If there’s anything that puts a permagrin on the face of a youth worker, it is seeing your students grow in their ability to process and articulate their faith. Since I didn’t know what to write for today, I share this post from the blog of one of my students (who is, admittedly, still riding the Passion::DC wave):

“where there is light the darkness cannot be”
Doesn’t our hope rest on that verse? That any bit of light, no matter how small or flickering… that ANY bit of light drives out darkness! Hallelujah!
There is darkness in this world, that is for sure, but there is also the beauty of a loving God who sent his son down to this Earth to save us from the eternity we deserve. Now that we’ve been blessed with this faith and salvation, should we not attempt to do everything we can to glorify the one who gave us even the very voice we use to praise Him? “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”(Matthew 15:14-16) Our talent abounds, so should our praise. Our riches compile, I would suggest that our giving does also. This doesn’t mean we all should become worship leaders and write books and speak nationally about our faith, however, it does mean, that whatever our talents are, we should use them for the glory of the only kingdom that will forever remain. Whether is be an engineer, a cafe owner, a photographer, a math teacher, a musician, a doctor, a nurse, a French translator, a publicist, an editor, a classical piano performer, a dentist, a music teacher, a member of a prominent record label, a graphic designer, a government affairs director, part of our country’s military personnel, a stay at home mom… that whatever it be, no matter how great or how small in the eyes of the world… that whatever we do, we do to the glory of the one who’s flame will never die. Because in the end, our riches on this earth, whether our name is remembered on some plaque or the pages of a history book, will not matter… however, the riches we store up in Heaven will never pass away.
May we remember this truth as we move ahead in our lives, determine a major, drive off to college, wherever that may be, and go about the rest of our days, that no matter what comes, the Lord is the Lord of all, and just as He holds the world in His hands, He also carries us when we can’t even walk.
My prayer is that any light that is shown upon us that we would directly reflect that back to the one that deserves all praise, glory, and honor.

<3>The Lord has promised good to me, his word my hope secures. He will my shield, my portion be, as life endures. My chains are gone, I’ve been set free, my God my Savoir, has ransomed me, and like a flood, his mercy reigns, unending love, amazing gracethe earth shall soon desolve like snow, the sun forbear to shine, but God who called me hear below will be forever mine…