The Secret Life of Me

Okay-I don't really have a secret life. But sometimes it feels like I'm simply playing a part. Granted the part I play is by God's design. The thing is when we see a movie or read a book, we can peg the characters and almost write the story based on our assumptions. Usually we're right too-especially if it's a chick lit book. So, I have determined that I am a certain character in my story. I'm the preacher girl who doesn't need anyone or anything to exist. Just her and her God. Which is awesome! But, this character never gets the guy. Really, she's the cool single girl with a cute apartment (even if it is a disaster zone) and massive amounts of books and insight. I love being that girl! I really love having people come to me cuz they know I'll speak the truth. I cherish that character that God is developing in me. But if I embrace that part of my character, must I be consigned to the other parts I don't cherish? Like being single, or aways stepping up when others won't? Can I change the character? I realize the truth is I am God's character in His story. It's not about me and maybe I just need to let go of the stuff in me that resists that. I'm so thankful He's a God who knows me-El Roi...

Why We Do Ministry

As a youth worker I realize the hard times are sometimes more frequent than the joyful ones. But we signed up knowing this right? We knew God worked on His time schedule and that we are instruments. But what happens when you stop believing in this. When you start wondering about the Call. When you give up. We need to remember what we are really doing.

When the house is burning down, or the waves are too high to swim, or there’s no breath left-when these crisis situations are happening, don’t we trust in the firefighter, the rescue swimmer, or the paramedic? We do because we have hope they can save us and will. We trust they want to get us help and give us a better chance. When you see these stories in movies like Backdraft, The Guardian, or any number of rescue plots you just want to stand up and clap for their bravery and passion to save people. You’re inspired to be a better person, a more selfless person, a person with a mission. Wow. Even as I say this I am inspired to greater things.

Here’s the deal though. That’s us. We’ve been called to be that person for our students. They are lost. They might be struggling for life. They are definitely in dark places sometimes. And isn’t it wonderful when we see them growing? But sometimes things get hard. Sometimes they don’t grow like we’d hoped. Sometimes they rebel. We are fighting a very real battle for the souls of our students. We are here to help them see the light, reach for the impossible, train to be a warrior. But just like we want to trust that the firefighter is carrying us to safety we need to know that we are leading these guys to a God they can trust and lean on. Do you believe in that? Do you trust that God’s arms are the best place for them to be? Do you trust that His arms are the best place for you? Tough questions but without knowing the answer we blindly lead students to a place where there is a shaky foundation and their hope may not stand up to the crash if something falls.

And something always falls. It might be people making fun of them. It could be a divorce or a death or anything. When those times happen, what do they trust in to rescue them? We want them to fall on Jesus because He is the best place for them to be. But we need to KNOW that we are falling on Jesus when our world crashes. We are the team helping God seek out those lost in the sea. Some may be easier to reach than others, but He doesn’t want us to leave anyone. If we quit, who really loses? Because this isn’t really about us is it? No. It’s about Him. And He wants all of them. Sometimes we can’t get all of them, but our goal is getting those we can. He does the work, we just reach them. In the movie “The Guardian” there is a theme for the US Coast Guard that goes like this: “So others might live.” We do what we do so others might know this God and be saved. We do ministry because we believe that Jesus is the best possible solution. We trust God’s arms are the place we want to find ourselves when we are in crisis. He is what we are leading students towards for a better chance. He is our Rescue.

Way to go Joe!

A bit about my current life... I have been insanely busy-which normally I enjoy. A week with one evening of no plans is a good week for me. So it's not the business that is eating away at the few nerves I have left. It's the pressure. Whether it's deadlines I can barely meet or the fact that my job getting done means everyone else still HAS a job-I have pressure. And there's no more give in my brain for more pressure! One more thing and I will explode, I promise. So, I taught this morning on Joseph and his character. Random segue, I think not. Joe had a lot he could have complained about. He was sold into slavery unjustly, he was thrown in prsion for standing up and staying pure, he was forgotten for 2 years when he asked someone to do him a favor. I'd say tough luck for Joe. But in his story we don't see any complaints. We don't see anger or bitterness or jealousy. We see Joe depending on God's perfect plan. As Christians we all know Romans 8:28 and I have always kinda liked it but figured it was Christianese fluff really. Do I truly believe in it? If I did, I would see my life a lot differently. If God truly does work all things for good to those who love Him, my circumstance right now is God working isn't it? It's not an unjust pressure or bad time management or any of these things I would like to complain about. It's God doing a work in me. We can't be pure until we're refined. So I guess I need to remember Joe this week and know that God's perfect plan is in place and He's just shining me up for His glory.

Life-what a trip!

I always think I want to go somewhere cool for my honeymoon. As any of you out there who know me and are reading this, you know this is nowhere near happening anytime soon. But when I think about why I want to go somewhere cool on my honeymoon, I am struck by the fact that this life I lead right here right now is a already a trip. I may call this "reality", but reality happens everywhere we go. We cannot escape it. So why not make this my honeymoon? Despite obviously not having a honey for my honeymoon, I think I can still choose to experience life as if it were. Look at things with new awe and wonder, relish cozing up in my bed (sweet new duvet TOTALLY makes this possible), chill out talking while sipping a drink, etc. All the warm cozy feelings I envision being a part of that honeymoon can be found here with my friends and in my own home. If only I would choose to quit looking at my life as just reality and start seeing it for the beautiful miracle it is. And to be truthful, I do have a heavenly Honey walking with me as I live out this honeymoon. And wow! What a God He is!! So-here's to honeymooning in reality. I wonder if I can somehow rig room service?