I know that it's not technically February... but I admit it, I started praying yesterday. Ya know, it was like God was sitting on my shoulder saying, "Talk to me, talk to me, talk to me..."... so I did.
God led me to an amazing experience this morning. There is a young man who was injured at a high school basketball game last Friday. There was a brawl and he was injured to the point of needing surgery to repair the damage done to his face. This morning I read an article that had his name in it. And because I am... who I am, I found his facebook page.
I read where friends of his were angry and making (probably idle) threats against the people that did this to him. He was calming them down by telling them that it's not up to them to take care of it, that it's already being dealt with. This man had SUCH A POSITIVE attitude and yet, he has a broken nose, stitches and was getting ready to have surgery. Under the "info" section of his page I learned that he wants to be a Youth Pastor. Reading through his page it was apparent that God is very active in this young man's life. I was so moved that I HAD to private message this young man to tell him that although I don't know him, I'm so proud of his positive attitude and that God was really shining through him. And on this day, when he was having surgery, I received a reply. The reply said, "Thanks, that means a lot to me. I'm glad that I can be an example of God's glory while I'm here."
So, while yesterday I was filled with fear and anger at what I was seeing in our youth... today God sat on my shoulder and said, "ALL IS NOT LOST". Today I have hope and hope is an amazing gift.
Please continue to pray for our teens and let me know what you see as God works around you.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Why a Challenge?
I am a protective parent. I make no apologies for being a protective parent. I stalk my kid's facebook, I check his text messages, I ask questions and I express opinions... and oh, do I have opinions.
The world is a much scarier place nowadays than it was when I was young. Or... maybe it's just that the "world" has more access to our kids now than it used to. I don't know... but it saddens me, and it scares me and yes, it makes me angry.
Anyone who knows me has heard me at least once make the statement, "I don't like other people's kids." And anyone who knows me well, knows that I'm only half-joking when I say that. You see, I work hard at being a parent to my son. I think and rethink each decision that I make when it comes to him... and I've seen the effect that other kids can have on him.
My son is not perfect.. and I don't expect him to be. But it makes me angry when I see other kids around him that are just heading down the wrong road. It makes me angry when I see a lack of respect and a disregard for authority. It makes me sad when I see teenage girls walking around in skirts, dresses and shorts that show more leg than most of my bathing suits used to show. To read about a brawl involving two high school basketball teams and fans and to watch the adults who are supposed to be in charge of the situation point fingers and play the blame game makes me angry. Who is leading these kids? It makes me sad to see a generation of young people who seem so lost... our teens are in crisis and it's alarming to me that there seems to be a total lack of concern from so many adults. Am I judgemental? You betcha! And I don't apologize for being judgemental... at least I've noticed the problem.
BUT... my judgement has not helped anything. Sitting around and seething and worrying has not helped. I haven't been praying for them. Of course I pray for my son. And I pray for a few individual kids whom I know are having problems here and there... but I haven't really dedicated prayer to our teens at large.
Why not? Do I think that God can't handle it? Is praying for ALL of our teens "too big" of a job for Him? Of course not. To be honest, I had too narrow of a view. So, I'm starting a prayer challenge for the month of February.
Who am I challenging? Well, I can tell you right now... I'm not challenging God. No, I'm challenging myself... to pray every day. Diligently, compassionately and whole-heartedly. I'm challenging myself to pray for all of our teens... and for all of those who come in contact with them. And I'm challenging myself to look for signs of God's work... to open my eyes and see what He is doing.... because I know prayer works.
If you feel moved, please join me in my challenge.
The world is a much scarier place nowadays than it was when I was young. Or... maybe it's just that the "world" has more access to our kids now than it used to. I don't know... but it saddens me, and it scares me and yes, it makes me angry.
Anyone who knows me has heard me at least once make the statement, "I don't like other people's kids." And anyone who knows me well, knows that I'm only half-joking when I say that. You see, I work hard at being a parent to my son. I think and rethink each decision that I make when it comes to him... and I've seen the effect that other kids can have on him.
My son is not perfect.. and I don't expect him to be. But it makes me angry when I see other kids around him that are just heading down the wrong road. It makes me angry when I see a lack of respect and a disregard for authority. It makes me sad when I see teenage girls walking around in skirts, dresses and shorts that show more leg than most of my bathing suits used to show. To read about a brawl involving two high school basketball teams and fans and to watch the adults who are supposed to be in charge of the situation point fingers and play the blame game makes me angry. Who is leading these kids? It makes me sad to see a generation of young people who seem so lost... our teens are in crisis and it's alarming to me that there seems to be a total lack of concern from so many adults. Am I judgemental? You betcha! And I don't apologize for being judgemental... at least I've noticed the problem.
BUT... my judgement has not helped anything. Sitting around and seething and worrying has not helped. I haven't been praying for them. Of course I pray for my son. And I pray for a few individual kids whom I know are having problems here and there... but I haven't really dedicated prayer to our teens at large.
Why not? Do I think that God can't handle it? Is praying for ALL of our teens "too big" of a job for Him? Of course not. To be honest, I had too narrow of a view. So, I'm starting a prayer challenge for the month of February.
Who am I challenging? Well, I can tell you right now... I'm not challenging God. No, I'm challenging myself... to pray every day. Diligently, compassionately and whole-heartedly. I'm challenging myself to pray for all of our teens... and for all of those who come in contact with them. And I'm challenging myself to look for signs of God's work... to open my eyes and see what He is doing.... because I know prayer works.
If you feel moved, please join me in my challenge.
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