God blessed the first 20 years of the ministry which He called me to, to work, primarily, with youth…teenagers. What a challenging, yet wonderfully rewarding ministry…a ministry that not only bore fruit as it was happening, but has continued to bear fruit for years after the teens have become adults with kids, and teens, of their own.  Of the many things that God blessed me to learn in those twenty years, and beyond, was that God does call, and use, teenagers mightily…even when they are teenagers.  Just look at Jeremiah. God called him to be His prophet…as a youth…likely, a teenager…

Jeremiah 1:4-7

4 Now the word of the LORD came to me, Jeremiah, saying, 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.” 6 Then I said, “Alas, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth.” 7 But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak.”

1 Timothy 4:12…where Paul told young Timothy…

Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.

The last words my Grandfather said to me, just days before he went to be with the Lord, were, “Always live for Jesus.”  A few years later, at the age of 18, as I trusted in Jesus as my God and Savior, those words were still ringing in my ears, and they became the direction of my life.  I implore you…please give that exhortation to the young people in your life.

The Lord bless you and keep you…

Pastor Dave