We have so much for which to be thankful and so much to which we can look forward.

First a note on thankfulness. We should stop to praise and thank God for a great Awaken Weekend for our students. Each year this weekend seems to exceed our expectations. Thank the Lord for good leadership (Kristy Hall and all those who volunteered). Thank the Lord for a great group of students who sacrificed their time to paint the youth room and spruce up the prayer garden. Thank God for Jared and Victoria Snead coming to us again to invest their lives into our students. Thank the Lord for good weather for the entire weekend.

If Sunday morning was any indication of what God did over the weekend, then our hearts should be overflowing with gratitude. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Second let’s think about anticipation. Too often in youth ministry we are looking of immediate results and quick fixes, but I’ve learned over the years that we must be patient with the seeds planted today. We may not see the results from this Awaken Weekend for several years. It takes time for trees to grow, mature and then bear fruit. And that’s where the rub comes – waiting…patience. This character trait of patience is something at which we are just not that good, but the fruit of patience is well worth the wait.

Just think of pushing through, pressing into God, holding out hope, trusting in what only God can do, and then one day seeing the bud on the tree that is a promise of fruit to come. The alternative is to hang it up, cut the sapling down, throw it to the side and sulk in self-pity because things didn’t go the way we planned it. I think I’d rather wait it out and see what God is up to.

With Gratitude & Waiting,