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How can I be sure?

Such a big question that so many of us ask for a variety of reasons throughout our lives, yet during this virus season I have been hearing it  more often.  Where is God?  How can I be sure He’s good?  Why?  How?

The summer of my 8th grade year I was sitting in evening chapel at summer camp. It had been a great week of swimming, worship, late night scary stories, and sunshine.  I remember it being later in the week, probably a Thursday.  It was ‘salvation’ night (or as some campers call it, cry night) and after four days and nights of building a relational connection, the speaker shared with us all about the gift of salvation through Jesus.

I had accepted Jesus into my heart at 7 years old, walking to the front at Vacation Bible School. Yet, as the speaker shared the opportunity to accept Jesus, I had raised my hand to respond.  I’m not really sure how many times I had done this before, but every time Jesus was offered, I responded.  I had to make sure.  I mean, I knew how much I sinned, and I wasn’t sure if I had committed the unforgivable sin…PLUS I didn’t want to miss out on eternal life.  So, each altar call, I responded.

The reason that particular chapel time stands out is because of what the speaker did when he was finished with the prayer.  He asked if any of us had ever asked Christ into our lives before but still felt we needed to ask again – just to be sure.  I remember thinking, how does he know?  Do I look guilty?

He encouraged us to stay after chapel if we had any questions. I almost didn’t stay, I mean, who wants to admit that they have doubts about Jesus?   I was nervous because I thought I’d be the only one, but I sucked it up and stayed.  There were about ten campers in our little circle in the front of chapel that night.

After everyone else had left the chapel, he smiled and sat down with us.  I remember being excited to have answers as he opened his Bible to Hebrews 13:5.

For God has said,  “I will never fail you.
    I will never abandon you.”

He reminded us of how loved we are and of God’s promise to the Hebrews – and to us. He shared more verses and patiently answered question after question, but my heart zeroed in on I will never abandon you. I had NO idea that was in there!  I can remember feeling relief and joy as we closed in prayer. My life was secure in His hands.

I wish I could remember the speakers name, I would thank him for taking time with a bunch of middle schoolers to explain that although this promise didn’t mean easy and pain free, it meant that God would be with us through it.  I have clung to this verse ever since.

In Hebrews, the author is reminding the readers in chapter 13 to live for Christ and shares this quote from Deuteronomy 31.  The Deuteronomy chapter is the recording of the words of Moses as he passes the leadership mantle to Joshua.  In both verses 6 and 8, Moses reminds Joshua to be strong and courageous reminding him that God wouldn’t fail him or abandon him.  He also told Joshua to not be discouraged or afraid.

The author of Hebrews knew that the readers would understand the words of God through Moses.  They had the benefit of hindsight and knew that God had honored his promise.  He hadn’t abandoned his people even when they failed him. Even when they abandoned him, God remained faithful.  The same God who honored his promise to his people then, honors his promise for his followers today.

We live in an uncertain world, preparing for whatever is next.  The words from Moses continue to stand true – God will not fail.   He will not abandon us – He is personally going ahead of us.  I continue to hold on the words of Moses shared by the author of Hebrews:

So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and
do not panic before them. For the Lord your
God will personally go ahead of you.
He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
Duet. 31:6

A couple summers ago, I stood inside a circle of middle and high school campers.  I had shared the gospel in the Thursday night message and had invited anyone who felt that doubt – the need to respond just to be sure – to join me.   The circle was full of expectant eyes silently asking, how can I be sure?

I smiled and opened my Bible to Hebrews 13.

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Who’s Right?

There are many moments that stand out to me as change moments in life and ministry.  A time when I either needed to quit or change my thinking and attitude.  None of them were pain free – believe me – but in hindsight the pain was worth it.

Before I was a parent, I sure thought I had it down.  I was a teacher, therefore I knew kids, right?  But, being part of a student’s life and being their parent are two very different things.  I was a part-time middle school leader at church when I learned the critical lesson – we don’t know what we don’t know.  Even though I had my own kids, they were under 8 years old meaning I had no idea what it was like to be a parent of a teenager.

That day as I hung up the phone, I slipped down onto my kitchen floor and cried.  I had never been chewed out so thoroughly by a parent. I felt humbled, hurt, surprised, and small.  She had every right to be angry and she made very valid points, all I wanted to do was quit.

It had been a great day at an amusement park, kids had a blast riding rides and eating junk food.  I had carefully put them in groups to go around the park, made check-in times, and sent them off to enjoy it.  They were in middle school; I was confident they could handle it.  This mother was not.  Although everyone returned tired and happy, she fully and thoroughly informed me of all the dangers at the park, how young middle schoolers are, and that any one of them could have been snatched and I wouldn’t have known until check-in time.  Her children had not been safe and she let me know that I was irresponsible.

