Today was our final Girl Talk meeting at Sebring High School for the 2007/2008 school year. As this year comes to a close bringing exciting new beginnings for Graduates as well as a summer of thrills for underclassmen, I encourage all to remain focused. Keep your eyes on the good things that have been set before you. I am aware that many may not fall into the “Christian” category. I am equally aware that many of you do. Whether or not you call yourself a believer in Jesus Christ, this message is for you, so please read on.
Seniors, let’s be honest, even though this year carries many fond memories, let’s face it; it also bears a few you’d rather forget. Like the time you and your sweetie broke up or your term paper landed you a zero or the time you had a discrepancy with a teacher and spent lunch hour in ISS. Some of you lost a loved one or witnessed the break up of your parents. Maybe your test scores weren’t good enough and you’re forced to remain in Highlands County for a couple more years (sad for you but a relief for your parents). These things are big issues at this stage of your life. It is okay to have feelings of disappointment. But let me offer you some words of encouragement.
Isaiah 55 verses 6-12 states: “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord and the Lord will have mercy on him and to our God, for He will freely pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” NIV
Now that is a lot to take in but in my opinion this is what God is saying. In life we will always have ups and downs. While the ups are always good the downs are sometimes hard to bear. Our instruction here is this: seek God in the good times and bad. He is always in control. Whether it’s deciding which college to attend or which girl to ask on a date, seek His face. When life hits you hard or when blessings overflow, seek His face. When you suddenly become friendless or when friends are too many, seek His face and remember He is the friend that sticks closer than a brother! When your boyfriend breaks up with you, or your dad leaves home or when you’ve found the love of your life or your parents get back together, seek His face. Open your arms to the Lover of your soul, drink of His mercy; be consumed by His grace. He is waiting for you. He knows your aches, He knows your fears. He feels your joys and is aware of your accomplishments. He knows you better than anyone else does, even better than you know yourself.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 resonates: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
This popular scripture is often inscribed on Graduation gifts and those of encouragement. Here God is promising the Jewish captives in Babylon that in seventy years their captivity will be over and they will return to the land but for now, because they refused to listen to His words they must pay the price. I believe what He is saying to us is that even though rough times may come sometimes due to our foolish mistakes and sometimes not, He promises us hope.
He desires a relationship with us. He longs to meet our needs. His ears are always open and His heart never grows weary. He will always be our friend but we have to do our part. We must seek Him with every ounce of our being.
As you walk through those big doors to a future of new beginnings and fresh challenges, why not seek His face, diligently, earnestly and wholeheartedly. If this is something new to you, try it you might like it. If it is something you are already familiar with, great, go ahead and do it once more. Do it with an open mind and open heart and be ready for the journey of your life! May God bless you all.
Let’s talk.
Terri can be reached at terriotterman@hotmail.com
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