I asked Jesus into my heart when I was 4 years old. It's hard for me to remember a time when I didn't believe in God. Even the short period of my life when I wasn't serving God, I still believed He existed... I was just mad at him. So it's hard for me to imagine how some of these teens feel... the ones that don't believe in God.

There's one teen in particular that came to our youth group because some of our teens were evangelizing on their own at the grocery store down the street. Several months later, this teen is an active member of our youth group. When he came to us, he said he was an atheist. He has since decided he believes in God, but he wants to see a miracle before he'll accept God. He has a plan to put himself in a box... and see if God gets him out. We've been talking to him about how you shouldn't test God, and trying to work through some things with him.

The other night, he was talking to pastor Orlando...

***Side note: I think it is the COOLEST thing that our teens are comfortable enough to go to our senior pastors (or any other pastor on staff) and talk to them about their lives... their problems... the things they're doing... or just what they like to do. We are blessed to have pastors that show interest in our teens. It seems to me that most youth groups are kind of shunned in churches, but ours has been embraced. It's made all the difference in the world.

...so the other night he was talking to Pastor Orlando, who told him that God says the only place we can test him is with our finances. After having this conversation, the teen emptied his pockets, handed Javier about 15 cents and said "That's all I have but God can have it." Needless to say, it was hand delivered directly to the offering.

We've also started taking offering in our youth services and teaching the kids about giving and being a part of a WHOLE church... not just a youth group.

Sunday morning, one of our teens chased my dad down with a handful of money and said, "I need to give my faith promise! Is there somewhere I can do that?" Our teens are starting to see what it means to really give God 100% of your WHOLE life... even when it's not a lot. I think God sees these things and just beams with joy... I know I do!

Here's a funny video that was sent to me today that goes along with this:

Youth group is always interesting. Always. There's always something funny that happens. There's always someone who says something weird. Usually someone gets hurt (not always funny)... and ALWAYS ALWAYS God shows up :)

Wednesday night was no exception.

Javier was talking to the kids and he referred to where God talks about us being the "Salt of the Earth".

He asked the kids, "What does salt do?"

Their answer?

"Makes things Salty."

"Kills slugs."

:)

As funny as those responses can be, at the end of the night, kids always respond to God. We take that for granted sometimes, because it is a regular occurrence. But I know that our church is special. I know that God is doing big things with our teens. I know that they are going to make a difference not only in our church, but in the world.

They ARE the salt of the Earth... they may not be the normal, everyday salt...
But God uses them for SURE... These kids are incredible. They let God use them. They give themselves to Him and they follow what they think He wants for them. And it's incredible to see what is happening!