The Little Things

Just yesterday, I met a man and his dog at McDonald's (weird way to start a story, I suppose...). Any way, I had spoken with this man once before at WalMart, but this time it was different. I felt like the Holy Spirit was leading me to give this man and his cute little dog some stuff to help them get by. So I did just that. The man asked me for a ride to where he was staying, so I obliged. He proceeded to tell me his life story and how someone had just bought him a tent and sleeping bag. As listened, I soon realized that God had in fact called this moment into existence. Once we get to where he's staying, he shows me the trailer that him and his girlfriend had been staying at, for quite some time, without water or electricity. So from there, I prayed with them and went on my way. But I didn't leave without learning this lesson: the little things matter.

I'm guilty. I'm that guy who takes things for granted. Especially the little things that appear to be so insignificant. But the good news is, I'm not alone. We all take the little things for granted.

Having money in our bank accounts, running water, electricity, wifi; need I go on? Its almost as if we think very little  about these little things when we have them, but complain when we don't. Can we really say that we are truly thankful? I believe we can. We just have to come to the realization that the little things matter too!

It's easy for us to lose focus of being thankful when we're so used to having something immediately available to us.

So, what have you been taking for granted? Think about those things, and ask God to give you a thankful heart.

"Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Distractions Are Fatal

Distractions can be fatal to one's walk with Christ. Let's face it; we all have something that causes us to become distracted. In my case, two things: social media & video games. The last time I checked, I've dished out well over 7 days (168 hours) of my life that I'll never get back playing my all time favorite, Call of Duty. "I'm a guy. I like doing guy things. So what if I spend all my spare time playing video games. It's not hurting anyone!"

Wrong. It's hurting me. Not only me, but my wife and our youth ministry! I finally realized that there are some things that are OK in moderation. Me, well, I'm an all or nothing kind of guy. But I've placed my time in the grips of something that is meaningless to my spiritual health, my wife's, and my dedication to the discipleship 10+ students in our youth ministry.

Lesson learned: "Whatever it is I want to burn on the inside of others, it must first burn inside of me."

If I continue to allow my distractions to reign over all of my spare time, I become bound by them. In turn, I neglect the most important aspects of my life: my mariage and my own spiritual growth.

Again, to my fellow youth pastors and those reading this; distractions can become fatal to one's walk with Christ.

So, what are you distracted by? Don't become so weighed down by distractions that you lose focus of what's most important in your life.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

(Hebrews 12:1-2)