Ivy Sue and You

Out with the old, in with the new. Many new things going on in the youth room, but to make way for the new things, the old things must go. Change can be hard sometimes, we get used to the way things are, we are comfortable, we have memories and sometimes struggle with letting go. We have had this furniture from the beginning and all our previous kids have sat on them. Letting the couches go kinda feels like letting them go all over again. In reality getting rid of these couches isn't getting rid of anyone but rather transforming our space into a new, fresh and inviting place for the current and future groups to come learn about Christ. We can get comfortable in our sin and old selfish ways, and find it hard to let go for fear of losing friends or having to give something up but Scripture speaks of a change Christ makes in us. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." Truly out with the old, in with the New! He will take the old but he will give us new, beautiful lives that will bring with it glory and blessings as a child of the King!

The gentle sound of rain, the soft falling snow, the bright shining sun, the cool soft breeze. The signs of the seasons! We are blessed here in our area to experience all 4 seasons, sometimes all in one day! So many times people complain about too much rain, too much snow, it's too cold, it's too hot... sometimes people complain just to complain! I'm very well known to say I don't have a favorite season but that I love them each equally in their own time. This, of course, is referring to the 4 seasons, and not all the seasons of life one goes through. Those I'm not as fond of in their own time. Difficult seasons can be defined very differently by each person. I'm certain my "difficult seasons" pale in comparison to others and I try to continually remind myself of that and no matter what I go through someone, somewhere certainly is going through worse. God is not like any of the seasons, he is never changing, Hebrews 13:8 tells us "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." When I am inclined to complain, I must remember, God holds my life in his hands and I must trust him fully to fulfill those plans, not complain about the unknowns or the wait, but have patience, knowing that with each season, God brings change and beauty to all His creations. Ecclesiastes 3 "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens"