Encourage Yourself

STOP! please scroll down to the bottom and start reading from January, it will make better sense that way ;)
Hello! (two years later) wow a lot has happened and I don’t know where to start. But I have been keeping a prayer log and documenting prophecies throughout these two years so I will be able to update bit by bit. Here’s the first bit- I was somewhat hesitant on writing this, but it’s the truth so I’m gonna write it! And for all the youth leaders who are truly leading their youth in higher dimensions with God, they’ll relate to the feeling. And before I write it I would like to give you an understanding of the scenario. A youth parent told me some harsh words regarding my leading the youth and discouragement tried to set in. this happened two years ago so I am clearly over it. However, I am writing this today because you may be going through a similar situation...

Written 9/29/10... there was a time when I had to speak to a youth parent and the youth parent became very defensive and started to point in my face as he was reciting all the mistakes I had made (according to him). This made me feel very intimidated and discouraged for the moment, but thank God we don’t live by what we feel. Here’s a quote from my journal “I still have what it takes to be a youth leader! Though I have a lot to learn and much more to grow, I still have what it takes to be a youth leader” I had to encourage myself in order to counteract the discouragement and intimidation that tried to settle in. sometimes as youth leaders we will not hear a “job well done” instead we hear “job not done.” Another quote- “you may point in my face and declare every wrong you see, but I will take it as a mustard seed because I still have a generation to lead.”  Sometimes when people tell us things that are untrue, our flesh wants to correct them and tell them like it is. However, if we just sit back and let silence do all the talking we walk out in victory. That is exactly what I did- I respectfully smiled and heard what he had to say. But when I went home boy did I give it to my journal!

I share this for youth leaders who struggle with discouragement. Weather it comes through people or circumstances we must overpower any type of demonic action that comes against the call on our lives. The enemy will always try to put stumbling blocks in front of us as we journey our way to our destiny but last time I checked, the bible says that the enemy has already been defeated (past tense) so praise Him because we win!!

Take The Limits Off

I have been on my face before the Lord for my youth. They need to Experience God for themselves. I want them to have a relationship with Him personally. I am tired of talking about how great it is I want them to join in the conversation in knowing how great it is to have a personal relationship with God! I’m done with preaching about resisting temptation, “come on you can do it, just say no to drugs…” POOP!! That’s mediocre!!! The youth is above that already. How long are we going to keep our standards for the youth low? It is not the youth that are not on fire it is the youth Pastors that are limiting them by telling them that it is hard and to TRY to make it through the day without sinning… give me a break!!! Stop hindering their growth by telling them that they are barely making it. It’s time to see them for who they really are, it’s time to look at them the way God created them. They are above temptation and not beneath it, they have the power to trample over scorpions, they have been given authority to cast out demons, and they are much more… preach on that for a change and see what encouragement does to your youth group. I guarantee that it will spark a fire within at least one youth and once that fire gets going trust me it is extremely hard to blow it out.

Lately I have been starting my youth services with worship. Because we do not have a stage set up with instruments and such, I bring in my radio and the anointing flows just as good! I have been demonstrating to my youth how to usher in the presence of the Lord. I have been instructing them on how to respect the Holy Spirit. Amazing things have been happening; one youth member has decided to fast for two days, no food just eating of the Word of God, Last Sunday, two of my youth went up to the altar and rededicated their life to the lord. I never commanded them to do it, all I did was took the limits off and they realized that they too can have a personal relationship with the creator of the universe.

Song suggestion: take the limits off by Israel Houghton http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgSH3HwHpzE

I am so excited to update you about what has been going on with the Revolution Youth Group!

God has been giving me awesome strategies for the youth to be excited about the things of God. For example, we started a youth café called Kings Corner. We sell every Sunday, we make about $60 to $80 on average. The youth are excited about it because they feel that they are a part of something. All the members of the congregation are always complimenting on what an awesome job they are doing. The café is growing everyday as we come together every Wednesday and debrief how it went the previous Sunday and we come up with new ideas to implement for the following Sundays. We have surveys that we lay out on the tables for the customers to fill out which gives us more ideas for the café. A member from the church was so kind enough to buy all our products (coffee, creamer, cereal, milk, sugar, juice, etc.) to get us started so the money that we made the first day was all profit. Another member asked if they can donate food and of course I said yes! I have had several members of the church come up to me and ask if they can donate money for the youth ministry LOL I don’t know why they even ask do they think I’m going to say no? LOL

One Wednesday night, I gave the youth an assignment. I gave them passages of scriptures to study. I had them read its full context, who wrote it, who was the audience and how it can apply in their lives today. The following Wednesday I had them all give their little sermon and I was so blown away with all of them, but one of them stood out. This particular youth took about 15 minutes while the rest took only 5. The things that he was saying were so right on! He really inspired me! He gives me hope. While he was preaching, the rest of the youth were really giving ear to what he had to say. Because he is only 17 and still in high school, he was able to relate to the youth and minister to them in a way they could understand.

We also took up the responsibility to create our church brochures that are given out monthly. I have divided the youth into two teams –one for the youth café and the other for the brochures. We are also going to start recording the announcements similar to a news broadcast. Another exciting thing we are doing is connecting with another youth group that we are affiliated with. They are located in Delano which is about 45 minutes away. They have their youth gatherings on Friday nights so every third Friday of the month we will join their services.

Well that is an update from February to now… God is so amazing!

God Speaks in Dreams

I was looking for him everywhere, but he was nowhere to be found. I checked in the back room; nothing, I checked in the living room; nothing, then, all of a sudden I heard the water running in the shower so I checked in the bathroom and I found him! He was taking a shower with his clothes on. I immediately new why he was showering with his clothes on –he was trying to take the stench off of his clothes. He was somewhere he should not have been…

…that was a dream I had last night. The boy I was talking about was a youth member. When I woke up, I immediately went before God and prayed for him. God revealed to me what this particular youth member has been dealing with. When he was in the shower he was trying to cleanse himself from the sin he was involved in, but we all know that the stench of sin cannot be washed away with water but by the blood of Jesus Christ. When I looked into his eyes as he was showering with his clothes on, I sensed fear. Not fear that he got caught, but a fear as if he was crying out “help me out of this mess! I don’t know how to get out by myself!”

People of God, this generation is crying out for help!! We need to help them! We may think that they are enjoying their sinful “free” lifestyle, but they are not! They just don’t know how to get out of the mess they got themselves into. We have the keys; we have the ability to free them out of their chains. People of God, let’s do something different! Let’s ask God to show us new strategies to win this generation for the Lord!

My second night with the youth… our name: Revolution

Our mission: changing the community in which we live in to make a difference in the world

As I was ministering I realize how the enemy has blinded them with deception. They have been drowning in the pool of lies that the enemy has created for them. I noticed that some were embarrassed to speak because of fear of being ridiculed. Well like I’ve said before, enough is enough! I am awakening the youth to their new nature. The new life God has given them. It is time for this generation to stand up for God! It is time to let the enemy know that his game is over, he’s been exposed and now this generation is standing on the front lines with their weaponry ready for battle, but the amazing thing is- God has already fought this battle and we’ve already won!!

As a youth leader, I am to deliver the Word of God in such a way that they can not refuse it. That is why I am going to push more than ever before. I have a vision to see these young people on fire for God. To see them lead praise and worship unashamed. I desire for them to speak about Jesus wherever they go without feeling embarrassed.

Join with me every Wednesday as I fast and pray for the youth and for this generation. Dedicate your Wednesdays to cry out for this generation, we can cause a REVOLUTION

Youth on Fire

Last year I was going through a tuff season. I felt that there was more, but I didn’t know what. I was fighting off doubt, frustration and discouragement; I basically felt out of place, like I did not belong, that my dreams were so far from being fulfilled. I finally looked at doubt, frustration and discouragement in the face and shouted enough is enough! I repositioned myself –from a slave to a queen. I took dominion of the situation and instead of looking at the problem I focused on the solution. Today I can joyfully say that I am the new youth leader at my local Church, Heritage Family Fellowship of Porterville CA. When my pastor told me that I was going to take over the youth I was honored. God is doing a new thing with this generation and I am honored to be a part of it!

Today was my first service with the youth. I introduced myself by sharing my testimony. Then I shared my vision. I painted a colorful picture to them. That’s what you have to do in order to gain their attention. With all the youth leaders that have come and gone, I knew I had to show them that I mean business, that any broken promises that they may have had in the past are not going to happen to them again. It saddens me to see youth leaders treat the teenagers as if they are not important. The youth need a sense of belonging and If they don’t find it in the church, the world is always waiting for them with open arms (deceitful arms). I poured out my heart to them. After I shared my vision I asked them this question; “If God were to come at this very moment, would you be ready?” the majority said no. at the end of service, I invited them all to rededicate their lives to God and start fresh. 100% of the youth rededicated their life to God tonight!

It was a powerful service tonight! After service one of the teenagers came to me and said that he enjoyed what I was ministering on. He especially liked when I said that one Sunday, the youth will be leading praise and worship, the youth will be preaching the gospel, the youth will be laying hand on the sick. I know they are pumped up now its my responsibility as a youth leader to keep the fire burning to keep the youth hungry and wanting more.

Isaiah 43^:19 See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.

The Reward of Waiting

Broken, angry, mad, upset, disappointed, annoyed; these are the things that cannot get the best of me. Yea they may want to, but more importantly, I don’t want them to. Though things may be going a way that I didn’t expect them to go, who is to say that this wasn’t the best way? What if a great big reward is resting on the other side? What if all I ever wanted was at the end of this dark tunnel? Would I treasure my reward less had things worked out so smoothly? Wouldn’t I respect it more since I fought so hard to obtain it? O’ if we could only see the end of it all. Would I go through this is trial with bliss if I can see what is on the other side? Would I save every tear in a glass jar just to remember how much I cried out to God in desperation? O’ how I long for that day to come when I can look back and make sense of it all. Nevertheless, I continue to look forward pressing toward that mark…

…written February 27, 2009. Its over now!! And all the questions can be answered. Was this the best way? Yes, it most certainly was. Is there a reward? Indeed! Looking back does it make sense? Absolutely!!

details coming soon...