What you don’t know about Youth Ministry is…

it hurts.

It hurts to be a parent, a leader, or a friend of someone and see them fall away from God. One of my greatest pains in life has been sitting back and hearing one of my former youth say, “I don’t believe in God anymore.” The person may have worded it differently but the fact is, it broke my heart. It didn’t just break my heart because I felt as though I had failed as a leader; it broke my heart because I knew it broke God’s heart too. My job as a parent and as a leader is to ‘plant the seed’ of Jesus Christ and share His Word and His Hope with the ones He places in my path. What you do with that seed is up to you.

What you don’t understand about youth ministry is that we are not just teachers or leaders…we are parents. Yes, I am a mother of 2 young, sweet but crazy, adorable but wild, temperamental yet amazing, boys. Carson is 3 years old and Asher just turned 1 on November 25th. I have my hands full with my boys, but I also have several teenagers, young girls, and even college students that I consider to be my children as well. They may not know it, but they are family just like my own even when I don’t see them as often as I used to. I pray for them, worry for them, and try my best to guide them in God’s way. My prayer for all my children is that they will find God’s will, live by His Light, and love the life He has blessed them with. I can’t wait to see how God uses the youth of this generation to make a difference!

Unfortunately, not all children live for God and stay on the straight and narrow path. Seeing your child, blood or not, fall away from God, is the hardest thing a parent can go through. I know that one day I may have to face this with my own children, but I also know that God can give me strength to handle things I cannot imagine. I pray each day for unfathomable faith for my children and hope that they will stay by the Lord’s side every step of their way. As a parent, I am doing my best to raise my children in a Christian home, but in this world, it is a constant battle. Know that your parents and leaders are trying their best and doing all that they can to protect you and guide you in this world. Give them a break and go to them when you are struggling. Trust that they are there for you. Though you think they don’t understand, they care for you more than you can imagine. Know that they are with you every step of the way (even when you don’t want them to be) and they want what is best for you. Trust me, one day you will understand.

As a parent and a youth leader, I want you to know first that you are loved. Your family, your parents, and your leaders loves you more than you can imagine. The days that they seem to be distant or so far away from you that they just can’t understand, just know that someone out there loves you and is doing all they can to take care of you.

Second, know that when your heart breaks, it never breaks alone. It may seem like it, but you are never alone. In high school, I remember my mom telling me that she wished she could take the pain away from me after I was heartbroken from a break up. At the time, I thought she was crazy, but I now I understand what she means. My boys are too young for that kind of drama for now, but when one of my other children, my G.A. girls or youth from the past, or my friends and youth at my church today, feels broken…my heart breaks with them. They cry and I cry because I know what they are going through and though they may feel like I’m 1,000 years older and don’t understand, I do care for them. They are not alone and neither are you. Where one heart breaks, others break with it. The Lord is with you and waiting for you to understand His purpose.

Third, you will be missed. As a teenager, I remember thinking if I ran away or moved to another area, no one would ever miss me. I couldn’t wait to be old enough to drive so I could just get out of this little town and never look back. I wondered who would call or if anyone would care, but I felt as though no one would mind at all. My life has shown me that no matter what stage of life you are in, you will be missed. Somewhere, someone would miss you. Your parents, your grandparents, your siblings, and family all care for you. Believe it or not, the students in your class, your teachers, and even your worst enemies would miss you as well. Your life, your love, and your witness is stronger than you realize. Stay true to who God created you to be and never give up.

Most importantly, know that God will never leave your side. No matter what you are going through, no matter where you are headed, the Lord will never leave your side. Seek Him first always and His will will be revealed to you.

May God Bless you and show you His Grace every day!

