Preconfirmation 4-25-09

All glory to God always. Having just completed two of the most fruitful weeks in our Gideon camps history, with a very successful Pastors Appreciation Banquet (PAB) and a Gideon message at the local Salvation Army Church, we are now looking forward to the Florida State Convention of The Gideons International, while simultaneously completing a long period of preparation for the confirmation of several youth at Grace United Methodist Church, the challenge of finding a new leader for our praise team, and the end of another school year. We have been blessed beyond measure. Thank God that He has chosen His servant to undertake such formidable tasks. But didn’t I read once, that it said somewhere “My yoke is easy and my burden is light” [Matthew 11:28-30]?

What lies behind us seems too grand for us to have accomplished, yet the mountain we see in front of us seems so insurmountable. How did we meet the challenges of our past? It all started with prayer. We prayed for every aspect of the PAB. We bathed our service at the Salvation Army with prayer. For once my heart and mind are in agreement. We should be praying for every part of the confirmation, pray for the state convention, pray that God will call the right person to lead our music ministry, and even pray for the children and their teachers as the school year comes to a close. “Anything in my name you ask, you will receive” [John 16:24]. Remember this holds true for you as well. I am convinced that what we have accomplished took place by the hand of God, and the only way for us to overcome the challenges in our future is if it is His will.

In a time when our society seems to be turning away from God, our church has one of the largest confirmation classes I can ever remember. Tomorrow, all of these fine youths will be confirmed into the church; what a joy to see so many committing their lives to the Lord. Having been a mentor to one of the youths and having attended retreats with the youths, I bare witness to the personal relationship each of these young people have developed with our Lord Jesus Christ.

So, where do you stand in the scheme of things? Do you have praises to give for the miraculous things that have happened in your life? Are you feeling the tremendous weight of tasks that have been placed in front of you, too large for you to bare alone? You are not alone. Jesus has said “And surely I am with you always” [Matthew 28:19-20]. This doesn’t mean only when you are successful, rich, strong, winning. He will be with you when you fail, are pour, weak, are lost and even in those times when you can not seem to find a friend, God will be there.