Last night, Leslie and I took a 40 minute drive up to Washougal, Washington to share the story of how H2O got started, what it is, and what teens in general can do in service to God. One of the points we closed with, to encourage the students as they seek out what God wants them to do, is found in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.

"'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in insults, in
hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am
strong."

I've heard that passage so many times. Leslie and I have shared it with many different groups of teenagers, and rightfully so--it's an encouraging and powerful promise. But each time I go to tell other people about it, God reminds me that it still applies to me. I haven't somehow become independent, self-sufficient. I haven't reached a point where I am good to go on my own. I love how Abraham Lincoln said it, "Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us!" But God is quick to remind me and bring circumstances my way to keep me from ever being able to rely on the performance I can give.

Even down to the little details:
-Leslie and I forgot to bring H2O's promo video on a thumbdrive. fail. God worked it out anyway, so that the sound guys could get it to work off youtube.
-Leslie and I got to the church on time without getting lost (which was pretty much a first for us...the on time part and the not getting lost part). But in case we were about to think that we could handle navigating our way around Washington, we got a little lost on the way home.
-I lost my voice over the weekend, forcing me to trust that God would heal it enough by Wednesday to enable me to speak to this group.

God's grace is always sufficient. He is most glorified, His power is most grandly displayed, when we are failures, when we make mistakes, when we can't give a flawless performance. And that's a promise that I can delight in. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Madeleine from Arizona got this group of young people together to fill H2O bags to bless the homeless in their community.

Want to start an H2O chapter where you live? Sign up for our free starter kit here.

I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed.
I have Holy Spirit power.
The die is cast.
I have stepped over the line.
The decision has been made.
I am a disciple of His.

I will not look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.

My past is redeemed.
My present makes sense.
My future is secure.

I am finished and done with low-living,
sight-walking,
small planning,
smooth knees,
colorless dreams,
tamed visions,
worldly talking,
cheap giving, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position,
promotion, or popularity.
I do not have to be right, first, tops,
recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded.

I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience,
am uplifted by prayer, and labor by power.
My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven.
My road is narrow, my way rough, my Guide reliable, my mission clear.

I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away,
turned back, deluded or delayed.

I will not give up,
shut up,
or let up.
I will go on until He comes, and work until He stops me.
I am a disciple of Jesus.

-The Zimbabwe Covenant

In our last blog post, we encouraged you to picture yourself as a panhandler to better understand what they go through.

Well, Leslie did it.