A Letter from Your Mom

What you don’t understand
Is I’m trying my best
I’m working so hard
And never get rest

My tears come at night
When no one’s around
I cry on my pillow
Without making a sound

I put on a smile
When the sun starts to rise
My heart is still aching
As I open my eyes

I pray for the moment
You’ll remember His Word
The verses I taught you
The sermons you heard

Will you ever go back
To the way you once knew
The life you once lived
The child that I grew

The hopeful innocence
And smiling face
The love and peace
I could see His Grace

Where did I go wrong
As I taught you the way
Did I mess up too bad
Or forget to pray

You are my child
Forever you’ll be
My hope is in Christ
For your destiny

Just remember His love
When all seems to fail
Seek Him for wisdom
And you will prevail

Come back to the One
Who Created it all
You’re forgiven, my child
I’ve forgotten the fall

The time will come
That you’ll understand
Every moment of struggle
Was a part of His plan

I know I’m not cool
Or even your friend
But I’m your family for always
Until the end

So when struggles come
Or you feel so lost
Come to me
No matter the cost

I know you’re hurting
I see your face
I pray each day
For God’s sweet Grace

The struggles will fade
If you’ll turn back to Him
Just fall to your knees
And let go of them

It’ll all make sense
In His timing alone
Just don’t give up
You’re almost home

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

In times of desperation, depression, and stress, It’s important to adjust your lens on life. This time of year, as the beautiful fall leaves start to turn brown and crumble to the ground, the plants start to die, and the cool air turns cold and dreary, it’s easy to get depressed, down, and discouraged.

When times get tough, adjust your focus.

Photographers use a variety of lenses to get the best picture. In the same sense, sometimes you need to adjust your lens to get a clear focus on the beauty around you.

What are you focusing on?

If you constantly focus on the negativity in your life, you’ll become a negative person which can lead to depression and not only hurt yourself but also those around you.

If you focus on the fears you have, you’ll live a life of anxiety and fear never allowing yourself to experience life to its fullest. Don’t let your fears hold you back from following God’s will or stepping out in faith.

Wherever your focus may be, if it’s not on Jesus Christ and the hope that only He can give you, you need to readjust your lens and shift back to focusing on Him.

Focus on the good times and not the bad, the future and not the past, the love and not the hate, the Light and not the darkness.

Take time to adjust your focus on life. Shift your focus and capture the true beauty in life.

I promise it’s there, you just have to adjust your lens and focus on the Christ above.

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:2-4

Today I would like to share a story from Sadie Houston. This young lady has a passion to share Christ with others in the best way she knows how. I may not know her personally but I do know that she has a gift to write and a passion for Jesus Christ.

I pray that you will read her story and remember that every moment you are given is a blessing from God.

Just yesterday I visited a friend in the hospital that recently had her baby almost 2 months early. As I prayed over her 3lb little girl, I could imagine God’s arms wrapping around her little body, strengthening her lungs, and encouraging her parents with each breath. She has a long road ahead of her, so please pray for this little girl and her parents. The baby is named is Addison Grace.

With God’s power, this little girl has a chance to survive. May God hear our prayers and show us His power and Grace every day!

We serve a God that is more powerful than any struggle we face, and with His love, His power, and by His Grace…we can face anything that falls into our path.

By Sadie Houston:

Feeling extremely thankful today. For the past couple of months I’ve
really been missing my pa pa, and just thinking about him a lot. the
other day at church I left my Bible at home which I never ever do! so I was really surprised at myself but I was looking at my dad’s cabinets in his office to find a spare– and I found my paws Bible. So I’ve been using it ever since, and today during my devotion I was looking through his notes. in the back there was a note saying “enjoy every day, learn to relax and enjoy serious times.”It also said,”get the most out of life.” It brought tears to my eyes because I’ve been missing him a lot lately and these words were exactly what I needed to hear. It’s amazing how Jesus knows exactly what we need and when we need it. I was so encouraged by this and I hope that you are too. So often we get caught up in our troubles and our circumstances that we forget to thank God for what we do have and for what he has given us!! the most important thing
of all—His son!

