You know, every once in a while, you just feel overwhelmed. No big event or stressor. No single thing you can put your finger on. It’s just like a funk that sets in. You see yourself there and wonder, “How did this happen?”

When it strikes me, like it has been creeping up these last few months, I see several traits come out in me that I don’t like at all. I find myself really short-tempered over the stupidest things. I lose the desire to be active. Things I know I should be doing, I don’t. I am a procrastinator by nature, but it really becomes an issue. I take comments to heart and become hurt very easily. Normal everyday things begin to look like insurmountable obstacles.

This is a painful process that if not cut off quickly, really seems to engulf a person. I know some people who say it is depression. Others who say it a lack of faith. Some believe it is just not coping with life.

I believe that it is not any one of those things alone. In fact, it may be all of those things. But they are not the cause, they are just another part of the effect! I know that in my life, I can usually look to the foundational areas of my walk with Christ to find the source of my issues. When I am struggling with this sense of being overwhelmed, it usual means I have taken my circumstances and situations upon myself as my own. I have not been as faithful to pray through situations or study up on God’s faithfulness in tough times. I have taken my eyes, maybe not completely but enough to blur my vision, off of Him.

Coping skills are difficult for some to find. Let me lay out a few that seem to help when I find myself in this painful place…

1. Trust Him with your concerns and issues…

Psalm 55:22 – Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; he will never let the                                                      righteous fall.

1 Peter 5:7 – Cast all your anxiety upon Him for He cares for you.

2. Pray yourself and have others pray for you…

Luke 18:1 – Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray                                    and not give up.

James 5:16 – Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you                                            may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

3. Put the past behind you…Live in victory…

Philippians 3:13-14 – Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. BUT ONE                                                        THING I DO: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is                                                                ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has                                                                called me heavenward in Christ Jesus!

He really has given us the victory!

Thank you, God, for the victory over every area of our lives. May we look to You for the strength to fulfill all You have called us to do. When You call, You equip and strengthen! May our eyes be ever focused on the prize and calling You set before us!

It’s been 21 days since I last blogged. Sounds almost like an intro at a meeting, huh? I may ramble just a bit.

Since my last blog, I’ve been thinking about some pretty interesting things (to me at least)…

Youth Ministry is full of Ups and Downs, just like life…and just like life, it’s a “long-haul” commitment!

One major responsibility (privilege) in Youth Ministry is that of rightly dividing the Word for those under our care. We are to teach them that Truth is not situational and how to take in the wisdom of the Word and Live It Out as a natural overflow (Luke 6:45, Psalm 119:9-16). We should remind them that His Word is NOT outdated and disconnected! It IS wisdom for our lives and guidance for our decisions (Psalm 119:105).

Another area that Youth Ministries are to focus on is developing integrity and a sense of commitment in those under our care. This is best learned by example. The staff that leans into the kids lives in a loving, supportive, and challenging way will develop leaders that are healthy. They will grow student leaders that maintain the inward focus and relationship with Jesus but realize that that focus and relationship is best lived out by pouring into the lives of those around them. The church member or student in isolation from the world is as useless as the church or student ministry in isolation from the world (John 14:17-19).

I have had the opportunity to talk to and see several former students and youth staff from former churches  in the past month or so. And in thinking about them and the great kids and staff here at FBC Weaver, I am thankful to have known and served with them all. I know that above all else, God is the life changer! He is the inspirer, motivator, teacher, guide, shepherd, and developer of  the lives of the students and staff we work with. But it is good for this Youth Minister’s heart to see God still using and growing these that have meant so much to me. And I am thankful and humbled to have had any small part at all in their development. Surrendered leaders change lives. When you surrender, God can use you. And the really cool thing is…once He does use you, and there is no way to claim any credit for yourself, that becomes the place where your joy is found!

I’ve also seen  many who have walked away. They may not consider themselves walked away, but when you live as sinful as you like and then tip your hat at God on Sunday morning, I would say you either turned your back or never looked him truly in the face at all! Because a true taste of Jesus is life altering! For me, I don’t care to live life without Him or without the desire to follow even more closely! It hurts my heart to see people who were once excited about our Savior become calloused or hardened. This usually happens because their eyes were on everything other than God!

Having said all of this, I LOVE my calling to ministry. I am far from all I need to be, and I’m not OK with that. God is always there to restore me. Even when times are hard or people are harsh, I don’t think I could be fulfilled doing anything else. I am thankful that, at least in my heart and mind, I can’t separate  who I am from what I do. I pray that is what others see in me.

Yogi Berra once asked, “How can you think and hit at the same time?” What a deep thought! In baseball and softball, practice is the time to get the fundamentals of hitting down. When your time at the plate comes, you hope that what you have learned and what you are just gifted to do, flows naturally.

In my life, I pray that the things God has done in me and the things He has taught me flow from me naturally. May your life, in the ups and downs, be a natural overflow of what He is doing in your heart!
“The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out oh the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45

We use it so often and feel it even more often. The church has tried for years to control people’s actions through shame. You know what, controlling people’s actions isn’t the church’s job. Showing the light of truth is! Showing the love of God is! Discipling others (not shaming them) is! When His love overshadows our desire for control, people see Him and not us or our legalism!

When we sin or are about to, we should be immediately confronted by the Holy Spirit and know that this isn’t the direction God desires for us. Do you know what follows that? Not shame and saying “I’m sorry”, but genuine REPENTANCE! Repentance means MOVE in the opposite direction toward God and away from that sin.

Many people in our lives want us to feel rotten and let them decide how long we should feel that way when we mess up. I’m thankful for a God who is willing to say “Yes. You really messed it up big time! Now get up REPENT and get moving!” He doesn’t necessarily take away the consequences for our actions, but He isn’t holding it over us to stack up all of our mistakes until next time. He is truly forgiving. He removes our sin as far as the East is from the West!

Instead of shaming others, how about we, as His church, work to RESTORE others! Instead of constantly reminding people of their mistakes and their past, why don’t we remember ours! Better yet, let’s just all REPENT and move forward! God will honor those steps!

May your day be freeing, restoring, and victorious!