Didn’t she know I gave my whole day to her kids?  Wasn’t she thankful I created this full day so her kids could have an adventure?  Maybe. Could the middle schoolers handle the park? Yes.  Was she right?  Yes.

Although the kids did great, her anger at me stemmed from the fear that something awful could have happened – I totally get it.  I can now see how scary a park like that can be and the trust it takes to send your child off on a trip – with anyone.

Dr. Henry Townsend tell us that “People don’t make other people angry.  Your anger has to come from something inside of you.” (Boundaries)   I have found that almost every time a parent has been angry with me the bottom line is fear for their child, their amazing gift from God, and whether founded or not doesn’t really matter.  The bottom line is that if they are unsure of the safety of their child with me it will hurt ministry, and that is on me.  Empathy, and good counsel, have helped me understand the fear that can lead to anger and that led to a better awareness of how to walk with parents.

In this case, I had to admit what I didn’t know and change my thinking. Do you need to realize you don’t know what you don’t know?   Like so many young youth workers I thought I knew exactly what I was doing, but I didn’t.  This was a turning point as I moved forward in ministry.  I didn’t know what I didn’t know – what was I going to do about it?

I had to realize they are her daughters, not mine, and I needed some help in understanding parents of teenagers.  I apologized to this mom and asked for her help.  She became a number one volunteer, graciously helping me in so many ways.

I could have quit, I could have just said deal with it, or I could humble my heart and realize I wasn’t a middle school parent.  Have you had a run in or conflict with a parent? With anyone?

Who’s right?
Does it matter?

Fools make fun of guilt, but the godly acknowledge it and seek reconciliation.
 Prov. 14:9

Proverbs tells us, the godly acknowledge the wrong and seek reconciliation. It’s one thing to acknowledge an issue but as followers of Jesus we are called to seek reconciliation – to heal relationships. This might mean that we don’t get to be right.   We need to humble ourselves, take that knowledge, and seek change not only in the relationship but in ourselves. In what area do you need a change of heart in order to reestablish or reconcile a relationship?

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Summer Options! Where do I send my kid?

We live in a world of SO MANY OPTIONS when it comes to our kids.  We hear our student needs to be in sports camp in order to make team, they can’t miss the training in the work out room if they want to be seen, they want to go to camp with friends, and then, there is the hope of a family vacation.  OH, and the church is going on a mission trip.  It’s overwhelming and complicated calendaring!  Where do we spend our time and resources?

As a parent, my kids went to summer camps, sports camps, band camps, and family vacations. They also went to workcamp, not every summer, but as many as possible.  We had to look at the overall summer opportunities and choose.  When I look back now, they were all great in their own ways, but I’m so glad they did mission trips.  They were amazing, expensive, hard, learning experiences that affected their faith and gave them perspective.  I know I was their youth leader, but that’s not why we prioritized mission for our kids.

In the summer of 1999, I was a couple years into part-time middle school ministry and we were headed to workcamp.  Workcamp is a week of literally working in home repair while adding in camp elements.  It was my first one of this sort.  The youth group had served through Habitat for Humanity in our state the previous summer, and that was cool, but we wanted to do something that felt bigger.  We were headed to North Carolina to serve in a community through Appalachia Service Project, I think there were around forty of us in borrowed vans and trucks filled with tools, people, and gear.  We drove through the night (never again), had our walkie-talkies (thank goodness we have cell phones now), and while kids slept we made our way to the backwoods of North Carolina following paper maps (oh the wonders of GPS!).

When we arrived at the elementary school where we were to stay, I was introduced to my first experience of classroom floor sleeping (no air conditioning), dripping showers that never quite get warm, and the chaos and wonder of late night shenanigans and laughter. I fell in love with it all!  If I could live on these types of trips, I would.  The hot hard meaningful work alongside students, the significance it creates in our hearts, the depth of conversations, and the reality of what it means to serve Jesus with our hands in a tangible way.  These lessons are life-long and I wanted them for my own kids when they were older.

That year, my crew was assigned a farmhouse built in the 1800s.  It had sawdust insulation and our job was to pull off the walls, put in insulation, and then drywall. When we arrived, we met an exhausted, grieving family that felt the hopelessness of an overwhelming life after the loss of a child. 

