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Onward Upward (Youth Day - March 31, 2007)
 New Hope had the privilege of having Pastor Stephen Brooks as the speaker for our first youth week of prayer for 2007. Pastor Brooks is a graduate of Oakwood College and Southern Adventist University. He has held many positions in the church throughout his Christian walk. He currently serves as the South Atlantic Conference Youth Director.
Pastor Brooks closed out the youth week of prayer with a message on youth day, March 31, 2007, based around the theme for this quarter, "Onward Upward". The topic of his sermon was “Get Up and Walk”. In Acts 3:1-11, we see the story of the lame man who took God for His word and rose up and walked. He was lame from birth and still had the faith in God to rise up as commanded. This man should be an example to us to do the same. We all need to get up with the same enthusiasm to be a witness for God, a better instrument for His work and an example to the world.
 Many of us have so many excuses as to why we can not live the life God intended for us. We may blame it on our spouse, parents, siblings, friends, jobs and even racism. We need to stop sympathizing with ourselves and just get up and walk. If the lame man spent his days in self-pity he would still be sitting there at the gate of the temple, looking for a handout. Instead of asking, “Why am I in this condition?” he asked, “How can I get out of this condition?”
With the numerous obstacles and trials we may face, it can be very difficult to have the strength to persevere. However, we must always remember that we are not capable of doing it on our own. As a Negro spiritual writer once wrote, “I’ve been down so long, it never dawned on me to look up.” We must always look to God for the courage and strength to press on. Whenever we become weary, Jesus will pick us up and lead us in the right direction. So, get up today and walk to your God-given potential and let no circumstance or individual turn you around. It is time to move onward upward!
~ Candice Landell |
