Promise in the Rainbow

Scripture
1 John 5-10

Rainbows.

Rainbows are created when light hits the darkened sky and is mixed with the water in the earth’s atmosphere. They are one of the most beautiful and unique blessings in creation. Not only are they beautiful, but they also represent the covenant between God and man. God promised never to flood the earth again - - and He hasn’t. Rainbows remind us of the trust we can place in God. When God says He will do something – He will do it. When God promises He won’t do something – it will not be done.


Everything about God is pure, light, hope, truth and love. If we choose to be a follower of His; if we choose to be in relationship with God then we have a responsibility to walk in His light, and that light will reveal our whole lives – everything we do, we say and we are – even our dirty little secrets.


Often, like little children who have made a mistake we try and hide away our devious behavior. We believe that God will not want to be in a relationship with us if He knows who we are but the reality is that in trying to keep a vice or a sin a secret from God, hidden in the darkness, we cannot be in relationship with God….


If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth(1 John 1:6).


Claiming to be in relationship with God, but refusing to give up our sin to Him, makes a mockery of the relationship we desire and doesn’t allow for true fellowship with God. When in relationship with God, we cannot hide our sin – our dirty little secrets – rather they are exposed and revealed. We must be honest with our faults, failures and missteps. Once they are revealed – once we turn over our sin to the light – Jesus washes us clean and we shine brightly in the light of God; granting us a relationship under the beautiful covenant of God’s rainbow.


In reality, we all have sin. Each day we will face obstacles which will cause us to fall short of fully living in the light of God. However, we have the tremendous gift of seeking God’s forgiveness and accepting His salvation. In that forgiveness and salvation we find ourselves washed clean and pure, able to walk with God in the glory of our relationship with Him.


Rainbows are light out of darkness. They sparkle and shine brightly bringing delight and joy. Similarly, when we let go of our sin – when we go before God in honesty, allowing His light to shine in all of the hidden places of our hearts – God is delighted and His rainbow of light surrounds us with His love.


All too often rainbows are hidden from our sight. Their color is washed out by the brilliance of the sun but when they are revealed they are spectacular to behold. The same holds true when we truly accept forgiveness from God. The relationship built on truth and honesty is a mighty spectacle to behold.

Quote of the Day

The soul would have no rainbow had the eyes no tearsJohn Vance Cheney

Question of the Day

When was the last time you saw a rainbow?

Don't forget to check out the GUMY Photo Album with updated photos from GUMY Session #2

GUMY Photo Album

To Whom Much is Given...

Some days it seems we live in a world of hopelessness. We, as a country, are in the middle of two full blown wars, we are on the brink of economic disaster, we do no have leadership to claim ownership over the disarray, and we are all like spoiled children bickering amongst ourselves because we didn't get the best toy.

We live in a nation which has been one of the most blessed in all of history. We have won nearly every war we have ever entered. We have prospered each generation better than the one before it. We have made developed some of the greatest inventions known in modern history. We have set the standard for freedom around the world. And yet, we are allowing this prosperity -  these blessings from God - to wither in the face of apathy and entitlement.

God has richly blessed us and because of the blessings and as such we are required to give back.

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.  (Luke 12:48b)

We have been blessed with so much as Americans. In many ways we are like the ancient Israelites who turned from God when times were good. We have become apathetic in our faith - choosing our religion from a smorgasbord rather than through a heart felt devotion. We have decided to put things and our own selves in front of God, in the name of religious freedom. The Israelites of Judah did this too, and God took His favor off of them and allowed their exile for years in Babylon.  He was disciplining a fallen people - a people who cared more about themselves and their idols than about the God Who had saved them.

But He still loved them - and He gave them hope...

God told them, "I've never quit loving you and never will.
Expect love, love, and more love! (Jeremiah 31:4 - MSG)

And God feels the same way about us. He will never quit loving us - even though we will need discipline - He will never quit loving us. Love is what God wants to shower on us - but our culture turns its collective nose up at God's love.

Our duty as Christians, as ones to whom much has been given, is to go into our communities and share the love that God has given us. A transformation can take place. It isn't too late for our country - if we focus on the love, on our love for others, rather than our love for self - God will move in mighty ways in this place.

The world doesn't change over night; The world changes when one small whisper is joined by another small whisper and another until each one builds on the other and raises from a whisper to a shout to a scream. All it takes is one small voice to start.

Will you be the voice?

Scripture:

Jeremiah 31

Quote of the Day

And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country . My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.

John F. Kennedy

...What can you do for God today to make this country, this state, this town, more Christ centered?

Don't forget to comment below if you have a thought to share or insight...Also - be sure to check out the Digging Deeper and GUMY Photo Album pages

Digging Deeper

GUMY Photo Album - Updated w/ Pics from first GUMY Session on Sept 18th

1 Day...Everything Changes in One Day

One day...Twenty-four hours....