We dove in and each day slowly made progress as we pulled off the walls, removed the wainscoting (which we put back up – whew!), swept out sawdust by the gallons, and learned the story of the family we served.  As we hung drywall, we talked about God and life.  As a crew, we also helped feed the cows, dealt with wasp’s nests on the second story, and one student even learned how to ride a pig.  We were filthy, exhausted, and filled with a sense of accomplishment as we sat on their porch overlooking the beauty of the mountains on our last day there. 

As we closed in prayer that final time, the family was overwhelmed with gratitude, tears filled their eyes as they again shared how amazed they were at what we had accomplished. There was a sense of hope as they looked forward to a warmer winter, but I know the hope really came from all the conversations and prayer during that week.  The students reminded them that Jesus sees them, He hadn’t forgotten them, and we were able to be an example of that love.

There is nothing quite like serving with students on this level.  Expecting hard work, teaching skills that will last a life-time, investing in a family that just needs love, and watching God work in hearts as students look outside themselves and make a difference.   We all need this in our lives, we don’t outgrow it, but when we can do this with teens we are creating a life-time of what valuing what it is to serve Jesus.

As I spent more time in ministry, I discovered so many opportunities for students.  Trips, camps, adventures!  I had to ask myself, what can the church offer that only we can?   In Michigan we have great summer camps, I’m sure other states do as well.  They are places with zip lines and incredible worship, deep conversations and conversions, and places where kids can experience a step outside of life into a 24/7 experience.  I didn’t need to compete with that, I love camp.  So, what could we do to offer something different?

I realized that I wanted students to have the opportunity to experience two things while they were with us in student ministry; serving at a high level and evangelism.   If we put our energy into these two things, and did them well, I felt like we were helping parents give their student an opportunity as well giving students valuable growing experiences before they left high school.

Mission is defined in two ways, according to the web, it’s an important assignment carried out for political, religious, or commercial purposes, typically involving travel.  And second, the vocation or calling of a religious organization, especially a Christian one, to go out into the world and spread its faith.  I felt that we needed to do both of these things with our students because they are areas that are usually only found through a church. 

Yes, we serve in our community and church ministries, but there is something about a mission trip that requires travel (road trips are incredible opportunities for connection), carries a level of importance, requires dependence on each other, and expects really hard work that changes perspectives and hearts and, in turn, opens lives to see Jesus.

Mission is also going out in the world and sharing our faith. Not every heart is awaked to missions, but if a student never experiences it – how will they know what it is to bring Jesus to others in this way and maybe discover the call for their lives.  This type of mission helps students (and adults) value their faith in a new way and see Jesus through new eyes.  The best part of international or extended evangelistic mission is that it requires full dependence on God and each other to accomplish it and this is a life-long eternal learning that isn’t found in many other places.

In the early 2000s, there wasn’t as much competition for a student’s time as there is today.  Today, school’s train almost all summer and winter, club sports and sports camps take up weeks of a student’s summer, there’s band camp, and, of course, there should be a family vacations in there as well.  All of this has a cost.  As a parent, it’s hard to know which choices to make and which to invest in…

As we partner with parents, I encourage parents to ‘parent with the end in mind’.  Think of middle and high school as one long journey with different stops along with way, what do you want them to experience and learn before they leave home?  If you’re like me, you want them to expand their sport skills, experience summer camp, and you want them to experience what it means to serve Jesus on a level that means hard work and sacrifice. 

Remember, parenting the middle and high school years is a marathon, what do you want them to have learned?  A better block on the volleyball court – you bet.  The formation for marching band – of course.  The unique fun and experience of summer camp – yes please.  How to serve like Jesus?  Absolutely.

With so many options, we can’t do it all every summer or school year, but, if we can do it even just once, it matters. 

Have you thought about the long-haul learning that summer opportunities can bring for your student?  Has Jesus weighed into those goals?

No matter the choices, may you remember to parent with the end in mind and hold onto the sweet moments of family time as you enter into this summer.

 

 

Photo by Vladislav Babienko on Unsplash

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3 Proven Ways to Help Students Experience Prayer

How do I talk to God? 

This is a simple but critical question students, and adults, ask all the time.  As a student ministry leader, I didn’t want one student to leave our ministry without knowing the answer to this question because they had learned it, used it, experienced it.  I bet it’s the same for you. There are so many books on this (and I encourage you to check them out) but here just a few ideas that we use to help our students experience prayer.

What follows are three ideas from our youth group, they’re not new or revolutionary but it they really us help us maintain an atmosphere of prayer.

