As you know, Tuesday was Valentine’s Day. Having been single, well, my entire life, it has never been an overly special day for me.  I’ve got to tell you though this Valentine’s Day was definitely one to remember.

Tuesdays are youth group night. The other leaders and myself had talked a few weeks ago about maybe doing something special. Well, I didn’t think anything had come of that until last week the boys sent the girls from the room so they could discuss what they were going to do. The boys (and the male leader) arrived at church after school and went to work. They took all the extra tables down and set a long table in the middle of the room. They decorated it complete with red tablecloth, candles down the center, a centerpiece of cupcakes (that they made) and a candle, little heart candies, and set the table with plates, cups and napkins all in the valentine theme.

The boys had also made supper. They made red heart pancakes, eggs and bacon. The lights were dim, there was soft music playing and the boys dressed in “Sunday” clothes and aprons, served the ladies and girls. They even topped the night off with giving each of the ladies and girls a heart shaped box of chocolates.

It was an amazing evening. These rough and tumble boys were so sweet and sincere. They showed love and care for the others. They shared God’s love. They even helped in the clean-up. A night like this warms the heart. It’s so fun to see this tender side of the boys.

The kids in our youth group are such special kids. I am so thankful for these young men and women that I have the opportunity to spend time with, get to know and be able to minister to on a weekly basis. Please be praying for them that they will stand strong and become amazing men and women of God.

One more thought about this special night….I was talking to one of the boys while we were waiting for everything to start and he said he wasn’t sure what devotions were going to be about. He asked if the Bible talked about Valentine’s Day. I said well it sure does, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) God’s perfect Valentine.

Serving Joyfully,

Sharing God’s love

Recently I was invited to be a “guest” at a sleep lab in a hospital in Missoula. My Dr. deemed it a necessary step to my overall health. Last Friday was the appointed time. As the anticipation built so did the nerves. I was so nervous. I suppose it had much to do with the fear of the unknown. I had many questions and very few answers. Well I got to the hospital and checked in. As I waited the nerves continued to grow. Finally it was time for me to head to the sleep lab. I made my way to the elevator and up to the 5th floor. I kept trying to take deep, calming breaths. I was met at the elevator by one of the respiratory therapists. He greeted me warmly and instantly went to work putting my mind and heart at ease. (Don’t think I would’ve slept otherwise).

I’m not sure how many of you have participated in one of these “studies” but they put wires all over you and connect you to a computer in their main area so they can monitor you as you sleep. (I would post a picture here but, well, it’s not very flattering in the least.)

As they connected the wires to my head (a sleep EEG) they made jokes about the fact that they were going to watch my brain all night long and that now they could read my mind. My first reaction was “Oh no!” “If only they knew how nervous I was and what was going through my mind about all this.”

A few days later I got thinking about the One Who can read our very thoughts. In fact, God knows our thoughts before we even think them. This same God calmed my fears through the folks at the sleep lab. They patiently answered my questions and comforted and encouraged me. God does that too. He calms our fears, He patiently waits for us, He encourages and comforts us and God knows our thoughts.

If those therapists really could read my mind that night what would they have seen?

More importantly, what does God see?

How about it? What does your “spiritual” EEG show?

Ministry update: We had 34 kids at AWANA tonight. It has been a concern that the kids don’t bring their books. It is hard when they don’t have their books. We have really been working with them. Tonight, for the first time all the Sparks (K-2nd grades) brought their books and passed so many sections. It is so fun to see these kids hiding God’s word in their hearts. The T-n-T’s (3rd – 6th grades) still were missing some of their books. However, they also passed alot of sections. It is so much fun and so exciting.

Tonight one 2nd grader passed his first book finally. I gave him his second book. The smile this young man had on his face lit the entire room up. He couldn’t wipe it off his face. It was so wonderful. (I also got a big hug). So much fun.

This week at youth group we took the kids to hear a missionary couple from Brazil. It was so great to see them so attentive and interacting.

God is so good.

