4_11_09
My cute pink phone died. It died a slow, horrible, agonizing death. And the worst part? I lost the cool picture of the sign Jessica Yonko wrote on a dry erase board that said 'i heart kris; that was my wallpaper. I loved that phone! But here's me at the Verizon store picking up my new cute purple phone, yeah for me! Students, I went 3 days, 5 hours, and 36 minutes without a cell phone. I never wanted to be the kind of person who counted the hours she was without a cell phone attached to her ear, but here it is, I have become one. I mean, I grew up in the 80's before cell phones were invented and somehow I managed to survive back then. How did we do it? How did we function? Communicate? Even make it through the day without those little life giving talking rectangles? And being without my cute pink phone for 3 days, 5 hours, and 36 minutes made me miss you guys. I missed your updates on how you did on your geometry test and how proud you are that you were nice to your sister that day and about the great idea you had for our first youth service. I missed hearing from you! But I am back. I am back with my cute purple phone. So get to it, students. Get to calling, texting, and updating me on all the good, bad, crazy things that are going on in your life! I am back! (don't tell anyone but I still miss my cute pink phone just a little....)
4_13_09
My family loves holidays! We would celebrate Arbor Day if they'd let us but they don't exactly make a card for that. In fact, we even invented a holiday...Auntie Day! There's a Mother's Day, Father's Day, Grandparent's Day, but all those aunties out there were left out..until now. We've christened December 28th Auntie Day and we celebrate big...last year's theme was Super Woman! Which brings me to today's pic of the day. This is my Aunt Susan on Easter being very festive in her bunny ears...they are not optional if you want brunch!
Here's the secret though, here's why we can celebrate Easter in style with bunny ears and guess the candies in the jar game and ceramic bunny giveaways....are you ready for our secret?
Our secret is that The Gray Family Easter extravaganza is not always at Aunt Susan's house. There's a rotation that goes something like this: Aunt Susan, Auntie Jo, Aunt Karen, Mom. And then it starts over again. So every 4 years these ladies do Easter up right! They have time, energry, love and money saved up again to be festive and amazing.
And it's like that in life. The Bible says "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Aunt Susan couldn't put on a spread like she did last Sunday every year. But she lets the other aunties carry her burdens and take their turn and doesn't try to do it all herself. Try it students! Try trusting each other and relying on each other and letting go of being all things to all people. Aunt Susan and her bunny ears couldn't do it, what makes you think you can? So give someone a burden you shouldn't be carrying by yourself and be on the lookout to pick up someone else's that they're struggling to keep a hold of on their own. You will be refreshed, encouraged, and have enough joy to wear your bunny ears when you really need them.
4_17_09
These are my favorite shoes. I LOVE my brown shoes. They are so me….comfortable, unpretentious, a hint of trendy and super practical. I wear them almost every day and am quite sad because they’re getting dirty and worn out the super cool chick on the soles has completely faded out…no one but me will ever know she was there. But never the less, I love my brown shoes.
But there was a time when my brown shoes were a stranger to me…there they were sitting at the shoestore in their little box just waiting to meet me. I had no idea they would become such a faithful companion or bring me such joy. They were new to me, different, not broken in….but still appealing. So I took a chance with my brown shoes and the rest is history.
And students I want you to do the same with people as we launch our mid week service. Take a chance on them. Don’t judge them at first sight. Cross a room to meet them. Invite them into your world. You never know, they might just become your new best friend. That constant companion that loves you, supports you, and understands you. Just like my brown shoes…..
4_19_09
Here's a picture of my cute little Drew handing me a dandelion he picked just for me out of our yard. Aaah, how cute is that? My heart skipped a beat, I gushed, I grabbed my camera to capture the moment of his preciousness, and then I pinched his cheeks in mothery gratitude....
And why did this chubby handful of weeds mean so much to me? Why would I treasure so much what other people go to Home Depot to buy chemicals to kill from their yard? What was so great about this little yellow weed being presented to me like it was a rare jewel?
