God is EVERYTHING!

Teddy Roosevelt once said: "Children do not care how much you know until they know how much you care!"

Lots of anniversaries this year . . .This is my 40th year of serving young people. I began coaching middle school boys my senior year in high school and over the years have coached boys and girls high school basketball, grade school football, adult coed softball and even a little track. Since 1998, 20 years now, my wife and I have been serving youth and families in outreach ministry, welcoming more than 50 children and even their moms at times into our home. For the last 15 years we have been "coaching " teens after school and on weekends in life skills; etiquette, finance, relationships, academic choices and biblical instruction. This is also my 10th year teaching in CHRISTian school in the DMV.

Along the way, we have realized that we are nothing and God is everything!

My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.(James 3:1-2)

Recall Jesus' parable of the faithful and evil servant?

 Then Peter said to Him, “Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?” And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.  . . . . For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more. (Luke 12:42-48)

 I ran across this quote this morning:

"Integrity is choosing courage over comfort; choosing what is right over what is fun fast or easy; and choosing to practice our values rather than simply professing them"

I share all this morning to encourage everyone to press on despite the challenges. We will never know the entire impact of our lives until we see Jesus and He shows us. Several of the young people we have served have gone on be the first in their families to graduate from Christian schools or earn college degrees, Many have married and have children of their own. Some call us "mom" and "dad" or "coach" to this day. Every once in a while we receive that text, email, or just  a few years ago, an invite to give a "daughter " away in marriage.

After all, only what we do for Christ will last. (2 Corinthians 5:9-10)

God is indeed . . .EVERYTHING!