There is something about staring your dying Grandpa in the eyes and trying to tell him to have faith in God, that God loves him and can work in a miracle in his situation. I don't know about you, but in moments like this I don't feel much like a woman of faith, nontheless a Pastor. Its hard to stand up for your faith with family. You want to make them understand so badly their need to just trust in God.
Over the past month, I have watched my Grandpa grow weaker and weaker, losing more weight than I ever thought possible. I can see what the cancer is doing to him. I hear more reports from doctors than I ever care to hear. They all are at best the worst scenario. In moments like this, its tough to remind yourself that God is bigger!
Right now, I don't know what to feel. One of my heroes is dying, and there is nothing I can do but pray. I know prayer seems a little weak to me at the moment, but I remind myself of its power. Knowing the power of prayer, I wanted to ask you guys to please pray for my Grandpa and my family.
Specifically, pray my Grandpa would accept Jesus Christ into his heart. Pray that he would be healed of cancer, pray for my step-grandma trying to take care of him, and pray for my family who is very torn up about this whole situation.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
An Average Day in the mind of a youth pastor
Today I am planning for Element! There is so much that goes into youth pastoring, the stuff that no one ever see's, besides those closest to you.
Today I am trying to figure out how to disciple students. It is not always easy. I am going to give you a glimpse into what is on my mind today. If you have any tips or advice, I welcome it!
1. I want to start managing my time better.
• Get better Rest/Exercise
• Put my relationship with Christ #1
• Make time for the LOST
• Make prayer an absolute must
• Take time out for Relaxing/friends/social life/thinking/Doing what I love
2. I want to start walking in faith!
• Actively believing for flat out miracles in students lives. (Freedom from drugs, addiction, redemption in broken families)
• Begin to think risky. Be willing to do “Untraditional Things” with my life personally and as a Pastor.
• Wait/Trust in God. (For a move of God in myself, in Element, with my future/ bringing along my husband, etc.)
3. I want to begin to DREAM Big Again.
• I want to do what has never been done before.
• See God do the impossible and laugh in Satan’s face!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Coffee shop????
• Radical new discipleship???
• What to do with all the time I put into Liberty? Can I find a better job to lead me to a better avenue to reach Willard? Start a coffee shop?????
• Or do I need to keep my Liberty job and just believe God to open doors despite 40 hrs being given to my job?
4. Be creative!
• How can we make Element different?
• A place where God is free to move?
• Not stiff in a schedule service and structure. Yes we will be structured, but not so structured that God can’t mess up our service.
• How do we begin to truly disciple these not so “unchurched” students anymore?
• How do we disciple students who are still very much living “IN SIN” outside of Element? How do we help them get free from sin?
• How do we engage the guys in Willard?
• How do we grow? By sending out students out to be our greatest promoters!
• How do we manage what we have and help students grow deeply in love with God?
Service:
• Pre-Service Prayer
• Creativity in Presentation. (Video/skits/energy/serious/drama???????)
• Worship—how do we make it not routine???
• Sermon—How I present it??? (Change/random/entertaining, but in purpose not to entertain….but teach students how to love God.
• Altar Time—How do we keep if fresh—keep students connecting with God?
Outside of Service:
• Develop discipleship. (One-on-One/Group? Small groups, but where?)
• Mentoring Program—Teach leaders how to mentor students
• Develop relationships—Focus more on beings strategic about “LIVING LIFE” with students!
Thoughts:
• Do more sermon series focus, with discipleship follow up????
• Be Ahead of schedule/with videos/service ideas.
• Hang out with at least one student a week outside of Element Service
Today I am trying to figure out how to disciple students. It is not always easy. I am going to give you a glimpse into what is on my mind today. If you have any tips or advice, I welcome it!
1. I want to start managing my time better.
• Get better Rest/Exercise
• Put my relationship with Christ #1
• Make time for the LOST
• Make prayer an absolute must
• Take time out for Relaxing/friends/social life/thinking/Doing what I love
2. I want to start walking in faith!
• Actively believing for flat out miracles in students lives. (Freedom from drugs, addiction, redemption in broken families)
• Begin to think risky. Be willing to do “Untraditional Things” with my life personally and as a Pastor.
• Wait/Trust in God. (For a move of God in myself, in Element, with my future/ bringing along my husband, etc.)
3. I want to begin to DREAM Big Again.
• I want to do what has never been done before.
• See God do the impossible and laugh in Satan’s face!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Coffee shop????
• Radical new discipleship???
• What to do with all the time I put into Liberty? Can I find a better job to lead me to a better avenue to reach Willard? Start a coffee shop?????
• Or do I need to keep my Liberty job and just believe God to open doors despite 40 hrs being given to my job?
4. Be creative!
• How can we make Element different?
• A place where God is free to move?
• Not stiff in a schedule service and structure. Yes we will be structured, but not so structured that God can’t mess up our service.
• How do we begin to truly disciple these not so “unchurched” students anymore?
• How do we disciple students who are still very much living “IN SIN” outside of Element? How do we help them get free from sin?
• How do we engage the guys in Willard?
• How do we grow? By sending out students out to be our greatest promoters!
• How do we manage what we have and help students grow deeply in love with God?
Service:
• Pre-Service Prayer
• Creativity in Presentation. (Video/skits/energy/serious/drama???????)
• Worship—how do we make it not routine???
• Sermon—How I present it??? (Change/random/entertaining, but in purpose not to entertain….but teach students how to love God.
• Altar Time—How do we keep if fresh—keep students connecting with God?
Outside of Service:
• Develop discipleship. (One-on-One/Group? Small groups, but where?)
• Mentoring Program—Teach leaders how to mentor students
• Develop relationships—Focus more on beings strategic about “LIVING LIFE” with students!
Thoughts:
• Do more sermon series focus, with discipleship follow up????
• Be Ahead of schedule/with videos/service ideas.
• Hang out with at least one student a week outside of Element Service
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