Teens

My brain is kind of mush today. We have at least 800 teenagers at our church this weekend, probably more. The Unite youth conference started yesterday afternoon. There are great speakers, Duct Tape comedy, skate board demonstrations, bands, and a trip to Silverwood today for the kids to enjoy. The skate boarders had to move inside the lobby last night since it was pouring down rain. We almost had a couple go through the ceiling while catching some air, but they were having a great time. It's great to see that many teenagers in one place, without any of them causing any serious problems. There are a lot of great kids out there today, we just never hear about them in the news!! We need to look for those kids and tell them that we appreciate them, that they are doing a great job trying to make it through their teen years. We need to encourage them, and mentor them. We need to just be there to listen to what they have to say. So many kids don't have any solid adults in their lives, so if you know a kid like that, take some time to pour into their lives and make a difference, not only for today, but for the future. Your time will not be wasted, and you will be making a mark on history as you invest in that kid. You may be the only person that ever tells that kid they are worthwhile, they have potential, and they can do great things in their life. These are the future leaders of this world, help to make a lasting impact on their lives now so they have the courage to make right decisions, the strength to go through tough times, and the wisdom to know right from wrong. My husband and I have worked with teens for 19 years now, and though it's not always been easy, and there have been times when we wonder why we continue, God always makes sure to let us know our time invested in kids in worth it. There have been some really tough times we've had to go through with those kids, but I'm glad we were there to go through it with them. Find at least one kid to invest some time in and make a difference in their lives, not only for right now, but for the rest of their lives, and into eternity.

2 Corinthians 4:1 God has been kind enough to trust us with this work. That's why we never give up.