I wasn't expecting a whole lot tonight. I planned to have the youth work on setting up the auction items throughout the church. On my way there, I thought Dairy Queen sounded really good. So, I took the scenic route to church. I saw two teens I know from church. One has been coming for awhile and the other has been a couple times lately. They both come to the teen center, too. I chatted with them for a minute and asked them if they were coming to youth group at 5. They said they were. I drove away hoping they were, but not quite positive I'd see them. I got to Dairy Queen and found they are still running a special- buy 1 Blizzard get another for .99. So, how could I not get another one? So, I left Dairy Queen with 2 Blizzards and 3 spoons hoping I'd run into them again. I did. And, when I gave them the Blizzard, they were so excited! That was .99 well spent!
At 5, sure enough, they were there. The one who has been coming for awhile had to go home and eat a family dinner, but since he lives across the street from the church he said he'd be back. The other one stayed for youth group.
We spent an hour running around organizing the auction items. Of course, having a large group of teens all running around working on things, they sometimes tend to get distracted. And, they did. Not all of them, though, which frustrated some of them. The "new kid" (for a lack of a better term) was distracted easily. Of course, he doesn't know the church, our regular routine, or the rest of the group very well so it was to be expected. And, typically, when teens first start coming, they are either very quiet and reserved or very loud and like to show off for attention. He chose the loud and show off route, saying wild things just to get attention.
Fast forward to the high school time. The auction was set up, most of the middle schoolers had left, although several were still waiting for rides. I had planned to talk about how they were dealing with the teen that had overdosed a week ago, and then talk about things they were dealing with. I decided to use a song we've been singing lately, I Refuse, by Josh Wilson. It talks about refusing to live like we don't care, refusing to say another empty prayer, refusing to just let things go because God is wanting us to help make a change for the better. So, after reading a few verses of that, I asked them what they are refusing to do. One said tolerating underage drinking, one said drugs in school, etc. It got to my turn and I said I refuse to ever give up on people- that I always have hope for them. I opened a whole new discussion. Several talked about the "new kid" and his friend who has been around awhile. They thought the 2 shouldn't be at the church because they don't always make the best choices. Others talked about how Jesus went to the sinners and what better place for them to be than church. The discussion lasted 15 minutes or so but ended abruptly when the "new kid" walked in. We invited him to join us and luckily, he hadn't heard the debate. So, to change the subject, I asked him how it happened that he started coming to the church. "I'm trying to figure out if God is real." He started talking about how he had been going to lots of different churches and had heard lots of different things- about how God had magical powers- was he like superman-how is he supposed to figure it out? Then, several of the group started to share about their experiences with God and how they had figured out He existed in their lives. It was a beautiful time of sharing with this teen who just minutes before they had been ready to not include. What they had perceived as someone there just to goof around and cause trouble was really there because he's searching for God! How awesome! He has no idea that He was part of God's "magic" right then.
But, God wasn't finished. I took him home and he happened to leave his skateboard in my car. He only lives a few blocks from me, so I walked over to give it to him. I got to his house and he was outside with his mom, who I hadn't met. She asked me what church he had been going to and when he was there. I talked to her awhile about the activities her son had been going to both at the church and teen center. She seemed happy he was going to church and that she had met me and knew who he was with. So, I'm guessing God needed us to meet.
We talked during youth group about how sometimes doing the right thing is not the easy thing. This scripture seems to be perfect for tonight. It's not easy for teens to stand up against teens, drugs, violence. It's not easy for teens to come to new places to meet new people. And, it's not easy for teens who are comfortable with what they've got to accept new people they don't understand. Luckily, that's where God comes in- to help us!
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”” Joshua 1:9
Blessings,
Jennifer
At 5, sure enough, they were there. The one who has been coming for awhile had to go home and eat a family dinner, but since he lives across the street from the church he said he'd be back. The other one stayed for youth group.
We spent an hour running around organizing the auction items. Of course, having a large group of teens all running around working on things, they sometimes tend to get distracted. And, they did. Not all of them, though, which frustrated some of them. The "new kid" (for a lack of a better term) was distracted easily. Of course, he doesn't know the church, our regular routine, or the rest of the group very well so it was to be expected. And, typically, when teens first start coming, they are either very quiet and reserved or very loud and like to show off for attention. He chose the loud and show off route, saying wild things just to get attention.
Fast forward to the high school time. The auction was set up, most of the middle schoolers had left, although several were still waiting for rides. I had planned to talk about how they were dealing with the teen that had overdosed a week ago, and then talk about things they were dealing with. I decided to use a song we've been singing lately, I Refuse, by Josh Wilson. It talks about refusing to live like we don't care, refusing to say another empty prayer, refusing to just let things go because God is wanting us to help make a change for the better. So, after reading a few verses of that, I asked them what they are refusing to do. One said tolerating underage drinking, one said drugs in school, etc. It got to my turn and I said I refuse to ever give up on people- that I always have hope for them. I opened a whole new discussion. Several talked about the "new kid" and his friend who has been around awhile. They thought the 2 shouldn't be at the church because they don't always make the best choices. Others talked about how Jesus went to the sinners and what better place for them to be than church. The discussion lasted 15 minutes or so but ended abruptly when the "new kid" walked in. We invited him to join us and luckily, he hadn't heard the debate. So, to change the subject, I asked him how it happened that he started coming to the church. "I'm trying to figure out if God is real." He started talking about how he had been going to lots of different churches and had heard lots of different things- about how God had magical powers- was he like superman-how is he supposed to figure it out? Then, several of the group started to share about their experiences with God and how they had figured out He existed in their lives. It was a beautiful time of sharing with this teen who just minutes before they had been ready to not include. What they had perceived as someone there just to goof around and cause trouble was really there because he's searching for God! How awesome! He has no idea that He was part of God's "magic" right then.
But, God wasn't finished. I took him home and he happened to leave his skateboard in my car. He only lives a few blocks from me, so I walked over to give it to him. I got to his house and he was outside with his mom, who I hadn't met. She asked me what church he had been going to and when he was there. I talked to her awhile about the activities her son had been going to both at the church and teen center. She seemed happy he was going to church and that she had met me and knew who he was with. So, I'm guessing God needed us to meet.
We talked during youth group about how sometimes doing the right thing is not the easy thing. This scripture seems to be perfect for tonight. It's not easy for teens to stand up against teens, drugs, violence. It's not easy for teens to come to new places to meet new people. And, it's not easy for teens who are comfortable with what they've got to accept new people they don't understand. Luckily, that's where God comes in- to help us!
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”” Joshua 1:9
Blessings,
Jennifer
Wow!!!! Wonderful things happen when God is working and the Holy Spirit is moving among us.
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