Jesus Community

The choice to serve, to consider others when your world is crumbling can be a daunting one. I was faced with such a choice today. Not that life is all that horrible, God is on the throne, and for that I am thankful beyond words, but the situations of life have been all but shalom lately.

I was faced with the decision to either go to youth group and serve the kids or stay home. At the beginning of the day I wanted nothing more than to not go to youth. I couldn't fathom serving kids when my heart and mind were so consumed by everything going on. But something happened while I was at work and when it was time for me to make the decision there was no decision to be made: I had to go to youth. Every bone in my body, every bit of my soul, everything knew that I had the responsibility to be there for those kids and to trust God to care for my concerns while I was there.

The evening was amazing. I made some outstanding connections with a couple kids and at the end of the night I was able to talk to the youth pastor. I'm not going to go into all the details of everything, but the conversation was so good. I felt heard and validated and it was so cool to get the reassurance and encouragement and support. Not just from him, but from other members of the team. They didn't really know all that was going on, but they were great and prayed with and for me and surrounded me with love and helped restore me with hope.

All that breathing today was good.

Breathe in.... (God loves me)

Breathe out... (nothing will ever change that)

Breathe in... (I am His daughter)

Breathe out... (He is a good father who cares for His children)

... breathe...

ps- I found this that I wrote as a description of myself back in Jan 07. It makes me smile now. I am SUCH a dork.

I'm twenty-four and an aspiring writer. My only claim to fame is getting a poem published in a local community art project called "Exposures" when I was just a wee lil' teen. I spent three years making ends meet as a writing coach at Cornerstone University while a student. And while I love to read and write, I've never... ever... had the desire to major in English, Literature, or anything of the sort. I majored, instead, in Youth Ministry. The degree could have also been called, "Teenagers, Relationships, and Leadership. And, oh yeah, Church Politics." Nothing makes me happier than spending time with "my" teens. I also love to create things. Poems. Articles. Flyers. Programs. Retreats. Food. And let's not forget Exorbitantly priced coffee. =)

I'm twenty-four and an aspiring writer. My only claim to fame is getting a poem published in a local community art project called "Exposures" when I was just a wee lil' teen. I spent three years making ends meet as a writing coach at Cornerstone University while a student. And while I love to read and write, I've never... ever... had the... more »