Leaving High School for the Last Time - Apples of Gold - May 19, 2009 -vi-

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for May 19, 2009

“Leaving High School for the Last Time”

 

Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.

2:44 p.m. – My middle daughter, via Twitter:  “Wow.  Leaving high school for the last time.”

2:49 p.m. – “A lot of years being left behind.”

10:15 p.m. – “Life changes so fast sometimes.”

And then reality sets it.  Once again, via Twitter:  “There is a horsefly in my car!”

Yes, nothing like a horsefly to bring you back to reality.

But high school graduation does bring about a big change in your life.  For the first time you’re not required to go to school.  One of the most consistent things in your life is now over. 

It can be unsettling.  Stressful.  The baton of your life is in your hands now.  What will you do with it?

Of course the stress of change can come at any time in your life.    

Not long after my wife and I were married I came across a stress meter and it pointed out all the changes in your life that cause stress, such as finishing school, getting married, moving to a new town, starting a new job, a new church, having a child, even being short on money.  Then I realized that all of those were true for my wife and me!

Yet we weren’t all freaked out on stress.  Why not? 

I think it’s because, in spite of all those changes, there were some core consistencies in our life.  Over the years our lives have changed a lot, but there are some things you always do, no matter where you are or what’s going on, and these provide a continuity that counters the stress of change.

So this is for my daughter, as you graduate high school and get on with life.  There will be many changes to come, but they won’t be so unsettling if you always do these things.

First of all, always seek the Lord. 

Psalm 105:4 says, “Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.”

In Luke 18 Jesus taught us to always pray and not give up.

Don’t give up when answers are slow to come.  Don’t give up when things are going well.  No matter what happens in your life, always pray and seek the face of God.

Then as you seek Him, always come into His presence with thanksgiving.

Ephesians 5:20 tells us to give thanks to the Father always, for all things. 

So no matter what life brings, always be His grateful child. 

Something else to always do is rejoice.

Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again:  Rejoice!”

So always seek the Lord, give thanks to Him and rejoice in Him.

Another thing to always do is praise Him – and as a singer and praise leader I know this will be easy for you.

Psalm 34:1 says, “I will extol the Lord at all times, His praise will always be on my lips.”

Psalm 70:4 tells us to always say, “Let God be exalted!”

So always seek Him, always thank Him, always rejoice in Him and praise Him.

And no matter what comes your way, remember that in the Lord you always have hope.  The game is never over.  The clock has never run out.

Look at Psalm 71:14.  “But as for me, I will always have hope…”

Some people see their life as a bleak, hopeless dungeon.  But in the Lord this is never the case.  So always seek the Lord and you will always have hope.

But remember, God is not some gift-dispensing Santa Clause.  He is the Almighty Sovereign Lord, and that means two things.  We must always fear Him and we must always obey Him.

Proverbs 28:14 says, “Blessed is the man who always fears the Lord…”

And Deuteronomy 11:1 tells us to “…keep His requirements, His decrees, His laws and His commands always…”

I was so proud the other night at the graduation banquet when they announced that your goal after college was to go into some kind of ministry.  It reminded me of another “always” verse in the Bible.

First Corinthians 15:58 says “…always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord…”

And whatever good thing you set your hand to, always be zealous, working at it with all your might, like it talks about in Galatians 4:18.

And finally, remember to always be generous.  Psalm 37:26 says to always be generous and lend freely.

Yes, life is full of change, and change can be stressful.  But you can minimize that by always doing these certain things.

Always seek the Lord.

Always give thanks and rejoice in Him.

Always praise Him and put your hope in Him.

Always fear Him and obey Him.

Always be full of zeal and devote yourself to the work of the Lord.

And always be generous.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.


© 2009 The Arrow’s Tip 
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(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)

Why “The Arrow’s Tip”?  Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold.  Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.”  I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.

Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL  32315
(850) 926-8000

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