  1. The Prayer Chair.

A prayer chair is a simple wooden chair, that is used by a small group for intentional prayer.  The chair is put in the middle of the group and anyone, leader or student, may sit in the chair and ask for prayer.  The request needs to be personal or directly connected to the person in the chair, not ‘my friend’s Aunt’s sister’s dog’ kind of request.  Once the request is given, the group prays for the person. We have used Waterfall Prayer, which is everyone praying out loud all at once.  Popcorn Prayer, which are prayers popping up from different people one at a time.  Or, one Leader or student prays. 

After the prayer, the person puts their name tag on the chair as a reminder.  (Yes, we use name tags every week.)  For the weeks that follow, their name is a reminder to check in on the issue and see how God is at work.  The chair stays with the group as they move up through ministry.  The chair pictured here was actually gifted from a senior class to a freshmen class so that they could  build on the prayers before them.  Those freshmen are now seniors, this chair holds eight years of prayers!

  1. Prayer Circles.

Mark Batterson’s book The Circle Maker changed my prayer world.  The idea of circling a person, a place, or even an idea challenged me to put physical steps around my words.  It helps me create holy space.  Hula Hoops work great to help visualize this.  At retreats, the worship team circles the room and draws a spiritual line around the space for God’s anointing and protection.  At camp, we circle the space for worship to draw a spiritual line around the learning and lives we are entrusted with for the week.  When I speak in big church, I walk a circle around the worship center drawing a spiritual line around the hearts of those that will come – asking God to help them hear what they need to hear whether I say it or not.

On trips, and in team meetings especially, we circle up and pray.  Leaders circle up and pray every week by linking our arms and standing together.  It’s a symbol of team, linked in Christ, standing together for our students.  On mission trips the entire team will link up for community, connection, and strength.  It’s a reminder that we are all one in Christ.  On trips, the first day in the circle is pretty quick and quiet, but by the end of the week we could pray all day as students and leaders pray out loud over everything.

Another part of circle prayer that is amazing to me is the laying on of hands.  In a world where touch is questioned and often not given, we can lay on hands in prayer showing care and connection to the person.  If you’ve ever stood in a circle and had the laying of hands on you, then you know the incredible power and deep feelings of community this brings.

As with all prayer, pray expectantly.  Look for the answers and celebrate them, no matter the answer.  Depend on them.

  1. Prayer Stations.

We all have different ways that we connect to God.  At my first National Youth Workers Convention years ago, I was able to walk a labyrinth and experience a prayer room. This rocked my world!  I loved the guided labyrinth and the physical responses to God in prayer in the prayer room that I hadn’t ever experienced before.  I enjoyed the personal creative ways that I could rest and listen as I worked with my hands, touched water, looked at art, or tore cloth.  I knew that if this worked in me differently, it would connect for students as well.  From the beginning, I’ve incorporated full experiential nights into ministry.  We need to touch, taste, smell, feel, and hear in different ways as we discover more of God.

I’ve always loved seeing how students use art to express their hearts in ways their words can’t seem to.  It’s a window into what’s there.  If art and music aren’t your thing, remember that you lead students that might need this outlet to connect to God in greater ways.

My son connects to everything through art and music.  When he hit middle school, I could see that he was struggling to do everything verbally – what he needed to be able to do is share through his hands.  His art spoke volumes…and so did many other students. 

Having art supplies, journals, prints of art, and a great playlist are fairly easy to put together yet so often we default to the simple message and questions.  Creating experiential moments takes time yet Brene Brown said once that creativity is the way that what is in our heads moves into our hearts.  It’s also the other way around, it helps us move what is in our hearts into our heads. 

As we walk with students in ministry, this is our hope right?  We pray that the movement of knowledge into lives of faith and the movement of heart-felt experiences into lives of trust will be a part of our student’s spiritual journey.

There are so many resources on prayer stations; the Book of Uncommon Prayer, Imaginative Prayer, Experiential Prayer, and more.  Use them.  They take work to set up, some planning and personal preparation but the effort is worth it.  The more you practice it, the more relaxed students will be in it.  The more open they become.  It’s also teaching them ways to connect with God that they can use long after they leave our ministries.

Pray with eyes wide open.  Pray in response.  Pray expectantly.

Do you pray expectantly?  What or who do you need to circle in prayer?

When your students graduate, do they know the value of prayer and incorporate this practice into their lives?

There’s no wrong way to pray, there’s no perfect way to pray – the point is – to pray.

 

Title Photo by Diana Simumpande on Unsplash

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What do you want to be known for?

What do you want to be known for?  One of the things I would love to be known for is that I pray and have encouraged, taught, and experienced prayer in my life. Not because I think it’s all about me, but to know that I sought to depend on God in every circumstance and led others to do the same. I’m not there yet, but I can’t think of a better thing to be known for.

