Five Strategic Ways to Pray for the Coming Year

As we approach the heavily anticipated and also heavily dreaded school year for the late teens to early twenty somethings embarking on college campuses, we must actively pray for them and what is at hand for the coming year and all they will encounter. 

1. Pray for the Freshman

    Pray for the incoming class that will be experiencing everything new for the very first time. For those that will be entering new cities and new dorms to live in as well as the ones commuting from home, pray that they will settle well into their new lives. Pray that they will realize the need for Christ in their lives even as they leave home that they may actively pursue him through every aspect of their lives, that they may bring him glory. Pray that they will stand firm in their faith and not be swayed by all that is around them even though they aren't under parental control anymore. Pray that they will find a body of believers to actively be a part of in worship weekly, pouring into the church as well as ministries on campus to reach out and share Christ to those in their surroundings. 

2. Pray for the Sophomores and Juniors 

    Pray for those coming back for their second and third years that they may continue to seek and pursue Christ in all aspects. That they may continue to glorify him throughout their studies and be a light to those around them. Pray that they begin to look for ways to pour into the next generation that is coming in and point them to Christ. Pray that they will find patience and rest in God knowing that he is in control of all, even when plans start to drastically change from major choice to what is going to happen with their life.

3. Pray for the Seniors 

    Pray for the seniors (or super seniors as some are) that they will even in the end, see how their lives can continue to honor and glorify the Father. Pray that though they are in the final stretch of their college career for most, that they will still see their role is important in pouring into the younger students, actively discipling them in Christ. That they may take their leadership roles humbly and with a willingness to serve in whatever aspects to glorify the Father. Pray that they may have peace and rest and ease of mind of what is actually coming in May as they prepare for life after college. Pray for their transitions from college life to graduate/real world life that will soon come in the next few months. 

4. Pray for the Faculty 

    Pray that the faculties hearts may be softened that we as students may proclaim the gospel in whatever ways we may have the opportunity for. Pray that we will actively seek ways to minister to them though they are our professors, that they may see Christ's love through our actions and school and ultimately that seeds may be planted that they may come to know Christ. 

5. Pray for the Campus Ministries

    Lastly, pray for the campus ministries that are about to be in full swing again. Pray that they may humble themselves before the Lord that they may make him known and glorify him through their worship and fellowship throughout the year. That they may have an active presence of reaching out to the students on campus that they may come to know Christ. Pray for the campus ministers that they may not become overwhelmed with their responsibilities but that they will find rest in the Lord and look to him for strength in ministry. That the Lord may use them as instruments and speak through them that we may learn and grow in the Word together. Pray that we all may grow and active fruit may be seen from these ministries in the lives of the students.  

"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." -1 Corinthians 15:58

The Stability Found in Uncertainty

Throughout most of my college career, I have been in a place of uncertainty. Uncertainty in the way my life would be heading. I came in with big plans for my life, then all of a sudden, one semester, these plans crashed and burned to the ground. It was a trying time yet I came to a great place in my walk with Christ. I truly learned what resting on him meant. As it says in 1 Peter 5:6-7:

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you."

His care for us is immeasurable. I mean he sent his only son to die on the cross to save us sinners from the wrath we deserved, so why wouldn't we go to him with our burdens in life? Why not humble ourselves before him? There is no reason. This is a very hard concept to grasp and it was hard for me to learn. It was difficult for me to relinquish what I thought I had control over, when in all actuality it was God directing and molding my path. It was great I had the desires to pursue dreams and had made plans for what was in store, but with that we must have the understanding that they might not go that way or take the same path we envisioned to accomplish them. That is okay. It is okay to not know what is next.

