We Must Be Strong (Red Coat Series, Part 4)

What does it take to earn the Red Coat?

The same thing it takes to follow Christ, give it your all!

Reciting the Gettysburg Address at
Bethany Village Nursing Home
during a Mother's Day Luncheon

It takes Courage! 

I developed courage as I learned new skills in L2L in my 7 years of participating.  

Courage is sometimes feeling fear and doing the thing anyway. 

 In a little while, it becomes easier!   

At first, I did not enjoy speaking in public.  

Now I love it!  Practice makes perfect.  

Although I rarely do it perfectly.  

This was the first time I led the 
Communion Service

It takes Strength

What else does it take to earn the Red Coat?

A tremendous amount of Strength. God will give you the strength, so don't worry.

Giving it your all

What does it take to follow Christ, to give him our "ALL?"

It takes courage, and it takes daily strength.

The word of God says that we will be transformed when we meditate on the words in the Bible

as often as we can!

Convention 2021

What is the benefit of this?

More joy.

More adventure.

More purpose.

More is something we all want. 

Giving to Get

What if the only way to find more is to give Jesus all that you have?

You can discover the Treasure worth everything. 

Jesus has everything you need.

Matthew 6:21 says, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” 

How about you, do you know Jesus?

What Is L2L?

 

Lads to Leaders is the oldest and largest training program associated with the churches of Christ. 

 Founded in 1968 by Dr. Jack Zorn, this program allows participants of all ages 

to train to be better leaders for the glory of God.  A year-round, bible-based program to train people to be better leader/servants of Christ, L2L vows to leave no child or person behind.  

My 5th Grade Puppet Team won 2nd Place 
at the Convention

You can read all about L2L here, in an editorial article written by Greg Tidwell in the Gospel Advocate. Click on this link:  GOSPEL+ADVOCATE+ARTICLE+-+APRIL+2018.pdf (squarespace.com)

My buddies and me at Convention, age 11

Our group grew in numbers the next year, age 12

We have monthly meetings at our home congregation
to learn and prepare for the events

We do service projects  times a year to 
help those in need.

Contact L2L

5280 West Alabama Christian Drive
Montgomery, Alabama 36109

Office
Office: (334) 215-0251
Fax: (334) 215-0856
Email: l2l@lads2leaders.com

Change for Good

  Do you want to change your world for good?  Change yourself for God!

But how, you ask? I know that in the morning, I start out wanting to be good, obedient, strong, and faithful. But as the day goes on, I get lazy, tired, and distracted.

My friends at Convention in 2016

How to stay to my goal of obedience? How to change and walk the straight and narrow for good?

I just read a story about a girl who decided to do some tough things, and it changed her whole life.  The story of Ruth in the Bible helped me realize that I can be a part of something much bigger and better than myself, like Ruth.

She was a humble servant of God, and she chose to obey and serve, rather than take the easy way out.

She said to her mother-in-law in Ruth 3:5, “All that you say to me, I will do.”  Naomi was telling her to do some pretty strange things, like lay at a stranger's feet at night and put his coat over her. Ruth was strong, and she courageously did as she was asked.

My best friends pose as I snap a photo for Competion
Ruth, Boaz, and Baby Obed

And Ruth was used by God to be the grandmother of the King of Israel!

Like Ruth, we can change the world by being selfless workers for the Lord.  

Jesus told us in John 12 verse 26, “If anyone serves Me, let him follow me, where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, My Father will honor him.” 

In our activities this year, my youth group set a goal to serve others while we had fun together.  We did things like make a garden for the Alzheimer's Unit in our local nursing home, serve children at Christmastime in Toys for Tots, and have a special dinner for the elders at our church. 

The girls at L2L Meeting practicing speech

Through serving, we learned how God can use us for His good, and actually changed a few people’s worlds for the better?

What can you do to change your world for Jesus?

Doing "Hard Things"

Source:  Ruth in the Barley field, The Children's Bible

 I will obey, even if it is really hard!  That is what Ruth must have been thinking, and I know that feeling!

I had to rake the yard today.  Both yards, the front and the back.  By myself.  No one to help me.  This is the time I wish I had 6 Siblings!  But I am an only child.  I tease my Mom and tell her this is an Urban Work Farm, NOT a home.  But both my Mom and Dad work really hard, too, so I can't really complain that much.   I just have to DO it... Rake and Rake and Rake some more.  

View out my back yard

But today, after I got over the fury of having to WORK so long and hard, I started to enjoy myself!  I love breathing in the scents of fall.  My Mom is an Herbalist, and so there are many neat plants growing all around that have the most fragrant scents.  I roam around, crushing plant leaves in my hand, smelling the delicious odors of the herbs.  

Yellow Rose still blooming

 

Even though it is Autumn, my Mother's roses are still blooming.  They are really beautiful!  And the leaves... their rainbow of colors are wonderful!  

Psalm 16:5 says 

 "Oh Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance

 and my cup, You maintain my lot." 

A shelf in my Dining room at our house

Holy is the Lamb (Good Friday Post)

Does He still feel the nails, every time I fail?

Does He hear the crowd cry, “Crucify!” again?

Am I causing Him pain?

Then I know I’ve got to change,

“Cause I can’t bear the thought of hurting Him.

And we cry “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lamb.”

Yes, we cry “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lamb.”

