Everyone's heard of the three R's. In the world of education this stands for reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic, but no one wants to talk about these three in the summer. In fact, the cry of most students is to do NOTHING that requires much brain power over the summer. The R's that most teenagers care about during the summer is rest, rest, and rest, but is this really the best way to spend your summer? Of course, as an English teacher, I would love for you to READ more and practice 'riting, but I propose that the three R's that you should definitely make a central focus for this summer is something more eternal!
The R's I am talking about is relationships! Our relationship with God, our relationship with our self and our relationship with others! In case you think this is just my idea, take a look at what Jesus said in Matthew 22:37-39: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Jesus makes it pretty clear here! First, your relationship with Christ should be the first on your list. Commit some of your time to reading your Bible, praying and spending time at church activities that help nurture this relationship! Most youth groups have a retreat in the summer that gives students an instant reboot to their spiritual life! Second, spend time with other people! Although the tendency will be to spend a lot of your time with your friends, be intentional about spending time making memories with family and extended family when possible! However, the others does not just mean people you are comfortable with. The term "neighbor" is defined by Christ in the story of the Good Samaritan. Jews hated Samaritans, yet Christ says that the "Samaritan" is your neighbor, so what does this mean? It means connecting with people who are different from you, people who don't "fit" your idea of a typical friend or person you would hang out with and sharing Christ's love with them! Look for opportunities for this in outreach opportunities at your church, on mission trips or anywhere you go! Third, the final relationship is your relationship with yourself. If you go back to what Christ says, he says "love your neighbor as you love yourself." Without a healthy view of yourself, you can't really love others! This means that you need to work on understanding who you are IN CHRIST! You are totally accepted by God, loved by Him, chosen by Him, forgiven by Him, complete in Him! You don't need to be perfect because it's not about YOU! What Christ did on the cross was ENOUGH! Every time you put yourself down or think that you are unworthy, you are basically saying that what Christ did is not enough! So, meditate on the truth on Ephesians 1:3-14. See yourself the way Christ sees you! With the confidence you have in this, you can walk in this and then truly love others unconditionally with the same love you have received!
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Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17
In 1977, director Stephen Spielberg wrote and directed a film entitled Close Encounters of the Third Kind. This highly successful film featured a regular, blue-collar man named Roy Neary whose encounter with a UFO forever alters his life. In this human-meets-alien-which-changes-everything plot, the concept that people change when met be “something” (or someone) out of this world is played out on a large-than-life screen. Interestingly, when Spielberg wrote this fictional storyline, he may not have realized that he was actually using the plot of a much more powerful true story. In fact, when reading the Gospels, almost every chapter contains stories of regular men and women whose lives were forever “altered” through their encounter with Jesus who was really not of this world! Unlike the creative plot in a movie, these real-life encounters changed people’s eternal destiny and, with that, their purpose for living! This was true for both the men and the women who came across Jesus’ path. An encounter with Jesus truly changes everything! In 2 Corinthians 5:17 Paul describes it this way: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” This transformation is often described as a new identity! The problem is that people are often very clueless about what their new identity in Christ means on an everyday basis. Many walk around as if nothing in their life has changed, but the truth is, everything has changed! Issues such as insecurity, depression, insignificance, shame, guilt, discontentment, loneliness, futility, and many other problems plague both women and men and keep them from experiencing the abundant life that God promised to those who put their faith in Him. But all of these things were settled at the cross. When we encounter Jesus, we have a new identity that is free from the bondage of sin and all of its destructive consequences. The question is, why do so many walk around as if they are no different than the world around them? In fact, many find that their identity is more tied up in their performance or the approval of others than in this new identity they have because of their relationship with Christ. The answer to this paradoxical dilemma is explained by Paul in Romans 12:2: “Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” (NLT) Paul suggests that the reason we live more like the world than like the redeemed people we are is a mindset issue. We need God to “change the way we think” so that we can live in our new identity. This change has to happen as we renew our mind with the Word of God! To think differently, we must discover the truth that is only found in the Scripture. One of the most effective ways to experience this renewal is by making time each day to have your own “encounter” with Jesus. Yes, life is busy and there is much that demands our attention, but, honestly, if you want to experience life as you were meant to, you must get to KNOW the truth. By the way, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” Getting to know Jesus is the fast track to knowing the TRUTH! Make a commitment today to have a daily encounter with Jesus because you are guaranteed to have a life-altering experience. When God created the universe, He spoke the world into existence. His first recorded words were, "Let there be light." After creating Adam and Eve, God had regular conversations with them. These simple facts lead me to this conclusion: words and communication have been with us since the beginning of time and clearly God is a relational God. In fact, all throughout the Scriptures, God uses conversations with His people to direct them, teach them and reveal His love for them.
Because we are also made in the image of God, this concept of communication is also in our make-up. We were meant to have conversations, to build relationships with others through our words. However, for some people this is not always easy. Some are shyer than others and reluctant to speak up or simply can't find the words to say in particular situations. This can be especially a problem in class. Whether students are afraid of saying the wrong thing or are just intimidated by others, some choose to never speak up. Others talk continuously and have no problem having something to say. My goal for my classes this year is to create a culture in the classroom where students can have productive, edifying conversations during class discussions. One of the best ways to grow as a writer and thinker is to learn to discuss your thoughts orally and to listen to others. For those who "like to talk," the listening part is a challenge. For those who "don't like to talk," the talking part is an issue. No matter where you are, you can grow in this essential skill of constructive conversations! |
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