Here is the transcript of the devotion I am planning to do Sunday for Youth Day. 

What are we known for?  Sometimes, it's for our cooking skills, or lack thereof.  Sometimes we're known for telling funny jokes or for telling really cheesy jokes.  We can be known for how we dress or how we drive or how well we play sports.

We can also be known for different things based on the hat we wear.  When I wear the wife hat, I'm known for my cooking.  When I wear the mom hat, I'm known for kissing boo-boos and comforting my little guy.  When I wear the teacher hat, I'm known for playing at recess with my students.

We're all known for something depending on who we are/what label we wear at any given moment.  But, I have a question for you: As a Christian, what are you known for?

See, there are alot of people in this world who see Chrsitians as boring, judgmental, sticks in the mud who aren't allowed to laugh, much less have fun.  Unfortunately, we Christians are known for qualities that tend to drive people away.  But God's people haven't always been known for being frowners and fuddy-duddies.  I will now say something I have always wanted to say: Turn in your Bibles to Psalm 126.  Follow along with me as I read:

Psalm 126

 ¹When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.

 ²Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.

 ³The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.

 ⁴Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.

 ⁵They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

 ⁶He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

When the psalmist says, "Turn again our captivity" he's basically saying "Restore our fortunes."  But I really want us to focus on the first three verses of this psalm:

Psalm 126

 ¹When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.

 ²Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.

 ³The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.

When God brought His people back to Zion, they rejoiced.  And I don't mean some little inward "Thank You.  Hallelujah-with-a-period-behind-it-instead-of-an-exclamation-point" I mean a huge "Woohoo!  God You are amazing!!!"  Maybe they didn't use those exact words, but they also didn't speak English, so I'm imagining their words.  Regardless of the exact words and songs and laughter, it was loud enough and evident enough that the heathen--the people who didn't follow God--took notice and thought, "Wow, that God of theirs is pretty awesome.  Look at all He's done for them."

When is the last time someone you know who isn't a Christian--or is a Chrsitian for that matter--has said that of you?  God has done mighty, marvelous, awesome things for all of us.  He's cured cancers in this congregation.  He's healed diseases and guided the hands of many surgeons.  He's brought loved ones home safely from wars.  He's changed the hearts of some of our youth and children, and we've witnessed them be baptized.  Our God restores us to Him daily!  The outside world should know about that!

Non-Christians shoudln't think of Christians as judgmental sour-pusses.  They should be able to see our joy and hear our laughter and singing as we worship God.  That's what this Youth Day is all about--restoring the laughter, the singing, the joy to our Christian lives.  God has done some truly awesome things for each of us--number one being sending His Son to die on the cross for our sins--and knowing I am saved gives me incredible joy.  If you are here today and you don't know Jesus, I challenge you to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit as we sing our invitational hymn.  Get out of that pew, come down front, and tell Preacher B  you want to accept Jesus.  Come enter into the joy that God gives to each of His followers.