"Cat Person or Dog Person?

In Elementary chapel this week, I told a story of a dog named Charlie who thought he should be a cat. All of his friends were telling him he should be a cat, and that it might fit him better and be more fun. This led him to a very confused and sad state of searching out who he was. He tried to purr instead of bark, play with yarn instead of a ball, and run from visitors instead of chasing them! When Charlie was finally told the truth that he was a dog and was released to be what he was created to be, he found joy and satisfaction in fulfilling God’s design. 

I shared with students how easy it can be to listen to many of the lies that the world tells us. Lies like “God isn’t real”, or “you are not good enough”, or “believe in yourself” and “you choose who you are.” These lies can lead to confusion by putting ourselves in the place of God. The truth is that God is real, and that we are made in His image, and therefore we have infinite value as His children. He is the potter, and we are the clay, and we cannot and should not attempt to change how God created us. And while the sin of the world and the sin of our flesh may cause struggles at times, these circumstances always point us to our Savior Jesus who came to reconcile us to God and shine through our imperfect cracks. 

Our JH/HS students heard the testimonies of Brad and Roberta Shimomura, missionaries to Japan. They shared how God began speaking to them in high school about how to surrender their lives fully to God. In very relatable ways, they described the process of pursuing the voice of God, and the process of choosing to follow His call. As Japan is mostly unChristian (less than 1%), students were challenged to begin to consider what “they are doing on Earth for Heaven’s sake!” 

Continue to hold our leaders, teachers, and students in prayer as we partner every day to spiritual transformation in our lives and the loves of others!