VBS Tuesday: Listening Ears, Mouths that Speak Kind Words

Oh, how I LOVE this week!!! Above are a couple of our directors who are evidence that we still don't know: "Who has more fun at VBS -- the adults or the kids!?!" It's a question we've been pondering for the many years, and we still don't know the answer!

This year's overall theme is "Geared for Adventure!" The idea is that God made us to be His partners in the greatest adventure imaginable: winning the world with His love and kindness.

Our verses of the day are about how God made our ears and mouths to be key components of the "gear" God's given us to show others His love:

"Let's be quick to listen and slow to speak." James 1:19
"Let the words of my mouth be pleasing to You, Lord." Psalm 19:14

Today I'm praying that God continues to teach me how to use my ears and my mouth to bless people! I tend to be quick to talk. But I want to listen more carefully to people and to the Lord. I don't want to fill the air with my own words and thoughts. I want to speak the words Jesus Himself wants to speak to people.

Did you know that even Jesus had to watch His words? He did this by carefully listening:

I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. John 12:49

Jesus was careful in speaking by carefully listening. I'm going to try the same thing!

VBS Monday: God Looks on the Heart

This morning we kicked off VBS 2010! Pictured above are a few members of the team who led us in some rockin' worship! We have about 280 elementary-aged kids on campus for week of absolute fun learning about the God's great love for each of us. It's been a great day. Our campus feels peaceful, joyful, safe, and fun. While there's plenty of energy, it doesn't feel chaotic or crazed. For those prayer-warriors out there, please pray for some slightly warmer weather...

One of our theme verses for today was:

Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7

When people evaluate us, it's tough not to try to adjust to expectations. But from an early age many of us learned that when we followed that age-old advice to just "be yourself" we paid a heavy price. The pressure to conform (and the punishment for lack of conformity) is too much for most of us to handle. So we try to fit in. Over time, little bits of who are made to be are carved away until we wonder what's left. Then we scramble to redefine ourselves. But this scramble doesn't often produce confidence or peace.

The best solution is to turn to the one who knit us together in our mother's womb (Psalm 139:13-14). He formed not only our physical being, but also our personality and emotional make-up. As we turn to Him, we discover that He knows us better than we know ourselves. Nobody is better equipped than Jesus to introduce us to ourselves:

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

Maybe you're not sure what the "desires of your heart" are. Maybe you've tried hard, but haven't found anything that's truly satisfying. Jesus knows exactly what you need. Ask Him to show you how to seek Him. If you'll seek Him instead of what you think you need, He will add the missing pieces to your life.

To check out videos of the Assemblies click here, for other VBS Highlights click here and here.