I know it's been a little while, but be assured God has been all around me daily. I have no real excuse as to why I haven't been writing. But, tonight I am compelled to write about some pretty awesome ways I saw God this weekend. Lately, some things have happened in my life that have been different experiences. If I didn't have my favorite verse to fall back on assuring me God has a plan, I would have some questions about what I'm supposed to be doing. But, it seems God knows this and knows how to assure me that things are going to be ok and that I am in the right place doing the right things.
So, I guess it started yesterday. I had a conversation with a youth that I decided to call for no particular reason other than to check in and see how some things were going in her life. I hhave been talking to her for quite awhile about some issues she has. Sometimes she denies they exist and sometimes she says they did but not anymore. No matter what conversations we had, they seemed to not be getting through. Yesterday, she excitedly told me that some experiences she is going through have given her a new perspective and she understands what I've been talking about! She was explaining things to me as if it was the first time I might be hearing them, which was ironic since I have been telling her all these things for awhile now. But, it showed me that she was listening and going through a process and is finally ready to make some changes!
Then, tonight I didn't really do anything during youth group except a few announcements. 3 of my youth asked me last Sunday if they could lead this week. So, they planned it, made their own handouts, found a video, and led both the middle school and high school time! They talked about using their gifts and asked the group to look at a list of gifts and figure out how they could use them. It was so great to see them excited about something and willing to share and lead. I loved doing nothing tonight! It wasn't because I'm lazy, it's because I love knowing that I have instilled confidence and leadership skills in these youth and they want to use it! It doesn't get much better than that!
During their discussion, they talked about a friend of theirs that is young but already doing great things with not only dreams, but plans on how she is going to raise money to build a well. It really impacted theyyouth to know that someone their age was already doing something. One of my youth is also working towards her goal of raising money to fund mission projects. She is writing Christian lyrics to record and sell cd's to earn money. It's so awesome to see young people already working to make the world a better place and I feel so blessed to be a witness to such amazing things happening!
During our combined time, we have a sharing time, usually one youth, where someone talks about something going on in their life where God has been working. Tonight, a youth talked about her sister who has been bullied and about what she did to help her. She got over 100 people to write her letters of encouragement and love, high schoolers and adultswho wanted to show that someone cares. This youth took a problem that was close to her heart and found a way to make it better. I think that is pretty awesome, too!
Another youth who usually struggles to find a weekly Bible verse actually reminded me tonight that we hadn't done it yet. And, she had picked hers out before she came so she was pretty excited about that. Seeing a youth excited about scripture is pretty cool!
So, where was God today? He showed me through these amazing young people that I can make a difference by empowering them to make a difference. And, I saw God through each of them!
Blessings,
Jennifer
So, I guess it started yesterday. I had a conversation with a youth that I decided to call for no particular reason other than to check in and see how some things were going in her life. I hhave been talking to her for quite awhile about some issues she has. Sometimes she denies they exist and sometimes she says they did but not anymore. No matter what conversations we had, they seemed to not be getting through. Yesterday, she excitedly told me that some experiences she is going through have given her a new perspective and she understands what I've been talking about! She was explaining things to me as if it was the first time I might be hearing them, which was ironic since I have been telling her all these things for awhile now. But, it showed me that she was listening and going through a process and is finally ready to make some changes!
Then, tonight I didn't really do anything during youth group except a few announcements. 3 of my youth asked me last Sunday if they could lead this week. So, they planned it, made their own handouts, found a video, and led both the middle school and high school time! They talked about using their gifts and asked the group to look at a list of gifts and figure out how they could use them. It was so great to see them excited about something and willing to share and lead. I loved doing nothing tonight! It wasn't because I'm lazy, it's because I love knowing that I have instilled confidence and leadership skills in these youth and they want to use it! It doesn't get much better than that!
During their discussion, they talked about a friend of theirs that is young but already doing great things with not only dreams, but plans on how she is going to raise money to build a well. It really impacted theyyouth to know that someone their age was already doing something. One of my youth is also working towards her goal of raising money to fund mission projects. She is writing Christian lyrics to record and sell cd's to earn money. It's so awesome to see young people already working to make the world a better place and I feel so blessed to be a witness to such amazing things happening!
During our combined time, we have a sharing time, usually one youth, where someone talks about something going on in their life where God has been working. Tonight, a youth talked about her sister who has been bullied and about what she did to help her. She got over 100 people to write her letters of encouragement and love, high schoolers and adultswho wanted to show that someone cares. This youth took a problem that was close to her heart and found a way to make it better. I think that is pretty awesome, too!
Another youth who usually struggles to find a weekly Bible verse actually reminded me tonight that we hadn't done it yet. And, she had picked hers out before she came so she was pretty excited about that. Seeing a youth excited about scripture is pretty cool!
So, where was God today? He showed me through these amazing young people that I can make a difference by empowering them to make a difference. And, I saw God through each of them!
Blessings,
Jennifer
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