What I Am Learning!

Well September and October have flown by. I have to admit the last month has been very tough in a lot of ways. I am constantly trying to love my wife well, stay “plugged in” with my own teens, adjust to our new addition, be a good father to 3 kids under the age of 3, manage our family finances, do my part around the house, etc. That is enough to be exhausted and I haven’t even touched on the care of the students. I am “learning” what it means to be a youth pastor. I do say learning, because I am finding out there are more questions sometimes than answers. It has been a tough month for “youth ministry.” I don’t really know how to explain it, but I will tell you some of the things I mean. First I am learning. That is a big issue in its self. Every new season is just that a new season that I am experiencing for the first time as a pastor. I don’t have a tried and true “program.” All I know is that I have an incredible desire to see our students know Christ through His Word and walk with Him in their daily lives. Second I desire to be better connected to our students relationally. That takes time together I know. But I am struggling to do that better. Thirdly, I so desire to have a “youth ministry” that helps you as a family. In saying that I desire for the students to want to come and be a part. I desire for them to have time together as a group to build relationships with each other. I desire to provide opportunities/ activities that they can enjoy also. All while providing a constant opportunity for them to be learning the Word of God and therefore experiencing the God
of the Word. In all of that I know we as families are very busy and all face the reality of money pressures. I never want to burden your family with time or financial pressure. So my desire is to balance all of those things, teach well, grow in my relationship with our students, support our families, be a good husband, father, and provider. I don’t share that
to have anyone feel sorry for me. I share that so that I let you know what God is teaching me in all that.

1. I can’t substitute “doing” for “being”! What Christ is reminding me as I face what seems like impossible standards is that I have to start with just being His. I have been reminded that it is so easy to desire to “do” and forget that it all has to flow from Him and my relationship with Him.
2. Seeing the impossibility of being able to do all that I desire to do is a great place to be. What I mean is I am being reminded that Christ always calls us to do things we are not capable of. His strength is made perfect not in our abilities but in our weaknesses.
3. In all of these areas I must do what I can (be faithful and present) and trust God to do what only He can do. Only Christ can make me a good husband, father, provider, pastor, and friend.
4. I must keep looking to Christ and follow Him as He leads. Life can be
overwhelming and that makes us want to quit. The way we persevere is to continually be looking to Christ and in obedience following Him moment by moment. The “tasks” are too large, but Christ is sufficient for my every need.

As I said these are some of the things Christ is teaching me and I share them so that you will pray for me. I also share them as an encouragement to you. You may not be facing the exact issues but I know we all face issues of our own. We can’t. He never said we could. He (Jesus) can and He always said He would. Let all of our circumstances point us to Him and our need to trust Him to be in us what we are incapable of being on our own.

Learning and Growing With You!
Eric