Through my 14 years in youth ministry I have learned a few good lessons and a few hard ones. I have learned; I am not a "youth program" guy, I am a relational youth worker. I have learned that I love to preach the gospel to everyone. I learned that I love to look through scripture and connect the dots to Jesus. I have learned that Jesus was right about the Pharisees (church politics).
I have began the process of writing my story and I have realized how God has brought me through so many situations and circumstances. From molestation as young pre-teen to a teen in the middle of divorcing parents, to relationship heart break, through pornography to anger and un-forgiveness. From angry at God to I can't get enough of Him. God has indeed put me in a unique place to be able to speak to all those who are hurting in that same way in this new generation. I also had to learn lessons in forgiveness I thought I had already learned. In the middle of all this I still praise God and thank Him for sustaining me through all that and what I have put my family through. I am far from perfect. The words written by the Apostle Paul in Romans 7:21-8:2 say this; "I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it
is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful
nature I am a slave to sin. So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death."( NLT ) This passage reminds me of the road I have been and still on. Now after all that, I am in a journey to do what I believe God has always call me to do; to be and evangelist and preach the gospel and to mentor and disciples youth along the way. Losing my job has created some financial problems that I am sure the Lord will provide for in time. So I seek comfort in God's word in Philippians 4:11-13; "I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot.
In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being
content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me."( HCSB ) The hardest lesson I have learned is this; when I keep God out of my everyday life, good or bad, I struggle in everything. For those of you who are believers if you look back in your life you will see the pattern I am talking about. This is not to say that with God things will be peachy. I still struggle but I have an assurance, that God is with me. He has helped me overcome. http://juststopandthink.com/index.php