You can choose to be a victim of your circumstances
and your trials OR you can choose to enjoy life and and have joy even in your troubled times. I was very young when my pa pa passed onto Glory, but the time I got to spend with him I remember like it was yesterday. I was too young to know what it felt like to lose somebody, but lately I’ve been experiencing it. I don’t say this for people to comment or pity me for missing my family because that’s the quite opposite. I’m so happy that my paw is in heaven with Jesus right now and I wouldn’t wish him back here for the world because I know he is so much happier in Heaven! But what I am trying to do is encourage you guys to quit being a victim of your circumstances and quit pitying yourself for your problems. there are people out there with much much worse problems.

Focus today on your blessings not just during Thanksgiving week
,but because every day you should be thankful. and if you can’t be
thankful for anything else– be thankful that God is God and he never changes.

God is bigger than your sadness, God is bigger than your
depression, God is bigger than your anxiety, God is bigger than any
problem that you have–always remember that. Go to God with your
problems, he cares about every little detail of your life whether it be
that you chipped a nail and you’re really sad about it, or whether it’s
something big like like a very serious car accident. he cares about
everything in our life! So in the words of Milton Houston, enjoy life,
learn to relax, learn to have joy in serious moments, and make the most out of every day.

The church was packed with people of all ages. Families, friends, and neighbors were everywhere. It seemed as though each person had brought a friend with them that day. What a blessing to see the church filled! There was hardly room for each guest.

As I stood on stage and started to sing, I looked out at the crowd and saw the stories on each face. One by one I examined their demeanor and wondered what was going through their minds. With a hand in the air, a middle-aged woman closed her eyes and worshiped her Heavenly Father. She didn’t look to her right or left to see who was watching her, she just sang each word and praised His Name.

A few rows over stood a Father overwhelmed with the struggles life had thrown his way. Tears flowed from his eyes as he looked back and saw his children walk in the door. Could today be the day they came to know Christ?

A grandfather wrapped his arms around his grandson as he stood there watching the choir. No words left his mouth, but the worship was in his heart. He prayed for his grandson as the choir sang and hoped that one day soon he would find his way back to the loving arms of Christ.

A single mom with unwashed hair, spit up on her shirt, and red eyes held tight to her crying child as her 4 yr. old drew on the hymnal and tugged at her side. At the end of her row stood her wayward teenage daughter texting on her phone. I could see the tiredness in her eyes and the worry that she had for each child but she sang each song and fought back the tears seeking relief from the stress that she calls life. She was with the Lord and she praised Him through her struggles.

The Pastor stood alone on the front row with his Bible in his hand. He sang each word and prayed that God would reach the lost souls sitting in each row. He was discouraged, tired, and overwhelmed at times, but he looked to God and received strength that no one else could provide. He was eager to preach the Word and his faith showed on his face.

Looking further back I noticed a row of teenagers, young and carefree, one was on her phone texting oblivious to her surroundings while the others struggled to pay attention. She was too busy to take time for God. The other young men had blank stares on their faces, unconcerned about the worship service or the meaning of each song. They didn’t notice what was going on around them. On the end stood a beautiful young lady with a huge smile on her face. She wasn’t singing to the Lord though, instead she was mocking the choir and the songs being sung. Her parents were nowhere to be seen, her friends were entertained by her gestures, and at that moment she was getting the attention she desired. With each word she pointed and laughed at the crowd not realizing the true meaning of worship.

A younger girl stood in front of her with her mother. She looked back several times at the teenagers  and watched each move they made. I wondered what she was thinking, how would she act when she grew up?

My heart broke as I looked through the crowd and saw the depression and anger on some of the faces. What was each person going through? Did they know Jesus Christ? Would they ever come to know Him?

That row had no idea that they were being watched by the younger girl in front of them. They didn’t notice the distraction they had caused, nor did they care. They were only concerned about themselves.

In John 15:18 the Bible says, “If the world hates you, keep in mind they hated Me first.”

