Finishing up…
Today is the last day before departing to various places around the globe the the teams of teens at Teen Missions International in Florida…sorting, packing, cleaning, loading the busses, is the agenda before the Commissioning service tonight…
I have watched, via YouTube, some of the night services as they have journeyed through Boot camp this last week…seen the sweat on the people’s faces, the fatigue, the fans going faster and faster, the songs, the teams cheers, the wonderful worship, the challenging speakers and now this evening comes the final challenge….the candlelight ceremony and departures….the question of “will I serve? before I light my candle, ready to depart” faces each teen there…most will go forth and there maybe some who don’t…each a life changing decision…
Paul finishes 1 Corinthians with a few admonitions…
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
Let all that you do be done in love.
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
1Cor.16.13-14, 23-24
Another passage from Isaiah came to mind as well…it was one the Jesus read when he visited Nazareth…He just read the first few lines and sat down as the people watched…
These teens have same message as they travel, to show Jesus in their lives…to bring the good news to those whom they meet…as does each believer…to wear that “garment of praise”…before all the nations they sojourn in…
This goes for the other groups of teens that I know of as well who have been together this week in South America, here in the U.S. with Young Life…and across the world…
Thank YOU …for the lives of these teens, their leaders, and those they encounter during this chapter of their lives…
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,the devastations of many generations. Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks;
foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers;
but you shall be called the priests of the Lord;
they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God;
you shall eat the wealth of the nations,and in their glory you shall boast. Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion;
instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot;
therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion;
they shall have everlasting joy.
For I the Lord love justice;
I hate robbery and wrong;
I will faithfully give them their recompense,and
I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
Their offspring shall be known among the nations,
and their descendants in the midst of the peoples;
all who see them shall acknowledge them,that they are an offspring the Lord has blessed.
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my soul shall exult in my God,
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations.
Isa.61.1-11
Here I am to worship….
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