The Glory and Challenge of Being a Youth (by Amber Sweeney)

I love the vigor and passion that exist in youth. It is in our youth we find the ability to say "I can do anything." Nothing seems impossible. The unbridled innocence and fearlessness inspire new thoughts and ideas to explore. I believe that's one of the things the Holy Spirit loves about children and young people. They don't talk themselves out of things God has asked them to do with reason and earthly logic. The challenge comes when we are asked to step into a place of leadership while we are still in our youth. Our minds and eyes are suddenly open to things we haven't yet seen or experienced and it can seem overwhelming or frustrating. That frustration, however, forces a deeper dependency on the Lord, which of course, He loves. It is in that dependency our passion and fearlessness grow and remain.

Paul writes to Timothy, a younger man in comparison to those he is ministering with in his city, "And don't let anyone put you down because you're young. Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity." 1 Timothy 4:12 (The Message) The whole first book of Timothy is a letter of advice from Paul to a young man he is clearly mentoring in life. There's a special relationship of trust and vulnerability they have which allows Paul to be completely honest with Timothy as he grows in his leadership, and in his relationship with Jesus. I believe that we are meant to have these kinds of relationships in this day, too.

The thing we focus on too often is the line "don't let anyone put you down because you're young." It's become a trite saying. What Paul says directly following that line is to teach with our lives and later he addresses any insecurities or doubts that may exist in Timothy's heart by saying "And that special gift of ministry you were given when the leaders of the church laid hands on you and prayed -- keep that dusted off and in use. Cultivate these things. Immerse yourself in them. The people will all see you mature right before their eyes!" 1 Timothy 4: 14-15 (The Message) Paul is speaking encouragement into Timothy because he's doubting his call due to critiques and wonderings over his age. How many times have we done this in our own lives? It's not always easy to step into the roles God has asked us to step into. It's not really meant to be easy -- it's meant to produce relationship between us and the Lord.

We are truly meant to approach everything with that sense of wonder and dependency, but the Lord does also ask us to mature. Maturity comes when we encounter the Holy Spirit and allow him to develop our minds in Christ. We'll discover the paradox of innocence and maturity in that encounter -- and it will be marvelous.

There is also merit to be given to the experience of those who have gone before us. Too often, youth find themselves challenged by the experience of those older than they are. I know I have been frustrated by the religious "wisdom" given by elders in the church when I was younger. It is important to hear council and take it back to the Holy Spirit so we can see what He's trying to teach us. I should also point out here that there is a difference between religious wisdom and true council.

In the times of King David, there was a ten year apprenticeship that the worshipers and priests went through before they were appointed to their positions. It started around the age of 20 until about 30. In those ten years, the apprentice learned how to serve the Lord. They spent time learning about the nature of God and learned how to express their worship with great precision on their various instruments and voices. It sounds like a long time, but it goes by so quickly and produces a depth of relationship with the Lord that allows for those revelations we so desperately need from Him in order to become the beloved He designed us to be. We don't necessarily need a ten year apprenticeship program, but we do need to understand that we need time to develop and grow.

The greatest challenge young people have in life is that most of their opinions are not founded in experience -- or even their relationship with the Lord. When we're young, it's easy to judge and say that something is missing and then try to force a change that becomes counterproductive and leaves us defeated. We act on our opinions and feelings instead of responding out of our spirits with God. We let our passion and vigor get ahead of us instead of resting in the Holy Spirit and learning how to use those tools effectively. That's what I love about this letter Paul writes. He encourages Him to keep his eyes focused on Jesus and to continue living in the Spirit so that the gifting God gave him can be cultivated and matured. Paul is helping Timothy find out how to be more than just a leader, but an effective son of God.

Even the greatest of athletes need coaches, the greatest actors need directors, the greatest singers still need vocal trainers, top politicians still need advisors, and ceo's still go to training seminars. We never stop learning because no two days or two moments are the same -- hence the need to remain innocent and not rely on ourselves but the Lord's wisdom and His truth. It is only in Christ we'll find the true balance of living with childlike faith and maturing into the fullness of who we are. It is a paradox that all of us, young or old need to remain dependent on the Lord to understand. And we get to have a great deal of fun doing it!


Blessings,
~ Amber

Abiding in Christ, Living in Our Identity (by Richard Lee Jackson)

It is critical for us to become abiders. We have a standing invitation to abiding in the love of Christ to such a degree that our identity is completely seen through His eyes. It's easy to look in the mirror and see all of our short-comings. But when we see ourselves through the eyes of our Beloved, we see ourselves as we truly are -- beautiful, radiant, His warrior, His much loved child, His trusted friend and the beloved of God. Having continual devotion throughout the day, instead of relying on one big meal with Him at the end of it when we are tired and worn out, will keep us healthy and in tune with His thoughts and heart for us.

As His complete adoration fills us, we can't help but give the grace, love, and kindness we are receiving from Him to others around us. In fact, when there are people or situations that rub us the wrong way or make us uncomfortable, it becomes an invitation to step back in our spirit and have more devotional time with Jesus in that very moment. If we give God full access to our heart, mind, and spirit, all the time, He will use every opportunity to allow us to be rooted deeper and deeper in His love.