In my heart, I was upset at the distraction and mockery but God reminded me that He is in control and He has a plan that I cannot see.  As followers of Christ, we are called to be different. We worship knowing that God hears our songs and praises and loves and cares for us more than we can imagine. Worship services are treasured times for the believer to recap on the week that has passed, remember the risen Savior, and praise His Holy Name. It is a time of refreshment, revival, and remembrance of all that God has commanded us to do and all that He has done for us.

Worship is not about you, impressing those around you, or spending time with your church friends.

Worship is a sacred time between you and God.

Each person that enters the sanctuary is there for different reasons. Maybe one person is lost searching for answers that the world cannot answer. Another person may only be there to find a boyfriend or get in on the free trips and events. Some people go to church just to appease their parents or friends, while others are there to truly meet with God.

The one thing you can’t deny is that each person that is there is loved by God.

That night, as I looked across the crowd, I imagined Jesus Christ standing on the stage.

How would He see each face? What would He do? Would He be offended by their actions?

Over 2000 years ago, Jesus stood in front of a crowd much larger than the one standing in front of me and heard the words “Crucify Him.” That same crowd that had seen His life of miracles and watched Him live a blameless life ended up mocking Him, spitting on Him, and beating Him while yelling “crucify Him.” They sent their Savior to the cross.

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5

He looked to the crowd, with blood in His eyes, and didn’t curse them or strike them down, instead, as He died on the cross He muttered “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they’ve done.” (Luke 23:34)

The Bible says in Galatians 2:20 “It is not I that lives but Christ who lives in me.” If Christ is in you, look through His eyes, forgive the people that are hard to forgive and be an example to those around you.

When you enter a worship service realize that you are worshiping Jesus Christ with every word you sing. You are blessed to be able to stand before the Lord and worship in a public place without persecution or fear. The Savior you worship, the One you praise is Jesus Christ, the Creator of all things, the Beginning and the End, the Reason you are here today.

He died for you, so praise His Name with reverence and let your heart sing to Him. Let your worship be between you and God and let your focus be on Him and Him alone.

Next time you are in a church service, take a moment to pray before the service begins and ask God to reveal His Light to you. Show Him respect by praising His Name and focusing your attention on Jesus Christ and not those around you. If needed, remove yourself from groups of friends or people that may distract you, turn your phone off, and focus on what worship truly means.

He died for your sins. What have you done for Him?

“Sing to the LORD; praise his name. Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.” Psalm 96:2

I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.” Psalm 86:12

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with loving kindness and compassion; Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.” Psalm 103:1-5

May God bless you and show you His Grace every day!

“But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?” Exodus 3:11

Even the strongest followers of Christ suffered from self-doubt. Throughout the book of Exodus, you’ll see that Moses was commanded by God to approach Pharaoh, the hard-hearted King of Egypt, to let the sons of Israel go.

When Moses was first approached by God, his response was like many would respond today, “Why me?” Below are some of the responses Moses gave to God. Sound familiar?

Excuse #1: “Why me God?”

Pharaoh’s reign of leadership had turned to torment and slavery for the people of Egypt. Day in and day out Pharaoh ordered the people to work long back breaking hours to build up his kingdom. The torture that he was putting on the people was unbearable and something that modern-day believers cannot even imagine.

God had seen enough of this torture and he heard the cries of the people and sent Moses to lead them out of captivity. Moses was a no longer a tiny baby in a basket being sent down the river; Moses was a grown man. He was in his 80s when God called out to him and commanded him to go to Pharaoh.

You can read in Exodus 3 and see how God spoke to Moses through a burning bush. Moses’ response to God was like how most people respond today.

It is unfortunate that so many people think they are “not good enough” or “not ready” to follow God when He calls on them. Most everyone suffers from doubt, fears of rejection, and nerves, but don’t let these things get in your way of serving God.

Can you imagine what this world would be like if everyone that heard God’s call stepped up and followed Him instead of making excuses?

Excuse #2: What if they won’t listen?

