Just Write It

I have terrible handwriting. It is pretty bad. I haven’t advanced on my handwriting skills since the 2^nd grade. The good thing is my handwriting is still somewhat readable.  You can make a major impact with your handwriting whether it is super sloppy or the best handwriting the world has ever seen.

A couple of years ago my father-in-law, Rusty, sent me a handwritten letter. In the note, he encouraged me and just said things that made me feel good. Even though he said all these wonderful things, the best part wasn't what he said; it was the fact that he wrote it himself- pen and paper style. He didn't type it. Rusty’s handwriting isn't much better than mine, but, you know what, it didn't bother me. The words that he wrote meant so much to me.

Being a youth minister, I try to express to my students that I care for them and love them. I do that in a number of ways. One way I have attempted to care for my students recently is by writing students handwritten letters. A handwritten letter can truly show someone that you care about them. If you are a youth minister reading this, I encourage you to do this for your students. If you aren't in ministry, I encourage you to write a letter to your kids, friends, spouses, or whoever you are close to. A handwritten letter can go a long way to show you care. If your handwriting is sloppy, no one cares. Just write the letter. Your letter will make more of an impact than you will ever know.

P.S. Go Cardinals! 

Cash

I like stuff. I like to have stuff. I like buying stuff. Stuff, stuff, and more stuff. Can you have too much stuff? Well, of course, you can. How do we get stuff? I bet you know. MONEY! Money is a great thing. You can buy food, cars, houses, bikes, movies, games, educations, books, wood, trips, and even gas. We can even give it away. Crazy! I am currently working on a message for the weekly Wednesday night youth service (a.k.a. Encounter) that will be about giving and money. What I am learning through the process is that when we give, it all starts with our hearts. I can give all the money I want and give as much as I want, but my heart needs to be in the right place. If my heart is in the wrong place, if I’m giving for the wrong reasons, I’m not really honoring God. I’m just trying to please myself, and that is a bad thing my friends. Don’t give out of a have to or to make yourself feel better. Give because you want to spread the gospel through the resources God has blessed you with. I believe that when we give, we can help some amazing things happen in the kingdom of God. So, when you give, make sure you are thinking it through. Don’t do it out of compulsion or a feel of have to, but seek out God’s guidance on how you should give. God has blessed us all in sorts of ways; use those blessing to bless others and to spread the gospel, because that is what it is all about.