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I recently just finished reading Mark Batterson’s third book, Primal – A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity. I loved Batterson’s style of writing. He is passionate, thought provoking, and yet simplistic. In this third book he takes on the Great Commandment, which he calls the Primal Commandment, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30)

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Did you know that among our Assemblies of God Missionaries, 85% recognize they were called to be missionaries while they were between the ages of 9 and 13! This means they were called to ministry during their Children and Youth Ministry years. I believe God is still calling children and youth. We who work with this next generation must talk, teach, and provide opportunities for our kids and youth to explore the call of God in their life. He might just be calling them.

Last month during our Amplify Conference we had an emphasis on the Call. We tried to help the students answer this question: How do I know if God is calling?

Here are four things I shared at Amplify to help them explore the call. You might want to use them to develop your own teaching for your kids on this topic.

1. God Calls in different ways, not just one way.

2. God’s Call grows on you.

3. God’s Call will pull you to get involved.

4. God’s call will be confirmed.

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1 Chronicles 28:8-10, "So now I charge you in the sight of all Israel and of the assembly of the LORD, and in the hearing of our God: Be careful to follow all the commands of the LORD your God, that you may possess this good land and pass it on as an inheritance to your descendants forever. "And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a temple as a sanctuary. Be strong and do the work."

Who was responsible for passing on the blessing of God in your life?

I am grateful for Lewis Wilson. He made a decision nearly 100 years ago that changed the course of six generations thus far. In a small church in Colorado, he chose to become a Christ follower. That decision has impacted six generations. I’m the 4th generation, our children are the 5th and now our grandchildren are the 6th generation who have had the blessing passed on. It pays to be a wholehearted Christ follower.

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He sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered. 2 Chronicles 31:20-21

Did you see the recent cover of Time magazine? As I was checking out at our local Fred Meyers, I couldn’t help but see the cover with these words, The Decade From Hell. Of course, I picked it up and discovered that the lead article chronicled the last 10 years of economical, political and social adversities in the U.S. and the world. It focused on all the major negative events that took place between 2000 and 2010. 

Although I remember each of the events mentioned and remember the fear and devastation they brought, I also remembered that during the last 10 years, God’s work increased in various ways. I recalled the many times I experienced a little bit of  heaven on earth. I thought of the people who came to Christ, the churches that were planted or revitalized and the various ministries launched in the last decade. Some of the greatest outreaches I was ever involved in took place during the last 10 years.  

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 …the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia
to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing. Ezra 1:1

Are you living a Dream? Earlier this year, our Son, Phil and our daughter, Christy announced they had a dream to run the 2009 New York Marathon. For the 10 months they began to train and qualify for the 26.2 mile endurance run, to fulfill the dream. After months of grueling workouts and long runs, on November 1, 2009, I watch them not only begin the race but finish the race.

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We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done. Psalms 78:4

I am grateful for those who have directly and indirectly passed the faith along to me. First, my wonderful parents who not only mentored me in the faith but modeled for me what it means to be a Christ follower and Christian leader. There have been those key people God has brought my way to help me understand the Word and ways of God. Recently I was able to have some quality time with a remarkable veteran of the faith.

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A few weeks ago I had the privilege of attending our General Council in Florida.

On the last morning, Rick Warren addressed the ministers. What a powerful message he presented. One statement that he made stood out to me. He talked about how he had previously believed that life was like a series of mountain tops and valley experiences; much like a roller coaster. One day you are on top, the next you’re at the bottom. But, he went on to say that he no longer sees life that way. Now he views it more like a set of train tracks. One track represents all the bad and difficult things in our life, the other track represents all the good and fun things in our life, and each is happening at the same time. Life is never all bad where we have nothing to thank God for, and life is never all good where we have no difficulties in life. Rather, we have both good and bad happening at the same time.

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Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work. If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up.

A couple of years ago I was inspired by my friend Pastor Stu Webber who encouraged every leader to have a "Battle Buddy". Stu drew from his military service in Viet Nam and shared the value and importance of having people in your life who will stand with you in the good and difficult times. No one should attempt to live the Christian life alone. A "Battle Buddy" is a close friend who makes a commitment to stand with you and to stay with you in the midst of a battle or conflict. Neither will abandon the other. They have pledged to be their for each other.

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“All I did was pick up a broom and a dust pan and started cleaning the streets. When people asked what I was doing I just said, 'I am loving Portland like I think Jesus would.'" This was Marshall Snider's explanation as he shared about how Bridgetown Ministries began. If you haven't heard about the impact this ministry is having on Portland, I encourage you to look it up at www.bridgetownministries.com. But let me share how Marshall's simple statements have encouraged me as a leader.

I sometimes think that everything I do has to be BIG and maybe you feel the same way. I think my definition of success is BIG. My heart is to do BIG things for God, have BIG impact on my world, have BIG dreams and to accomplish them. I don’t know about you, but sometimes that thought leaves me feeling very small.

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It seems like the Lord speaks to me a lot through simple words. I will be praying or thinking and a word will come to me and that will be what I meditate on and study for the next few days. So last week's word was breathe. The definition of breathe is to pause and rest before continuing or to take in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide.

These thoughts led me to John 20:19-22 "On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you". After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you!" As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."  And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit."

The disciples were in hiding, they were discouraged, disillusioned, depressed and afraid for their lives. And Jesus walks into their situation and says "Peace be with you".  He wasn't just greeting them; he was imparting to them his Peace. Then he commissions them, "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 

The next thing he does is breathe on them. Are you ever in that situation and just need new life?

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