And with not knowing brings a whole slew of emotions and fears. It brings much anxiety and worrisome thoughts to mind about what we will do when we graduate, who we will marry, should we change our major, what school to attend, and many others. When we truly cast our burdens on him, however, and humble ourselves in his presence, we find rest. We find the comfort of the father who cares for us. Because he cares, we know we will be okay. With being okay brings the question, are we doing what we're supposed to? How do we know? We can know by pursuing him and building his kingdom that we are in his will and pursuing the right path for our lives. As Kevin DeYoung states in his book, Just Do Something, "The will of God for our lives is that we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. The most important decision we face is the daily decision to live for Christ and die to self.1"If that is our most important decision, then we should find rest knowing that we don't know what's next. As long as we are pursuing Christ, we are in his will and doing what we are called to do. I received great advice from a mentor once from Psalm 119:105

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

As he was explaining the verse with the analogy of the lamp, he stated that God's revealed plan for us is like a lamp. With a lamp it only shines to a certain extent. We see a little bit at a time because he knows if we knew the entire thing we wouldn't be able to handle it. We cannot handle what our entire lives will amount to, but we can handle the fact that our Lord who is sovereign cares for us and is in control. He knows what is in store for our lives and that is a great understanding and feeling upon which we can rest. You may still be walking through a period of uncertainty about what is next or are unsure about what decision to make like myself, but trust me in this: the Lord knows and we can go before him humbly to cast what anxiety and burdens of life we have. We can find stability in the uncertainty with the Lord. As Hannah prays in 1 Samuel 2:1-10 we must also,

"And Hannah prayed and said, "My heart exults in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation. “There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble bind on strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn. The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, and on them he has set the world. “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail. The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed."

_____________________
1. DeYoung, K. (2009). Just Do Something. Chicago, IL : Moody Publishers.

 Photo found at www.homeschoolstory.com

A Letter to the Editor

Dear My Little Big Bro,

I thought, since it is your birthday, we would reminisce a little and enjoy a few throwbacks from our past ...

Looks like we always had the best poses...

And faces

And then there was the matching...

Oh how I don't miss the matching 

Looks like the calmest fight we ever had

We always went hard for Halloween 

A selfie before it was a thing perhaps?

 It is an incredible blessing to be able to have you not only as a brother by blood but a brother in Christ. Though we had our moments growing up, we truly came to have a deep bond as brothers as we grew older, in understanding and sharpening each other in the Word for the glory of God. It has been amazing to see how you have grown into this leader for your family and I look forward to seeing how God may use you as you continue your education and then go from there to proclaim the gospel in whatever context. You have set an incredible example for myself as I continue to grow in my faith and I am extremely thankful for your advice and understanding of my life and writing as I venture further into the blogging world. I'm extremely grateful for your support and hope you enjoy your first birthday as a father! Hope you've enjoyed the look into the past!

Love, 

Your Big Little Bro

A Recap of Sorts: The Beauty in the Body of Christ

This past week, I had the opportunity and privilege to serve as a counselor alongside my mom at Student Life Camp with students from our church. It was an incredible week to spend teaching, encouraging and growing with them. Each evening, there was a youth pastors meeting held that I attended since I was the fill in for the week. During these we would share prayer requests and praises from our groups for the week and it was really cool to see how God worked in the lives of all present and how we as followers to gather together to aide one anothers needs whether with vehicles and coolers or spiritual needs amongst our students. At our last meeting they left us with this question to share, "How would you describe camp in one word?" Thinking on this and pondering through the week, I came with unity. Unity as the body of Christ is what stood out amongst Student Life 2014 and it was beautiful.

It was beautiful to see the unity in the Student Life staff. They served in whatever ways possible to aide us and to help the students. From the time they pour in week in and week out I am extremely thankful that they continue to pour in all they have in hopes to reach these students for the gospel. It was incredible to see how the Lord worked through them from the rec games and testimonies and devotions shared there to the skits they performed in hopes to have the students begin to find their identity in Christ.

