Welcome to this week’s youth group lesson … only a little late. Sorry about that! Things have been busy on the Zaktansky homefront lately — and today was a special day, but more about that in a moment.
First, a song. The band Tenth Avenue North recently announced a farewell tour that will end with the disbanding of the group. They have several well-known pieces, but perhaps none is as powerful as this song, especially when combining it with the visuals of the video:
If you have missed any of our youth group Wednesday night sessions, you can catch up here:
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
Please remember our extended church family members who are on the front lines of the fight vs. COVID-19 need to continue being at the forefront of our prayer lists and include Beth and Russell Jordan, Abby Faulhaber, Deb Angelo, Ned Campbell, Nicole Hoover, Brittany Keister, Brooke Keister, Joleen Keister, Wanda Keister, Barry Kuhns, Ryan Long, Sarah Russell, Jerry Rute, Tasha Rute, Jason Shaffer, Crystal Shambach, Ruth Smith, Michael Sprenkel and Starla Wagner.
If you haven’t heard, Sarah Russell (formerly Sarah Kuhns, daughter of Barry and Roxanne) was tested recently for coronavirus after exhibiting many of the symptoms. Thankfully, she tested negative. A real answer to prayer.
Austin’s mom, Cindy, continues to heal from three weeks of hospital stays between facilities in Altoona and Lewisburg. Austin’s father, Tim, is looking at potential arm surgery in the near future and there is concern about his job after talk about the company possibly selling out. Please keep his situation in prayer. Austin himself had a health scare this morning (Wednesday), waking up with a swollen eye. After a trip to Geisinger in Danville and starting two antibiotics for what doctors think may be cellulitis in his eyelid, he is doing much better.
Michelle had some health issues earlier this week that have been treated and are on the mend. As Cameron Mulaney shared in a Zoom prayer meeting, his grandmother is dealing with a cancer diagnosis. Please pray for her and Cameron and the extended family. Speaking of our Zoom youth prayer meetings — we have had two now — Julianna shared a request for prayer for her pap (Pat Mitchell) with some leg issues and for some mysterious crop issues on the farm that may affect production down the road.
If you have prayer needs, we encourage you to reach out to us. You can call or text John (570-847-2718) or Michelle (570-495-3740) or email us by clicking here.
So, what was so special about today (Wednesday) at the Zaktansky house? A certain young lady celebrated her 14th birthday. Samantha — who we met for the first time nine years ago at the age of five — is definitely a unique, passionate individual who isn’t afraid to speak her mind, but also is very caring and supportive of those who are struggling.
Samantha had been through quite a bit in the first five years of her life — and those experiences fueled some behaviors that were quite challenging at times. When you consider adopting a young person, you have access to his/her casefile, and there was quite a bit in Samantha’s. However, Michelle and I learned while working as counselors at an adolescent group home that each young person is so much more than the list of issues, diagnoses and mistakes listed in a file.
I remember first listening to Tenth Avenue North’s “You are More” with Samantha. It immediately became an anthem for her — a powerful reminder that:
“You are more than the choices that you’ve made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You’ve been remade.”
It is human nature for us to dwell on our mistakes, our perceived imperfections and to feel guilty for the transgressions we have committed. If we are not careful, that line of thinking can paralyze us into thinking we are never good enough to be loved, wanted or worthy to others.
Thankfully, God is in the adopting business — He wants us to join His family, where he doesn’t hold our past mistakes and poor choices against us, if we truly accept His will in our lives. Consider this verse from Ephesians 1:4-5 (NIV):
For He chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love, He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.
Another look at the same concept, this from Galatians 4:4-5 (NIV):
But when the set time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.
A more in-depth look into what it means to be adopted into the kingdom of God can be found in Romans 8:14-17 (NIV):
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.
There have been so many memories created with Samantha over the past nine years, but perhaps one of the most impactful was a special service we participated in at the New Columbia campground with Pastor Jim Leininger years ago. After praying over Samantha and the family, Pastor Leininger offered a baptism for her at the camp pool, and one of the first things Samantha excitedly asked afterward was if that meant she was finally a “God Girl,” a phrase she picked up from a Jamie Grace song shared by Beth Wagner at church several weeks earlier. The song:
Heading into today’s birthday, Samantha was struggling with the coronavirus restrictions and how it would impact her special day. However, in the past two days, she has received more than 20 cards, notes of encouragement and surprises from godly people connected to our youth group, church and extended family.
It provided a powerful reminder in the midst of the chaos of a global pandemic that she was loved, wanted and worthy … that she is adopted into much more of a family than she ever could have dreamed of nine years ago.
Do you feel lost, unloved or unwanted? Do you desire to be part of a family that doesn’t hold past mistakes or bad choices against you? Do you need to rekindle your relationship with God and fully accept His invitation of adoption into the extended family?
If so, reconnect with God via prayer — cry out to Him with an honest plea for forgiveness and fully accept Him into your heart. If you need help through this process, please don’t hesitate to contact John (570-847-2718) or Michelle (570-495-3740) Zaktansky or Pastor Paul Sheets (570-837-3188).
We’ll close with a hymn that reminds us what means to be a member of the “Family of God.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEAopyO2koA
