It’s the season for Pomp and Circumstance! Graduation ceremonies are taking place around the state and across the country this month. A graduation is a high point – a time to reflect, celebrate and anticipate. There are cameras, bright smiles, proud and relieved parents, cards, gifts, and thank you notes to write! It signals a change is coming – a change of focus, friendships, goals and adventures. It’s an exciting time and also a little bit scary time, because new options are before you, but with no guarantees. It’s a great time to trust the Lord according to Proverbs 3:5-6:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Last Sunday we had a great time celebrating with our graduates and their families, at a Graduate Luncheon hosted by our Youth Pastor, Tony Moran, and volunteers. We enjoyed a good lunch and reading of Oh The Places You Will Go by our own Miss First Church, Sallie Felton! She shared how she’s been on over 50 Mission trips in the last 20 years, so you never know where God may lead you! Kirk challenged our grads to remain humble, remembering the process of going from the top to the bottom throughout their school career.

I shared three questions the world often asks graduates, as well as the contrasting questions the Lord asks us, as written in a letter by Phil Dueker:

                    The World                           vs.                       The Lord

1. What are you going to do with your life?   1. Will you lose your life for me?

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.” Luke 9:23-24

2. Where will you work? What will you do?       2. Whom will you serve?

“As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
“No one can serve two masters…You cannot serve both God and Money.” Matthew 6:24

3. What is your passion, your dream, your goal?    3. Do you love me?

“Again Jesus said, ’Simon son of John, do you truly love me?’ He answered, ‘Yes. Lord, you know I love you.’” John 21:16a

What questions are you asking of yourself these days? Do they center around you and your plans or around your relationship with Jesus Christ? You don’t need to be a new graduate to consider these questions. Who am I really living for? Either it’s Jesus Christ or someone or something much less than him. Live for Jesus and allow him to take care of the rest.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me. And I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13

Blessings! See you this Sunday!

Yours in Christ,
Mark