I recently went to the National Youth Workers Convention in Nashville and the Lord showed me many things there. I realized that I have so much to be thankful for, I have been able to work at an incredible church who gets it. They get that we in ministry shouldn't be overworked, that being no more than 40 hours a week if necessary. They get that family comes first, after your relationship with God, comes your family, then ministry. They get that programs are not the way to an intimate relationship with God, but that prayer and seeking the Lord's wisdom in scripture, through His Holy Spirit, and through others speaking on behalf of God, through families, through service, we encounter the Most High King!
Most youthworkers are part time, but work full time hours, most youthworkers have a ministry of 50 kids or less, and most youthworkers are on the edge of burnout. The Lord is so faithful, so constant, so loving, so near. Even when we feel like there is not fruit, even when we feel like we are at our end, God is constant, He sees it all, He is for us.
My prayer for all the youthworkers, serving God and loving teens is this, "Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart."
I truly believe the Lord has given me a heart for youth, a heart for those who are searching for God, who are hurting for something more, who are ready to make a difference in this world. It is a daily choice to delight yourself in the Lord, a daily surrender to God even when all your fears say otherwise. God is a faithful God. Thank you for this season, thank you for your heart.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Oh to Have Faith
My life has been a whirlwind since my last post. On that same day God called me to leave my job in a painful way, in a way I never thought would ever happen. Yet, I knew that the Lord was doing something in my life, something was coming, the calm before the storm. Just when I was out of the desert, here I am back again, being humbled, refined, strengthened, and encouraged. I am searching for a new church home, a new job, a new ministry, all the while saying goodbye to the kids and parents I love for 3 months. The longest goodbye ever, answering questions the best way I can and continuing to say its not the kids. There are days of many tears, and there are days of pure hope and faith. I can honestly say this has been one of the hardest seasons. All the while God has surrounded me with incredible friends, who are always listening, encouraging and speaking truth, even when I know it. I love my husband and friends who are battling around me praying for me.
During this season there has been many scriptures that the Lord has spoke over me through my reading or through my loving friends. First one being Psalm 27: 13-14 "I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD." My dear friend Wendy posted this on my wall a little while after she found out I was leaving.
Let me tell ya, this is a season of waiting! Waiting for the right church to call, waiting to hear from the doctor, waiting on God to make everything ok again, why must I sit in pain and confusion and silence. Being a Christ-follower is not always easy, that is why many people don't choose to take up the cross.
Today is one of those days, I am angry that the Lord promises one thing and yet makes you wait in silence, no bites, no phone calls, no emails, just tears, anger, and almost giving up.
I know in the bottom of my heart that the Lord has gifted me for Youth Ministry, I know at the bottom of my heart, there is a church, there is a ministry full of hungry students and God is preparing me and this church for the right time. But the Lord is always constant, never failing, if I delight myself in Him, he will grant the desires of my heart. My heart is for God, my heart is for teenagers and college students searching for more. My heart is for Jesus and his ministry, my heart is for the Holy Spirit and all his power. My heart is for making God proud and glorified, God would you lead me to a place that is longing for the same. I want the faith of Abraham, all the time. Lord, help me in my unbelief.
"By faith, when Abraham was called to the place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going."Hebrews 11:8. May this be true of me oh God.
During this season there has been many scriptures that the Lord has spoke over me through my reading or through my loving friends. First one being Psalm 27: 13-14 "I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD." My dear friend Wendy posted this on my wall a little while after she found out I was leaving.
Let me tell ya, this is a season of waiting! Waiting for the right church to call, waiting to hear from the doctor, waiting on God to make everything ok again, why must I sit in pain and confusion and silence. Being a Christ-follower is not always easy, that is why many people don't choose to take up the cross.
Today is one of those days, I am angry that the Lord promises one thing and yet makes you wait in silence, no bites, no phone calls, no emails, just tears, anger, and almost giving up.
I know in the bottom of my heart that the Lord has gifted me for Youth Ministry, I know at the bottom of my heart, there is a church, there is a ministry full of hungry students and God is preparing me and this church for the right time. But the Lord is always constant, never failing, if I delight myself in Him, he will grant the desires of my heart. My heart is for God, my heart is for teenagers and college students searching for more. My heart is for Jesus and his ministry, my heart is for the Holy Spirit and all his power. My heart is for making God proud and glorified, God would you lead me to a place that is longing for the same. I want the faith of Abraham, all the time. Lord, help me in my unbelief.
"By faith, when Abraham was called to the place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going."Hebrews 11:8. May this be true of me oh God.
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