Well...here it is....

The Daraja Children's Choir from Kenya was here this weekend and, first off, I just have to say....wow. God is working in their lives and through their lives everyday. With that in mind, let's think about how we are here. Sitting up on our pedestals with everything that we need at our reach. God has given us everything we'll ever need and, what do we do? Hoard it and give Him NO thanks. Guys, these kids come from the other side of the world from a lifestyle that we can't even imagine. Some of these kids have no parents, no grandparents, and no homes but yet they STILL give all that they have to God. Everything. Luke 21:1-4 says "As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 'I tell you the truth,' he said, 'this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.'" This woman gave all she had to her Lord. Her Creator. I make myself sick sometimes. God has provided me with so much and all I do is throw it back in His face. We EXPECT God to give us what we want. That's disgusting of us, guys.


Today, a boy I had never talked to named Moses came up behind me and grabbed my hand and held it as we walked over to the rest of the choir. This 6th grade boy from Kenya, with his multicolored scarf and his ripped khakis, was loving on ME. He was showing me God's love because He knows that's what God wants us to do. That's what God called us to do. Love. Whether that entails loving your neighbor, your enemy, your best friend or even...God. Guys, we have a lot of work to do. We have big changes to make and, honestly, it's not going to be easy. We, as Christians, will be persecuted and made fun of. We WILL have hardships and trials but, guess what? God overcame the world. I think we can handle a little criticism every now and then.


-Carter L.

Remember

What would you like to be remembered for? Who you dated? What type of clothes you wore? What kind of car you drove? Be honest with yourself. Out of everything in your life, what would you like people to remember about you? You know, God wants you to be happy. He wants everyone to be happy and we take advantage of that. We take advantage of everything that God gives us but, do we thank Him for it? No. We go on with our lives because we expect Him to give us those things. God gave you all of those things that you want people to remember about you. Regardless of what it is. So don't you think we should repay Him for those things? Maybe get over ourselves and start living for Christ? All of my blogs seem to have a running theme recently and I know people out there, including myself, have trouble with this topic. We go to church, go to YoungLife, wear Jesus shirts, and maybe pray sometimes but, then we don't live out our faith around friends when it REALLY matters. Our world is hurting, guys. Christians are hurting. Your friends are hurting. Love them and have people remember that you had Christ shining in your life. Matthew 5:15 says "Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house." Be a light to this world. Be a light to your friends. Let God be remembered.

-Carter L.