John 13:34-35 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

It’s an interesting commandment, teaching us that we must love one another with the same love that we received, with the love that has been given to us. Now if I was to stop there, I ask which one of us would actually love those who don’t really show love? There would be some form of discrimination between who we would return our love to. It’s easy to show love to those who show you in return… I think that many times in our lives we pick to show love to only those who “deserve” our love in return.

But, this commandment takes a turn in the second phrase, “…just as I have loved you…” That’s the key to being able to love one another, despite the love you received from them. You see, when we reflect upon the love of Christ, there is no greater and when we show others this great love, there is no greater.

Love as He loved, you and others shall see the results… unconditional, undescribable, peculiar love displayed by the followers of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 13:8 “8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Consistency… that’s something that everyone of us strive for in our lives, in our daily living. But I know that as each day completes itself, the next day brings change; all around us, people and situations change. Along with people, come their attitude, mood, love, hatred; along with situations come disappointments, excitment. It could really go any which way, that’s inconsistency.

Beginning of time, through creation, first sin, garden closure, first murder, flood, wilderness, promised land, obedience and disobedience from His people, birth, ministry, healing and miracles, ridicule and disbelief, betrayal, suffering, last supper, death, life, throne of God, Mediator, heaven, eternitity, forever… consistency, when we are not.

Through all this change, inconsistency and mountain/valley rides, we can rely completely on the unchanged, Jesus Christ!

Isaiah 40:30-31 “30 Even youths shall faint and be weary,and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;they shall mount up with wings like eagles;they shall run and not be weary;they shall walk and not faint.”

It’s a miracle in itself… seeing the old outrun the young and then not even get exhausted. But what strength is Isaiah talking about? What strength needed to be renewed? What does it mean to wait on the Lord? Why are not the youth and young men able to retain that strength?

September 11 2010

Important dates for Detroit

Regular Price $34 per person August 16 - 31 

Late Registration $39 per person After August 31

The Community

In Detroit you will be serving the Southwest Detroit Community.

Southwest Detroit has been one of the most ethnically diverse and densely populated areas of the city of Detroit. The Ford Rouge plant and its five-dollar-a-day wage brought Appalachian, African-American, German, Italian, Hungarian, Romanian, Irish, Armenian, and other Eastern European immigrants to settle in southwest Detroit – creating the traditional blue collar neighborhood that remains viable to this day. 

While the entire city of Detroit has faced considerable decline over the past thirty years, southwest Detroit has continued to attract immigrants – mostly Hispanic families – and has maintained a sense of community and economic vitality. Southwest Detroit is located right outside of downtown and possesses some of the strongest neighborhood commercial districts in the city.

Clark Park will be the center of activity for the volunteer work day in Detroit.

The Clark Park Coalition provides quality recreation programs that cater to the interests and desires of youth. They offer baseball, softball, soccer, tennis, basketball, golf, arts and crafts, indoor games, field trips and free summer lunches to more than 100 youth on a daily basis.  They have year-round computer programs to train from the most elementary of learners to webmasters. They also offer a unique outdoor intramural ice hockey and ice skating program during the winter season that does not exist anywhere else in the City of Detroit.

Hey everyone, we are officially putting Cedar Point on the youth group calander. We are going to plan on going on September 18th. On this day there is also a concert in the park with Casting Crowns, Family Force 5, and others. I am posting a link to the website where you can see all the info for the park and the concert series. Please reply to this post so that we can figure out who is coming and so we can plan on who is driving, etc… Any other questions, feel free to ask.

Coming @ Ignite Grace Youth… Friday, 4/9/2010 @ 6:15 pm.

Ephesians 6:15 “… and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;”

Amplified Bible describes the word preparation as “… And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace,”

In the battle, there is no sitting, we must stand firm (verses 13 & 14); in order to be successful, we must be equipped with shoes that are made for the occasion, for battle.

When going to battle, the Roman soldiers wore their “cleats”, shoes with spikes in them in order to not lose their fitting, to slip, to slide. Paul mentions that we must place on our feet shoes that are grounded by the gospel of peace. What is the gospel of peace?

Gospel – The teachings of Jesus Christ and the story of His life; the good news of Jesus Christ

Peace – Sense of well-being and fulfillment that comes from God and is dependent on His presence.

The Gospel is “the good news of peace” because of what it offers and speaks of… it presents to us the access in one Spirit to the Father through the Son, Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:12-22)

Jesus is “our peace”, we have been justified through Him, through the blood that was shed on the cross. In Jesus Christ is where we find the eventual, ultimate peace!

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

This peace is something that begins on the inside and is more than wrapped around your feet for you to stand firm; it guards your heart and mind. When we have that peace, our hearts and minds are not troubled by the battle we are in or the road ahead.

Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

This peace that we find within, it’s beyond our understanding, our grasp, our knowledge… it’s amazing, wonderful, glorious! The  gospel of peace offers us Jesus Christ, God’s salvation, freedom, security, mercy, joy, grace, love, life, and righteousness.

Many of us have been wearing the wrong shoes in the battle at hand…

Old Shoes – A pair of shoes that have not been worn for a while; a commitment that was made to Jesus Christ, but in serving Him and in your spiritual walk, you have become lazy and lethargic.

Dress Shoes – A shiny pair of shoes; a nice look on the outward, like everything is going well, but I only show my faith on Sunday’s and special occasions.

Worn Out Shoes – A pair of shoes that have been worn out; trying to walk in the faith but relying on the past and not accepting the healing of Jesus now.

Sandals – Fair weather fan; when everything is going well, so are you… but when the battle begins and the storms hit, you get discouraged and give up.

Silly Shoes – A pair of shoes that look funny; what is faith, who needs Jesus Christ… your spiritual life is a joke.

Work Boots – A pair of high ankle work boots; It has been tough and hard work, but you are feeling confident in every step you take, you have put on the gospel of peace. You are following through on your responsibilities.

It’s those with the shoes that are grounded in the gospel of peace that are secure, filled with inner peace, through Jesus Christ and want to follow through in obeying Him and listening to His commandments.

One of the commandments that He had left was “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19)

Isaiah 52:7 “How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, “Your God reigns!””

Romans 10:15 “How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!””

Friday the 26th of March, youth night at Grace is cancelled… for those who are planning on going to the Winter Jam Tour Concert. More information below:

Date: 3/26/2010
Venue: EMU Convocation Center, 799 North Hewitt Road, YPSILANTI, MI Map
More Info:

TIME: 7:00PM

COST: $10 @ Door – No Advance Ticket

Doors open at 6:00PM
Pre-Show approx. 6:20PM
Lights Down approx. 6:55PM
Show Ends approx. 10:20PM

LINE UP: Third Day, Newsboys, NewSong, Tenth Avenue North, Fireflight, MIKESCHAIR, Robert Pierre, Revive & Guest Speaker Tony Nolan

For More Information: 734-487-2282

For all those who are going to Indiana for our WEEK OF HOPE mission trip: we will be having a meeting this Friday after youth group so that I can collect necessary information from you that we need to have provided for our trip. Please keep in mind that I also need half of the remaining balance no later than Friday ($100)! If you have any questions please feel free to contact me 734-972-2107 / stevenfilimon@yahoo.com Thanks everyone, see you Friday! God bless you all.