STRENGTH

Last night was the opening of the new student center, The SPRING. It was an exciting five and ½ hours as students played various games, used the computers, played music and interacted.

However, I must admit that I was tired. During these last five months there were many times I didn’t think I could keep going, I was so physically exhausted. But God is faithful to His Word and gives us strength to do that which honors and pleases Him.

²⁹ He gives strength to the weary,

And to him who lacks might He increases power.

³⁰ Though youths grow weary and tired,

And vigorous young men stumble badly,

³¹ Yet those who wait for the LORD

Will gain new strength;

They will mount up with wings like eagles,

They will run and not get tired,

They will walk and not become weary.

Isaiah 40:29 - 31 (NASB)

I am even more excited about the new body that we will receive one day from the Lord; the one that doesn’t get tired at all. Meantime, He gives us the strength to do what we need to do.

The SPRING is open because the Lord gave us strength, materials, help when we needed it and so much more. It will succeed in its task of keeping kids safe and introducing them to Christ only through His power and as we, the staff, stay surrendered to Him.

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

AMAZED

Five months ago we started to work on a building that was built in 1946. Our goal was to honor God by making a place that teens in our town could go to in safety to have fun, do homework, be tutored, play music and hear the story of Jesus Christ.

God has put this whole thing together; He assembled the workers, the finances and the building. Praise the Lord.

He has given me a new song to sing,

a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see what he has done and be amazed.

They will put their trust in the LORD.

Psalms 40:3 (NLT)

I am amazed at what He has accomplished here, but I know that for Him it was a snap. Pray that we will continue to give Him honor and that we will be able to transmit that feeling of amazement and awe for our Lord to the teens of our town. We open the center to students this very afternoon!

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

DIFFERENTLY

Last night 37 people attended a pre-opening gathering of those who were instrumental in working on the SPRING, a student center for kids 12 to 19 years of age. It was a night to celebrate and a night to reflect on the seriousness of the task that lies ahead.

One of the passages that the name for the SPRING comes from is John 4:14

But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” (NLT)

Jesus was talking to a woman from Samaria…

⁷Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” ⁹The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. John 4:7, 9 (NLT)

We will have “Samaritan’s” or non-Christians coming to the youth center and we want to offer them a “drink;” a drink of the SPRING of LIFE, Jesus Christ. In order to do that we will have to not only read the Word of God aloud but BE Christ to them. We will have to be different and act differently; as the Samaritans were different from the Jews, we will need to be different and act differently from the world, those who do not count Jesus Christ as their Lord and Master.

Pray for us. Thanks.

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD