Maintaining a Sense of Self
With all the demands and challenges of ministry sometimes you get lost and you forget why you decided to do youth ministry in the first place. To avoid that in my own life, I follow a few simple rules:
I prioritize my daily quiet time. If I don't have a regular quiet time, I'm going to lose it...period. Then I will begin to minister out of my own ability, but it won't take me long until I'm running on fumes.
I take time off without guilt. Also, what I'm learning about me is if I keep connected technology-wise, I don't disconnect enough.
I also quietly give myself permission to "fail" or not be as good in some areas. Figure out what you refuse to fail at and give it your "best" then don't' feel guilty if you're not "perfect" in some others.
Figure out what replenishes you. Everybody has different things that replenish them, my idea of a good time is a cup of coffee on my back porch with a book I want to read, for you it may be playing basketball, a game of golf or shopping.
With all the demands and challenges of ministry sometimes you get lost and you forget why you decided to do youth ministry in the first place. To avoid that in my own life, I follow a few simple rules:
I prioritize my daily quiet time. If I don't have a regular quiet time, I'm going to lose it...period. Then I will begin to minister out of my own ability, but it won't take me long until I'm running on fumes.
I take time off without guilt. Also, what I'm learning about me is if I keep connected technology-wise, I don't disconnect enough.
I also quietly give myself permission to "fail" or not be as good in some areas. Figure out what you refuse to fail at and give it your "best" then don't' feel guilty if you're not "perfect" in some others.
Figure out what replenishes you. Everybody has different things that replenish them, my idea of a good time is a cup of coffee on my back porch with a book I want to read, for you it may be playing basketball, a game of golf or shopping.
Related Items
Philippians 2:12 reminds us to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." Often good people (in and out of the ministry) will confess to me their frustration with their own lack of spiritual growth and intimacy. While the principles of maintaining a relationship with Christ are the same for all of us (prayer and Scripture reading), I often suggest to those frustrated Christians that they might need to find their own "spiritual pathway."
This simple principle has been revolutionary in my own relationship with Jesus! Just as we are all wired differently, our spiritual walks, because of our personalities and temperaments, are going to be different. So, take this next hour with me and I pray that you'll discover how to better "work out your own salvation."
Loving and with a "Big Heart,"
The wisdom of Proverbs 23:7 tells us, "For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he." And, James Allen echoed it well when he said, "You are today, where your thoughts have brought you. You will be tomorrow, where your thoughts take you."
How we "think" is such a key component of success that, in this Youth Leader's Coach, we are going to cash in on ten years of study by Dr. Seymore Epstein, Chairman of the Psychology Department at the University of Massachusetts, on how super achievers think.
As you listen, honestly evaluate yourself on the nine distinct patterns that emerged and zero in on a couple areas where opportunity for improvement exists in your life and ministry.
Lovingly,
This resource will be invaluable for any of us that call ourselves leaders, no matter where we are at in life. Everything rises and falls on leadership. That's why it's so important that we take the time to evaluate ourselves occasionally on how we are doing personally as we lead others.
In this month's Youth Leader's Coach, "10 Point Leadership Self-Assessment Test: How Much Of A Leader Are You Really?" I'm challenging all of us to use these 10 points to gauge how we are doing leadership-wise. Let this be both an encouragement for you in the areas you are doing great and a chance to put the target on the wall for yourself in areas that could use some improvement.
Lovingly,
Some pains and hurts from our past don't keep bothering us. We seek God's forgiveness, then forgive and forget. OTHER MEMORIES keep haunting for a long time with stingers of guilt, regret and resentment. But, by God's grace, total and unconditional forgiveness to YOURSELF and others stand available to every child of God.
Dr. James Dobson says that overcoming guilt, even after repentance, is one of the primary weapons the Enemy uses on today's leadership culture. That's why I wanted to share with you this resource. I call this Youth Leader's Coach, "A Leader’s Guide To Overcoming Guilt." Prayerfully, this will be a resource that will be a game-changer for you!
Lovingly,
Someone asked me recently, “What are some things that would have helped you along the ministry journey if you would have known them when you started?” It started my heart and mind reaching back over the more than four decades of youth and young adult ministry experience to make some summations of some of what I’ve learned along the journey.
Listen in as I unpack 5 things that I most wish someone would have shared with me early on when I began in youth ministry. Many of these lessons I’ve learned the painful way. It is my prayer that I can encourage you by helping you avoid some of the same pitfalls I made in my journey.
Lovingly,
