Sunday, May 20, 2007

“Trusting God”

1st Peter 5:6-11

Lorenzo Dunford

Campus and Youth Pastor

 

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. I Peter 5:6-11

Today is a special day in the lives of 14 of our youth; it’s Graduation Sunday! As a congregation, this day is special to each of us as well. Most of these young men and women have grown up right before our very eyes and it’s hard to believe they are about to transition into the world of adulthood.

Needless to say, not many days from now, each of them will be making the leap from the “safety-net” called home into the great big old world. So, this morning it seems fitting to issue a challenge that will serve as a memorial stone for the days ahead. My prayer is for each of these young men and women to look back 7, 12, 15 years from now and see where they set their sights on this challenge, applied its principles and thus brought forth great results in life.

The challenge is two-part in nature, with the first part having seven key points:

Part One: Trust God

·        Be content with who you are

·        God's strong hand is on you; he'll promote you at the right time

·        Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you

·        Keep a cool head

·        Stay alert

·        Keep your guard up

·        Hard times don’t last forever

I Peter 5:6-11 in the Message Bible validates each aspect of this first challenge.  And as Christians, our primary direction in life should be based on God’s Will, God Way, and God’s Word.

 

Part Two: Find Your Wings

Although each one of these seniors have received a great start for their future from mom and dad’s examples, now the time has come for them to find their own wings. It’s time to start making decisions and standing behind the results that follow. And it’s time for each of them to establish their own personal mark on the world. All this reminds me of a story I heard once about two eagles that decided to start a family. They picked the perfect location and they built the perfect nest. When the time was right they had the perfect egg that hatched at just the right time. What an eaglet!

Mom and Dad where so proud and took special care with their precious baby, meeting its every need. The day came when the little one was now getting big enough to have an opinion about the food, about the nest, and about flying time.

This didn’t catch mom and dad eagle by surprise, for they too were once young eagles. So, dad began to build a new nest for mom and him just far enough away to be out of the sight of the previous one. And mom began to pull out all the padding she had so meticulously laced into the bottom of the nest, covering all the sticky places.

Finally the day came when mom and dad didn’t come back home. It was time. The little eagle was now ready to step up to the edge of the nest and find her wings. Now mom and dad were close enough to observe but far enough away as to not hinder.

And that is where we find ourselves today as I issue this two-part challenge.  All of our seniors have been equipped and all of them are very well supported. So now we say with the families, “Trust God and Find Your Wings!”

Here are the words of the song that inspired the second-part of the challenge. 

 

Find Your Wings - Mark Harris                                                                                                        Words and Music by Tony Woods

It's only for a moment you are mine to hold
The plans that heaven has for you
Will all too soon unfold
So many different prayers I'll pray
For all that you might do
But most of all I'll want to know
You're walking in the truth
And If I never told you
I want you to know
As I watch you grow

 
I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams
And that faith gives you the courage
To dare to do great things
I'm here for you whatever this life brings
So let my love give you roots
And help you find your wings

May passion be the wind
That leads you through your days
And may conviction keep you strong
Guide you on your way
May there be many moments
That make your life so sweet
Oh, but more than memories

It's not living if you don't reach for the sky
I'll have tears as you take off
But I'll cheer as you fly

 

May God’s Richest and Best Be Yours,

Lorenzo