Greetings, all! This was the second week of school, and it was fantastic to be back! After continuing to be sick after the first few days of the week, I was glad to return to school and band rehearsal with my friends when I was feeling better and fever-free!
Some of my sick day highlights include doing crossword puzzles, watching all four Hunger Games movies in one day, and lots of napping. 
Thursday and Friday were wonderful in my EPIC return to school, and I was met with my smiling friends and warm welcomes all around! Friday night, in particular, was lots of fun: I got to have a personal movie night with some popcorn and a movie recommended by one of my friends. (I’m so grateful that all of my friends have excellent movie recommendations; it makes personal movie nights much more enjoyable when you watch good movies.) I watched Tombstone until about midnight and now highly recommend that movie as well!
On Saturday, the marching band opened up a concert series in the park for our community. We marched down from the school and were supported with cheers, honks from passing cars, and friendly encouragement from those attending the concert series. The drumline played our cadence, and the band played our school song Anchors Aweigh as well as the stand tune Land of 1,000 Dances.
Today at church we prayed for the broken situation going on in Afghanistan as well as the recent earthquake in Haiti. As God has taken me deeper and deeper in this season, I’m especially reminded of the importance of not setting your hope on anything temporary in the world, but instead setting it on the one who already overcame the world. In every affliction, trial, and devastation that the world will throw at us, there is not a single thing that will satisfy except the refuge of our Father, the finished work of Christ, and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. May the Lord increase steadfast faith in Him in my life and in the lives of believers around me.
On the same note, I hope to glorify God in following through with the opportunity to begin a relief fundraiser at school for those affected by the Haitian earthquake; that’s something the Lord has put on my heart to press into, and I look forward to hopefully partnering with the high school to accomplish this goal! If you would partner with me in prayer in this opportunity, I would greatly appreciate that! If you would like to donate on your own accord to help the relief funds, you can do so through Samaritan’s Purse at this link.
1 Timothy 4:10-13 says “For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.” There is no waste in relationship with God, no unused season or mountain, and He is faithful to encourage us and provide fruit as we work in relationship with Him and through His Spirit.
This coming week, I look forward to leading worship for my peers at my youth group for the first time this year. As well, the marching band is attending and entertaining at our first home football game on Friday! I’m excited for the fun, the excitement, and the blessings that this week may bring.
I leave you this week with a quote I saw and has stuck with me from a kind, God-fearing, and encouraging Christian leader:
“Don’t magnify your problems, magnify your God…he’s got you covered.”
-Dr. Tony Evans
Here’s to a new week of growth, faith, and perseverance!
-Luke Wanca
