Fear Not

“The LORD is my light and my salvation;

whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the stronghold of my life;

of whom shall I be afraid?”

Psalm 27:1 ESV

It's Summertime!

It’s summertime, and for a lot of young people that means more free time than usual. I understand that some of you may be busy working at your summer job or going to camps. However, if you do find yourself with a little extra down time, here are ten ideas for ways to fill that time in service to God:

1. Read your Bible! If you haven’t been keeping up with your daily

Bible reading regularly, now is a great time to implement the habit.

2. Invite a friend to worship with you. Sometimes there are other events

going on in our congregations during the summer that provide excellent opportunities for inviting guests (VBS, gospel meetings, youth events, etc.).

3. Volunteer to do yard work for an elderly member of your

congregation. If you are a resident of the South, you better get up

early to complete this one!

4. Assist with or teach a Bible class. Without the added pressure of

schoolwork, summer is a great time to develop your teaching skills.

5. Volunteer to run errands for someone who cannot get out as easily.

Pick up groceries for someone, or take them to a doctor’s appointment.

6. Write notes of encouragement to Christians near and far. Send cards

to people in your congregation and to missionaries or friends in other areas.

7. Offer free babysitting services to a young family you are close to. I’m

sure the parents would appreciate an evening out. If you would not feel comfortable watching the kids on your own, even offering to watch the kids while the mom or dad gets some things done around the house would be a great help.

8. Cook a meal for someone. If you are living at home, offer to make

supper for your family one night. If you are living on your own, invite

someone over or offer to bring a meal to someone who would

appreciate the help.

9. Become part of or start a women’s study group. If your congregation

or one nearby already has a ladies’ Bible study in place, see if you can join. If there isn’t one around you, get with some of your friends or other ladies in your congregation and start one. Fellowship and study with other women can be a huge source of encouragement.

10. Pray. Use your spare time to develop a deeper and more consistent

prayer life. It doesn’t require a huge amount of time, but getting into the habit of prayer will change your life, not just for the summer but for the years beyond.

Summer is a time of great possibility. Don’t let a moment go to waste!

#operationreadmybible

Jennifer Gerhardt has a great series going on about overcoming obstacles we face when trying to get into a habit of daily Bible reading. I have found it to be very helpful so far. She offers lots of practical advice for developing this vital discipline in our lives.

Check out her blog here: http://jlgerhardt.tumblr.com/

I’d also encourage you to read some of her other articles while you are there. She is a very powerful writer with a heart for leading people to God.

“Religion that is pure and undefiled before GOD, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” James 1:27 ESV

If you have grown up going to church, I’m sure this is a verse you are very familiar with. Yet, as a young lady, you may be searching for practical ways to fulfill this commandment. For instance, you may be too young to take care of any children or even too young to drive to visit widows. Let me offer you a couple of examples of ways you can still help.

1. Pray, pray, pray. Pray for orphans and widows you know

specifically. Pray for opportunities to help, and I’m positive doors will be opened for you (Matt. 7:7). Pray for efforts that you know of to alleviate the pain and suffering of these often marginalized groups.

2. Use worship services as an opportunity to visit. Sit with a

widow before and during services. Ask her how she is doing and if

there is anything you can do for her. Ask her if she has any prayer requests. Please do not focus on yourself when doing this. Do not think, “Oh, I am doing such a nice thing for this lonely woman.” I guarantee you will end up gaining more from this experience than she will! Recognizing the value of the elderly in our community is something every young person needs to do at an early age. We are to learn from the older women in our midst (Titus 2:3-5). This cannot happen if we are unwilling to form relationships with each other!

3. Give, give, give. (2 Cor. 9:7) Give of your time to volunteer for

efforts to help orphans. Give of your possessions to children’s homes

or other organizations where clothes and toys can be given to the children. Give of your money if you are able to Christian organizations working with orphans and/or widows. For instance, Chinese Agape is an organization working to help orphans in China (http://chineseagape.org/home). Research organizations and find a place you feel comfortable giving, whether it be of your time, possessions, or money. Get your whole family involved. What we have isn’t ours anyway. In a world where people are urged to get more, let us always a people trying to give more.