Show God's Love

With three weeks left of school, I'm beginning to feel like a failure when I should feel like a champion. I don't want to regret the last four years, but I sometimes wonder what could have happened had I lived every single moment of every day glorifying God. We all have our ups and downs. Not just in our Christian walk with God, but in our daily lives. Life can be a little overwhelming after receiving assignment "essay five, due tomorrow" along with thirty hours of work a week, but is that reason enough to put on a sullen expression, plug our music into our ears, and tune out the lost and hurting around us?

I'm as guilty of this as the next guy. Plus, I don't want to feel bad about feeling bad, you know?

There's nothing wrong with feeling down because of a not so good test grade, or because you didn't get enough sleep the night before, or because you can't take one more customer's snarky remarks at the check-out. But that doesn't mean you can check-out of life for a few hours. Who is going to pick up your slack?

With three weeks left of school, I'm beginning to feel like I need a more positive attitude. No use looking at the past and thinking, "Man, why didn't I smile at that person in the hallway?" or "Man, why didn't I give a high-five to my teammates when they made a good play and I screwed up?" Instead of feeling sorry for yourself about how all your friends ditched you at lunch, take the opportunity and make a new friend. Maybe someone who needs to be shown the love of Jesus.

With three weeks left of school, I'm beginning to feel like I need to stay on top of things. We are called to be the light in a dark world. Jesus is life to the dying and broken. How many dying and broken people do you see every day? Don't want to think about it, right?

I challenge you to make a pledge. From here on out. No matter what kind of "debbie-downer" mood you're in, take a step back, look at your problems from God's perspective, and show your peers God's love by simply being joyful in each and every situation. You may not necessarily be happy, but joy can come from a place deep inside of you that only the grace of God can reach.

Be a short-term missionary in your school. For those of you seniors, who cares what anyone things of you? You're going to be gone soon. For those of you with a few high school years ahead of you, dare to be a "Jesus Freak," a "religious nut," or simply be a kindhearted person who let's Jesus' love wash over everyone they meet.

I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart, I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart to stay. 'Cause I'm so happy, so very happy. I've got the love of Jesus in my heart. And I'm so happy, so very happy. I've got the love of Jesus in my heart.

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13