For When You Just Want to Help...

You walk into a room and there is a shouting match going on....
As you sit by your friend in front of the TV he or she begins to share just what happened and how his/her relationship with_________ went sour...
Your brother/sister tells just how much this recent failure hurt...

And all you want to do is say a few words... you know... help.
Stop.
Wait a second...
Think about it...
You're about to speak to someone who is probably A) emotional B) impressionable/influencable C) listening to you and D) trusting you.

So stop.
Wait a second...
Think about it...
There is power in words (James 3:6). More than that, in such situations the listener empowers your words with their trust that.... it'll help.

Take note of at least three things
1) Let the words you speak be spoken out of love.

Focus on the fact that you love the person you're trying to help, you'll avoid the pitfalls that come from pride and fear when communicating.

2) You're not-all knowing and neither are they.

Be prepared to not have the answer.
You were told their side of the story or at best as much of the story as they know. (Snap-judgements are rarely true.)

3)The most powerful thing you can do is listen.

Most of the time those who seem to seek your guidance really just need your support. Not necessarily of what they've done, but of who they are and the good in them. Be ready to just listen. Let them sound out their ideas. Be as honest as you can (in love).

You might not have the answer others need (and they might not have what you need), but you can always avoid talking them into a worse situation and offer a listening ear.

So for all the times you hear the story of a family breaking-up, two friends seperating, a failure, or a dissappointment and you're tempted to speak...

Stop.
Wait a second...
Think about it...

It'll...you know.... help.

Proverbs 15:23.

Sometimes "waiting" means keep going...

Consider Chris Aberg, he recently completed the largest painting in the world. He spent more than a thousand hours; he drew for miles; he worked nights and weekends to finish his work of art. He kept going yet, in a sense he had to wait. He had to wait for his hand to do what he had done in his head thousands of times. The vision he saw in his head instanteneous but the finished work of art was not. Aberg would still have painted something huge if stopped halfway to his goal. He still would have achieved something amazing. Just as much as you will, if you stop practicing to be great writer, a great singer, a great ball player and start performing; you just might a end up a very good at what you chose to do. Consider the-all-time great Moses. Moses wanted to free his people his way. If he had succeeded Moses would have been simply a political revolutionary, who suceeded through much bloodshed and loss. Instead, God put him to work at herding sheep, starting a family and learning about him for 40 years.
Waiting.
For 40 years.
Moses changed the face of the Middle East. The spiritual revolution that came through him still reverberates throughout our world today. It took awhile; God made it worth his while.
I encourage you...
Make God's goals your goals; His way your way. He'll do the amazing with what you give Him. Also, wait for the larger stage, wait for the larger project, wait for what your goals are, by staying at work on what in front of you... schoolwork, that summer job, the endless hours invested practicing, volunteering, or just talking with God. Keep waiting it'll pay-off and pay-off huge!

(Exodus 2; Acts 7)

It's been awhile.

Ok so its been awhile since i posted anything. I don't have much to post so I'll say a little about myself. I have lived in DC for most of my life. While there I went to African Christian Fellowship. I enjoyed going the children's group. Joining the youth (which was quite active) was a dream. After i joined, around the age of 12, I continued to be inspired and excited by the possibilities of what we could do as youth. As a youngster, I went to youth meetings, Acquire the Fire, Youth conferences, and of course... high school. The experience was amazing. I got to meet so much of Jesus as a teenager. I met someone who was not just an object of worship but an exciting doorway into the most challenging and rewarding side of life. Jesus changed my life as a teenager. I told strangers about the gospel, I told friends and family that they were off when it came to Scripture (I was a little intense). On the street, it was incredible. I was going and going scared, but still going, still approaching, still talking, and listening (boy! the things troubled souls will tell a complete stranger!). More than giving me incredible things to do and say Jesus he completed my soul. He gave a mission, healing from hurt, freedom from fear, courage to love, and the daring to hope. He was a listening ear to the deep things of my heart and cheered me up in ways no one else could. Oh and the little miracles on tests, with friends, with transportation, money, and the oppurtunities to minister were amazing.

Recently, Over the past few years I got to work with teenagers for various reasons. I have worked as a camp counselor, a mentor (for one day), a tutor, and a church youth leader. I am still excited about with the possibilities of what God can do amongst a group of teens who open up to Him and what he can do WITH teens who give themselves to Him.

I have short glimmerings of what youth workers mean when they talk about pouring their lives into a adolescents just to watch them go. I still don't have an understanding yet.

Working with teens is great, satisfying, amazing. Seeing Jesus work in them (and people of all ages) tops all of that. It's been awhile but it sure has been fun.

Enjoy yer summer.