Take the Land Part 3 – Days that Echo for Eternity

An amazing day in Student Ministries for me!

1st – Nathan & his friend Alex were able to play in the band together for the first time. (Nathan’s playing is another post in & of itself!) I love seeing the students leading their peers in worship! A friend of mine was watching and got tears in her eyes seeing young kids live their faith out loud. Sorry the picture’s a little blurry – trying to time the lights so I could get a picture was challenging! As it is, you can’t really see Nathan behind the glass, but he’s there! 🙂

2nd – Another beautiful message from Joshua (even though I took it out of the Old Testament a few weeks ago :-)) But, like my friend Kerri said, the “damage” has already been done, so might as well keep it and the Student Ministries staff intact. 🙂 (If you’re not sure what I’m talking about, click here, then here! please!) Today was Joshua 6&7 – the battles of Jericho & Ai

Bottom line – it’s all about the focus.
“Your posture precedes your portion”

• Where is the focus of my life?
• Where is the focus of my source of strength?
• Where’s my focus when I’m in the desert or things are silent?

Ultimately all of those answers need to be “God”. Am I looking for GOD to do something, or am I focused on my own strength and thought process? I’ve already shared my Jericho/Ai personal illustration with my 1st 2 races. One little 5K (I blew it!) & one big 1/2 marathon (God did it!).

Joshua’s posture of humility before and dependence on God resulted in victory at Jericho! Israel’s reliance on themselves + sin in the camp resulted in defeat at the puny town of Ai.

Here are a few of the notes I wrote down today:

• The Israelites’ time in the desert was to form their character
• Your vertical relationship determines your horizontal relationships
• The question isn’t “WHAT” am I living for, it’s “WHO” am I living for?
• Power isn’t in what you’re doing, it’s in WHO your doing it for
• Silence preceded Shouts of Victory
• We want to have students whose days Echo for Eternity!

I LOVE! how our students are being challenged and called up – in an inspiring but also very realistic way! Yes, there is land to take, but there will be battles to fight when you take that land, and you’d better make sure you have the right posture – empty of sin & self so you can be filled with God & move in HIS strength!

I LOVE! that I can serve in Student Ministries and get something out of that message as well!

I LOVE! that the series ended with a chance for those students who felt called to take the land to stand, be surrounded by adults & peers, prayed over & commissioned to go out and Take The Land, and that Nathan was able to pray for people. He was excited about that.

I LOVE! that Michael stood up & was prayed over, knowing he has been called by God to TAKE THE FIELD – his football team.  (Still can’t believe I have 2! in Middle School!)

I LOVE! all of you that have encouraged me in this blogging thing and have assured me of your prayers for Nathan as he is at Landings this year. Your prayers will Echo for Eternity as you go with him daily into his battle ground. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!