It was a great blessing to have Casey Darnell leading worship and having David Nasser as the camp pastor for the week. They stayed true to God's Word and proclaimed Christ in every aspect.  Casey was clear in making our worship's sole purpose to proclaim God's glory and bring him praise while David presented how our identities our found in how we answer the question and theme for the week, "Who Do You Say I Am?" based off of Mark 8:29 as well as give practical scriptural reference of how to come back from camp still rooted and grounded in what we've learned and continue to pursue Christ.

It was beautiful to see how our group grew in God's Word and together as a community. I'm not with them much throughout the year because I'm away at school but I could see a huge difference from last year to this year in how they've grown with God and how some have grown in leadership pointing the others to Christ. They were encouraging one another daily and eager to learn all they could from our family group times and the main sessions of the week. They began to share and bear one anothers burdens by actively pursuing ways they could be praying for one another. I was amazed and in awe of how God was working in their lives and how he was doing immeasurably more than we can imagine based in Ephesians 3:20-21.

I saw the beauty of the body of Christ come together this week even at young ages and it was an amazing thing to witness. As we aided them, they aided me in showing how firm they were standing in their faith and the realizations they had of pursuing what we're called to do in making disciples wherever we are and live out our faith so Christ may be glorified. My prayer is that we may continue to find our identity in Christ and our answer to who we say he is is that he is our savior and redeemer. The one who bore all so that we may have an eternity with him. The one who took on all sin and gave us unconditional love and grace that we don't deserve but because of this love he gave it to us anyways. So as we close out this week, I challenge you in the same way we were in answering this question, "Who Do You Say I Am?"

Following are a few snapshots from the week from rec time to worship to the #secretselfies taken throughout:

Join With Me...

This week, my church youth group will once again be embarking on our trip to Student Life at Cedarville University. This is our second year going with a great group of students and I'm excited to see what's in store for us while we are there. But I wanted to ask that you be in prayer with and for as we are there this week.

1. Pray for the Students
    I ask that you pray for them and how God may work through them. Pray that they come to a deeper understanding of Christ because of the time they have here. That they don't waste the opportunity given and they truly grow in the Word. That as they learn and grow in this environment and have to return as always at the end of the week to reality, that they may come down from this spiritual high still rooted in the Word and grounded in the foundations laid this past week. That they will hold each other accountable and bring encouragement to each other as they grow closer. That as a group they may examine how they can seek to serve the Lord and bring him glory. Ultimately, that they continue to pursue Jesus with everything in their lives for his glory, honor, and praise.

2. Pray for the Leaders
    This is the third time my mom and I able to break away and serve in this manner. I look forward to these times and am excited for the ways her and my dad poured into me during the time I was under their ministry and now I have the chance to serve alongside of them in their ministry and it is an extreme blessing. But I ask that you pray that God may humble us before him and use us as his instruments this week. That we may have patience and grace with the students. That we would be willing to serve them in whatever ways that they may come to know him more. That as we teach, we will do boldly, not straying from his Word, and not of ourselves but him speaking through us. Pray that our influence on these students will point them to Christ and he may be glorified by us throughout this week.

3. Pray for the Speaker
    I ask that you be in prayer for the speaker and our time with him throughout the week. That he may be humbled before God to use him and speak through him and that our hearts may be open to what he is saying through God's Word.

4. Pray for the Staff
    The Student Life camps are held all around the country throughout the summer and these groups of staff travel all over week by week. I ask that you pray for them, that God would give them strength in continuing on because I know it must be tiresome. That they may exemplify Christ by their actions and words throughout the week, pouring into these students lives to point them to Christ even though they are only with them for a short time.

Above all else, pray that God may be glorified in every aspect of this week. That we realize though the games and time to hang out are great, but the true reason to gather is to learn and worship the one who deserves all praise and glory for the grace he has poured into our lives.

"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21 ESV) 

Guarantee Does Not Mean Complacency

Lately in my walk with Christ, I have become complacent. I have become complacent to diving in and growing deeper in his word and living out his commands. I have began to consistently pray for God to ignite in me a deeper love for his word and to live my life more accustom to it. Since this realization, I was challenged while attending beach week to begin memorizing scripture, to better know the word by physically having it in me. This is something I have attempted before with little success but, by God's grace and the accountability I have surrounding me, I have begun again and grown immensely through the process.