We know Jesus prayed.  He went off alone to pray (Matthew 14:23, Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16 and more).  He taught his disciples how to pray (Matthew 6:9-13).  He prayed before meals (Mark 6:41, Luke 22:17-19) and he prays for us (John 17:9).  I can just imagine Peter and John watching Jesus as he heads to the small hill behind the home of Mary and Martha.  They have seen him do this many times; he is going to talk to his Father. They watch as he paces, gestures with his hands, and speaks with his Dad before lying back on the grassy hill and resting in it.  They are having a holy conversation.  Prayer.

I believe that part of our job in ministry, and as parents, is to help teach and practice the disciplines that will help those we lead walk with Jesus long after they leave our ministries or homes.  I have learned that prayer is a key discipline for my own walk, so therefore it has become one of the key elements to teach and practice in ministry. The best ministry, the best parenting, flows out of what we have learned or are experiencing with Jesus.

Prayer is one of those mysterious elements of faith.  We, little-human-us, get to talk with the Almighty Creator God.  Think about that.  Little me and you, specks in the Universe, can talk with the Lord God Almighty and He actually wants to hear from us!  That blows my mind.  Another mystery, He answers. I’m not always a great listener, but I aspire to become able to hear his quiet whispers as well as I hear the loud words He speaks.

I wasn’t always this way.  I prayed, read my Bible, and served but I can see, looking back, that I didn’t truly value prayer.  I hadn’t yet experienced a level of connection in prayer that would change how I prayed.  I knew I was talking with God, I knew that Jesus prayed, but I have to say that I didn’t honestly respect the miracle we have by being able to have conversations with God.

What do you believe about prayer?

Prayer is defined as a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God or an object of worship (that’s the internet dictionary).  If you’re reading this, then you might know Jesus and have some kind of prayer in your life. You might even say you believe prayer is important, because it’s talking to God, and some of you may even say it’s foundational to your life.

I think there can be a lack of understanding about what prayer is and how valuable it is to our walk with Jesus.  Prayer is simple, it’s communication with Jesus.  It’s speaking and listening to the Lord Most HIgh. It is a discipline, it is a gift, and it can be learned.

When it comes to prayer, I never really doubted God could answer and even do miracles through prayer.  But, if I’m honest, I really believed that for other people.  It’s one thing to know God will answer someone else’s prayer, it’s another to know he’ll answer yours.

Now, ask yourself, do I do it?  I mean, I hope so – especially for your own walk with Jesus but I have found many people that believe in Jesus don’t actually find time to talk with Him. Maybe like me, you’ve noticed that when you’re busier, or life is good,  you seem to forget this discipline and when you’re in need you cling to it like a life preserver.  We all do, even the disciples did this at times. 

When my daughter was born, my son was three years old.  He had been experiencing night terrors as so many toddlers do and during that first week with a new baby, he woke us up screaming.  My mom was staying with us so she quick went to our daughter as we ran to my son.  He was inconsolable and overwhelmed with fear.  My husband picked him up as I went to make sure my mom was ok. I found her rocking our sweet baby and praying. 

When I got back to my son’s room, I found my husband sitting on the floor with our son in his arms, I could tell he felt helpless. Our little three-year-old’s body writhing in a fear we couldn’t understand. Then, we realized we needed to pray.  I know, that should have been our first thought, but at least we came to it.  I laid my hands alongside my husband’s on our son as he commanded fear to leave in the name of Jesus.  As soon as he said Amen, my son went quiet and was sound asleep.  No lie!  We learned our lesson.  Every night as we tucked our kids into bed, we prayed protection in Jesus’ name.  There has never been another night terror in our home.  I have read that we are in a battle against principalities and I knew it was true. When that becomes a reality in the bedroom of your child, you pay attention!  Jesus also tells us to ask in His name and we will receive.  The reality of this moment became a defining point in my life.  The power of Jesus and the understanding that he hears is truly amazing.

If you believe in prayer and you do it…do you teach it?  Model it?

By that I mean, do you create purposeful practices, experiences, and expectations around this spiritual discipline?  Do you incorporate it all the time or is it a one shot moment that helps you check the box and move on? 

1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to make our life a prayer.  (TPT).  Pray continually.  What if we did that?  It seems to me that most families only pray together over meals and bedtime.  Since many families don’t seem to have time for meals together, this would limit prayer opportunities.  Bedtime prayers with parents fall away when either the child or the parent decides it’s time to end that ritual because the child is old enough to do it themselves.  Kids know that God listens to their prayers as children, but when they get older, they seem to lose sight of this.  Whether it’s because parents stop modeling it or the church hasn’t helped them practice, we have an opportunity to help those around us learn the value and necessity of prayer.  I believe it is a completely under-utilized part of many ministries and families.

