Merry Christmas!  We are only hours away from the most wonderful day of the year!  Which means, there are only a few days left to listen to the greatest music ever…Christmas music!

2011 has been a banner year for fpStudents.  God has done some amazing things; we’ve seen crazy growth and lives changed all year long! As we finish out this year we decided to do a unique two-week series focused on the amazing season of Christmas, specifically seeking to understand the intent behind some of the most popular Christmas carols!

Typically Matt Grimes and I will do the majority of the teaching at our fpStudents worship services on Wednesday nights.  But for this series we stepped back and let a few others share what God had put on their hearts.  I was so excited (and a bit anxious!) to have several high school students speak during the series!

I was BLOWN AWAY by the level of intensity, honesty and passion that Whitnie, Tatum and Bailey brought in their delivery of God’s Word.  They knocked it out of the park, and we (the students included) learned some great things as a result:

1. Students Are Gifted! Regardless of your age, when you choose to follow Christ God supplies you with gifts that are to be used to glorify Him and make Him famous.  I truly believe that life change will happen among students and families at Faith Promise and beyond when STUDENTS begin using their gifts in God-honoring ways.  What gifts are you holding back? How can you impact your world for Christ through what He’s given you?
2. Teaching Is Learning! If you ever feel like you have reached an impasse and are having a hard time growing in your relationship with Christ, take some time to share what you know! Each student who taught during this series commented to me about how much THEY learned through the teaching process.  This doesn’t mean that you have to be on a stage in front of a crowd. When was the last time you intentionally shared what God has taught you with someone else? I believe that we can get full of knowledge, and in order to make room for more information, we MUST look for ways to pass on what we know! How are you exporting your relationship with God and sharing it with others? In this Christmas season, how often do you find yourself telling others WHY you celebrate the birth of Jesus?

I am so pumped about where God is leading fpStudents in 2012.  Please continue to pray that He will interact with students and change families forever.  And, of course, have a very merry Christmas!