God doesn’t give us more than we can handle…what a load of crap!

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Screenshot_2015-05-14-21-24-23I have heard it said far too often from well intentioned Christians, “God doesn’t give us more than we can handle.” I think this is a load of crap. Sorry for my language.  It makes me angry because as I sit with students this week who are hurting beyond imagination this kind of stuff hurts them and leads to confusion. I want to scream and lets just all agree to stop saying these things to students because they are not true and certainly aren’t biblical.

First, does God cause these bad things to happen so we can deal with them?  Nope! Not even close. The statement above assumes God causes bad things to happen to us.  This is certainly wrong in terms of God’s character.  God is good and God is love.  He does not cause his people harm.  The bad is this world happens because of sin.  Sin has totally corrupted our world.  Sin causes death. Sin causes brokenness.  Our sin, original sin and Satan are the cause of evil in this world.  Jesus has been working since the beginning of the fall to save his people from this sin and brokenness.  Jesus came so we could be whole again.  Through is death and resurrection we get a glimpse of this redemption today.

Second, and probably most troubling about this comment is it assumes we can handle anything with our own strength.  It assumes inside of us is this superhuman power to deal with great tragedy, loss, and brokenness.  This is a load of bunk.  This past week walking with students has brought to the conclusion, sometimes we are hit with such tragedy,  such pain, such brokenness that we cannot hope to get through it on our own.  You see for me when I am faced with the unimaginable pain of loss, and brokenness, I am brought to my knees.  This week of seeing students hurt, seeing students see this broken sin filled world brought me so low I was in tears. I am brought to a point where I am not sure I can even look up to God.  Yet I am reminded of His promises to me to never leave me or forsake me. I am reminded that although in this world I will see trouble I can take heart because Jesus has overcome the world.  I can put my hope and trust in Jesus because in him I know tomorrow will come. One day I will be able to stand again.  When I look to that cross and see my redemption I can watch as he wipes away all my tears. For their will be a day when we will have be no more pain, no more brokenness, and all will be well.

If today you are broken and don’t think you can stand anymore, and are not sure you can handle everything that is going on in your life.  You can join me on my knees this week as we look to Jesus the only one who can rescue us.  My prayer is you see Jesus and let Him pick you up.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Rev 21:3-5

Walking together…The joy of ministry and sorrow of ministry

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DSC_0093This past weekend I was asked to speak the message at a former student’s wedding.  It was truly an honor to be a part of her, and her husband’s special day.  It really made me think about all the students God has lead across my path over the last almost 12 years.  It has made me think about what I love most about being in ministry.  I love walking alongside people. I get the greatest joy of walking along side people and sharing Jesus with them. Sometimes with great joy and sometimes with great sadness. Most of the time it is both.

Speaking at Emily’s wedding reminded me of the messiness of walking with people. You see at Emily’s wedding it rained during the whole outside wedding ceremony. I am not talking about that kind of rain that just gets you wet but the kind that leaves you drenched.  My suit was dripping and I couldn’t see for part of the message because water was just running down my face. I was reminded that walking with students isn’t always easy. It can be quite messy. You know when it is all said and done it is quite rewarding.  You get to see two people join as one to follow Jesus together.  You get to see lives changed and you get to laugh at the craziness of life and enjoy the moments for what they are.  Moments where Jesus can bring joy in the midst of hardships. It did make it much easier to talk with them about being children of God through baptism because I had such a great object lesson.

This weekend also marked another tough moment in ministry.  A student who I met a few times and is friends with some of the students I know well, ended his life.  It was a tough way to end a weekend.  I also thought is was emblematic of ministry.  God lets us walk with students in the good times and we also have to walk through the tough stuff as well.  I am reminded that Jesus calls us to walk in the lows and the highs, in the sorrow and joys but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I will have another post later about this week with students and about this young man. So as I end I would ask for prayers first for the couple who is starting a new life and second for the family grieving today. Ministry is tough and walking with families isn’t always easy but Jesus reminds us of his unfailing love through all of it.

a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance

Ecclesiastes 3:4 ESV

Its not about you…why I dont do worship time in Youth group. The Body of Christ needs more!

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11133942_465215150311741_663531651424318360_oI am a full time Youth Minister.  I serve a Church in Big Rapids Michigan and  I a believe one of the most important things I can teach my young people whom I serve is Church isn’t all about them.  Church is about the body of Christ coming together.  It is about being one body not just a youth church.  We get in trouble in ministry and a church when we say one group is more important than the other or I only care about one part of the body  who are like me.