What made it so great was because it came from my child who loves me! It wasn't about the actual gift that made me excited and thankful and gush, it was the heart behind the giver. Drew was giving me something because he loves me and wanted to show me just how much.
And students, it's the same way with you and Jesus. So what if your gifts to Him aren't perfect or polished or where you want them to be. They're from you and that all He cares about. Give Him your worship, your art, your guitar playing, your friendliness, your prayer time....He will treasure it because it's from you. Choose this week to hand God your own chubby fist full of weeds.....it will mean the world to Him...because it's from you, His child!
4_21_09
This is what I do with my life. I am a soccer mom. I get to watch approximately 8 hours of soccer a week...and I love it! Ok, maybe not practices in the rain and hauling 40 pounds of equipment back and forth to the car, but besides that I love it!
I have pom poms and clappers in every color and love to cheer for my kids! I'll admit it, I've been known to storm a field or two in my day when my kid makes a goal....
That's because my favorite part is watching them succeed. Seeing them get a taste of how hard work can pay off is so much fun! Which brings me to my pic of the day....
Check out how focused Drew is in that picture...you can tell because he's getting ready to stick his tongue out. He is looking at nothing but the ball, nothing but the object of his goal...he is focused. He's not worrying about the curly headed blond girl coming after him to rob him of his shot, he's not worried about the ref or my taking the picture or anyone behind him. He is focused on his goal.
And that's the kind of youth church I want us to be! Not looking at our past, not looking at our mistakes, not looking at the bad influences in our life, not even taking a glance at all the things Satan's trying to distract us with. Just keeping our eyes on the ball. Just looking to Jesus and trying to be more like Him everyday.
Drew got it right....and he made a goal that day. He was faster and better than the other team because he just looked straight ahead and ran to his goal, not worrying about what other things were coming his way. Because he kept his eye on the ball.
Students, what are your eyes on? Your past mistakes? Your busy life? Your own strength?
Look at that picture again, look at Drew's focus...and put your eyes back on Jesus. All the rest will fade into the background. I can't wait to hear about all the 'goals' you're going to make once you reshift your focus back to the real priority, Jesus! Stay focused on Him and the rest won't be an obstacle anymore....and I'll come running off the sidelines to cheer for you! Pom poms and clappes optional...
4_25_09
These are the ladies of my first small group ever. They were 11 at the time and I thought they were the greatest junior high girls of all time. They were sweet. They were after God's heart. And they were mine.
I got to invest in them, love them, challenge them, encourage them, and try to make them more like Jesus. And then they grew up. And then they got married. And then they had kids. And I am still doing my best to invest in them, love them, challenge them, encourage them and make them more like Jesus.
Do you recognize the one in the middle? That's Gina Harold, one of our amazingly outstanding junior high girl small group leaders. (She's the one that bought you paper lanterns and rugs and candy...). Gina is one of the best small group leaders I've seen in action and I'm so glad she's on our youth staff! Watching her love on the next generation is one of my favorite things about being a youth pastor!
Junior High Ladies, take care of her, she was mine first. Love her back as much as she loves you. Listen to what she says, because she loves Jesus. Buy her a maple bar every now and then. Be sweet. Be after God's heart. Be hers.
4_27_09
Here's a pic of my cute boys at 'Jedi Training Academy' learning how to expertly handle their light sabers for all the epic battles they will face in our backyard. Just so you know, we are a Star Wars family. We have all 6 movies, at least two of every color light saber ever made and I personally think Drew looks exactly like Luke Skywalker. We even all dressed up as Star Wars characters one Halloween....any guesses who was who?!?!?
And my boys LOVED their Jedi Training. When it was over they knew their light sabers intimately. They were light saber experts. And students did you know there is a light saber mentioned in the Bible? Well, a sword really but we can make it our very light sabers if we want to....