It's in the quiet and personal time we spend with the Lord that our hearts are transformed. As His love and adoration pours into our hearts, and we respond with adoration and praise, His thoughts about ourselves begin to take a deeper root. Finding, or rather making time, to bask in His abundant heart for us in contemplation and worship is critical to living in our real identity as the beloved of God.

~ Richard Lee Jackson

Reflections on a message given by Mike Galeotti at a Wild Branch worship gathering.

Made To Worship (by Ricky Lee Jackson)

As I observe people, and groups of people, it seems abundantly evident that, by design, we were made to worship. By our very nature, it seems, we will worship -- something. We can believe anything we choose to believe, but reality simply -- is.

We may not believe in gravity, but that does not in the slightest change the reality of the existence and effects and laws of gravity. If we, for whatever reason, do not choose to worship the one true God, the only Person, the only Thing worthy of worship, we will by our very nature find something else to worship and elevate.

These other, ‘lesser gods’ that we might worship will necessarily always let us down, either sooner or later. If we are not able to worship the perfect God (who is outside of and above us), we will wish for, and be seduced into expecting perfection from our ‘lesser gods’ (somehow always connected to a god within us, a god connected to ‘self’).

These ‘lesser gods’ may be fame, or fortune, or some variation of supposed fulfillment such as work and career. These gods  may also take the form of an undue elevation of our human relationships, or some ‘movement’ (eg environmentalism), or even ‘worship’ of a political demagogue (history is replete with tragic examples of this type of desperate false worship, and history appears to be repeating itself in our time).

Out of kindness, the One True God will allow, and does ensure that these ‘lesser gods’ will fail us in order to open our eyes to the one and only Way to life. God is the source and provider of life, and to try to have life apart from The Source is as futile as jumping out of an airplane without a parachute and expecting to fly forever—the “freedom” you feel as you hurtle towards the earth will be short-lived, and the inevitable result will always be tragic.

There are only two choices in worship: 1.) worship of some very ‘lesser god’ (a counterfeit god presenting itself in one of innumerable variations of ‘selfism’) that will always result in a loss of true life, or 2.) worship and elevation of the One True God, who created and redeemed us, who always seeks the ultimate best for us and loves us “with an everlasting love”!

We will worship, we will elevate and magnify -- something.

May it be worthy of our adoration and praise!

by Ricky Lee Jackson

The Fullness of God’s Encompassing Love (by Ricky Lee Jackson)

Dear Friends,

My good friend Mike Galeotti had a wonderful message today at our little "Wild Branch" worship gathering. It had to do with our view of love. We've all heard that quote from the Bible in 1st John that says "God is love". But what does that really mean? We each have our own sense, our own definition, if you will, of love. So it really is important to ask whether our personal sense of what love is, is big enough to get an accurate picture of who our God really is.

So who does He says He is?

We know, or at least give lip service to, God's loving us -- loving humanity. We might even ascribe to a belief in His love being unconditional (and it surely is!). And with this foundation we are released from "works and legalism" as we trust in His great atoning, sacrificial love for us. But that says little about whether He likes us, whether He enjoys just being with us, whether the Great God of the universe would like to be -- our friend!

The Bible speaks of not one, but three types of love, and since God claims to be love personified, might He claim to encompass (and actually be) All that love is?

The first category of love is called Agape, that type of love that loves selflessly, without needing to be loved in return -- its just Who God is. But there are two more loves in Scripture -- Philao, and Eros -- and God is also in these loves, and they too are a part of His essence!

Philao, that love that is characterized by friendship, is just as much a part of God's person and character as is His agape love! And that means He does like us, and wants to be our friend! That statement Jesus made to His close disciples about "I no longer call you servants, but friends", now starts to make sense -- and I am convinced that He applies that friendship also to me, and to you too!

So do we stop here, with love the sacrificial principle, added to the privilege of being in friendship? This would be a lot, and we should not be ungrateful were this all of love we might expect from God. But -- one love is left, and God doesn’t do things part-way, so dare we expect to also be loved with Eros love as well?

Shockingly, scandalously even -- the answer is yes! I believe He gave us the intimacy of human marriage in part to help us understand more fully the depth of His love and desire for us—being “one” with us, a part of each other, “naked and unashamed” in each other’s presence (our shame being left at the Cross!), truly being filled by His love!  But don’t take my word for it -- hear His words -- “you are My bride!” And when faced with our unfaithfulness He cries “I am a lover spurned!... I am a jealous for your heart God”!

Yes, the love of God, the love that is God, is deeper, more complete, and more passionate and real than we can imagine! But it is real, and it is meant for us, to transform us and renew and elevate us. God is love, a very big love, a saving love! But also a love that encompasses so much more -- friendship, camaraderie, common purpose, and even the depths of intimacy, of “oneness”!

How great a love is He, how great is His love for us!

God bless us!
And may our great loving gracious God bless America!

Ricky Lee Jackson