New High School Series Begins!

We just began a new series on the season of Lent. During this series we will prepare our hearts for Easter by focusing on Fasting, Praying and Giving. We will also be focusing on the importance of Community in the church during the season of lent. We are not meant to live this Christian life alone. We all need each other in the family of God. As a result, this series will be marked by extended times of small group time and a focus on accountability and encouragement during these times.

We watched this video at youth group last night, which gives a short overview of what the season of Lent is all about! Check it out:

L.O.V.E.

People have mixed feelings about the month of February. Well maybe not the whole month of February, but at least that one day smack in the middle we like to call Valentines Day. Some people love the excuse to spend extra time with their loved ones. Others dread the expectations it creates and the inevitable disappointment for those whose expectations aren't met.

It is interesting to me that this "hallmark-ized" holiday is inspired by St. Valentine, a priest and eventual martyr for his faith. He is remembered for secretly marrying Christian couples in the time when the Roman state did not condone Christianity in any way. He was eventually arrested for this act, but instead of laying low after his arrest, he spent his time in prison trying to convert the emperor himself. That didn't go over too well. He was killed for this soon after.

I don't know about you, but I don't think I would be as brave as St. Valentine and dare try to convert the Emperor of the most powerful government in the world, especially after I had already been arrested for going against them in the first place. Yes, St. Valentine was a supporter of romantic love, secretly marrying Christian couples, but he was mostly concerned with showing his love for God through is actions no matter his circumstances.

While God is the creator of romantic love and knows how much joy these kind of relationships can bring us when they are blessed by him, he also tells us that his love for us far exceeds what we could ever imagine.

"Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that." Ephesians 5:2 (The Message)

And all he asks is that we try to show our love for him in return, by trusting him, following him, seeking after him and showing love to the people he has placed in our lives.

No matter our personal feelings about this February holiday, we can always work towards loving God and loving others better. And based on what little we know about him, this is probably exactly what St. Valentine would want us to do, and not just on February 14th, .

In His love,

Jessica