It's a verse that talks about all the armor we can wear as Christians and it ends with "and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." The Bible calls itself a light saber! And the really cool part about that verse is that the Bible Saber is the only OFFENSIVE weapon mentioned. All the others are for defending yourself, but the Bible is the one used to attack.
So if you're feeling defeated, sad, run down, angry or are starting to resemble Darth Vader a little too much, go grab your Bible and read a chapter or two. It's your own personal light saber for your own epic battles. But light sabers won't work if you don't turn them on, so read some today and become an expert on your light saber, know it intimately. It might just help you in a galaxy not so far away...
5_6_09
I ruined my pie crust. I was all ready to make my family a nice yummy warm pie and I ruined my crust! Look at it...it's a mess! It's ripped into pieces and will never fit over a mound of crisp apples, cinnamon, and sugar. Wah, wah....
My pie crust was ruined and so were my dreams of enjoying a steamy piece of apple pie ala mode at the kitchen table with my family. And how? How did I ruin my pie dreams you might be wondering.
Because I wasn't patient enough. Because instead of waiting for my crust to be warm and ready to roll out I wanted to get it done NOW! I wanted to do it on my time. So I ripped and forced and rolled that pie crust open and nothing was going to stop me! One shred at a time I DID get that pie crust open. Only I ruined it in the process. Unusable....wasted...no pie ala mode for Kris...
Let's not do that in life, students. Let's not force things to happen before it's time. Let's wait on God. Instead of forcing our own agenda, let's just wait on Him. You never know, it might be the very reason you get to enjoy a nice warm yummy reward. Whether it's kissing someone for the first time, getting your ears pierced, figuring out what college you should go to or learning how to drive, wait on God. The rewards will be worth it. And maybe your life won't be the shredded, ripped up mess that's sitting on my kitchen counter right now.
5_8_09
Here's a picture of my son Adam paying my neighbor to mow the our lawn. Why is a 7 year old paying his 16 year old neighbor to mow his grass you might be asking? Let me explain...
Every week our family tries to honor everyone else in the family in some way that week. Sometimes it's a nice card, sometimes it's doing a chore for them, sometimes it's letting them pick out the biggest cookie, and sometimes it's using their own birthday money to pay the teenager across the street to mow your lawn so your daddy doesn't have to.
We love finding new and creative ways to honor the other people in our family! One time Drew bought Kylie blue glittery shoes, one time Kylie made me breakfast in bed, and one time I even braved the elements with a clothespin on my nose and cleaned Adam's closet....now that's honoring!
And I challenge you to do the same, students! Be on the lookout for ways to honor the people in your life. It doesn't have to be expensive, it doesn't have to take 3 hours out of your day, it just has to be from your heart. So find someone to honor this week....I heard there was a sale on blue glittery shoes.....
5_15_09
This is my son hiding behind a counter. Why is he hiding you might ask? Because he got in trouble. Because he was caught doing something he was told not to and got in trouble for it. Bummer...
And since he was ashamed and embarrased he ran to the closest thing he could find that would hide him and ducked into it and covered his face, afraid to peer out and face my disapproving look or all the other adults staring at him.
But hiding didn't help. Hiding didn't make him feel better. Hiding didn't help him make it right or get out of trouble any sooner. In fact, hiding made all those things take longer. I couldn't put my arm around him or tell him I forgive him or help him not do it next time because he was under the counter. Alone with his shame.
Don't do that with Jesus, students. Don't hide from Him when you're ashamed or make a mistake or cross a line. Go to Him instead! Run to him and tell him you're sorry and accept His forgiveness. Don't avoid Him....hiding under the counter didn't work for Drew and it won't work for you. Go to Him! And He'll put His arm around you, tell you He forgives you, and help you not do it next time. Come out from under the counter and be forgiven!
5_22_09
This is my weight set. I can lift a lot for a girl...my husband even says so! I do aerobics a few times a week, I run a few times a week, and I lift weights a few times a week. Exercise is good for me! I'm even training for a marathon so you'll all have to come root me on someday....I'll be the one panting and trying to not pass out.
