Margin

So an area i believe I need to work on is in the area of time. I tend to always run late to things. I try not too, but some how I end up doing so. I believe it is because I hate to cut things short or I am easily distracted. I tend to not allow enough time and find myself stressed trying to make it to the next place. This tends to then become a train wreck trying to fit things in.

I believe I need to simply realize that things tend to take more time then I expect. Allowing myself to have more time in areas that are important and allowing my self to enjoy my time is important. 

Time

Time is such a tough Subject. You hear people talk about it and you can almost hear people saying the samething. The way I see it now is that this is not my time, and God gave it to me for his purpose. Could it be that we make tougher than it really is?? I think back to the days leaving church on a Wednesday frustrated. It was amazing how people always had an opinion for how something should have been done differently. I spent two years trying to get people to understand that I was different from the youth pastor before. Brian is still at the church and we are good friends but we were different.

I spent my time maintaining something that was not mine or what God called me to. You see mentoring was sways the answer to me. Spending time with a person and helping them see Gods grace. Some how I managed to screw that up to. I was so worried about me looking good, and not there spiritual needs.

So what does this have to do with time??? Everything! In October u went on a walk to emmaus. It took several years because I was a control freak. I rarely do things like that with out details. I went and when I came back thing started falling apart and it was time for God to control my time.

Now my time is not spent proving myself to people. I enjoy spending my time outside of church helping those in need. I don't want a stage or a huge audience, I simply want one person. At this point God has giving me two young people to invest hours of my time into. Both are in two spots. One has a mother who loves him dearly and the other was abandoned at the age of 13. Both have different needs but require the same medication, "quality time."

Quality time means this me simply being fully there. This is with my reationship with God and people. I spend less time in line and more time talking with people. More than anything else I am being blessed. Not because I am doing a good thing, but because I am seeing things for what they are.

Anyone who knows me knows that I love your time and words. I love to hear "good job" or a simple dinner. Gifts are ok, but I want time. It is important that I understand that God and others want the same from me.

2011?

It's hard to believe that I have been at "The Mission" for seven years and five of those youth pastor. This place has changed my life for the better. The last week or so I have been thinking allot about where I came from and where I am at right now. For whatever reason that is my driving force to continue in what I am doing!

So what do I want to see different in our youth ministry in 2011?

Compassion- I love the definition a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering. 

This past year I have not shared with many people and one day I really believe I need to do so public. I never knew how wounded I was as a child. For whatever reason when I went on my walk God brought that out of me and made tears finally come out. I now have a greater love and compassion for people in general. For so long my story was how much I had been able to over come a difficult child hood life. My story is so much more then that. I started seeing that two years ago when Chad and Brian set me down and talked to me. 

For our youth ministry we MUST have compassion because we are dealing with an age group that is in need of HOPE! Step into a high school now and see if you find much hope? So we need to say things like....

I love you...I am proud of you....I believe in you.....you can do this. For so long it has been about over coming what life throws out to you. 


The steps I need to take to make this happen is simple but yet complex! This must become a habit of mine and out adults. I hate how we have made this ministry thing so difficult and busy. Doing life requires time and I believe now more then ever before that is what brings real change! 


I have more that I am going to save for a later post