I’ve had incredible role models in my life.   When I was little and got up early, I would find my mom in the living room sitting in her favorite chair spending time the Jesus.  We weren’t allowed to interrupt, in fact, if we came into the room she would just pray a bit louder so that we’d know that we needed to wait.  If we didn’t get the hint, she would pray louder.  Jesus came first. I didn’t value my time with Jesus like she did back then, but she was teaching me an important priority.  My dad has always led with prayer. He faithfully modeled this and continues to today.  As I got older, I began to understand the value of their time with God.  I didn’t necessarily do it but I couldn’t say I didn’t know of it.

In college, I did the whole pray when you need something kind of prayers and I tried to start a habit of prayer many times. It’s so apparent when someone is praying out of a relationship or praying out of duty.  There was something different about the way they prayed that I wanted.  I knew my parents had it, but I came to desire that kind of connection for myself.  I discovered how you get there – practice, belief, and trust. 

I wanted the be able to pray with the expectancy and urgency of someone that realizes the incredible power and wonder of God.  I wanted to hear him and see his answers.  Don’t we all?  The more I dove into prayer, the more I realized I had to learn but I did know that if I wanted this, others probably did as well.

Over time, I began to incorporate prayer into ministry in more meaningful ways so that students were learning how to pray as well as experience the precious gift it is to talk with God.  Jesus died so that we could have direct access to his Father, a real on-going relationship. When we pray, we are utilizing one of the very things Jesus died for.  As we pray, our eyes are more open and we look expectantly for answers.   The first tangible answer to a prayer is so powerful for everyone.  It’s that moment when we realize that God really did hear us and we need to take note and remember for those times when we feel like God isn’t listening. I wanted students to have those moments like I had – not only like the one in my son’s bedroom but so many more.

One of my underlying goals in student ministry was to help students practice, experience, and prioritize prayer.  We get to talk with and listen to the God of the Universe and I wanted students do know how incredible and powerful this is!  What isn’t practiced, isn’t kept.  If you feel you always have to be the one to pray, then your students will grow to believe that you have to be the leader in order to have a voice in prayer.  If you never expect students to pray out loud for each other, they might not discover the incredible blessing of praying over someone else’s needs.  If you don’t pray expectantly, then you won’t see the answers. I have found that although I can teach on prayer, it’s more powerful to actually just pray and, through that, we teach. 

We have prayed for God to bring people to events with a specific number and watched as he delivered.  I’ve also seen prayers for healing that God chose to answer in different ways.  I’ve watched as God changed the direction of rain storms and I’ve stood soaking wet  in cold rain. We expect students to use their voices to speak into it and we allow quiet.  The point, pray.  When it begins to be the first line of defense, the first way to help, and the first reaction to a problem – then we’ve made a dent.

People that pray together, stay together.  This isn’t a new phrase but it is still true.  The more our students and leaders pray together, the more we pray as families, the more connected we are to each other and Christ.

Pray with eyes wide open. 
Pray in response. 
Pray expectantly.

May you discover the wealth of blessing that comes as you bring everything to the Lord in prayer.  Not because he answers like you’ve asked, but because it gives him your trust and control.  If you pray, then you get it.  If not, I challenge you to begin. My mom is a bit over 80 years old as I write this and she would say that she still wants more through prayer…it’s the example I seek to follow. 

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Levels

LEVELS

It’s Workcamp sign up season again and it has me thinking of all the incredible experiences I’ve had while serving.  One that really stands out is the summer of 2016 in Pennsylvania.    After an early morning of devotions, gathering supplies, and loading vans we drove off to discover our work for the week.  We knew we were serving an older woman in need of a new ramp on her home but when we arrived, we discovered that both entries had rotten porches and stairs so we’d need to demo the porches and rebuild adding a large ramp to the front deck. We had work to do.

When I first started youth ministry, our church had already begun attending Workcamp each summer. It’s a setting with the fun and spiritual elements of camp while each day is spent serving.  I love all kinds of camps for the different things they offer students, but for me there is something special about workcamp.   Students and adults are placed in teams that go into a community to serve those in need.   The blessings are two-fold: students have the opportunity to learn new skills and make a difference in a life while diving deeper into spiritual conversations, and someone that is need receives help in a way that improves their physical and spiritual situation.