The Bible even says exercise is good for you, did you know that? In 1st Timothy is says, "For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. "
See? Physical exercise has a value, but it says spiritual exercise has an even greater value. So keep working out, keep watching what you eat, keep being concerned about what clothes to wear or what make-up to put one, but do the same for what you put on spiritually. Care at least that much about reading your Bible or talking to God or what you watch or listen to. Godliness has value for all things....
Go pump some iron this week! Read your Bible! I promise you'll be spiritually ripped in no time! No steroids needed.....
5_25_09
I love tea parties! I have had tea parties for years with my daughter and I love everything about them! I love the hats, I love the gloves, I love the cute pastel food, little sugar cubes, and the ladylike demeanor. Add a pink boa in and it's near perfection for me.
All those years people would tell me I should do tea parties as a business. 'You'd be great!' they'd say. "It'd be so fun for you and Kylie!" they'd comment. And then one day, we did it! We just did it. We sat down and made brochures and menus and price lists and we did it. We names ourselves Butterflies and Tulips and we were off! Two years later we're still going strong doing a tea party a month for little girls all over the county. Pink boas and all!
And my desire is that you do the same thing for God. Take whatever you're good at and just use it for Him. Use it for The Difference. Use it to bless the people around you. Whether it's singing or doing graphics or running media or babysitting the staff kids, use it! God's gifted you, students, give it back to Him and just see how much fun you'll have! Even if it doesn't include little pastel mini cakes....
Email me right now if you have a gift or talent you'd like to use to impact your generation!
6_01_09
Here is Kylie on her daddy's shoulders. Kylie LOVES getting piggy back rides from her dad. Being on his shoulders has been one of her favorite places to be since she was very little. But her joy isn't what I love about this picture, it's his.
HIS joy at having is daughter jump up in his arms and enjoy the ride. HIS pleasure at having a daughter who still loves to jump up on her daddy's shoulders like she did when she was two. HIS joy at having an incredible relationship with his daughter. Look at the face of the father, that's where this picture gets good.
And don't forget to do that with your heavenly Father. He gets just as excited when you invite Him into your life and jump into his arms with squealing delight. His face lights up, too! Look at that picture again, they are both enjoying the ride. It's the same way with Jesus, jump up on His shoulders and enjoy being there....He sure does. Jump up there and trust Him.... He loves being your daddy!
06_05_09
Aloha! This is what I love about The Difference! Well, one of the things I love about The Difference....
This is what happened when one of your small group leaders found out it was one of her student's birthdays.....a full on luau of course! Chrystal decked her small group area out with everything Hawaiian including tiki juice out of her very own coconut cup to honor Hailey on her birthday.
Reckless caring was the sermon title that night, but Chrystal and all our small group leaders obviously already got the message. Thank you youth staff! Thanks for loving on these students with your time, with your energy, with your pocketbooks, with your heart, with your texting plans, with your lives. You are a phenomenal team and you are appreciated!
Students, give a leader a hug this Thursday. Or a Starbucks or a card or a Coke Zero. They love you with all they've got! And then find a 5th grader and do the same. Mentor the next generation the way your mentors have chosen to do for you. Then you will be Living Beyond Normal....
06_15_09
Here's a squirrel I saw while waiting for my kids at soccer practice. He was so cute! He just sat there forever, chewing his walnuts. His cheeks were full of them! He'd go play a little bit, chase some other squirrels, run up a tree but then he's always come back to nibble on his walnuts.
I thought "This squirel's a genuis!" He just tucked those nuts away in his cheek so that they'd be ready whenever he needed them. They didn't get in the way of the playing and chasing and running, and they were always there when he needed them. Genius!
I think that's how the Bible works, too. Jesus said to 'hide His Word in your heart' so that you'd have it when you needed it. Just like the squirrel, tucking God's Word away won't be burdensome or keep us from having fun, it'll just be there when we need it.
