Thursday, February 04, 2010

What are you going to do about it?

I love working with the youth in our church...I know you've heard me say that over & over....

Through the years, we've watched so many kids come & go.  We've watched as some have grown so close to God & then fall away to their old ways of just "Teenage" life.  We've also watched some grow closer to God through the years & become AMAZING examples of young Christian men & women.

Its hard to see those ones fall back though.

One of our youth leaders, Ryan, did a message last nght about this topic - back slidding.  What was interesting me first & foremost is that most of the kids never even heard of that word, much less knew what it meant. 

Back slidding - how easy is it for us to do, even as adults?  But add in the pressure that teens have today & its a struggle! Peer pressure in of itself is hard.... but try being the only Christian teen in a group & see how hard that pressure falls on you....

Ryan posed some questions? 
Are you back slidding?  Are you OK but your friends are back slidding? What are you doing about your friends back slidding?

A group of girls came up & cried tears & prayed for their friends that they knew had turned away from God's love.  To see their hearts broke over their friends choices just tore at me. I can only image what God felt with those prayers those girls lifted....

Then our youth minister said a few words & what he said about knocked me off my feet... he was talking about how many of the youth have left, have turned away from God & are back to old ways & he said through tears "It just bothers me that Satan's youth group is bigger then ours"...

Wow... I had never thought of it in those terms....But Satan is the Prince of the Air (Ephesians 2:2) & is all around this world & he is fighting to make these teens turn away from God....

It just laid heavy on me to know how important my job - how important YOUR job is.... if you have a teenager, if you KNOW a teenager - PLEASE, encourage them!  Help them fight to not back slide. Let them know that even if they've walked away from God, He's still there to take them back again... & again.. & again... Give them a little love to know that its not easy - but God's Youth Group has MUCH better benefits! :)

This applies to even us, as adults... so let me ask you?
Have you back slidden?  Are your friends or family back slidding? What are you going to do about it?

7 comments:

  1. I'm a social worker and work with teenagers and at risk youth. I LOVED teenagers. But they just lack so much guidance these days.

    Hey, if you want to try to overcome your fear of flying, you should try this program:

    fearofflying.com

    I am flying for the first time in 7 months, on Saturday, and I had been in knots. Until yesterday. Something clicked and I am excited. I will let you know how the actual flight goes!

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  2. As a mom of a teenager, I know that they are faced with all sorts of influences, both good and bad. It sometimes would be very easy to back slide UNLESS you have a strong support system. Thankfully, my daughter does, but she knows a lot of kids who aren't as fortunate. I try to be as positive a role model as I can be and encourage them as much as I can. It's so important!

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  3. I have 2 teenagers and you're right...it is very hard for them. Very good and true post. Well said.

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  4. I wish we could all skip those teen years and go straight to our twenties!

    But then, what'd be the point of that anyway.

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  5. Wow! What a powerful message!!

    I love working with teenagers in the schools because I see their minds as open land, waiting for seeds to be planted.

    You are so right that we need to encourage the youth. This is a message I try to convey to the kids who cross my path.

    Bless you and all who make time for the kids. Hugs.

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  6. I am so blessed to find your blog this morning through Cathy's award post! I have been blessed by my visit here. I am following your blog & look forward to getting to know you better!
    Joyfully,
    Wylie

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