Sometimes teenagers feel helpless and useless in the church. Especially if they happen to attend a church where there is a small youth group! Or, maybe they are the youth group!! 1 and no more!! But, John tells the story of Lazarus death and resurrection in chapter 11. And buried in that story is an encouraging fact for these teenagers!

John said that Mary & Martha "sent unto Him". They sent a messenger to Jesus to tell Him that Lazarus was dying. In Bible days messengers were usually young teenage boys! He runs to tell Jesus what is happening and to ask Him to come help. At first, it seems like he failed! Jesus didn't come! But, He did arrive and many miracles took place! Lazarus was healed, Mary was changed and Marthas faith was revived! And it all started because of one teenager who got ahold of Jesus!!

Maybe a teen that is reading this feels like they aren't able to do much for God. Or, you feel useless in your church. Sometimes young people get discouraged in their walk with God and even think about quitting! Many do quit! But, God was pulled to this situation by a teenager! Just one boy who got Jesus to show up and do miracles and bring life back to a dead situation!

Young person, God wants to use you!! No doubt about it...There is power in just one teenager who decides to get ahold of God! Maybe you need a miracle in your family, or a school situation or even in your dying or struggling home church! Why don't you be the one to reach out to Jesus? Tell Him what's going on and how bad you need him to show up quickly!

There is power in 1 teenager who will do their best to get ahold of God for their bad situation!!

Hey teenager...Try it! You may be the messenger that gets through to Jesus!! Wouldn't it be awesome to be the one God used to start a revival in your church? Or, the one that touched Jesus for a miracle in your family or parents lives? Awesome!! And, Jesus could simply be waiting on you!! So, start running!! Get to Jesus!!

"Preacher,
It's not YOU who is working when you are in the pulpit.
YOU work when you're pouring yourself out w tears in prayer.
YOU work when you're hungrily reading God's Word.
YOU work when you're diligently studying books that mine ore from the Greatest Book!
YOU work when you sacrificially fast food to esteem God more worthy.
But, when you get in the pulpit, your work is done!!
That's when it's time for GOD to go to work!!!"
Let HIM work in your ministry!

I read this article today. It is very challenging! I plan to pass it to my Prayer Partner and let him observe and confront me on any of these he may see in my life. I hope you will do the same!

http://thomrainer.com/2013/03/05/seven-warning-signs-of-a-leaders-fall/#comment-18987

The main thing to remember about worship is this... Worship is all about the audience!
And, YOU are not the audience!!

God is the audience!

He is watching your worship! He is listening to your voice as it rises in praise to Him!
So, worship with all your heart worshipper for you have an awesome audience!!

A. W. Tozer said, "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us."

For the very thing we think He is will shape the very pattern of our life actions. I want to know Him so well that my life's activities will be like Him.
I want to influence the people in my care to know their Savior so fully that everything in their life will be like Him!
Lets attempt to do that today!!

Here we go!!
It's the first Sunday of 2013!!
Your first opportunity to reach into the field to glean a soul.
The first chance to pull back the veil & show men eternity.
The first day to pour your heart out for a year long revival.
This is #1 of 52 Sunday Mornings to weep over the lost!
Today is the day to set the standard for how anointed your preaching will be in 2013!!
So, go glean, push & pull, pour out, weep and cry & preach under the anointing!! At the very best we only have 51 more chances this year.
Then again, this could be our last Sunday Morning anyway!!!

Christmas is Heaven tugging men's hearts back to God with the powerful grip of a baby's hand!

"Merry Christmas!!!!"

We hear it so many times that it simply becomes words that we say. We think we have to say them! It's true, we should give the wish of a merry Christmas to everyone, but I don't want to lose sight of what it means?
It doesn't mean gifts & lights. It really doesn't mean that we will be "home for Christmas", because "home" is where the ones you love are at... and as long as you're together, time & place doesn't matter. It doesn't mean a fancy tree or snow on the ground. No, none of that is what "Merry Christmas!" means.
Merry Christmas means, I am joyful about Jesus birth!

I know the circumstances of my life, but I also know the Savior of my life so...Merry Christmas!
I know the pain & problems of my life, but I also know the Prince of Peace is in my life so... Merry Christmas!
Yes, I even know the future will have ups & downs. And, sometimes it will seem like more "downs" than "ups", but I still have the Joy of Jesus in my life!!

So, Merry Christmas!!!

"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act out their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible."
~ T.E. Lawrence

What have you dreamed of today? What is your vision for your services this week? What have you asked God to accomplish through you & your people today?
Surely the dream is not small but great, for our God is awesome and wants to do something awesome in your church and your life!! Lets get down on our knees now and dream a bigger dream with God for our lives!!!
Gods BIG!! Dream BIG!! Accomplish BIG!!

J. Oswald Sanders said on Essential Leadership Qualities, "Only the disciplined person will rise to his highest powers. The Leader is able to lead because he has conquered himself! The Leader will work while others waste time, study while others sleep,  and pray while others play." 
I pray that today every Pastor will see the results of his disciplined ministry in the altars with his disciples. 
I've read that when Dr. Thomas Cochrane, Founder of The World Dominion Movement, was being interviewed for the mission field, he was asked which position he felt called to work in. He answered, "I only know I should wish it to be the hardest you could offer me." How unlike me! And, probably unlike you!
It takes discipline to make disciples of Christ. We live in an undisciplined world. Let this poem challenge you...
When God wants to drill a man
And thrill a man
And skill a man,
When God wants to mold a man
To play the noblest part;
When He yearns with all His heart
To create so great and bold a man
That all the world shall be amazed,
Watch His methods, watch His ways!
How he ruthlessly perfects
Whom He royally elects!
How He hammers him and hurts him,
And with mighty blows converts him
Into trial shapes of clay which
Only God understands;
While his tortured heart is crying
And he lifts beseeching hands!
How He bends but never breaks
When his good He undertakes;
How He uses whom He chooses
And with every purpose fuses him;
By every act induces him
To try His splendor out-
God knows what He's about!!"
Let God discipline you that you may lead your flock forward in faith!