 

Popular song by Ray Boltz

 



Source:  Google images

 

First Corinthians 11 verses 24 and 25 reads, “And when He had given thanks, he broke

the bread, and said, ‘Take, eat, this is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in

remembrance of me.’ And in the same manner, He also took the cup after supper, saying,

‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in

remembrance of me.”

 

 

Every Sunday, we gather to partake of the Lord’s supper, or “Communion.” In this

special part in our worship, we remember our Lord’s death as we drink the fruit of the vine,

and eat unleavened bread.

 

Jesus is the Lamb of God. Just as the Passover lamb was slaughtered to save the lives

of the first born children of Israel, Jesus was killed for the forgiveness of our sins.

Peter and John are recorded in the Bible as calling 

Jesus “the Lamb of God.”

 

Peter wrote that, “We were redeemed with the precious blood

of Christ, like that of a Lamb without defect or blemish” in I Peter 1:19.


Source:  Google Images

 

John wrote about the most majestic Lamb of God. Revelation 5:12 reads, “The lamb

who was SLAUGHTERED is worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength

and honor and glory and Blessing!”

In thinking about the LORD’s suffering and death after the Crucifixion, I know that

Peter and John must have reflected on this assignment that Jesus gave them: “Go and
Prepare the Passover Lamb.”

Later they realized that their friend and leader had to be sacrificed like the perfect Passover lamb for the salvation of the world.

Like Peter and John, I hope that the image of the perfect lamb of God is deeply

engraved on our hearts as we remember what Jesus did for us on the Cross, especially
during the Lord’s Supper each Sunday!

Did you know that you can accept the sacrifice of the perfect lamb as the work of God for

the forgiveness of YOUR sins? The Bible says that if you confess yours sins, repent, and
take on the righteousness of Christ through the death, burial, and resurrection of Baptism,
then you can live your life for Jesus, receiving the free gift of eternal life with the Father,
God! It is a free gift, but it is not cheap!

So let’s remember His sacrifice, and give of yourself to
others in service, and give life to God’s way of living!

It is the best way to live. 
 

The following video is also one which features all of the lyrics to the song above by Ray Boltz.  I believe it is worth viewing, however, it is very graphic : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpHYJScbxCY

My Life is in You, Lord (a video of our youth group's time at the L2L Convention

 

Would you like to join Lads to Leaders?

This was our Youth Group in Kentucky last year at convention.

Have you ever thought of becoming involved in Lads to Leaders? 
We have a great time, and learn so much about life! 

Go to L2L.com and read all about the organization.
You'll be glad you did!

 



International Missions

My newest Mentor,
Emmanuel Atwi, President of Ghana Bible College in
Kumasi, Ghana 

Today, our congregation invited a man from Africa to come and tell us about his work and his country, Ghana.  I spent the morning with the President of Ghana Bible College... and now he is my good friend -- Brother Emmanuel Atnwi.

I plan to raise funds to help him in his mission to spread the Good News about Jesus in Ghana.  I will post more about my plans and some ideas later this month. 

Do Something NOW

I hate it that Policemen are being shot down in the streets in 

our country these days! 

They are the ones who help, and yet

bad people are going after them to KILL.

Today,some friends and I made some cupcakes, 

wrote some encouraging notes, 

and delivered them to 

our local Police Station.

The Police Officers were so happy! 

It only took an hour of our time, but  

we made a huge difference in 

the Policemen's day!

We showed them our notes, and then asked 

the Police Chief if we could say a 

prayer over them. 

Steven, my good friend led the prayer, asking God to 

provide safety, wisdom, and 

protection to all the officers. 

Then we just talked and petted the big Police Dog. 

I encourage everyone to take time to 

do something like this soon.  

These men do dangerous work and 

they said very few people thank them. 

"When the righteous are in authority,

 the people rejoice:

but when the wicked rule, 

the people mourn."

Proverbs 29:2 (KJV)

What is Servant Leadership?

During my third year in Lads to Leaders,

 

Our Theme for 2015/2016 was

 "All that you say to me, I will do."

 

 It is never easy to strive
 

To obey the Bible in all things
 

But there is no better way to try to live.

Source:  L2L official blog

I have met many wonderful people who

Have Ruth 3 verse 5 as their goal in life.

These people are good people,

 I mean
 

Salt of the Earth types. 

 

Many of them are with me in Lads to Leaders (L2L).

My Puppet Team last year

For 2015/2016 in Lads to Leaders, I signed up for 19 events.  

That is HUGE.  

This is only my Third year in L2L, but I was interested in so many things, 

my parents said I could do 19 events, 

IF I promised to complete two events or items per month. 

  

I had to make a plan on paper, and my mom made me keep a journal, 

writing down when I was working on each event, 

and when I finished. 

 It kept me on track.  

But even if I don't win a single event, it doesn't matter, 

because I will have gained so much more.  

Youth Service work this year

Here is a song that sums it all up:

Make me a servant, Lord, Make me like you... 

For you are a Servant, 

Make me like You,

Make me a servant, 

Do what you must do,

To make me a servant, 

Make me like you.

Source:  The Adventure Bible

 

2015 Convention on Saturday Evening
My Youth Group (the guys)

 

 

 

 

 

We enjoy visiting the Residents,
leading songs, reading the bible,
and visiting with the people
in the Golden Living Nursing Home. 

My Treasure is Jesus: My First Good Samaritan Act

 My First Good Samaritan Act:      A crazy thing happened when we were about to leave the Convention this year.  Just when we were pulling out to go home, a man came...