On this particular Monday morning in July, we were in Gettysburg as our group of five high schoolers and two adults piled out of the van.  With our clean gloves, hammers and shovels, we lined up to meet our resident.  As we entered her home, the scene was a bit overwhelming.  A hospital bed in the living room, medical supplies strewn all over, and a slightly grumpy woman looking at us with wide eyes.  She was gravely ill, felt trapped in her home, and was overwhelmed by all the people in her house.

Seeing the need so clearly, we dove into the work.  Demo took a morning, it’s usually pretty quick, and by lunch we were ready make a plan and rebuild. Porches begin with post holes so we measured for the post holes and began to dig, and dig, and dig.  So. Many. Holes. (Seriously, so many!) Early in the process, our team learned the value of a level.

Levels are great tools.  When placed on a board, the nice little bubbles tell you if your board is level.  With a post, it tells you if the post is straight. If you’re in a hurry, it can be easy to skip the level and just look at the post and think that the wood is straight, when in reality it’s just a bit off.  A small bit off at the bottom creates a pretty slanted post by the top.

It’s important to take the time to use the tool that helps us find level.  As we placed the post in the hole, we’d attach the post level.  Once the bubbles were right, it was time for the cement.  As the cement filled the whole, we kept a close eye on the level making sure we kept it straight.  By being diligent with the posts, the whole porch was ready to be built.

Sometimes, in life or in ministry demo is easy, too easy. The next new program, a new idea, a new process and it’s out with the old and in with new. But when it comes to rebuilding, it’s critical to remember the level.  Whenever it’s time for something new, our level – the Word of God – reminds us to keep ourselves on his path.  If we veer off, just a little, down the road the chasm will be wide.  New change takes work.  Lots. Of. Work.  Yet, if we remain level, the work will smooth out and the curves made straight.

The valleys will be filled, and the mountains and hills made level.
The curves will be straightened, and the rough places made smooth.
Luke 3:5

During our week in Pennsylvania, the older woman we were serving was hospitalized.  We arrived on Thursday to discover she had passed away in the night.  As we looked at our work, the new wood, the level posts, the almost finished ramp she would never use, the students began to wonder if what we had done mattered.  It was a God moment, a time to step back and see what God had orchestrated.

During the week, the older couple next door took care of us, especially Mabel.  She checked on us, gave us water, let us use their restroom, and even stored our tools in their shed.  This opened the opportunity to share why we were there and our hope in Jesus.  Upon hearing of her friend’s death, the relationship we had built allowed us to pray with Mabel and share in her tears.  A valley filled.

Mabel shared with us that our resident had a daughter with a handicapped child and was in need of a home where her wheelchair could navigate entry.  Our resident’s daughter would inherit the home.   A hill made level and a rough place made smooth.  As we left on Friday afternoon, the new beautiful ramp complete, Mabel told us we had helped renew her faith in God and teenagers.  I’ll never forget that week and the lessons learned there.

I’m reminded that sometimes change is for those we didn’t expect or haven’t even met yet – thus the need for level, solid work.

If you are contemplating change, check your level many times and then check it again. When we maintain our course with his Word, we’re able to navigate the mountains in such a way that they feel level and rough places smooth.

10 Things I’ve Learned

10 THINGS I’VE LEARNED

For the past few years, I’ve been asked to visit a college classroom and talk with a group of students studying youth ministry. They ask questions, I try to answer honestly as they seek to discover some new tidbit or truth to add to their ministry tool kit.  I feel honored to be asked to speak into the lives of those beginning their ministry journey and it fuels the teacher in me to share my ministry lessons with them.  The questions they ask are usually along the same lines– what do you wish you had known when you were starting? What’s it like to be a woman in ministry?  What are some things you’ve learned? What’s one horror story and one great moment?

Each time I leave the classroom, I realize I do know a few things.  It’s been 30 years since I began working with students and 20 of those years have been spent in student ministry. I would be foolish to think I’ve learned nothing yet when I think of what I have learned i find that it really is pretty simple – most of the best things we’ve ever learned are. Have you noticed that? Things like: don’t touch hot stoves, tie your shoes, drink water, look both ways, stranger/danger – simple but important.  It’s the same with ministry, simple but important.

