Yesterday afternoon, my husband, John and I were out shopping for a little while. When we came out of Michaels, we ran into a friend and our Pastor’s children. John made the comment, “Too many of us are getting too old and now you young folks will have to pull in the slack.” He was referring to serving the Lord.

My mind immediately jumped back to 1969 when I first attended Bible Camp with the other “young people” from Colonial Baptist in Blue Ridge, Virginia. Several like minded Churches used the same Bible camp at the same time and during the year, each Church held “Youth Rallies” which was basically a Friday or Saturday evening when kids from these same Churches met, shared special music, listened to a Missionary or special speaker challenging us to give our life to Christ for “full-time Christian Service.” Some of our favorite songs were during the late sixties through the seventies were:

• Fill My Cup, Lord
• Lord, Send Me Anywhere
• I Have Decided to Follow Jesus
• Whatever It Takes
• Something Beautiful
• Gentle Shepherd, Come and Lead Us for we need You to help us find our way…
• Treasures
• Just Take My Cross and Follow Close To Me
• We Are More Than Conquers
• They That Wait Upon The Lord Shall Renew Their Strength…

I could continue but I think you get the picture. Ours was a generation of consecration. We were willing to do whatever the Lord wanted us to do. To go wherever the Lord wanted us to go.  We were preparing to serve Him in the highways and byways.  Many were chosen by the Lord as Pastors, evangelists, foreign missionaries, Christian school teachers, Sunday school teachers, godly wives and mothers…  just as every generation. Ours was not the first generation to serve Him nor is it the last.

Many in my age group are thinking about retiring, relocating, the Lord has taken some of us home to be with Him while others suffer from ailments that take us out of our place of service leaving an opening for the newer, younger generation to step in and fill in the gap. After all, isn’t that what we were doing? Faces may change, locations may shift but since the early Church, we have been commanded to spread the Gospel and make disciples.

I had received Christ as my Savior in October 1968 and surrendered my life to Christ the following summer at camp and have never regretted serving Him. Due to health problems or other circumstances, I have wondered if the Lord could still use me or if I was a “cracked pot” just sitting on a shelf? He showed me in His Word that whatever our circumstances, to do all to the glory of God. So, whether I am writing, singing, playing the piano, or in the middle of a migraine or vertigo, I can still pray. Still serve Him – even though it is not the way I had imagined all those years ago.

My prayer for the current generation and for those to come is that they will keep their eyes fixed upon Him and to do His Will. (Not diverted by the world or politics or even by circumstance.) What is His will for believers?

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, ‘All power is given unto Me in Heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.’ ” (Matthew 28:18-20)

Did you get that? You are not alone – He is with you as you “stand in the gap” and serve Him.

May this year find you drawing near unto Him and serving Him wherever He places you. I challenge you to stand in the gap – He will show you where there is a need.

Happy New Year!

Love,

Kathy