God’s Gifts in Young Life

It’s fun to see how God gives us each different gifts to use for unique purposes in His BIG PICTURE plan.  I’m learning more and more that my passion for youth ministry and my love for games and acting a bit silly are actually divine gifts from God.  When I was telling the KICS Headmaster about what we did at the Young Life Crud War event, he commented about how it amazes him that God brings all sorts of people to teach at KICS who all specialize in different areas of ministry.  He also said he is not wired to do “that kind of stuff” referring to organizing and orchestrating a war where kids throw “crud” at each other.  I, on the other hand, feel at home when there’s a lot of screaming and kids running about throwing flour bombs and eggs at each other.  That sentence sounds sarcastic, but I am totally serious!

At this Crud War, we didn’t talk about Young Life.  Being the first event Young Life hosted at KICS, you’d think maybe we’d put a plug in about what YL will look like week to week, but instead we showed them the fun they can expect.  At the Crud War, we didn’t talk about Jesus either.  74 kids showed up; was that a lost opportunity to share about God’s grace?  We may have not said Jesus’ name, but we made sure every kid was accounted for and included, sharing the love of Christ with them.  I heard from a few students that some kids at KICS believe that God doesn’t want us to have fun.  I totally remember feeling that way, never being able to allow God to be a part of the fun.  I’m certainly glad I don’t buy into that lie anymore! 

The latest with YoungLife is that we had our first club last Wednesday!  Holllaaaaaa!  It wasn’t as packed as the Crud War; however the kids that were there were talking it up at school the next day.  We had some kids show up right after the talk at the end… and so we ended with a dance party where kids tried to teach me how to "jerk”.  I’m horrible at it, but they thought it was hilarious that their art teacher was trying to learn these hip dance moves when I have no rhythm whatsoever.  Here’s some pictures from our first Club!

Kids at YL Club during the talk at the end

Matt & I did a skit… yes, I am putting jam on my arm

Love how into they are!

One of our high school leaders playing his one-stringed guitar

Club went so well… the only issue we had was that we had it at a students house and a lot of kids couldn’t come because it wasn’t at the school.  So, after next week, we are going to be having club right at school!  After club, the rest of the week at school, I sensed Satan was trying to tear me down.  I was exhausted and overwhelmed and not to mention STRESSED.  It must be something God really wants to happen if Satan feels threatened enough to attack over it.  I know our 5 high school leaders have been just as exhausted, so prayers for all of us to continue to be motivated in Christ to stand firm in this mission are much needed!  Thanks!  I will keep you updated.

The Cost to Follow

When I’m upset, I like to write the pain down.  I might just let you in to one of my rants—usually nobody sees into my heart this deep… partly because I don’t think anybody but God would understand my feelings.  And sometimes, my ranting is because I’m upset with God.

I guess, this time, I’m confused by God.  He gives me these convictions, STRONG convictions about how I should live my life.  If I am starting to steer down a certain wayward path, my heart is heavy with guilt until I respond to the conviction.  I am grateful to God for allowing his Spirit to guide me so well, but I am also selfishly resentful of it too. 

Have you ever felt sorry for yourself?  I mean, really felt sorry for yourself?  To the point of thinking you deserved something more and God was withholding it from you for whatever purpose?  I hate admitting this, but I catch myself thinking that a lot.  As a single woman in the missionary field, you might be able to imagine which aspect of life I feel God is withholding from me.  hint hint.  While being here, I have gone through quite a struggle in that area.  I don’t know if I thought because I followed God to Rwanda then He would reward me with a relationship.  A part of me, I know, hoped so.  But a relationship as a reward? That is like saying God’s grace is a reward for doing good deeds.  Silly talk.  I’ve had a wrong perception up until this year that I have to be at a certain spiritual level for God to “Ok” me for marriage.  This made me believe that I had to work harder at my relationship with God in order to have him approve me being in a relationship with anybody else.  I came to the conclusion a few months ago that this was a complete lie.  Since then, I’ve realized that God might select those of his children to be single- not as punishment, but as a specific calling, I have been more at peace with it.  This is why I am glad God gives me such strong convictions.  The Spirit guides, protects, and sustains those who are seeking God’s will. 

Even though I’ve experienced peace about being single, I still desire to be loved, cared for, and cherished.  Not to be conceded, but if I wanted it badly enough, I could have a dating relationship easy enough.  But part of the cost of following Jesus is giving up selfish desires for godly desires that matter to the Kingdom of God.  I know how a relationship would benefit me, but how would a relationship benefit the Kingdom of God?  If my sadness over being single is a part of the cost of following Jesus, then it is only a testament to the genuine faith God has instilled in me.  If I have to keep choosing one or the other, I can’t imagine God would lose a round. 

EVERYTHING

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. -Matthew 6:33

Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. –Matthew 6:4

Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”  -Matthew 19:26

The Father loves his Son and has put everything into his hands. –John 3:35

So the two disciples went into the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover meal there. –Mark 14:16

And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus. -Luke 5:11

So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him.  - Luke 5:28

So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own. –Luke 14:33

All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. –Acts 4:32

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. –Romans 8:28

Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? –Romans 8:32

For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. –1 Corinthians 2:2

You say, “I am allowed to do anything” —but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. –1 Corinthians 10:23

In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. –2 Corinthians 6:4

And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. –Ephesians 5:20

Do everything without complaining and arguing. –Philippians 2:14

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. –Philippians 4:13

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ. –Philippians 3:8

You know what I found out today? God uses the word “everything” a LOT in His word.  My initial reason to look up verses with the word “everything” in it was to find a verse to illustrate what God asks of us.  But then I started seeing verse after verse of how God gives everything to us and has given up everything for us!  The word everything paints a limitless picture in my mind.  I guess you can say that God is an “All or Nothing” kind of god.  He didn’t let the partial sacrifices for sins go on for too long before His Son was sent to be the ultimate sacrifice for EVERYone.  His promises and what he revealed to man were never half true… everything he said came true!  He isn’t just the God of Rwanda and Indiana.  He is the God of everything and everything is in his hands. 

In the same way that God gives us “all or nothing”, doesn’t it make sense that our response would be all or nothing as well?  If you are like me, you probably compartmentalize your life into God sections and Me sections.  “God, here you go… I’d like you to take my relationship problems this week, but I will hold onto my pride issues for now. Thanks for your cooperation!”  I think God gets a good giggle when I do that.  It’s a bit intimidating to think we should “leave everything behind” to follow Jesus, however, doesn’t God give us every reason to trust Him with everything in our lives?  My favorite verse from above is the last one. Paul says that “everything (including the things he valued the most) was WORTHLESS when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”  What would happen if I lived that everything-ism out?  Might I live like Paul? His words weren’t empty.  His life, as recorded in the Bible, was a direct reflection of those words.  He preached the Gospel in prison while basically waiting to be executed, and still writing letters about the joy of the Lord to believers all over. 

God hasn’t held back anything from us.  Salvation and a fruitful life of truth is available for everyone.  Everything is in his power.  Everything is his creation.  Everything happens for His glory!  Is God asking too much of us?  Maybe our minds can’t wrap around the word “everything”.  For me, I want to give God everything and to live for Him in every way… but my selfishness seeps in and makes it difficult to continue on the upward climb of constant giving to God.  I pray that you and I would be made more aware of the everythings we are selfishly restraining from God.