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A Revisited Devotional from September 24, 1996
Romans 12:9a,10 – Love must be sincere. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. (NIV)
I just returned from leading a weekend retreat with ten members of my youth group. I selected the theme of "Becoming" and chose Romans 12 as the Scripture passage. Over the course of the weekend, I was invigorated by the sincere desires and earnest dreams that I sensed within my youthful friends.
The theme itself came from the song "Place in this World," by Michael W. Smith. In the song, he uses the turn of phrase, "And this becoming is harder than it seems." For so many of our youth, this sentiment is a cold reality. I wonder how much we adults contribute to this reality. How often do we judge our young people by what they wear or how they look instead of seeking to discover the love they hold within them?
One of my youth members, in discussing the weekend afterwards, made the comment, "The whole weekend, everything, was about love; it's the only real way to live." May we all take something from this insightful young man and strive to give to his generation all the love and acceptance that our Christian hearts can muster … because every one of them is special and every one of them needs to hear that message.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to look beyond the surface to discover the beautiful person that lies below the hurt and pain within us all. Help us to love the young people in our lives and seek to give them the guidance and caring that they need as they grow. Help us to remember that it is not only our youth that must grow in faith and maturity, but that we are all in a process of becoming, together. Amen.
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Monday, March 24, 2025 – In the Middle East — We recently received a message telling us that one of our dear local friends has passed away. This was so hard, as we are on home assignment which makes it even harder. Please pray with us that the Lord will comfort his family and children and that Christ's name will be glorified. Help them to stay strong in their faith in the face of opposition..
friend: "Update March 21, 2025; Please continue to pray for Hilde who has had dizziness for many months..." 
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Thanks for the important reminder, Derrick. May God continue to bless you and your youth group!
Thank you for sharing this encouraging devotional reminder with us today.
To God be the glory! Blessings.
Derrick,
A refreshing message.
Thank YOU.
Greetings Derrick and thanks for this uplifting devotional you wrote previously but still delivers actions much needed today. It was so good reading how the youth enjoyed that weekend and one of them expressed that “love” was the only way to live. With all the unsettling happenings in our world these days there certainly is a need for more love to be shared everywhere. Many blessings for your writing.
Thank you for writing this devotional.
Becoming.
Encouraging.
I need to be reminded that I need to think that the words are directed at myself.
I need to remember that I am becoming.
Thank you for your writing.
Blessings.
Good morning, Derrick,
As I read your powerful message, I was wondering 29 years later if you know what those youth are doing now. I really hope they felt the love you were offering through leading retreats for them. I hope that your devotional helped others to rethink their ideas and I hope the reusing your devotional will help many others to bring kindness and love into their world. Thanks for sharing. Blessings.
Thanks Derrick, blessings.
Hi Derrick
Congratulations to you on leading a successful love workshop.
A few years ago, I was deeply impressed with the atmosphere of love at our local Teen Challenge centre (Christian residential drug addiction program), where I overheard many participants telling each other, “Love you.” (usually followed by “I love you, too) Since then, I’ve tried to incorporate that in my own life (telling others of my love for them), and, subsequently, from them into the lives of others.
Blessings,
(BC)