may '04 - sentimentalness: the joy of sticking around

Team Training

have you ever planted a flower garden? you spend time and sweat in marking off the ground, preparing it, fertilizing it and finally planting the seeds. then you water, watch and wait. and you know what happens next? nothing!! - or nothing immediately it seems. oh, finally after a while, those little sprouts begin to emerge. they reach higher and higher. slowly but surely you begin to see the 'beauty' emerge from the little field surfacing with color and charm.

isn't it the same in the students we get to minister to and live alongside? our efforts in partnership with the Spirit seem - at times - to be doing nothing.then all of the sudden, true markers of 'life' begin to break through. students begin to show signs of spiritual maturity. their hearts begin to reflect more and more of Christ's heart at moments. their love and acceptance of others comes through. their compassion begins to shine. their passion to 'know' God deeper becomes more natural. practices of the Christian faith become a desire rather than a deed.

the 'seeds' that God uses you and I to plant into the lives of His students begin to take root and a relationship with the Father becomes more active and real. the truth is: it takes time for those passions and pursuits to blossom - in your life, in mine and in theirs.

the truth for a youth worker is this:

you don't get to see those growth markers if you're not around for the long haul!

one of our passions at Casas is to see our volunteers become 'lifers' - no, that is not a prison sentence but rather the blessing of sticking around to witness the growth in the lives of students! I've recently had conversations with some of our staff who've been working in Student Ministries for a few years now. those conversations have been a joy as they've recalled kids who were in their small group, now grown up and getting ready for graduation - and to see what the Lord has done in their lives is awesome! as they've reflected, they've recalled the times of their consistency of being 'there' for those students and God used little ol' them to make a difference in that student(s) life. what a treat to see the smile on our staff's face as they are enjoying the 'fruit' of seeing God becoming more and more reflected in the lives of our students.

with length of tenure comes the joy of reflection followed by the blessing of sentimentalness, if that's a word?!

Making It Personal

Graduations are upon us this year (they seem to happen every year about this time:-) As it is with most students, graduations mark a time of reflection. you remember signing year books and reading the notes others wrote in yours.

So, this month - here's your invitation: reflect back over this year. think of one student who you've been allowed the privilege with the Holy Spirit to see some growth in this year. what does/did that spiritual growth look like? what is it that you admire what God did in that student this past year or how they've matured, if you've had the benefit of seeing them for many years now?

Now that you've got that one or two things that stand out to you - think of a creative way you can communicate that to them! go ahead - take 5 minutes to think of way you can express what you're proud of in them...what you've seen God do in their life.

now that you've thought of what you can do to convey that - do it!

.and may God use your expression of encouragement to shore up His work in the life of that student

1 Thessalonians 4:18

Hebrews 10:25

I strongly encourage you to stick around on our team as we seek His guidance, blessings and wisdom to make a Kingdom difference in the lives of students! journey with us for the long haul - I promise it's worth iit!

-jack

Shout Out

Email Jack one theory/tip/thought that stuck out to you...

jack@casaschurch.org

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