We had an intern class on factors and characteristics of at-risk youth.
Something huge I realized in class was that many of the people I know from the CBC youth culture would fit most or all of the characteristics on some level...even the church goers. As we discussed the behavior patterns, things started clicking in my head. I could relate to a lot of the behaviors patterns personally but I could also see them in my peers.
Its funny because sometimes we buy into this lie that people who need help are somewhere out THERE, when really they were right in front of you the whole time.
"we are all broken"
it is out of our own brokenness that we serve.
We are all equally in need of God's grace in our lives
I always knew that in my head, but its wasn't until I really got it and understood it that I was able to see people in a different light. To be able to get past my own frustrations and problems with their imperfections and realize that I'm not any better.
I have to remind myself everyday of my own brokenness so that Christ can work through me.
The work is intense. Even though its only 2 hours a day, to love like Christ drains all the energy out of you. Its easy to fall into the trap of taking it as "work." To focus on yourself and getting out of there ASAP. Its also easy to focus too much on getting things done and neglecting relationships which is at the core of what we are called to do.
"God chose to use relationships"
You gotta be in tune with God to be filled with His grace and love daily.
If your not.... if one little part of you is out of place it shows in how you interact with the kids and they watch every LITTLE thing you do and say.
So far we haven't been able to do devo's or teach the youth about God.
We can't even get them to stop playing for 2 seconds.
We have been able to develop relationships though.
keep praying.
pray that God will open up the opportunity for the team to show and teach who He is in a real way.
