40 Day Devotionals 2014 Day 17

Spring Break is among us! Well, for all of our Broward public school students anyway. I know many of our students are super excited, and some not so much. How can you not be excited about getting a week off? Some students don't want to spend time with their families for the break. They feel it will be a headache to go away with their siblings and parents.
Honestly, this breaks my heart. It isn't surprising though. I remember when I was a teen and had struggles with my family. There were times I didn't want to go to Disney World or to the beach either. I just wanted to spend time with my friends. However, having students in the youth ministry who have been a part for a while who don't enjoy time with their parents hurts. I wish they could get along with their families. I don't know what the disconnect is and the struggles that are home for each of them. I know a lot of them, but not the inner workings. I really wish I could pray all their troubles away. So that they could enjoy their family time and truly love it, like I do with my family now, like I did later in my life at home. I get it though, everyone is just looking for that perfect relationship. One that brings them eternal happiness. We should know that isn't possible. The eternal relationship is with our eternal Father.
I pray that as my child grows up that she doesn't feel that way about her parents and family. I don't know what the future holds but I know this; I want my child to have a good and healthy relationship with her family. It means so much to her future. People keep telling Kelli and me that we will be great parents. God, I hope so.
This just explains why I am in youth ministry to begin with. To help students connect with their Heavenly Father, and with their earthly families.

Day 17

Scripture

Romans 8:31-39

-          ³¹ What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? ³³ Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶ As it is written:  “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Wisdom

-          I hate it when a relationship ends. Heartbreak is one of the toughest things any of us has to deal with. Whether it be the end of a committed relationship, someone dying or moving away, or just problems that caused two people to drift apart, separation is not fun. I think this is naturally because we are made to be creatures of relationship. We want to be loved, we want to belong, and we want to find purpose in others. The problem with earthly relationships, or in other words, relationships that exist here on earth, is that they will all eventually end.

-          As I taught Preschool Chapel and told the story of the Lost Sheep I thought of Jesus in John 10 where he describes himself as the Good Shepherd. He is someone who will come looking for us even after we leave Him. Someone who will come after us even after we betray and hurt Him. His love and affection for us is never-ending.

-          The feelings and emotions we share with our families and friends is only a glimmer, a small speck, compared to the compassion and love our Creator has for us. Even in these times with disaster and war, our God still loves us. He cares for us deeply. Nothing can separate us from Christ.

Apply

-          How are the relationships around you? Are they suffering? What bonds need fixing between you and a friend or a family member?

-          Isn’t it time you spent more effort working on your relationship with the Father?

-          Can you take comfort knowing that even if you lose a relationship your relationship with God never ends?

Prayer

-          Praise God for His love and compassion for our sinful hearts. Even though he loves us, we move away. Ask Him for the same love so that we can share and feel that with Him. Ask Him to help us to love one another like He loves us. Pray that he heals any hurting relationships in your life and praise Him for the friends and family that bring you joy.