The Enemy Reserves The Right...
"The Enemy reserves the right to cash in on your personal sin in the season he deems the most opportune..." – Jeanneism
"Hey, Mom, I've done something terrible and they found out..."
"Jeanne, I need somebody to listen. You see, I've been trapped with these thoughts for years now, but I hid them and... well... someone discovered that I have this problem..."
"Jeanne, I never dreamed this would come back to haunt me..."
"Mom, help me get out of this... I don't know what to do..."
"Hey, Jeanne, you seem like someone who might understand. This has been going on for months, but I'm too afraid to tell anyone. My mind reels. I can't even look at a girl in the youth group..."
"Is this normal?"
"Am I always going to struggle with this?"
"Worse yet, what if someone finds out..."
I know in our righteous, church attitudes, we defiantly would say, "Personal sin? What personal sin?" Yet I sat on the other end of each of those conversations, whether via phone or in person, and the names and stories behind those honest confessions would amaze the rest of the world. But the book I have based my life on says there is none righteous, no not one. We all fall short of the glory of God and I realize that being a youth pastor does not make us immune to the pitfalls of sin. The best any of us can aspire to be is a quick repenter and hope that our sin does not take root to the point it becomes an issue. In the face of committing both murder and adultery, David was still called a man after God's own heart. Why? Not because he was a sinner, but because he walked a life of genuine repentance. Until the day Jesus returns a few things remain constant:
Sin will always be familiar.
The middle letter of sin will always be "I."
The tempter will always engineer temptation to be tailor-made to our own vulnerabilities.
Satan never randomly attacks us, but he specifically designs his attacks to hit us where we are weak. He knows that if you smite the shepherd the sheep will scatter. Mess with the youth pastor or youth leader's spiritually and teenagers will end up hurt and scattered.
"The Enemy reserves the right to cash in on your personal sin in the season he deems the most opportune..." – Jeanneism
"Hey, Mom, I've done something terrible and they found out..."
"Jeanne, I need somebody to listen. You see, I've been trapped with these thoughts for years now, but I hid them and... well... someone discovered that I have this problem..."
"Jeanne, I never dreamed this would come back to haunt me..."
"Mom, help me get out of this... I don't know what to do..."
"Hey, Jeanne, you seem like someone who might understand. This has been going on for months, but I'm too afraid to tell anyone. My mind reels. I can't even look at a girl in the youth group..."
"Is this normal?"
"Am I always going to struggle with this?"
"Worse yet, what if someone finds out..."
I know in our righteous, church attitudes, we defiantly would say, "Personal sin? What personal sin?" Yet I sat on the other end of each of those conversations, whether via phone or in person, and the names and stories behind those honest confessions would amaze the rest of the world. But the book I have based my life on says there is none righteous, no not one. We all fall short of the glory of God and I realize that being a youth pastor does not make us immune to the pitfalls of sin. The best any of us can aspire to be is a quick repenter and hope that our sin does not take root to the point it becomes an issue. In the face of committing both murder and adultery, David was still called a man after God's own heart. Why? Not because he was a sinner, but because he walked a life of genuine repentance. Until the day Jesus returns a few things remain constant:
Sin will always be familiar.
The middle letter of sin will always be "I."
The tempter will always engineer temptation to be tailor-made to our own vulnerabilities.
Satan never randomly attacks us, but he specifically designs his attacks to hit us where we are weak. He knows that if you smite the shepherd the sheep will scatter. Mess with the youth pastor or youth leader's spiritually and teenagers will end up hurt and scattered.
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My heart aches as I hear of yet another prominent name in the Christian circles that has fallen victim to sexual sin. I am angry at the number of Christ followers that continue to believe that they can "dance some of these lines"...yet not become another fatality victim. But the truth is, in today's world more than ever, the Enemy delights in the many opportunities he has to entice our sexual desires.
A quote that I heard often from my hero and husband Sam Mayo, was, "If not for the Grace of God...so go I." Proverbs says, "Guard your heart (affections)..." for Satan always reserves the right to collect on your sin (compromise) when it is his most opportune moment. So, let's take some time to unpack one of the most important things we can discuss as leaders...whether we're men or women..."Moral Purity in a Sex-Saturated World."
Lovingly,
Sin starts SMALL! It's no secret that sin often starts as small thoughts and choices. But eventually, the small decisions will grow inside of you causing you to give birth to a full-sized SIN BABY!
In this Source, "Giving Birth To A Sin Baby," I talk to our high school group about how to recognize the plans of the Enemy and make determined choices to FUEL our desire to stop living in sin. It's all about WANTING to stop living in sin, and making DECISIONS to walk away from growing compromises. This resource has a fun opening skit and some memorable stories that will make this message one that make a lasting impact on your students.
Fighting For This Generation,
The devastation we've seen from landmines and other IEDs used in Iraq, Afghanistan and third world countries has been heart-wrenching. While not as physically debilitating, the effects of the traps the Enemy sets for our students can be catastrophic as well. For 1 Peter 5:8 graphically reminds us, "Be self-controlled and alert. Our Enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone he can devour."
Fortunately, his traps can only gain energy and strength when we are ignorant of them or choose to ignore them. This Source, "Landmines," is meant to serve as a warning to our students following Christ to be careful not to "give the Enemy a foothold." Using video clips from the CBS TV Series, "Flashpoint," reviewing King David's misstep, and walking through seven common "landmines," our goal is to expose the devil's plans to dilute and shorten the destiny on their lives.
Lovingly,
As a youth leader, have you ever thought when counseling someone, "If you only knew"? If you only knew that I too wrestle with doubts, insecurities, and mind games. If you only knew that I too struggle with unconquered sin patterns. If you only knew... The reality is that I do know. I know not only because you told me, but also from having faced my own "If you only knew..." challenges.
My heart's desire is that you suffer in silence no longer. Hopefully, this Youth Leader's Coach, "7 Things Youth Pastors Tell Me In Secret," will reach inside that secret place in your heart and provide you with large doses of encouragement, along with valuable wisdom and hope.
Lovingly,
Relationships are a theme we often teach on in youth ministry because it's the number one way the Enemy attempts to take out your students. One of the "signatures" of our youth ministry is to cultivate HEALTHY, GREAT CHRISTIAN FRIENDSHIPS. But "FEELINGS" can make that goal pretty complicated sometimes when it comes to FRIENDSHIPS WITH THE OPPOSITE SEX.
I wanted to connect with the hearts of my students, so I hosted two "focus groups," one with guys and the other one with girls. I asked them to talk about their FEELINGS when it came to building HEALTHY FRIENDSHIPS with the opposite sex...what they WISHED their counterparts KNEW. Listen in to the 12 things the guys wanted the girls to know...and the 14 things the girls wanted me to pass on to the guys. I added a memorable story and God's concept of unselfish friendship and Christian love outlined for us in 1 Corinthians 13. It was a light hearted evening that conveyed some pretty profound truths.
Lovingly,
