Welcome to this week’s online Port Ann Wesleyan Youth Group lesson. We are days away from our rescheduled youth benefit yard sale, and we can use all hands on deck for what will likely be our largest fundraiser of the year. More on that in a few moments.
First, here is an older song we’ve shared in the past … Gungor’s “Beautiful Things.”
https://youtu.be/1spkhp41ig4
Julianna and Sammy’s grandfather, Lee, was laid to rest on Monday with a nice service at the God’s Missionary Church cemetery followed by a time of fellowship and a meal. Please continue to keep the Jordan family in prayer as they adjust to the change while celebrating Lee’s graduation into Heaven. Julianna and Sammy’s other grandfather, Pat Mitchell, went in for a heart catheterization today to determine the reasons behind his shortness of breath. Please pray for him and the extended Mitchell family, as well.
Please remember Pastor Paul and Sally in prayer … Sally is facing a biopsy on her pancreas as doctors try to figure out what they found in a recent scan.
Continue to pray for those on the front lines of our pandemic — from those within our church who are working in the healthcare field to those who are struggling to make ends meet with a slew of financial issues and uncertain work situations. I spoke with the owner of On Fire Promotions (on the strip) yesterday, and he estimates his business lost quarter of a million in business over the past two months. Many other businesses won’t be returning despite loosening restrictions, and people are looking for work.
And please keep our yard sale in prayer as we gear up with the final push — not just that it is a successful fundraiser in the midst of an uncertain time, but that we also are mindful of the COVID-19 concerns and ultimately shine God’s light in front of our community in a way that glorifies God.
Speaking of the sale, we could use some more donations if you or your family is interested in sharing. For a list of what is still needed, and to sign up, click here. Also, we will need all the help we can get for set up Friday afternoon/evening and throughout the day Saturday. The more you help, the more of the proceeds of the sale wind up in your account. Let Michelle and I know if you have any questions.
Monday afternoon, Paige and I helped Austin and his mother deal with a bird in her stovetop hood vent assembly. After taking part the fan mechanism, we found a baby robin that had wandered from its nest further out the vent shaft and fallen down where it couldn’t get up.
I told Paige that efforts to resuscitate the baby Robin were likely futile. She didn’t hesitate to point out that it would definitely perish if we left it sitting in Cindy’s yard – she at least wanted an opportunity. She can be very convincing, and I finally let her bring it home in a small cardboard box.
She spent hours researching ways to care for such a creature, learning that a baby robin can eat 14 feet of worms in two weeks among other odd and interesting facts. She dug up worms in our backyard, got it to eat, sang to it, prayed over it and, miraculously, the baby bird started showing improvement.
This wasn’t the first time Paige had helped an animal come back from the brink … she rescued a baby bunny from a hungry cat, helped a chicken heal after a bloody attack from an owl left it missing the top of its head and numerous other examples.
As we gear up for another youth benefit yard sale, it always amazes me how we all can love a good yard sale. Why is that? Most of the items you find are cast-offs from others — things that people would likely throw away or toss in the recycling bin, and yet, to a new set of eyes, the items suddenly take on a new life. Obviously, the thrill of getting a good bargain is part of the excitement behind a sale, but so too is finding that one treasure that everyone else seems to pass over that we just have to have.
Isn’t it cool, as Christians, to know that God sees us the same way? By the world’s standards, we are never good enough, pretty enough, smart enough or popular enough — even those who are labeled “enough” by society soon break from under the pressure and get tossed to the scrap heap.
Thankfully, God recycles us — he makes us new in Him. From 2 Corinthi1ans 5:17 (NIV):
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
God steps in and sees our beauty despite our scars, imperfections and brokenness. He is ready to restore us, rescuing us much like Paige tried to do with the baby robin … speaking of that, check out this cute video of her feeding Jolene, the name she gave the bird:
Consider what Paul shares in Romans 8:28-31 (NIV):
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
After a long, scary, uncertain time of global pandemic and numerous restrictions here at home, we may feel more broken than ever. However, as we have shared via so many other lessons, video testimonies and personal stories from different people who have fallen deep within the pit of sin and despair before God pulled them out, we are first and foremost God’s creation.
He sees the beauty and the potential in each of us, and it is our job to see that same beauty and potential in those around us and help others see that value within themselves. Whether it is in sharing some uplifting comments via a Zoom meeting, social media post or via a quick phone call, we can help others rediscover their own internal value, taking a cue from Ephesians 4:29 (NIV):
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
We look forward to seeing each of you at the yard sale this weekend, and are excited about the new opportunities to reconnect with each youth member. If you know of a friend who may be interested in attending, feel free to bring him/her along or share some of our previous online youth lessons that speak to you. Here is the updated list:
May 20 & 27, 2020: Sowing seeds of salvation
May 13, 2020: Trash to treasure
May 6, 2020: Serving as samaritans
April 29, 2020: Adopted into the family
April 22, 2020: Living as lighthouses
April 15, 2020: Absorbing the truth
April 9, 2020: Preparation over procrastination
April 1, 2020: Standing up in the midst of a storm
March 25, 2020: What route do our roots run?
March 18, 2020: God’s calm guidance during a coronavirus craze
Not surprisingly, there are numerous contemporary Christian songs that deal with how God sees our beauty and potential despite our broken situations. Here are a few:
