Let us never grow tired of sharing Jesus

May 5, 2016 / youthguysteve / Leave a comment

I am tired. I have been busy these last few months. I haven’t written a blog post is over 3 months. It has mostly been due to being busy and tired. I often forget about how tiring ministry can be. We can be tired because we are overworked, or struggle to find purpose. Most of all I think we are tired because we grow tired of sharing Jesus. We forget our joy in sharing the story of Jesus and his forgiveness. We do this because we lose focus on what we are doing in ministry.

yesterday however was a fun and exciting day. I am a Star Wars fan. I really enjoy the fun of the light sabers and music, and the wonder we see in those films. I had the joy of leading chapel yesterday. I handed out light sabers to the ushers at chapel and I had them play Star Wars music for chapel as the kids walked in the room. It was a great moment watching many of the kids come into chapel excited to see what would be done today. We of course didn’t put our primary focus on Star Wars. We focused on Jesus. We used Star Wars as a way to share Jesus with students. We used light sabers to foscus kids on the light of the world. We had so much fun as a group. What I noticed most today was the joy I had in sharing Jesus with kids. Too often we forget about this joy because we are so focused on work to be done, or the projects to be completed. We focus on the conflicts in our churches or the pain being caused to us by our sin.

Those things above don’t go away when have are good days but when we can focus on sharing Jesus we see God working in the lives of people we can have joy. So let us instead focus on sharing Jesus. Let us never grow tired of sharing Jesus.

For those of you who are reading this and aren’t full time ministers. I would challenge you in your daily life, when you are feeling tired, to focus on the joy of sharing Jesus. We all are busy with life but if you can focus your time on sharing Jesus in our work, family and daily lives we can find joy. We may be tired today but let us all never grow tired of sharing Jesus with everyone we meet.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:29-31 NIV

Best job in the world…walking with people

February 19, 2016February 19, 2016 / youthguysteve / Leave a comment

Today I was reminded of why I have the best job in the world. Yesterday I spoke in chapel, and preached for our Lent services at St. John. Although it is truly an honor to stand up front and point people to Jesus, it is not what gets me through the day. It is not what I truly treasure about my job. My greatest joy isn’t teaching a bible class or preaching up front. My greatest joy is walking with, talking with, listening to, and praying with those God has placed in front of me.

Today was a great day. Most of it wasn’t what I planned to do today. The first was praying for a friend I work with. She was in need today and taking the time with a few others to pray for her reminded me why I love my job. It is ok to be sad with them and seek to see God’s work in a tough situation.

The second was another instance where someone asked me about an issue they were having with a child they knew. We walked through some very difficult stuff. Through it all I was reminded of something the first Pastor I served with told me. After 31 years in ministry he said “Steve I have preached many sermons in my day. People don’t remember the sermons or the bible studies, people remember the times you sat with them in their time of need.” Those words are words I have modeled my ministry on. It isn’t about being up front in the lime light or being the funniest guy it the world it is about being there for people and sharing Jesus.

This week as you go about your day please remember that. Please remember that people will not remember what you did for the group. They don’t remember the speeches they remember the times you stopped to listen to them, stopped to pray with them, and the times you lifted them up when they were down. Paul wrote it this way.

“so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

1 Cor. 12:25-27 NIV

So let us rejoice together, let us suffer together as the body of Christ lifting each other up one person at a time.

Holding my little girl and saying a prayer…sharing Jesus with her every day through prayer.

October 28, 2015October 28, 2015 / youthguysteve / Leave a comment

My daughter Ella has had a rough couple of months as we have transitioned to a new place. She has struggled in our new place. No it isn’t anything anyone has done. No I am not going into the second grade and having to beat up some boys and girls for not making her feel welcome. She is just having a hard time not seeing her Mom and Dad as much every day. Transitions can be difficult. Childhood can be difficult.

For the first two months at St. John I had a kid who just cried and cried every time I dropped her off. So about two weeks ago I tried a different tactic. I said Ella if we are going to cry every day I am not going to walk you to class. I also said when we go down to her class I would pray for her right at the door and send her into class if she promised to be brave. It is now the best part of my day. I get down on my knees, hold her forehead to forehead and look her right in the eyes and pray for her out loud. My prayer normally goes like this, “Dear, Jesus help Ella to have a great day. Help Ella to not be scared. Help Ella to not get crushed by a boulder…(She smiles about that one) Help Ella to see Jesus. Amen!” I then give her a kiss, a high five and send her off to class. It has totally changed the daily routine.

It really made me think these last few weeks about praying for my kids. I do it every day. Recently I have seen the power in letting them see me pray for them. It is not for show it is so they know God is watching over them. It is a way for me to speak Jesus into there lives.

As a parent, grandparent, brother or sister I would encourage you to pray for your family. From time to time pray out loud in their presence. It is another way to share Jesus in their lives. It may be one of the most powerful ways to show Jesus and His love to those around you. God bless you as your walk with Jesus this week.