My name is Holly Garrett, and I am the High School Youth Pastor here at Ginghamsburg. I just finished my fifth school year. Time flies - it seems like yesterday that I was helping take this team of incoming freshmen to the city of Philadelphia for a mission trip. I remember marveling at these students, because they still liked to play patty cake; and they would run and jump in fountains, just randomly in the city and they would also make these really high-pitched squeals. Now, these are some of our 2008 graduating seniors. They have changed. They have transitioned into young men and young women of whom I am very, very proud.

Life is full of transitions and I was reminded of that in a huge way over this past school year. I moved to a new place in Tipp City, and when I moved, I came across all kinds of pictures from my past. As I was looking through these pictures, I had to laugh, I had to cry, and I had to shake my head in disbelief. What in the world was I thinking wearing those clothes!? Oh my goodness, what was I thinking wearing my hair that way!? It was like eight stories on top of my head. What was I thinking? As I began to look through these pictures, I found my mom's old photo album, and I wanted to share some of those pictures with you. Check this out. This is Holly Garrett in the beginning. I know – I was so cute as a baby. I don't know what happened. Then this is Holly in kindergarten. And then Holly in second grade. I started to get the hair going on there in second grade. This is Holly in fourth grade. You need to prepare yourself for the next picture. This is Holly in seventh grade. Don't focus on that – let's go on. Eleventh grade – there's Holly - I've got the hair coming back out again. And as a senior, that was me on your left - had the hair coming out again. I went through a lot of changes, and as I was thinking about these changes, I thought, wait a minute, in my mom's photo album there are some pictures that are missing. What happened to those pictures? Well, I remember that about five years after we graduated, my sister and I went into my mom's photos and pulled out all the ones we didn't like. We hid them; they are gone. You will never see those, because those were transitions that I don't want anyone ever to see. Mom, I'm sorry, those pictures are gone; you'll never see them again.

Have you had transitions lately? What do you do during a transition? I remember one transition that I went through was having braces. I had braces not just once, but twice. And I could not wait to get those braces – all those wires – out of my mouth. Can anyone relate to that? How did I deal with that transition? Well, there were certain foods that I would not eat in public for years until I got those braces off. That is how I dealt with living in braces. I also had glasses; and I could not wait to get contacts. I don't know if they just didn't make these nice little wire-framed glasses back in my day, but I had these big, red, plastic glasses. How did I deal with that? I would not wear those glasses in public – at all. I remember that I ran into things a lot - people, walls, because I did not want people to see me in these glasses.

High school for me was also a big transition time. For those of you who are graduating, think about what you were like when you were a freshman, and think about what you're like now as a senior. Have there been some changes? For me, there were a lot of changes during high school. In high school, I began to lift my life to things I wanted to become. That's how I would spend my time. So, I spent a lot of time on the soccer field because I wanted to be a soccer player. I spent a lot of time studying because I wanted to go to college. I was also involved in a lot of activities because I wanted to be popular and well liked. Then came college. I'm sure some of you are very excited for college coming up. College is also a transition. What will you be like as you go through college? What will you lift your life to as you transition? What will you look like when you come out of college? Life is full of these transitions - these changing times. It's important to think about what we do in those transitions.

As I was thinking about all the transitions I've been through in my 33 years (it goes very fast), I was thinking about the changes. Something happened in my family that was a huge transition this past school year. In March of this past school year, my grandpa, who has been around forever, and was one of the most active 90 year olds that I know, had a heart attack. Over five or six weeks, I watched my grandpa battle between life and death. I watched his final transition out of this life and into eternity with God. I was reminded that not only is life full of these transitions, but life overall is one big transition. Each of us has a decision to make. You can either live for God and with him, or without him. That decision determines what you can transition into, and what your life can look like.

Deuteronomy 30:19 says, ". . . I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life so that you may live." You have this choice to make. You can choose to live with God and have him in your life, and be part of his kingdom, which is life and blessing. Or, you can choose to live apart from God, which is to choose to stay in death and cursing. The Bible says the wages of sin is death. All have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God. But, the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus. If you choose Jesus, to accept him as your Savior, you become part of God's family, you join a kingdom, and you have a King. You don't have to wait for this kingdom to begin when you die - the kingdom is here. It is now. The kingdom is in me and it's in you. Jesus started it over 2000 years ago, and it's transitioning in me and in you, and it's our responsibility to help transition that kingdom into the world.

