Stand Up, Stand Up For Jesus!

I found an old file entitled: “Kids on Love & Marriage”

Concerning the Proper Age to Get Married

"Once I’m done with kindergarten, I’m going to find me a wife." -Bert, Age 5

"Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then." -Camille, age 10

"No age is good to get married at. You got to be a fool to get married." -Freddie, age 6

The Great Debate: Is it Better to be Single or Married?

"It’s better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need somebody to clean up after them." -Anita, Age 9

"It gives me a headache to think about that stuff. I’m just a kid. I don’t need that kind of trouble." -Will, Age 7

Confidential Opinions About Love:

"I’m in favor of love as long as it doesn’t happen when Spongebob is on television." -Anita, Age 6

"Love will find you, even if you are trying to hide from it. I have been trying to hide from it since I was five, but the girls keep finding me." -Bobby, Age 8

"I’m not rushing into being in love. I’m finding fourth grade hard enough." -Regina, Age 10

Will you bow with me for a Word of Prayer?

This morning, as we continue into our New Year, I’d like to take a look at a verse that I think we ought to read every day of the year. As a reminder of just WHO our God is:

Turn with me over to Ephesians 3:20

“Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.”

With this verse in our minds, I want us to take a moment to focus on one particular area of that verse – “unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think…”

We talked a little last week about how we should approach the New Year – about turning our focus around and getting Jesus back on the top of our priorities for 2005. Looking at every event, every word, every trial, joy, EVERY moment through our Lord’s eyes. You and I both know we will probably fail miserably at the “EVERY” part – but if we can somehow turn from our carnal selves and begin to look through Jesus – then we can have the best year we have ever had on this earth. Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, & temperance…

Ask yourself: “What has envy, worry, anger, strife, short temper, anxiety, lust and all these things ever brought my life?” Have they brought me happiness?

Jesus is able and willing and ready to do abundantly MORE than we could ever hope to think or ask. I think if you take a quick look back in your life you will find this to be true. I believe there are many testimonies in this room as to time wasted worrying, being anxious – whining – only to find that God had something in mind that even our feeble mind could not comprehend.

There are times in our lives that we can remember being very self focused – self centered – worried about our own problems –

Do you remember a time like that in your life? One struggle after another – you climb one hill only to be faced with another, even larger hill…constantly letting the enemy come in and discourage you – do you remember a moment when you were overcome – totally overcome with unexplainable loneliness – completely convinced that God has shut you out and shut you off. He’s pulled His hearing aides out and “he ain’t listening”!

You cry out – “God! Where are You?? I pray, I study Your Word, I seek after You! All I want is to be close to You! WHY WON’T YOU DELIVER ME FROM THIS???”

David Wilkerson spoke of reaching a time such as this – and talked about how at times when we face such things we seem to approach God with our heads down, discouraged, and weak.

We pray, “Lord, I don’t blame you. You are good and kind to me – I just know the problem is me – I’ve failed you so much.”

All God hears from us is how unprofitable we are in His sight. How bad we are. How unworthy we are – we think we are being humble – but I want to say something about this – praying and putting yourself down like this just HAS to be a complete and utter insult to God – a God who has adopted us with a covenant PROMISE to love and support us through a LIFETIME – “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think!!!!”