We don't think much about what happens in a day. The average person lives more than 28,000 days in life, so what is so special about - one day?

On this day, September 17th, in history the following things occurred:

• Poland was overtaken by the Soviet Union during WWII and would remain an occupied territory throughout WWII and an oppressed nation of Eastern Europe until the late 1980's nearly fifty years later.
• On this day in 2001, the Stock Market reopened after the tragedy of 9/11.
• In 1978, the Camp David Accords were signed leading to a tentative peace in the Middle East
• In 1873, 19 students attended the first class at The Ohio State University.
• And, on this day in 1787 the US Congress adopted the US Constitution...changing the course of how our country would be governed for over 200 years.

Today is not just "one day", nor is tomorrow.

Something happens every day and everything can happen in just one day.

Maybe you will meet someone today who will be the best friend of your life, or maybe someone you know will have a baby and a new life will begin. Maybe a tragedy will occur or maybe a celebration.

One day can change the course of your life. In fact, one day will change the course of your life; and more than likely several one days will transform your life. What you do with your one days is what matters.

You have the chance to spend this one day creating something great - living out loud for Christ and His purpose. You have the chance to positively react to something which is negatively impacting you.

And one day, Jesus will come. He will catch up His believers and carry us to Heaven to be with Him. We do not know when that one day will be, but it is our opportunity and our challenge to make each one day between now and then count; to live with the fire of Christ burning in us.

On this one day you can change a life... will it be yours?

Scripture (click the link below)

2 Peter 3:3-18

If you could do ANYTHING today...what would it be...and why?

Fun Fact...GUMY Top Ten Memories...

#1....The people....

My number one memory from GUMY is a blend...it is of all of the leaders and students who have been woven through the ministry over the last twenty plus years - since I was in middle school.

I think about Kevin Teeters and him driving three eighth grade girls four hours to Kentucky...or about Joyce Galbraith and her willingness to teach a middle school Sunday School Class. I remember Danny Howser being a willing servant and the countless adults who made youth important when I was young.

I think about Kathryn and Jack whose ministry changed my life. I think about Jeff and our friendship and how we accepted Christ at the same time. I remember Mandy and how friends who met at four years old have a bond thirty years strong.

I remember the first youth meeting I attended as a leader with Amy & Jeff & Libby and we had Erik, Jessica & Jenny as our GUMY's and how they were the foundation from which great things blossomed. I think about my parents, Larry & Jean Ann and their willingness to step up and teach a group of high school kids on Sunday mornings. And I think about Keith and Vicki and that you can never go on a camping trip without either of them (Keith can make anything with a pocket knife and some duct tape...). I think about Libby and the years it was just the two of us. And I remember Hannah and Haley coming to the parking lot to look for my car to come to youth group. I remember Michelle, Tiffany, Danielle, April, Jeremy, Ben, Becka, Whitney, Nicki and  Crissy, and their desire to learn and their decisions to follow Jesus. I remember Sarah's willingness to get up and dance and show her love for Jesus in the midst of the Columbine tragedy.

I think about the revival God is creating now in our church. I think about Zoe and Kendra and the beautiful friendship God has blessed there. And I think about Luke and his desire to share his church and his faith with his friends.I think about Logan and his great desire to do the right thing. I think about Gavin and his insight; Katie and her joy and her contagious enthusiasm; Margaret and her smile and love for people; Jamie and her sweet presence; Kaleigh and her unfiltered love of life; Audrey and her commitment and willingness to try new things; I think about Chris and his desire to help and to create; I think about Harry and his pure vision of Jesus. And I think about Alex and how awesome it is to share this experience with my nephew and to watch him grow in his faith. I think about the number of youth who have come one or two times but have touched my heart in numerous ways.

I am so thankful for the adult leadership who have stepped up to serve: For my sister Jennifer who will do anything to get the word out about GUMY and help in any capacity to make sure it is a success; For Paige and her willingness to be a leader and her passion for making youth a priority in our church; for Kathi and her desire to make sure we have as many people involved as possible; for all of our listeners: Nora, Mike, Mark, Bob, Kelly, Jim, Jim & Rikki...and the dozen more who signed up this year. I am thankful for our meal preparers: Jen, Paige, Kathi, Margie, Larry & Patty...and the dozens who sign up for this year!

And I am thankful the parents, over the last decade plus, who have had the faith to trust us with their children for a few hours a week to share the Gospel. And I am particularly thankful for my parents who have given tireless hours of support to make this program a success.

But most important, I am thankful to God for how He knit this community of people together in a tapestry. I am amazed each day by how much love and support encompasses the youth program at GUMC. I am humbled to be a part of such an active ministry for Jesus and so very grateful for the opportunity to serve.

I can't wait for tomorrow!