Faithfulness

I am in the mood to blog about faith. Yesterday I decided that I would write down specific times in which I stepped out in faith. I feel like sometimes I have little faith when God asks me to do big things. I know it seems like I am self promoting but I need to be reminded of God's faithfulness.

It was an act of faith when I put my trust in Jesus Christ for eternal life in 2003. If I didn’t experience the love of Jesus Christ through a batch of cookies I wouldn’t be where I am now. My faith was built on His love.  

The time I moved out to Lancaster in 2007 to go to college. With only enough money to pay for one semester it was an audacious act of faith to pack up my 91 nissan and head across the state anyway. God provided me a place to live and a job at one of the best churches in the country.

It was extremely hard to forgive a relative for all the verbal and physical abuse that I was put through growing up. When her past sins were no longer in between us I couldn’t wait to give her a hug. It was my faith in the healing power of God’s love that continues to set me free from broken relationships.    

When my fiancé and I broke off our engagement in September of 2008 it was an act of faith. After asking Jesus to heal our 4-year relationship for so long I trusted that God had a better plan for me.   

I quit my job at UPS in January of 2009. Giving up a secure paycheck and scholarship for school, along with a loan repayment plan was a move that took faith. I didn’t know exactly what I was going to get but I knew that God’s plan for me was way more important than making money.

God,

I pray that today's encounters build my faith in you. 

I'm not a Christian but I love coming.

I'm a Middle School Youth Pastor. During one of my lessons last Spring I shared a story about a student in a youth ministry I used to lead. He was outspoken about not following Jesus. He would continue to come out to youth group and listen to me talk about God despite his strong conviction that he wasn’t a Christian. There was nothing extremely special about this story but it got the point across that night.

As I finished my lesson and the kids started to disperse to their small groups a 6th grade girl came up to me with watery eyes.

Without taking a breath she said, “IreallylikeyourstoryaboutChrisbecauseI’mnotaChristian, andmyfamilyisnotChristian, butIlovecominghere.” (exhale)

For a few moments we just looked at each other smiling. In that moment my heart was full. This is the type of environment we strive so hard to create for our Middle School students. I told her that I love having her come out and encouraged her to talk to her small group leader about what it means to be a Christian.

As she skipped away to meet up with her small group I thought to myself “Everything I have ever done in the name of Jesus is all worth it for that one student”. May you, as youth workers, be encouraged by the desire that Jesus gives us to love and serve these students.

Take off your shoes and worship with hearts full of joy, you are standing on Holy ground.

This Morning

Sometimes when I wake up my mind is racing through all the possibilities of the day. I love waking up and being excited to start the day. I can always tell that I'm going to have a good day when I think positively. I haven't really noticed until recently but my mind has been racing with negative possibilities when I wake up. It's been racing with fears.

"What if we can get that project done and it leads to great success"
has become
"What if we put all that hard work into this project and it fails".

I don't want to think this way. It's really starting to become annoying. The worst part is that I can look on my twitter and see like 50 positive tweets from people who woke up at the butt crack of dawn to do their insanity workout.

#unmotivated.

So this morning I have decided to do something about these thoughts. I'm going to write down all the things about today that I am thankful for and how I want God to work through them.

I am thankful for having a bed to sleep in.
Jesus, use my wealth to break my heart for the poor.

I am thankful for having food to eat.
Jesus, please help me eat only what I need to eat.

I am thankful for being able to write this blog.
Jesus, use this blog to help myself and others focus on your faithfulness today.

I am thankful for my job!
Jesus, use the work that I do today to help Middle School students encounter you and your love.

I am thankful for my co-workers.
Jesus, please use them to shape me into a more patient and loving person.

I am thankful for my ACS meeting today.
Jesus, please use this meeting to help us think of ways to care for all the people that come through the doors at BranchCreek Community Church.

I am thankful for the rental group that is using the Exit31 Community Center.
Jesus, please help us develop a relationship with them that overflows with love and respect on a personal and professional level.

I am thankful for interruptions.
Jesus, please use these interruptions to shape me more into your likeness than I have ever been.

I am thankful for being able to visit Molly on her lunch break and the freedom I have with my job to do so.
Jesus, please help me use this time to love Molly the way that you love her.

I am thankful for my Community Group.
Jesus, please encourage us to connect, grow, and serve each other in your name.

I am thankful for my home.
Jesus, please help me to get the proper rest and prepare myself for you to do amazing things tomorrow.


Would you join me and share what you are thankful for today?