What if I had given everything...

There's always something exciting about the start of a new year! This is my first entry for 2011 and I am delighted with how things have started this year. This is our second week of classes being back at church and the kids have been great. There is a really good feel to how we have kicked off this year. We have new faces come to our primary school age class on Monday night's, it is always a good indicator when the kids bring a friend along for the first time and this is true of Nichole who brought her friend Melissa for the first time. Monday nights continue to be both an amazing outreach for the younger kids, but also a magic training ground for the older teens. The teens are showing great signs of involvement and are having a big impact on the atmosphere created on Monday's - great stuff!!! Wednesday night's are flourishing again. Tonight we had an outstanding class! We come together at 6.15 and have a 45 minutes to hang out and play some games or get creative with some card making. At 7.00 we settle down and have a time of singing, tonight was memorable. We sang for quite a bit longer than usual, it seemed that every time we would say this would be the last song there would be someone asking for another and everyone was still engaged in the songs. After we did our "Bible Quick Draw" the time was 7.40! We didn't have time to start what I had intended to share so we looked through some old slide shows of old VBS' and Scavenger Hunts, the group had the best time reminiscing old memories and giggling at how young they looked back then. It may not have been what I had planned for the night, but the end result was rich.

I want to focus a moment on our Friday night's. The past 2 classes have been excellent! I have to say that the lessons have been amazing and the response has been equally so. The first week back we talked about what we see in the mirror. We looked at 3 perspectives - how we see ourselves, how others see us and most importantly how God sees us. We had a bit of fun with some of the observations, but when it came to the deeper issue of what God sees there was such a focus in the group. They are desperate to be seen as someone of value and importance. There were a number of noticeable reactions and I had one older teen confess some of his past actions that he was caused to face up to as a result of the lesson. God's word was active and hearts were softened. Last Friday the lesson again reached the group and hit the target. I asked the question, "Are you Motivated or simply going through the Motions." I played a song by Matthew West called "The Motions" which had been set to a simple animated movie. The first time i watchedthe animation I was sold and related totally to the message. It was when the black ball of fluff is touched by the red ball and in turn begins to bounce around impacting other black balls and turning them red also that touched a cord in my heart. The line in the song that said, "I don't wanna spend my whole life askin what if I had given everything!" That line has stuck with me and on Friday night the lesson was powerful. I know the group were challenged to question their values and what motivated them. I have no doubt that again the Spirit was softening their young hearts to "HEAR" the words of life.

On Sunday night we had our 3rd Sunday. I have to confess that I was feeling rather spent before the weekend came around, but even in my weakness I was the benefactor of strength that came from above. Paul's words come to mind, "When I am weak, then I am strong." I shared a lesson on, "Why we look forward to the New Year." We shared the principle of our need for re-birth and forgiveness and that New Year is a time we try to forget what is behind and focus on what is in front of us. I spoke from the heart about my need for the hope that comes from being forgiven and how I couldn't imagine going from day to day without having the assurance that my failings and guilt had been taken care off. It was again evidence for me that God can use a broken earthen vessel to share priceless and timeless truths about His grace and mercy.

There has been a change in our 3rd Sunday's. I used to spend ages phoning around trying to get the teens there, to now seeing them come of their own free will. We have a great bunch of Christian youth and another bunch seeking and faithfully coming to hear and see. It is true reason to anticipate that this will be a good year - God willing!


I must also mention our "Watchnight Service." This is a long held tradition in Peterhead that we meet at 11.30 on the eve of the New Year and see in the New Year with a time of worship and fellowship. This year we were able to share the occasion with a bunch of the youth. Everyone commented how refreshing it was to have been a part of it. We had some sweet mince pies and other refreshments while enjoying a time of fellowship. Everyone wished each other "All the best for 2011." Afterward we had the youth down to our house for some fun. We finally had to kick them out at 4.00 in the morning! We really enjoyed the night and the youth made some good memories to start off the New Year with.

My work in the schools has got off to a flyer! This afternoon I was filling my diary with all my school commitments and assembly dates for the term and I am overwhelmed at the opportunity I am afforded! I think back to the first contact with Central school and look at how again, God finds use for a broken earthly vessel - He is Good! One exciting thing that happened as I was arranging my assembly dates with the schools was two of them were planning into next term because they didn't want to miss out in getting the Campaign group! It was obvious that a great impression had been made last June with the newly formed group made up from within UK churches. We have already got the ball rolling for this years campaign and anticipate great things!

Just a quick word in closing about Fenella's mum Alexa. Alexa went into hospital last week for a hip replacement. On the whole, Everything has gone well and she is now home recovering. Fenella has been tirelessly going back and forth to Aberdeen to be with her mum and has been amazing. No doubt Fenella will be playing a very active part in Alexa's rehabilitation over the coming weeks.

God Bless!