You stepping out in faith is noticed. Keep it up in your day-to-day life too!!!

I was talking to my cousin this weekend and he was telling me about experiences from his childhood. At 45, he can still recall what an impact those types of events had on his childhood. Those memories stay with you through your whole life.

We will be starting a new season of service this September with new challenges and new ideas. We are so blessed by your actions but when we do these things all glory belongs to HIM!!! Matt and I were driving home from Indiana yesterday morning and listened to a message on the radio. The preacher was talking about doing things in the church and wanting for praise for them.

 Matthew 6:2-4 2"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

He said that too often we'll be criticized more than we deserved and complimented more than we deserved. So we need to not do things seeking the approval or praise of others. We need to do it for the glory of God and because God desires us to do it.

Let's encourage one another, thank each other, and lift each other up in prayer and words. But remember to not serve for the sole purpose in seeking praise. Do it unto the Lord and to bless those around us.

God will honor you.

 He makes all things new.  He doesn't want our lives to be dormant.  He especially doesn't want our spiritual walk with Him to be dormant.  The only way to keep a vibrant, fresh relationship with Him is to have a relationship with Him.   So let's not forget to keep Him in the forefront of our lives.  The Bible talks about a vibrant, refreshing river.  The river is actually Jesus Christ.  He is like refreshing, flowing water. 

Recently, I was at Lake Erie.  It was pretty hot out!  Me and the kids jumped into the water.  I didn't want to get in at first because I knew how cold it was compared to the air.  But once we got in, we didn't want to get out!  If we will actually really jump into a deep, refreshing relationship with Jesus, we won't want to get out! 

 But I havn't had time to go to Lake Erie recently.  So I haven't been longing to go swimming in it's refreshing water.  That happens sometimes ( a lot of times) with Jesus.  We get busy and just don't realize what we are missing out on.  WELL, Jump in!  He feels really good.  You'll  be glad yo did!  If you didn't read this far, then you won't know that this month's (August) book of the month is JOSHUA.  Let's try some O.T. this month.  Some really cool stories in this one.  Fighting, winning, etc. 

Love YOU all much!  Jesus loves you even more!  Stay Close To Him!    Larry

LET'S REMEMBER TO THANK MATT & CAT DERRICK FOR ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK MAKING THE NEW ID WEB SITE COOL!  THANKS A MILLION MATTHEW AND CATHERINE!

That leads me into our video message we watched Sunday.  Yes, you are only young once!  Enjoy life to it's fullest!  But be responsible with the body God gave you!  He only gives you one.  If you use it unwisely, the fun will be short lived!  Instead your life will experience pain and guilt for years to come!  But if we obey God, our lives will be blessed and fulfilled for years to come!  So live for God with all your heart and enjoy life.  LIFE comes from God.  He wants you not to only enjoy this life, but the LIFE that He gives for all eternity!  And eternity starts today!

 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  Romans 12:1

16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.  ICorinthians 3:16-17

SORRY FOR THE LATE NOTICE!  PLEASE READ I & II CORINTHIANS FOR THIS MONTHS (JULY) BOOK OF THE MONTH!

Debauchery is excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures.  Or it can be defined as a wild gathering involving excessive drinking and promiscuity.  I guess you can describe it as a super wild party at someone's house where you are allowed to do anything involving, sex, drugs, alcohol and wild music.  HOPE that helps!  Hopefully you'll never forget that word.  Maybe you can use it on your friends that live however they want.  Lord willing, it will never describe any of you.  May Jesus Christ keep you all pure and strong in the Holy Ghost!      Larry 

 19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

 See ya soon,  Larry

Hope you got something out of reading I and II Peter and James in April!  May's book is the book of Psalms.  It may seem long, but it's really not!  Read as much of it as you can.  You have a whole month.  What better way to end your school year but by reading praises to God!  See you soon!  Larry

This is taken from one of our books of the month.  Hope you all are reading I Timothy currently.  It has some good stuff in it.  You're a young adult.  Don't let anyone put you down or make you think you don't know anything.  Remember God will give wisdom to anyone who asks with faith (James).  We are going to be talking about purity (last word in this verse) on Wednesday.  I don't think we have any problems, but our flesh rages in lust when we don't pay attention to God and His word. 

HPV is a virus that people get because they are sexually active before marriage.  When you disobey God, there are always consequences to pay.  Obey Him, you'll be rewarded.  What kind of life will you live?   Larry

You are such a great group of young people.  I pray that you will always have faith in God.  Our lesson Wednesday was about how we always need to have faith like a child.  A child is dependent on it's parents.  That's how God wants you to rely on Him for the rest of your life.  Without faith, we cannot please God. 

Just wanted to give those not at Youth on 2/28/07  that March's Book of the Month are actually 2 books again.  This month, I would like for you to read I & II Timothy.  This book was written to a young man trying to serve God and help others do the same.  Paul said, let nobody look down on you because you are young.  God wants to use all of you.  So let's read these two encouraging books this month.  By the way, a little extra incentive is to get the candy of your choice if you complete these two books by March 31 at 11:59pm.  FYI, Hannah and Angela were rewarded with Hershy Bars Wednesday. 

Good READING.   Larry