“Then Moses said, what if they will not believe me or listen to what I say? For they may say, The Lord has not appeared to you.” Exodus 4:1

We are all born with the fear of rejection embedded into our minds. For some of us, overcoming this fear is not an issue. However, most women struggle with “what if” syndrome. To this day, women around the world worry about the ‘what if’ scenarios that may or may not ever occur. We are constantly on guard fearing the unknown.

Moses had the same fears. When God commanded him to go to Pharaoh he wondered “what if they don’t believe me?”

Don’t let the fear of rejection stop you from serving the Lord. When Moses’ concern was voiced to God, he assured him that he was not alone. When God directs you in life, I promise you He will make a way for you to overcome all fears.

Excuse #3: “I’m not a good speaker and I have no idea what to say!”

“Then Moses said to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” Exodus 4:10

Believe it or not, I was extremely shy as young child. I hid behind my mom everywhere we went and quite frankly I enjoyed being by myself instead of around other people. As I grew older, I had a close group of friends that I had known most of my life, but I had issues trying to make new friends or “strike up” conversations. It wasn’t until I started working as a server in a restaurant that I truly learned how to make small talk. From then on, I could talk to anyone. I promise you if you can learn to overcome your public speaking fear now, it’ll make your future a lot easier when it comes to college and careers.

In an anti-social world where everyone prefers text over talk and social media over real conversations, it’s no wonder people hate public speaking. My advice to you is to challenge yourself to speak in front of others, step out of your comfort zone and take up any chance you get to speak in front of others. Pray out loud in Sunday school, volunteer to speak at events or teach a children’s church class, use the voice that God gave you to share His Word any chance you get. I promise you, it does get easier every time.

It’s been said before, “you can’t save a drowning person by standing on the bank showing them how to swim.” Living a life for Christ is a must, but sometimes you must take action, get your feet wet, and get out of your comfort zone to share Christ and save a life.

Moses’ excuse was that he wasn’t a good speaker, but God replied and told him that He would give him the words to speak and to make things even easier, he gave him Aaron to help him.

When God gives you a task to complete, a ministry or a mission in life, I promise you He will equip you with everything you need, just trust in Him.

This week, challenge yourself to say YES to God and NO to excuses.

What is God calling you to do?

If you are unsure, spend time in prayer this week asking God to reveal His purpose for your life. Then, spend time in His Word. I told my youth Sunday, “You can’t find your way without reading the map first. Open God’s Word and find your Way.”

May God Bless you and show you His Grace every day!

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This Monday morning, I want to say thank you to everyone that came out to the Empowered Jesus Girl Teen Conference! I know that God was there with us and He is working a revival in the hearts of so many young girls!

I praise God for the salvations and lives that were changed at this event! May God continue to show up and show out in this ministry!

For those of you that missed the event, we hope to have a video posted soon. I thank you and love you all for your encouragement and prayers during this past week!

Wake up this week and remind yourself who you truly are! Read this out loud to yourself, your friends, and family. Everyone needs to be reminded how special they are as a child of the One True King.

May God Bless you and show you His Grace every day!

Worry: the Hearts Defeat

The world is full of struggles that we cannot physically or mentally handle on our own. Every day we are faced with “what if” situations that can take our comfortable, easy lives and turn them upside down in a split second. What if your parents break up? What if the car in front of you runs a red light and totals your brand new car? What if your best friend moves out of state? What if you find out you or someone you love dearly has terminal cancer? The scenarios could go on and on for pages but the fact of the matter is, we don’t know. We don’t know what is going to happen next; we don’t know how we would react; we don’t even know if we would truly survive some of the worst case scenario situations we think of in our own minds.

As it is often said, we are our own worst enemy. Our minds can and will run wild if we let them. Because of this, it’s time we take control. Take back the peace of mind that God gave you and realize that He is in control. Give Him the lead and realize that whatever happens, happens in His hands and His will. Give God the lead, focus on His Word, and let worry subside for another day.

