For The Girl…Whose Life is Changing

Can I just say that I love new things!  New places, new cultures, new foods, new ideas, new people – I love it!

But man, oh man, change is SO hard!  It is a weird contradiction, is it not?

Do you ever feel like I do right now? Like you’re so content and happy to be where you are, but also long to be somewhere else? That’s what I’m feeling right now.  I love my new job in Frisco, and I love you girls that I get to hang out with and minister to.  But at the same time, some nights my heart longs to be in Arkadelphia.  I long for the clear, star-filled skies, the girls of my first youth ministry, and the comfort.

But then God reminds me that there lies the problem.  Comfort.  He told me a long time ago that my life is never to be comfortable.  Content, yes, but not comfortable.  And so I told Him that whenever I get too comfortable that He should move me. So He did. And I am so content, and life is full of joy.

God designed us to grow in change.  Have you ever been through a season of change, and came out a better person for it? It happens all the time.  We change from being elementary school kids to middle schoolers.  And when we leave 6th, 7th, 8th grades, we are better people. Hopefully.

Let me encourage you that as life changes, embrace the growth that can happen. Let God guide you through these changes so that each choice you make is one that pleases Him, and is guided by Him.  Change is hard, but without God at our side, it will be so much harder.  And we cannot stay stagnant, living without changing.  We must always change because time moves forward. We grow older, times change. And if we don’t change with it, our lives become lost.  Allow God to change you into the person He wants you to be.  Allow Him to change you into a holy, righteous person, living for Him.

So do new things, ponder new ideas, go to so many new places, make a new friend, and eat a new food. You might find that you like it.  And you will find that God has a plan.

Shall we change together?

For The Girl…Who Needs Encouragement

Social Media is becoming so ingrained in today’s culture.  It’s almost impossible to have a discussion with someone without either mentioning something found out on facebook or twitter, or without first knowing some fact from the web.  This is why we at Blue try to be up-to-date on the social networks.  This may seem to have nothing to do with the title, but hang with me.

I had a phone call today from one of the moms of our youth.  She was calling to tell me that another girl’s mom was in the hospital because of surgery and experiencing some difficulty with the surgery.  It seems pretty serious. I knew that this mom was having surgery, but had thought it was going well (because I saw posts on social media, of course).  With this sad news, I was concerned for both our girls and the mom.

I checked Instagram earlier this evening, and was so encouraged to see what kinds of conversation (if it can be called that on instagram) were occurring between our eighth grade girls.  This girl had posted that her mom was not doing well, and as I read the comments my heart was happy.  All the posts were from girls in our youth group, her small group, and were discussions of how they had been praying for this girl’s mom.

Just when I think that sometimes we’re not getting through to some girls, I know that the Holy Spirit is at work.  I know that we are surrounded by peers from church that are willing to pray for our hurts and encourage one another.

Life is hard.  There are so many good things that happen in life, but often sad things happen.  Our mom’s get sick; dad’s work late and sometimes leave; friends are flaky and change plans for better options; people are mean at school; life seems overwhelming when we try to balance school and sports; expectations sometimes put too much pressure on us; we don’t fit in with the people we’re around; we are forced to move and change our world;  life happens.

But be encouraged.  God is good; He is overly gracious; He puts people in our life in His timing that will walk with us; the flowers still bloom each spring; the sun still rises in the East every morning; God is faithful and saves; laughter heals heart-wounds; and sometimes people really are nice.

So as I sit here in Starbucks and enjoy a warm latte, waiting for fall to fully arrive, I want to encourage you. You can get up each morning; you can enjoy a full life; you can find little things to be thankful for.  God will carry you through the tough times.  Know that there are people praying for you, and are here for you through physical hurts, and emotional hurts.

You turned my deepest pains into joyful dancing;
You stripped off my dark clothing

and covered me with joyful light.

You have restored my honor. My heart is ready to explode, erupt in new songs!

It’s impossible to keep quiet!

Eternal One, my God, my Life-Giver, I will thank You forever.

       Psalm 30.11-12