Finish Well

Did you miss it?  Some of you did!!! Yesterday was the deadline to get in your application for our upcoming Missions trip summer of 2010.  I tried to send out a text message reminder to those of you who didn't get your apps in on time to let you know you had until mid-night to drop off your application...but, the text message I was trying to send...wouldn't go...it just tried, and tried, and tried...and then failed!  I was SO frustrated. I know some of you misplaced your application!  I will email it again later today...and, let you know you have a grace period.  We need to receive your application BEFORE Wednesday.  So, you have all day today and all day tomorrow to drop it off at our house.  If you show up on Wednesday night with your application in your hand, we'll be super happy, but you'll have an extra step to do...which you won't find out about until, well,  you show up on Wednesday with your application. SO!  Complete your application today and drop it off at our house today or tomorrow!  You can EVEN drop off your application at the church...just have Miss Mindy or Miss Debbie initial, date & timestamp the time your drop it off...so we know you did it before Wednesday!  I'm really trying to make this uber, super easy for you. Many of you who didn't go with us to Guatemala, said later you wished you had!  So, you know you'll be sad if you miss out on our Missions trip to Seattle, WA. This PW Devotional reminds me of the struggles Youth Leaders (and Pastors, I'm sure) face when working with teenagers.  Y'all get excited about church, God and events...and then you go MIA.  You get...distracted.  You get...busy.  You get...preoccupied with school, sports, Scouts, relationships, family, future plans, etc. Some of you are divided in your devotion.  You've bit off more than you can chew, so to speak.  You want to stay invovled in so many things that pull at you full-time.  When you do that, usually your relationship with God is what suffers.  And, Satan wins.  You get so preoccupied with doing so much, you end up doing little that mattters for the Lord. Frank's and my heart desire is for you all to finish well!  We plan all of these events and activities, not to be your social calendar coordinators, but to give you all opportunities to grow in your relationship with Jesus, invite your unsaved friends to hear the Gospel and fellowship with other Believers.  We love each one of you dearly and only desire God's very best for you. This is why we are pushing the 2010 Missions Trip!  Together we can raise the money so each of us will be able to go!  Together we can learn about serving Christ, each other and those in our community.  Together we can spend a week with others who are excited about serving Christ, each other and those in their community. Fill out your 2010 Missions Trip application.  Turn it in.  You'll be glad you did!  In July, when the rest of us are off having a stellar time in Seattle, you'll be home, bored, sad and wondering "why didn't I just go?!"  It's not too late! C'mon...finish what you started!  You all expressed a desire to go on this Missions Trip. Follow-through and fill out your application.  Drop it off today! PlanetWisdom.com Devotionals

---

Be a Finisher Posted: 01 Nov 2009 12:12 PM PST "Tell Archippus: 'See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord.' " (Colossians 4:17) Our final role-model from Paul's buddy list this week isn't actually one of the guys working with Paul in Rome. He's probably Philemon's son back in Colosse, where this letter is headed. He was maybe taking care of some of Epaphras's ministry duties back there while E. was with Paul. Paul tells Archippus to "see to it" (or "look out") that he finish the "work" (or "ministry") God gave him to do. Either Arcippus was dropping the ball or Paul knew that things were about to get tough for him. He urged everyone to remind Archippus to keep going and finish strong. Talk about accountability! Has God called you to do any ministry work that you've left hanging -- or that you're thinking about giving up on? Maybe it has to do with helping with something at church or telling a friend about Jesus or even just making it your job to encourage other Christians in the jobs they're doing for Christ. Don't give up. Be the kind of Chirst-follower who finishes what you start. Hang tough. Think: What ministry work have you "received in the Lord"? Are you still working at it? If you can't think of any ministry you're supposed to be doing, what are some ways you could start serving Christ, especially in your church? Pray: Ask God to help you to finish what you start for Him. Do: Make a plan for some specific ways you can "keep going" in serving God this week. If you don't have a regular way that you serve in your church, ask your youth leader for some ideas about what you could do