possibly the greatest Biblical example of this that comes to my mind is the feeding of the 5000. Remember that was just the men that were counted, no doubt there were some women and children too so we're talking anywhere from 5000-20,000 people that day.

I can just see the Lord Jesus Christ look down at the little boy, smile and wink as he whispers to him, "Watch this!!" That boy had faith in Jesus' ability to use what seemingly insignificant bit of food he could give to help a great many people.

The grown, mature, "smart" disciples for the most part didn't even so much as ask Jesus what HE could do to feed them. No. They panicked and were asking what THEY could do and where THEY would get enough food. Surely they were just being realistic.

Child-like faith in our LORD JESUS CHRIST takes a few dinner rolls and a couple of sardines, and completely feeds an entire town full of people......til they were full no less, and even has an abundance of blessing.

We could move mountains if we had faith as big as a mustard seed. When you stop to think about it the truth is, the faith of a child is even greater than a mustard seed.

What else do our children remind us about?

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