26 Jan, 2010
Anything
That's what young people can do for God!
Yesterday, I read an article about a 16 year old girl who just set sail alone in a yacht. Where was she going? Around the world! You can follow her blog during her voyage at http://www.abbysunderland.com.
Today, I read an article about a 7 year old boy who wanted to raise some money for the people in Haiti. How much did he raise? Almost $200,000! To read more about it, go to http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/01/25/uk.boy.charity.haiti.
In the Bible, I read about an 8 year old boy named Josiah who had kind of an important role in Judah. What did he do? He was King of Israel...at 8 years of age!!! To read more about his story and how he turned the people back to the one true God, go to II Kings 22.
I Timothy 4:12 [NIV]
Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.
Philippians 4:13 [NLT]
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
What does God's Story teach us about doing ANYthing for Him?
Today's stories are amazing.
Who would have thought that an 8 year old boy could raise almost $200,000 for the Haitians? Most any adult who heard a kid say that they wanted to raise that much money would simply dismiss them, share with them a long list of reasons why it wouldn't work, pat them on the head and thank them for their good intentions... but Charlie Simpson did it!
And who would have thought that a 16 year old girl could sail around the globe... by herself? Even in her months of "prayerful preparation", as her blog puts it, she had many people trying to convince her that she wasn't ready. But in one article about Abby Sunderland, a renowned Australian adventurer, Don McIntyre supported her, saying children "have lost the art of dreaming."
Throughout the Bible we see God using young people in amazing ways as well. David was a young boy when he defeated the giant, Goliath. Mary was likely just a teen when she gave birth to the Messiah. And in II Kings 22 we see an 8 year old King turn a whole nation back to God!
God's Word teaches us clearly that He wants to use young people in powerful ways and that they aren't supposed to wait to "grow up" before He uses them!
How does this connect with my story?
Maybe God has it for you to do something that the whole world will know about... like sail around the world or raise hundreds of thousands of dollars... and maybe He wants to use you in other less noticeable ways. In either case, remember...
- God does not want to wait to use you. He has plans to use you right now!
- Don't let anyone "look down on you because you are young" or try to snuff out your dreams. If God gives you a vision to make something happen, He will help you get it done... regardless of what others may tell you.
- Nothing is too big for God. You can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens you.
- The "size" of what He calls you to is not important. He might want to use you to start a new ministry on your campus, begin a new website that reaches out to millions of people or perhaps go next door and share Christ with that 1 neighbor who desperately needs Him. No matter how big or how small...just doing it and being faithful to what He calls you to is what is important.
How does this connect with their story?
"Their story" will certainly be impacted by Charlie Simpson and the $200,000 he raised... you can count on that!
What God calls you to do will also impact those around you. It might be directly or indirectly, but it will certainly have an impact. Start dreaming big...and while you are seeking what God would have you do...remember that we serve the God who is able to help us do ANYTHING.
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