When we're sad, or when we need guidance, or when a friend needs some advice. There it will be. Let's be squirrels, students! Let's tuck the Bible away in our hearts so that it'll be there when we need it...you just never know when it'll come in handy.
06_18_09
Kylie and I LOVE our Starbucks dates! Both our love languages are quality time so Kylie and I head to Starbucks, raid the scrapbook piggy bank that I keep in my car and pay for 2 coffee drinks with quarters, dimes, and pennies. The baristas don't mind, they know us and love us....
Kylie is my absolute favorite person to go on a date with...besides my husband of course. We talk, laugh, watch people order over- priced drinks and just hang. It's easy being with her, she is amazing and funny and wise beyond her age.
And she's one of five incredible students we just welcomed into The Difference. Welcome 6th graders, we're glad you're here! If you're not a 6th grader, take some time and get to know them. Welcome them into your small group. Cross the room to worship with them. Buy them an airhead. Kick their hienies at foos ball. Invest in them. You never know, they just might end up being your favorite Starbucks date. But back off, I've got dibs on Kylie.....
07_01_09
I saw these two trees while I as sitting at soccer practice the other day. Actually, I thought I was looking at one tree until I realized there was a littler tree right in front of a bigger tree.
And that made me think of you guys and Jesus! At first it reminded me of my relationship with Jesus, how He completely covers me and protects me and when God looks at me, all He sees is Jesus. I love that! I love that because of what Jesus did on the Cross God only sees Jesus when He looks at me. I want my life to look so much like Him that you have to look carefully to see if you're seeing me or Jesus, just like I had to with these trees.
And then it reminded me of you guys. It made me think of how cool it would be if all the senior highers became that big tree for all the junior highers. I thought about what an incredible youth ministry we will have when our older students take ownership of the younger ones and shield them and invest in them and pray for them. How cool would that be? It'll be just one of the many ways we're going to become the friendliest youth ministry in the county...just a bunch of big trees and little trees becoming one and Living Beyond Normal!
I want The Difference full of these trees!
06_25_09
This is one big huge jumbo ice cream sundae! It's the biggest on the menu at Ice Cream Renaissance in downtown Vancouver. I don't let my family eat sugar very often, but when I do we do it up right. Drew's end of year soccer party was held here and the Grays had themselves some ice cream amazingness!
And as this plate of sugary goodness was placed in front of us next to everyone else's single scoop cones, it reminded me of a verse from the Bible.
"Satan comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10
Have it to the full. Jesus wants us living life of abundance and greatness and fullness. He wants our lives overflowing with joy and peace and blessing. So let's let Him! Let's go to Him and let Jesus give us abundant lives. Let's not waste one single day living our Christian lives in poverty or complaint or need or want. Let's live lives to the full! It'll be better than the banana split tower that Joe, Kris, Kylie, Adam, and Drew ate every last bite of.... Don't settle for the single scoop, students! Go for it all!
07_08_09
We talked about friendships last night at The Difference. We talked about the importance of finding good ones and being good ones. I gave you lots of ways to be an amazing friend. I told you to have each other's backs and pray for each other and be protective of each other and praise each other and be real with each other.
But I want to tell you one more really cool way to be an incredible friend; make each others dreams come true. My friend did that for me. Her name is Stacy and she brought me to my hero. His name is Duff. I won't go into why he's my hero, that's for another plog, but I will tell you that Stacy knew he was my hero, and made it happen. She stalked him, bribed people, emailed all my friends to collect money, outran security, looked into the eyes of the scariest event planner I have ever seen, and would not give up until I met my hero.
See that smile on my face? Let's be people that put those kinds of smiles on people faces. Let's be a youth ministry that makes each other's dreams come true. One of you wants to be a missionary, one of you wants a new car, one of you wants to go to camp and can't afford it, one of you desperately wants his brother to know Jesus. Let's make those dreams come true for each other!
Who's first? Who's dreams do we want to make come true first? You'll have to wait a while for my help, I'm busy trying to get Stacy on Deal or No Deal.....