Are you truly giving your worries to God and letting Him take control? What are you holding on to that’s keeping you from trusting God? Holding on to your worries is basically telling God you don’t trust that He has a plan.

Let go and let God take care of you.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

Weekly Challenge: This week shift your focus from the negativity in this world to the peace that you can have through Jesus Christ. Focus on the power of Christ, trust in Him, and let Him show you His will for your life. Let others see Jesus in you.

Matthew 28:19 states, “Go therefore and make disciples of ALL nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

When Jesus says “Go” you better get up and go. He never once said ministry is only for people that have 4 years of college, 2 years of seminary, and at least 3-5 years of experience in the mission field. We all have a mission field and we are all called to serve Him. Are you fulfilling your calling?

If you look back in Matthew chapter 4 you’ll see that Jesus called the common man to follow Him. Throughout the entire book of Matthew, Jesus called upon fishermen, tax collectors, and other ordinary men to follow Him. The thing that I find crazy is that when He looked at them and said, “Follow Me” the men never asked Him where they were going. I am the type of person that likes to know details about where I’m going, what I’m doing, and who is going to be there. To be honest, I’m a little OCD when it comes to planning. This is where faith is put to the test. Do you always know where you are going in life?

Where do you see yourself in a 1 year? 5 years? 10 years?

Do you really know?

When my husband first surrendered to the ministry we did what any job hunter would do, we went to google and searched for jobs. Of course we spent time in prayer seeking the Lord’s will but we knew we had to do something if we wanted to serve. Sitting around twirling our thumbs was getting us nowhere. After a few weeks of waiting, he got a call from a church in OKLAHOMA! I don’t know about you but Oklahoma is not my ideal dream vacation spot. Sorry Oklahoma fans.

When Dustin received the call, we were in shock. Were we ready to move? Was this even real? Struggling with the idea of moving, we hit our knees and said “Lord, you know better than we do, send us to serve if it be your will.” That was one of the hardest prayers I’ve ever prayed. My life has always been in South Carolina. On top of that, my parents have lived in the same house since the day I was born and my family is very close. My sister lives 3 miles from house, my sister in law lives 5 miles away. My parents live 10 minutes away and my mother in law lives the furthest away from me at a total of maybe 20 minutes. Right now, we are in our comfort zone. I love South Carolina and I love my home.  But in my heart I knew that if God had a plan for my family to move, He would see us through every step of the way. Wherever He lead, we were ready to follow.

After prayer, we spent a few hours on the phone with the church leaders and even more time researching the church and the area. We had 3 Skype interviews and multiple conversations with leaders and directors at the church. We even looked up the housing market and tried to figure out how we would move with a baby on the way 18 hours from what we had always considered “home.” It was terrifying to think we were actually going to do this. Yet God gave me peace in knowing that He would see us through whatever may come about. As scared as I was, my faith kept me grounded and gave me comfort. Every day as I searched for homes and prepared for a possible move I had to step back and let God take the lead.

Time would tell that this was not where God wanted us to be; however, it was a growing experience for both of us. It was a chance for us to see how strong our faith truly was. Were we ready for true surrender no matter the cost?

If God told you to go somewhere today, what would you do? What would hold you back?

Whatever is holding you back is being put in front of Jesus Christ. As you know, anything you place above Jesus Christ is considered an idol.

“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 10:37-39

I’m not telling that you that it’s wrong to love your family or your home, but do you love them more than Jesus Christ?

Keep in mind that this is not our home. We are just passing through.

If you would find it hard to follow Christ wherever He calls you, I challenge you to prioritize your life and take a step back. Realize this is not your home and turn your focus on Christ above. Let God lead your life and have faith that He will see you through each day.

Weekly Challenge: Make a list of things that get in the way of your bible study. What’s holding you back from your true potential with Christ? Refocus your eyes on what matters most, Jesus Christ.

“Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:1-2