keep on keeping on...

ministry is an interesting thing. you serve and love people and you do as unto the Lord but...
relationships are messy...
life isn't easy.
people aren't perfect.
hard things happen.
circumstances change.
and on and on...

which makes the need for Christ in our lives so urgent. who can get through this life alone? let me go first, not me!!!

just today i have been in tears probably three times. i need Christ... in fact i'm desperate for him.

that's why we do ministry .... high school ministry propels kids toward Christ in the midst of life.

every sunday night after youth group luke and i debrief. sometimes that means talking for a half hour while other times that means just silence, praying, smiles and laughter, or tears... the whole spectrum sometimes too.

there's always reasons to be frustrated and always reasons to be excited, to see God at work and to stop and think... wow, what we are trying to use our lives for is actually meaningful. clearly, we are just two people he is using but none of what is being done is because of us or something that we should receive glory for. all of it is for the Lord and his kingdom it's just cool to be part of it.

however last night Luke received a letter from a student whose life has been changed in the midst of being part of harvest hsm (among many things of course).

these type of stories we don't take lightly... i hope it blesses you the way it did me. God changes lives...to him be the glory!

Dear Luke,
I'm sure I've said it a million times, but I am so glad I started coming to youth group in Rolling Meadows. You have no idea how much it has totally changed me. Before coming to HSM, I was totally NOT on fire for the LORD. I was very focused on myself and what I wanted in life. At that time, I had no idea what brought me to youth group (obviously, now i know it was the Lord!!) that day in January, but I knew the minute you started preaching that this is what I had been missing for years in my life: in your face, unashamed, relevant to me, TRUTH. I never felt that way about youth group before. I am forever changed by the message you gave that day. Your words brought me out of my selfish haze and made me realize how stupid and stubborn i was.
Since your message, I have been forever changed. I have never been happier in my relationships with friends, never so in love with the LORD and never stronger in my faith. I have you to thank for that. The Lord spoke powerfully through you that day and I am so glad he did.

God is awesome and it's so cool to hear about lives changed.
Psalm 33:4
For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.
thankful,
kg