07_13_09
This sign cracks me up! It's a sign for a convenience store that's actually telling it's customers to talk to God! That's hilarious! And I agree....let's all thank heaven!
Only not just for slurpies or pringles or greasy hot dogs rotating under a heater. God deserves LOTS of thanks. Whether you live an easy life or have to struggle, whether you're blessed right now or going through a hard time, whether we think He's listening or not, God deserves our thanks.
Why? Because even if He never did ANYTHING else for you the rest of your life He already died on the Cross. For you. And that deserves our thanks. Sometimes we think God owes us, but His payment has already been paid in full. Sometimes we get irritated when He doesn't give us what we want, but He always gives us what we need. Sometimes we get impatient when He doesn't answer our prayers as quick as we'd like Him to, but His timing is perfect.
So find something to thank Him for today, 7-11 would be proud!
7_23_09
This is my super cool invention....well, ok, I didn't really invent it but I copied it really well from a magazine. It's a scrapbook paper covered electronic charger holder. Pretty cool, huh?
I got tired of my desk area being covered with wires from cell phones, ipods, cameras and all those other really cool gadgets I don't even know the names of. Wires aren't cute and I like cute.
So voila! My electronic charger holder was born. I even got to pick out scrapbook paper that matched the room is was going to be in. I know, you can hardly contain your admiration for how crafty I am.
And it got me thinking, I would have NEVER needed such an invention 10 years ago. My first phone was the kind that you dialed each number in a circle and then waited for it to get back to zero so you could dial another number. (I don't mean phone number, students, I mean an actual number like two...)
But your generation is different. You are technologically superior to my generation. There it is, I said it. So my challenge to you is to use technology for God! Text people what He says about them, facebook how much you love Jesus, dowload some itunes of Christian music for a friend. If something changes your life at youth church, text someone. Immediately. Yes, I said text during church! But do it for JESUS! Do it now, students! Grab a technological device and use it for Jesus....and then email/text/fb me all about it! I'm charged up and ready to go!
7_29_09
What a mess! I heard you could dye your kids hair with kool-aid so I gave it a try to show our team spirit for the soccer game....bad idea! Apparently I was missing some important parts of the instructions because it turned out to be a crazy nasty mess all over my kitchen.
Red goo was dripping off Drew's back onto the floor, Kylie was trying to catch the red blobs from dripping into Drew's ear and Adam was holding Drew's head back so the red mess wouldn't get into his eyes.
My hands were red for days. Kylie and Adam had red up to their elbows and most of Drew was glowing red....except his hair. It was all over his face and our bodies but somehow we managed to turn none of his hair red.
It was a horrible morning for this soccer family! But as we drove to the game I caught myself smiling as I looked back on the 20 minutes of horror that had just taken place in my kitchen. Why? Because we had worked together. Because Kylie didn't say 'that's not my problem' and Adam didn't just keeping watching his tv show. I was smiling because the whole family had jumped into action to help one of it's own. I love that!
And I want to be that! I want to be a team player that steps up when someone needs me and does something that's not necessarily my job, and works for the good of the whole and not just what I need. Let's be those kind of people, students.
In your house, with your parents, with your friends and at The Difference. Let's work together and be a blessing to each other and keep some red dye from ruining someone else's morning. Even if it's not what you want to be doing at the time, you just might catch yourself smiling as you look back on it....
08_03_09
These were waiting for me when I came home from camp. Aaah, my husband is so sweet! I love flowers in my house, all colors, all shapes, all sizes, flowers, flowers, flowers! One year Joe even got me a gift certificate for a year's worth of flowers in my stocking for Christmas. So I was very excited when I walked in all dirty, sweaty, stinky and exhausted from camp and saw fresh colorful flowers on my counter.
But some of you didn't get to come home to flowers. Some of you had to come home from camp to parents who are still divorcing, friends you are still fueding with, and computers that are still tempting you in the wee hours of the night.