I knew from an early age that I needed a Savior. What a cool, free gift, that someone would die for my sins; someone would die in my place so I wouldn't have to. I could experience life and be part of the family of God. So, I chose a King, Jesus, and I chose to be part of God's family. But what happened after that? I began to live like this King and this kingdom didn't matter. I remember thinking things like, "You know what, God, it's too hard to live in this world for you. You're Spirit, and I'm in this body of flesh. How do you do that? There are too many other things, God, that I want to do, that I want to see, that I want to be. There are places I want to go, things I want to experience. Carpe diem! Sieze the day! I'm going to seize the day, and later I will think about you." So, I chose to live like my King and kingdom, the kingdom that I was given, did not matter. It's interesting what God was trying to say to me through his word. His word is where God is online. He is speaking to us, and he was trying to say, "Holly, this living in my kingdom, you can do this, you can live as part of my family." Look at what it says in Deuteronomy 30:11-14, "This is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach." It is not up in heaven where you have to take a plane up to get there, nor is it beyond the sea where you have to swim and get there (and I'm glad because I can't swim that well). "No, the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it." This kingdom stuff is possible. It's available to you; you can do it. You know what? I didn't think it was possible, and to be honest, I really didn't want to live that way anyway. I thought I was okay, just being barely inside the kingdom of God.

I had a sincere kingdom reality check at the age of 22. God somehow got me to the mission field, in the country of Haiti, and we would take the Jesus Film into remote villages. I remember that hundreds and sometimes thousands of people would gather to watch this movie, which is the most translated movie in all of history. It's translated into more languages than any other movie about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. We would show this film, and I would sit in the midst of people and watch them respond to the gospel of a King who died to give them life. They would weep when they saw him crucified. And they would dance and shout when he rose from the dead. As I sat there, I couldn't understand why I didn't feel anything. I had no reaction, no emotion, and if anything, I felt boredom. What was going on? Wasn't this my King? Wasn't this my Savior? Wasn't this my story?  

Over the next several months, God would show me my spiritual photo album. Do you know you have one of those? God would show me what was really going on. This is what happened. Remember Holly as the baby? That's where it started - Holly as the baby. This is when I became a follower of Jesus. This is a spiritual photo album here. Then there was kindergarten, so I started to grow in my relationship with God. Then there was first grade, then second grade, third grade. But then, it was fourth grade, and fourth grade, and fourth grade. You might say, "But, Holly, you're so cute." But, I'm 22 years old - there's a problem. I got stuck. I started to build to a kingdom that had nothing to do with God. I lost years on the wrong building campaign. I began to build a kingdom where I was queen. And the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords - I deserted him! I said, "I don't want any part of this; I want to live life my way." Because of that, the King should have banished me from the kingdom! I chose to build to the temporary, and not to the eternal. But instead of banishment, I heard the King calling to me, and this was what he said, "It is my great desire to give you the kingdom. The thief comes to kill, to steal, and to destroy. But, I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full. I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, to give you hope and a future. When you seek me with all of your heart, I will be found by you. You've got to choose, Holly. This other kingdom you've built for yourself is going to have to fall. You have to choose." Guess what? I did. Eleven years ago, I chose to return, to really, really live for the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. I do not regret that move, because that was when I really, really began to live. Kingdom life is possible. God's kingdom is possible.

So, how do you live in and for the kingdom of God? In this world, that's not our home, how can you do it? What are some kingdom-living principles to do as you continue transitioning into God's kingdom, and as you help God's kingdom transition into the world? Let's look again in Deuteronomy 30:16, "For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess." First, you must love the Lord your God. As you're going through all of these transitions in life, you must love the Lord your God. Love is a term that we use all the time without a lot of meaning in our culture. What does that word "love" mean? In Hebrew it is "ahab" and it means covenant loyalty. Here God is talking about loyalty. He wants your loyalty that is backed by an oath. It's a promise of a forever commitment.

I lost sight of my King when I began to put other things before him, to seek other things like popularity, other relationships, success, money. God said, "Seek first my kingdom and my righteousness." Do you know God wants time in your Day Planner? He wants to spend time with you. He wants you to have a relationship with him big time. Are you making time to be with him? He wants to be your #1 friend on myspace.com. He wants to be in that top spot, not hidden away in the back, on pages that no one sees. He wants to be in the #1 friend spot, where you're not ashamed of him. He wants to be in your Fave 5 on your cell phone. He wants you to call him, and not just when you need something. He wants you to call and talk about everything. It's about keeping him first, staying loyal to the King as you transition through life. You must love the Lord your God. Keep Him a priority. Stay loyal to the King.

It also says that we need to walk in his ways. I have my ways of doing things, and he has his ways of doing things. The word "walk" in Hebrew is "helak." It means a lifestyle, a pattern of conduct. When I lived at home with my parents and my sister, there was a way to live in my dad's family, and I would lift my life to the things of the Garrett family. I would help my mom with dishes and help her cook. I would also get the benefits of living in the way of the Garrett family. My mom made great fish sticks, and I loved those fish sticks. So, I got free food, free transportation, and this was part of living in the way of the family.