Others and myself have embarked to memorize the book of Ephesians, something that has taught me a great deal throughout the past year and has been very applicable in my life. Though I'm still in the first chapter, I have already seen growth in myself and a deeper love for the word again. While memorizing my daily verses I came across this:

"In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory." (Ephesians 1:13-14 ESV)

While reading, repeating, and reciting this, I began to realize this is what I had been doing. I had rested in the guarantee of our faith and become complacent to it. As the passage clearly states we are sealed with the Holy Spirit. He is the guarantee of our inheritance when we obtain it by reaching eternity with Christ. This is our promise during our sanctification. But this does not mean we sit by idly. We must act.

Lets view it as this. On a game show we gain immunity somehow. Normally we play it safe and don't exert ourselves in an extreme amount. We've gained a guarantee into the next round so why risk anything? This is the exact opposite of what we as followers of Christ should maintain in our lives. Just because we have a guarantee for our eternity does not mean we sit idly by in our lives and become complacent to the gospel. This guarantee should motivate us and shape us into studying the word more, diving in deeper, and going before God to reveal himself more to us daily so we may become closer to him and to use our lives for his glory. That is what we live for. We have heard and received the gospel that he revealed to us, sending his Holy Spirit to seal us so that we may live our lives in accordance to his word and to his glory and honor and praise. Let us not grow complacent to his word but seek him through it so that he may be glorified by our lives.

"He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30 ESV)

(Photo Credit:  http://blog.tifwe.org/how-do-markets-handle-sin-human-nature/)

It's the Final Countdown

            

Twice a year: around this time in May and right before Christmas, a large group of the population of America begin to have great stress and lack of sleep placed on their lives: finals week. It is a wonderful time of year where we have comprehensive tests and large papers or projects due within a few days of each other. It's when the library is packed with all those entering the doors in hopes that these many all-nighters will prove worthy of a higher GPA. But, as we are in the midst of this chaotic week, we should take a step and back think. I know thinking even more than we already have to during this time is asking for a lot, but it's needed. We should step back and realize why we're here and what the purpose for it all is. 

Firstly, why we're here. Well some say it's to gain an education, others to pursue a future career. Even others say because that is what you do after high school; go to college. But I think it's more than that. We are here for a purpose. We have been blessed with the resources and abilities to be in higher education. God has granted us the means to be here. His providence has given us funds for tuition, the resources for food and books, and the ability to pull those all nighters. He alone has granted this to us. Yes it is true we are here to prepare us for our future careers, but it is because he has granted us the ability to be here and in his provision we are being able to pursue this for our future. 

Secondly, what is the purpose for all of this. That can be hard to determine. I have been in this boat for almost two years trying to figure out why I am even pursuing the degree I am and what I can possibly do with it. Well, the purpose can be summed up as this: 

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (Revelation 4:11 ESV)

It is for God's glory. That is why we are here. We are here to bring him glory and honor and praise through every aspect of our life; even through school. We can honor him by diligently studying and performing well so he may receive praise. It is by his will we were created. It is by his will we are here. It is from him we have everything, even the knowledge and capacity to understand what we're studying:

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."(Proverbs 1:7 ESV) 

If we begin by humbling ourselves before the one who knows all and has created all, and then progress by serving him through our work, we will succeed because we are pleasing him, regardless of how our GPA turns out or what grades we receive. If we devote our lives to honoring him in whatever we do, then we will serve our purpose; to bring him glory.

I know this is hard to realize. Studying is not the most entertaining thing to do with our time or resources. But, it is for a purpose. This is a short momentary thing we have to endure compared to what is in store for when we see Christ. So let’s humble ourselves, study hard and persevere to make his name great in our lives through our school work.

(Photo Credit: www.blueoxcreative.com)