Out of the Box

Got to be at our youth groups (Sudden Impact) retreat last weekend and had a blast. We got crazy ‘dancing’ and praying with some wonderful teenagers a week ago Friday night at Little Galilee Camp outside Clinton, Illinois. Congrats to Ricky Spindler our Student Ministries pastor along with his great leadership team for a job well done! As I shared with the students at the end here’s what came to me about “Living Outside the Box (the camp theme):

Make right decisions. Life is all about making right decisions and avoiding wrong ones. There is a passage in the old Living Bible that says, “He grants the godly ones the ability to make the right choices every time.”
Being godly means to really go after God in every area of life. I shudder inside at times when I think about how close I have come a few times to making wrong decisions. Thank God for good council and friendships that has helped me over the years make right choices.
Deciding to not praise the Lord is a wrong decision. Deciding to praise the Lord is a right decision. Deciding to not obey your parents is a wrong decision. Deciding to praise the Lord is right decision.

Make right friendships. 1 Cor. 15:33 says, “Bad company corrupts good morals.” Hang around winners and you will be a winner. Hang around losers and you will be a loser. Hang around negative people and you will be negative. Hang around positive people and you will be positive.
Don’t let people run your life. You make your life count and the best way to do that is by being with the right friends. Dropping friends can be a super touch choice but it just might save your life!

Make right commitments. There is a Proverb that says, “Commit your way to the Lord and He shall bring it to pass.” Do not be afraid to make commitments because it is the only way to live the Christian life.
Making right decisions, friendship and commitments is life outside the box. It is living life to the max!

These thoughts are good for us in ministry and for my sons and daughters working in the Kingdom. May you be encouraged—I believe in you! Papa G.