God also offers us the benefits of living in his way in his kingdom. But, we've settled in doing things our way. I told God, "I'm glad that I'm part of your family, but I'm going to do things my way - not your way." As a result of that, I lived outside of kingdom life, and of the family. So, I missed out on the blessings of being part of God's family - the peace, the security and the blessing of kingdom life. God wants us to enjoy the blessings of his kingdom. Much of the church today has settled to live outside of God's way, because we want to do things our way. We've settled for spiritual poverty, when God has offered us the riches of the kingdom. I'm not talking about penthouses, and Porsches, I'm talking about peace and about perspective. These are available in the way of God's kingdom - living life his way. Are you living his way, or are you living your way? Look at what it says in Romans 6:13, "Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness." When you join the kingdom, you join a certain way to live. The way is written in his word, and the way is written in you. It is reflected in your daily choices. Your real allegiance can be seen in the way you live. It says to keep his ways, walk in his ways, and live.

Something else it tells us to do is to keep his commands. Uh oh! This is the obedience thing. None of us like to be told what to do. That word "keep" in Hebrew is "samar" which means to watch, observe and guard what God has said. Why should we care what God has said? To do what God says is to choose life. To not do what God says is to choose death and destruction. The Creator has offered us the creation, the opportunity to know real and lasting life. It comes from keeping his commands. He said, "Know me, know what I have said, do these things and live. They will be a lamp for your feet. They will be a light for your path. Keep my commands."  

When I was growing up, my parents would take us to King's Island and Cedar Point. Do you like to go to amusement parks? All the workers at these amusement parks would always command me to put on my seat belt. When I was little, I was offended by that a little bit because some of the rides didn't look like I needed a seat belt. The ride disappeared into a building - it can't be that bad. Well, they wouldn't start the ride until I put on my seat belt and the big harness on some of the rides. I'm glad I obeyed what they told me to do, because inside the building there were flips and turns. The track went crazy inside of the building, and I'm glad I did what they told me to do, or I wouldn't be here today. How much more should we do what God commands us to do, knowing that it is for our good? God sees the way ahead, and he is looking out for our best interests. We can trust him, but we need to do what he commands us to do, and live. God wants us to live.

Something else that God commands us to do is build his kingdom. It's so cool that as we are transitioning into God's kingdom, we can also help transition God's kingdom into the world. Why does God want us to do this? Our King's heart beats for people. I like how Erwin McManus, in one of my favorite books, The Barbarian Way (which you must read, it's a good book) says it: "To belong to God is to belong to his heart. If you are a follower of Jesus, you are called to fight for the heart of your King." Our King calls us to fight for those who are oppressed, for those who are downtrodden, for those who are taken advantage of, we are to be their advocates. We are to help build the kingdom here on earth, as we are transitioning the kingdom in us, we can also be a blessing to others. Enjoy God's blessings, and be a blessing as well. People need to know that there is a King who loves them, who died to save them, and that kingdom life is available. It's our responsibility to tell them.

I want you to think about two questions. If you don't remember anything else about what I've said, think about these two questions. The first is: who is your king? Who has your allegiance and your loyalty? Secondly, for what kingdom are you living? God said, "I set before you today life and death, blessings and curses, choose life and live." You must choose. Today is the day to make your decision, whether to live with God or live without God. Those of you who are graduating, you must choose. Those of you who are transitioning in jobs, you must choose. You are not guaranteed tomorrow. To not choose to be with God is to choose to be apart from him. You've made your decision. God wants you to be part of his kingdom. There is a King who is calling to you and wants you to experience life like you've never dreamed of. He wants to give you peace, hope, promises and a future that will blow you away. It comes from choosing the right King and the right kingdom to live for. I dare you to move for the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Throughout your life, continue to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, keep his commands and build his kingdom. As you do this, you will live.

If you are a 2008 graduate, whether from high school, or college, or grad school, I would like you to stand where you are, and I'm going to pray for you. Let's pray together. "Father God, we thank You so much that You love us, that You have a plan and a purpose for each of our lives. We thank You, Father, that through the crazy transitions that You take us through, You are faithful. Father, You want us to love You and to know You. We lift this group of graduates to You. God, I pray for each of them in the time ahead, that they will choose the right King and the right kingdom for which to live. Help them to know You, and give them protection, lead them and guide them in the way ahead. Thank You for their lives, and the blessing that they've been. We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen."

Graduates, I want you to stay standing if you would. For anyone else, if you feel like you're in a transition and need prayer, or if you feel like you've lived for the wrong king, the wrong kingdom. Maybe you have started walking in your own ways, and not his ways, or you haven't been loving God like he wants you to - to know him and love him. Maybe you haven't been obeying his commands, or been a part of his work. If any of you want prayer for those things, please stand right now and I'll close us all in prayer. "Father God, I thank You for each person here. You know where we are, You know where You want to take us, and I pray that through the transitions that we're facing, and through the road ahead, God, that You will show us the way. God, help us to build to Your kingdom, for Your glory. Bless each person here. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen."