His Encouragement #55

Happy Thursday! I am blessed to be a part of a group of bloggers who feel led to share a bit of encouragement each week from the Bible. We recognize our daily need for Christ and we aim to share that with our readers. Plus, when Thursday comes around, we can all use a little encouragement right? I hope that this post blesses you and that you find comfort, strength, and peace in the Lord today ❤

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Last weekend I went on a trip to Pennsylvania with some of the kids in our youth group at church. We went for what is known as The James project. Last year was the first year that my husband and I attended, so we were looking forward to returning again this year. As far as I know it’s specific to the camp we were at, but The James Project is where a small group comes in and helps run support for the camp by helping to serve food, washing dishes, cleaning bathrooms and any other tasks needed. During the summer a large number of their staff are college kids who are off of school, but during the off-season months it’s more difficult (and costly) to find short-term help for shorter events.

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Galatians 5:13 (ESV)

One thing that I truly love about the youth pastor that we have at our church, is that he has impressed on the teens that having a relationship with the Lord and serving Him is something that isn’t exclusive to adults. His hope is to get them to develop their own personal relationship with God in their teen years so that they are better equipped to take their faith with them when they head off to college and the real world and no longer have Mom and Dad taking them to church every Sunday.

Each year our group takes a fairly short book to read together as a group while we have some off-time. This year we read The Gospel Primer by Milton Vincent. The point of the book was to share with Christians how important the gospel is not just to become a believer, but as a believer. We should be reminding ourselves of the gospel on a daily basis and preaching it to ourselves just as much as we share it with others. It changes how we view the world, others, and even ourselves. It effects how we live our lives and what our priorities are. Put simply–it changes everything!

Nothing that we do in this life is good enough to earn our own salvation. Works are a fruit of our salvation, but they can never be our ticket to heaven. Every single one of us needs the saving grace through Jesus Christ. There is no other way. Knowing this should change how we live. It should awaken a desire in our hearts to share Jesus with others. To adults: we have a duty to help equip the next generation of believers to share Christ with the world. To teens: just because you are young doesn’t mean that God can’t use you and that your faith can’t be real. To everyone: Pursue God with all of your being and live your life for Him.

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Now, it’s your turn!

What Biblical verse is encouraging you today?

And, check out more Thursday Encouragement from my fellow blogger friends:

Nicole @ Christian Fiction Girl

Trisha @ Joy of Reading

Jacquelyn @ A Heavenly Home

Jessica @ A Baker’s Perspective

Gina @ Stories By Gina

Rebecca @Rev. Rebecca Writes

If you would like to join us: please contact Trisha or Nicole