But don't let ANY of those things rob you of what Jesus did for you at camp, students. He is the same amazing God who spoke to you at camp and who is with you every battle you fight and every tear you shed. Don't let Satan rob you of what Jesus gave you at camp. Fight for it! Yes, it will be hard....but yes, it will be worth it! Be the person God made you at camp because the trials can't beat you and the flowers are coming. You can do this students! Be above your circumstances and live beyond normal.
8_16_09
Speak life. If you spend any time with me at all you'll hear this phrase often. I believe people become who you say they are so why not make them great? Speak life. Tell them what you see in their life and what you think they're good at and what you think they can accomplish.
Speak life. Sometimes that means not saying something even if it's true. Sometimes that means saying something even if it makes you nervous. And every time it means making someone better, making them closer to who God made them to be.
I am detirmined to create a generation that speaks life, that builds up instead of puts down. I want a youth church full of life speaking, peer encouraging, destiny making teenagers! That's why I love this picture! Sophie Coleman painted her fingernails to say "Speak Life!" (she needed the exclamation mark to make 10 fingers....how cool is that?)
Sophie gets it. Sophe will forever speak life and I'm so excited to watch what a difference she makes in her school because of it. Come to The Difference and see what I mean. And while you're there check out the canvas Rachel Schultz made....any guesses what it says? That's right, Speak Life. Rachel gets it too.
08_29_09
This is my awesome free drink coupon from Starbucks...I LOVE when I get these things! And I get them often because my drink is uber complicated and the baristas who don't know me always mess it up 2 or 3 times and then hand me one of these orange cards of goodness for a free drink next time I come in. It's quite the system and I love it!
Do you know what it says inside of my little orange card of goodness? It says 'we want to make it right....'. Starbucks wants to personally make it right with me after offending me with an incorrect drink. Wow.
I want to be like that! I want to be a person that as soon as I say something stupid or do something stupid that I immediately make it right. I want to be a youth church that instantly apologizes and makes it right when we hurt each other. The times we mean to and the times we don't. Let's be that, students! Let's apologize and ask for forgiveness quickly and often. That's how to live beyond normal. I think I'm going to go make up some little orange cards of goodness right now.
08_31_09
Ouch! I had to get a shot. I had to pay money to have a mean old lady with a bee hive hairdo put a needle in my arm and take out a bunch of my blood. AND I couldn't eat breakfast or have any coffee or Coke zero before the shot so I was extra grumpy about the whole thing. Not a great way to start your day. (And in case you haven't heard I'm not exactly a morning person to begin with...)
But it had to be done. Once a year I have to have them take my blood and make sure my blood sugar, cholesterol, thyroid and all that good stuff is working the way it should be. Once a year they analyze my blood chemistry to ensure my body is working the way it's supposed to.
And I think we should do that spiritually, too. I call it a growth plan. I look at what I need to add or subtract from my life to make it more like Jesus. Is there a tv show I should stop watching? Is there a part of my week I should be praying more? How much do I want to read my Bible this year?
And this is the perfect time, students! It's back to school time, so make God a part of all the other schedules and routines you're making for this school year. Take a look at what you need to add or subtract to make your spiritual life function better. And just think, you don't even need a mean old lady with a bee hive hairdo to help you do it!
10_15_09
This was a wad of pennies that was used to help the girls CRUSH the boys at our first annual STL Penny Drive! We raised over $200 in that one night for our incredible missionaries who are out telling the world about Jesus and how much He loves them. Since that night we've had STL giving available every Thursday at The Difference and many students are rising up to the challenge of living beyond normal with their money.
And now it's the adults turn! THIS Sunday, October 18th the teenagers of North Creek get to invite the adults of North Creek to partner with them in giving to our STL missionaries. So grab your dimes, quarters, nickels, dollars and yes even your pennies and let's show those adults how it's done! Who knows, maybe those stinky boys can redeem themselves this time....
You, money, Sunday, STL, make a difference!
