It’s been a while since the Devo has been updated! Yikes! Since we haven’t been posting about what’s been going on, I asked a few students to share their favorite moment so far this school year in LSM. Here’s what they said:

Nick Brown said, “Helping build the new stage and seeing it come out so well, just being part of making this a better year for LSM.”

Madison Kolke said, “My favorite memory of lsm so far is defiantly when Kenny put up the picture of the butterfly and said “it has flippen wings!” also the amazing wrap job by Aaron during the christmas party.”

Justice Bennett said, “My favorite memory has deffinately been my small group. I love my small group soo much I focus way more into what we’re learning with Kayla and Ginny…”

Tori Langlands said, “Finding out that I’m in a group with all of my good friends.”

So, today was the first day of school! (For most of you) I know that there is a mixture of emotions, both excitement and dread. I remember I always loved a fresh start. There was always things about years passed I wanted to change, and things I wanted to stay the same.

Even though you may be going to the same building, things are different this year. The clothes you’re wearing, the classes you’re going to, even the friends you have may be different. Even things like height, weight, memories and experiences are different.

Can you imagine going to school, year after year, and having everything exactly the same? The same teachers, classes. Nothing new about you at all. How boring is that?

So, what is new about you spiritually? When you accepted Christ you were “born again” spiritually. Just like a baby grows from day to day, we should be too. How have you changed, spiritually, from last year to this year?

Don’t forget! LSM starts tomorrow at 7p.m.! No matter where you are spiritually, you’re invited to come hang out with us! It’s going to be awesome!

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…” (Romans 12)

For some of our seniors, it is the last LSM as a student.

Ask yourself- how has God changed your life this year?

What have you learned?

How have you grown?

Who did you meet?

But don’t cry too hard! There are still a bunch of fun activities this summer!

ON THE ARRIVAL OF THEIR SECOND SON

CLIFTON JAIMESON LESLIE

Don’t forget the summer events!

In LSM we’re discussing the 3Ds that can trip you up when it comes to your walk with God. This week we talked about desires.

Are desires always wrong? Well in the Bible (ya know, the book that GOD wrote) it says… “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.” If desires were always bad, God would never give them to us.

Lets take sex for example- there is nothing wrong with desiring the opposite sex. Wanting to be in a relationship to the full extent is not only normal, but natural because God has placed that in most of our hearts. STILL, that desire can become sinful if you act on that desire when its not in God’s timing, plan, or purpose.

In another part of the Bible (Romans) it says, “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.” How, then, can we NOT let sin reign in our bodies?

Look at what the Bible says in Galatians: “For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.” It sounds like there is always a fight going on inside of us.

Sometimes it feels like we just cannot stop messing up. We have ALL been there… so what is the key to kicking sins face in?

 Look at the picture to the left. One of those people is your “flesh” or “sinful desires”, the other person is the Holy Spirit that is in you.

YOU are the personal trainer for each one of them. You can feed one a ton of food that will make them stronger, and work them out to make them stronger- or you can neglect them and make them weaker.

Everyday you make choices that are making one  (your flesh or your spirit) stronger. The music you listen to, the movies you watch, the friends you hang out with, the things you read and the thoughts you entertain.

Sometimes its not sinful to listen to a certain song (for example), but you’re feeding your sinful side and when you’re tempted to say a cuss word- guess who is going to win the battle?

Here is how you feed and work out your spirit: hang out with GOOD, Christian friends. Read your Bible, go to church, listen to Christian music, talk about God to both Christians and non-Christians. Listen to Christian podcasts, and say NO to the sinful desires that are begging you for food.

When He was angry, He did not sin.

When He was hungry, He did not steal.

When He was sad, He did not become bitter.

When He was lonely, He did not lie to gain attention.

When He was tired, He did not act selfishly.

When He was being murdered, He asked God to forgive those who were killing Him.

If you want to become a person of honor, respect, humility, and love- strive to become like Jesus. In all that He did and said, He never once sinned. Strive to be like Jesus, when you are angry, or sad, or lonely, or tired. When you are persecuted or picked on- strive to be like Jesus. He lived 33 years to demonstrate to us what a perfect man should be.

Today is Good Friday, and Wednesday we discussed how Jesus was a faithful servant. He was such a servant he sacrificed his life for our well being.

After being raised in a Christian home, I’ve seen a lot of Good Fridays. It’s easy to sit back and say, “I know Jesus died, thank you!” and move on-in appreciation for a day off from school.

I’m not trying to make anyone feel guilty, because it’s very easy (especially in American culture) to sink into comfortable complacency. Rather than feeling down about yourself, take the time today to remember Christ’s sacrifice with somber sincerity. But what does that mean?

Remember this: Jesus knows you. He knew your name, your face, your thoughts and your sins the day He was being beaten and crucified. He knows you and He loves you-He doesn’t resent you for the pain He went through- He loves you. He doesn’t hold a grudge about the sins that sent Him to the cross- He forgives you and He loves you.

He really DID live, and today we remember that He really DID die. Just stop and thank Him for that love, for that service, and for His amazing sacrifice.

And furthermore, this does bring about a lot of emotion in most people-but don’t feel guilty if you’re not emotional. Thankfully, we are not saved by our emotions, and we are not judged based on emotions.

We are so thankful, we are nothing without the sacrifice of Jesus.