I don’t do worship in youth group on purpose. For those who know me, they know I can’t sing.  In fact Sunday I left my mic on for the whole last hymn.  Needless to say their was some crying at the end of the service. I don’t do worship in youth group for a whole different reason. I do not believe youth groups should do worship regularly for Youth group time.  The reason is I don’t want our students thinking that YG is the same as being a part of the whole body of Christ.  I want are students in worship because it is where we see the whole body of Christ gather and share its need for forgiveness in confession and absolution, in the breaking of bread, and fellowship.

Many of my students and even their parents can forget this fact about the body.  We seem to think all to often that Church is about me and my group of peers. I have had parents and students say “They aren’t going to Church but they are going to be at Youth group which I the same thing.” I cry a little when that happens.  Being a part of the body of Christ is all about being with the whole body.  The body needs those who are 95 and crusty, it needs the 5 year old with snot running down his nose, it needs the teenager who is uncomfortable with her body, the single mom, the dad who is struggling with self worth, It needs all of it because it is all the body trying to come together to follow the head who is Jesus. It is these moments when we learn to walk together through our mess and see Jesus clean it up.

The whole body in needed to function properly is doesn’t mean we don’t have groups who meet together who are alike, it just means that shouldn’t be the end goal. Our end goal should be the whole body gathered together. So how are you intentionally gathering together with those in your Church who are not like you? How are you helping grow the whole body of Christ?

 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—  one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Ephesians 4:4-7 ESV

7-8 grade devotion by Kyle: Jesus on the Cross

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Mark 15:34

Then at three o’clock Jesus Cried out in a loud voice.”Eloi, Eloi, Lema Sabachthani which means my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Have you ever thought that someone has abandoned you? It seems like people don’t care. Have you ever thought that God has abandoned you? I have had experience with people abandoning me. The other people in my class would not let me play with them when I was in Kindergarten. When I found other people to play with, they teased me. It felt like they had abandoned me. I loved to pl ay with them, but they didn’t love to play with me. It felt like no one liked me. Then the main mean people left, and I made a lot of friends.

It was the exact opposite for Jesus. Jesus Had a ton of followers before his crucifixion, then when Judas betrayed Jesus they all hated Him, and abandoned Him to the Romans. When Jesus was being crucified he was nearly dead when he said Eloi, Eloi, lema, sabachthani which means my, God my God, why have you abandoned me. Jesus knew no sin but yet he took it on the cross, and suffered our punishment in hell so that we can go to heaven. God literally turned away from Jesus and made him go to hell, but yet had the grace to let his Son rise again. We have never been completely abandoned in our life because God will carry us to the end.

Prayer

Dear God, let us know that we will never be abandoned, and you will carry us to the end. Amen.

Questions:

Have you ever felt abandoned?

Have you ever thought that you abandoned someone?

Have you felt like God has carried you?

7-8 grade devotion by Casey: Malachi 4

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Read: Malachi 4

One day, before Christmas, my parents left and let me stay with my grandma.  They went Christmas shopping and they were gone for a while.  I was waiting for a long time.  They left at 10:00 am and got back 8:00 pm.  When they got back I was excited and happy.

All humans are not always very patient.  We hear “patience is a virtue” when we are in a hurry.  We are all waiting for something, like when you are shipping something or even Jesus coming back again.  This is what we are all waiting for as christians.  We are waiting for Jesus to come back and save us from the devil.   We can’t keep the word of God that Moses gave to us but Jesus forgave us so that we can go to heaven by being forgiven beings.

God loves us and that is why He sent His son originally to save us and now Jesus is coming again to save us for good so we never sin and go to heaven.  God loves us and he wants us all to go to heaven.  That is why Jesus saved us.  He wants us to go to heaven.

God never wanted us to go to hell,  he wanted us to go to heaven but Adam and Eve ate the fruit and sinned.  Luckily for us, God has already defeated the devil when he died on the cross but the devil still roams around us but one day Jesus will defeat the devil and we will get to live with Jesus.

Here are some questions for you to think about and share with your family.

  • What do you think of when you hear judgement day and what will happen on judgement day?
  • Why did Jesus save us the first time and why do you think this?
  • As we wait for God and know God is with us, what are we truly waiting for?