2 Corinthians 4:7 – 9 reads, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed”

I’ve thought much about these verses lately. I have some family and several friends who are going through difficult times and facing challenges of many kinds. Sometimes it feels like “how much more can I handle?”. These verses should definitely be verses of encouragement. With God all things are possible and He will never leave or forsake us. Our job and responsibility in this? Trust Him. We need to rest in God and in His promises and His word. We can trust Him. We don’t even need to question this. However, sometimes our “human nature” takes over and we try to do things by ourselves rather than trusting God.

Are you facing a trial right now? Take heart my friend. You can trust God. He alone can give that peace that passes all understanding. He will not forsake you. He is walking with you through that “firey trial”. I want to encourage you to trust God. It’s so worth it.

If you have questions about this or if you need prayer, please send me a message at montjoy@montana.com and I will try to answer your questions and pray for you.

Be encouraged.God loves you and wants to give you peace.

I have a friend who’s dad is dying. (Actually her mom and dad are my friends also.) I’ve been thinking alot about this family lately as I have read my friend’s posts and updates on her dad. Her post from last night has given me much to think on today. She was saying that her dad only has a few days left and “Dad feels unworthy to see Jesus but we all know he is worthy…because of Jesus and Jesus alone.” This is a man who has loved and served the Lord faithfully his whole life. What a humbling and overwhelming thought that he doesn’t feel worthy. I think that when this man of God reaches heaven God is going to tell him, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” My friend ends her post with, ”May God be glorified in dad’s life and the legacy he leaves!”

Then this morning the “verse of the day” (on one of the websites I visit) is “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 NIV

This makes me think about my life. Do I get so caught up in the “little” irritating things in life, making them more important than they should be? Or do I spend my time advancing the kingdom of God? What occupies my thoughts? What kind of legacy am I making and what kind of legacy will I leave at the end of my life? Is God glorified through me? Will God say, “Well done good and faithful servant” to me? 

This man of God leaves behind a legacy of a life lived for Christ.

How ’bout you and me?

Hello –

January 6, I turned 50 and figured it was time to enter the modern world and try my hand at blogging. I am hoping to use this as an opportunity to keep folks posted on what is happening in the ministry as well as what God is teaching me. Sometimes I think, “Oh, I want to let people know about this”, but it’s just a quick something. I hope you will enjoy reading.

One of these “things” God is teaching me occured today. Mom has been visiting me since January 3. She had come to help me celebrate turning 50. Well, she stayed on until today. While I was driving home I was listening to the radio and Adventures in Odyssey came on. In this episode a boy named Trent had tried to get a part in the play the church was putting on. He was disappointed because he didn’t make it and the director asked him to be in charge of setting up chairs. He figured this was just not important enough and wouldn’t be helpful in winning people for Jesus. Mr. Whitaker had him go in the Imagination Station and go on an adventure.

The adventure included meeting the lady who wrote Jesus loved me, Amy Carmicheal and JFK. At the time of meeting these people they weren’t doing anything he felt was important. The lady who wrote Jesus Loved Me was just writing words for a song in a book she co-authored with her sister. At the time Trent met her she was making sandwiches for a Bible study of cadets from West Point. When he met Amy Carmichael, she was busy rescuing girls that were “temple slaves”. When he met JFK he was an officer in the military in 1943 after being lost on an island for 6 days. None of these people, at the time, did anything they thought would change the world and they were just doing what they had to do. However, look how the song Jesus Loves Me has ministered to countless people. We all know that JFK became president. Did you know that when he and his fellow soldiers were rescued, they sang Jesus loves me in gratitude?

The story taught me two things. Number 1, I learned a little of the history of the song. Number 2, as long as we do what God asks of us and leave the rest to Him, we are faithful. I sometimes get discouraged or frustrated that I’m not doing the “Big” things. Sometimes I feel like I’m not making much difference. Today, God reminded me that I just need to remain faithful and do everything He asks of me and leave the rest up to Him.

Be encouraged friends.