So as I begin this writing journey, sharing what I’ve learned during my years of ministry seems like a good place to start.  It’s not rocket science, it’s not even mathematical, but they are true to me: (not in order of importance, but just an order)

  • I am not God: God changes people, I do not
  • Heart change brings behavior change
  • Vulnerability brings connection
  • Laughter is fundamental
  • Love. Love them well.
  • Others can love them well too
  • The Bible.
  • Safe students, happy parents
  • My family matters.
  • My spiritual health is My job

See, simple.  Could I list more? Absolutely, in fact I’ve added to the list even as I’ve edited this blog – but it’s a start. Over the next few weeks, I’ll unpack what each of these statements means to me with hopes that you can learn from them as I have. 

In the meantime, what has God taught you?  What would you add to this list?

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The Mystery of the Gospel

THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL

Over the past few years (like 17), my students and a few of their leaders head to Mexico over Christmas Break to share Jesus in a Mexican community through a local church.  When I go,  I help lead or teach a women’s Bible Study.  As I work with students in the States, I challenge myself by working with women there.  A few years ago, I came across this verse in my lesson preparation.

Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel…pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. Eph. 6:19-20

Have you ever thought of the gospel as a mystery?  Easter doesn’t seem so mysterious.  Jesus died.  Jesus rose.  That’s not a mystery, its truth.  Yet I prayed that God would give me the words and that I would speak fearlessly of his gospel.

When we arrived at the park in Mexicali, on New Year’s Day that year, it was empty.  For the first time in a long time, I wasn’t able to do any ministry on the first day because no one was in the park.  The students headed into the community inviting families to the park for our fun festival that night.  Quite a few moms came bringing their children for the games and prizes. We invited to them to come the next day.

When we arrived on day two, there were only a few people there.  Yet, as we pulled out our ministry things, the children and ladies came. As we sat down to do the craft together, the picnic table was full.  How does that work? 

On day three, the ladies were there waiting. As we gathered for the lesson, there wasn’t enough room for them all to sit.  Now, it wasn’t that my lessons were so amazing – these ladies were hungry.  Hungry for community, hungry for connection, and hungry for Jesus.

By the fourth day, they were all there waiting for us.  The table was full before we even got to it.  The lesson was on community.  As I went through the scripture, one of the Mexican women stopped me. She said to all the ladies (in Spanish of course), “Do you want to be a part of the community she is speaking of?  Do you want to know Jesus?”  Then she proceeded to ask each woman individually if they wanted Jesus and an amazing thing happened.  The women were answering yes, they wanted to know Jesus.  They wanted to belong to him.

As I watched them pray together, I didn’t understand a word they said.  I didn’t have to.  Clearly, Jesus was there.  

How does that work?  It wasn’t a fantastic lesson.  I don’t speak Spanish. We’re sitting at a windy picnic table, in a park, in the middle of the day and it happened.  The mystery. I knew it had nothing to do with me.  It’s enough to blow you away.  How does God do that?

Have you ever watched as a heart is touched by God?  The wonder of a life changed – that’s the mystery. 

Over and over again, I witnessed the mystery as students and adults shared their stories fearlessly in a public park.  It was freezing as the wind blew, dogs barked, and music played. There were no microphones or walls. Yet, God did his mysterious work in the hearts of that small community. 

That’s the mystery of Easter. 

May we never tire of the mystery of a life changed.
May we never feel we have to solve it.
May it always be a source of wonder.
May we declare it fearlessly.

Pray for us, that whenever we open our mouths, words may be given us so that we will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel…pray that we may declare it fearlessly, as we should. Eph. 6:19-20(words changed).

Happy Easter!

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A Life of Stories

A LIFE OF STORIES

Each week I meet with sweet group of young ladies from the local high school. A freshmen, a junior, and  a few seniors.  As a youth pastor, this isn’t unique.  What’s makes them unique to me is that they are willing to meet at 6:30….a.m., do homework for it, and they are all from different churches coming together because they all love Jesus.  I know other people have great ladies like this, but these are mine.

 We share Starbucks, laughter, and life while we read about how God is at work and what he is teaching us.  I won’t lie, there are snowy cold mornings when it’s hard to get out of bed but it’s always worth it.  It’s a window into the world they live at school, what they are learning in their different youth groups, and how it all relates to God’s work in their lives.  I honestly believe I learn more than they do as they talk about situations or people that need prayer.

We are reading Mark Batterson’s, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day.  He asks, “Are you living your life in a way that is worth telling stories about?”  As I read that (still to discuss this week), I thought of these girls.  They are faithful, honest, and young women of God seeking to live for Him in their public school.  They are worth telling stories about.

I will miss the Seniors as they move on to college next year – yet they are ready.  They are excited to see what God has in store for them as they seek to live for him on their campus’.  Each summer I wonder, who will join our group next fall – God knows and it as work in them even now.

Are you living a life worth telling stories about?