The Chronicles of Melinda

For some  of them -we are their only source of positive adult guidance on a weekly basis.  We listen to the issues they have with school, dating, friendship, parents, temptations of peer pressure and…well…drama.  And sometimes the things they tell us can be overwhelming.  They tell us things they won’t tell their parents or talk to their parents about.  They trust us with some of their deepest darkest…and unless their lives are in danger we maintain confidentiality as we help see them through some things.

But there’s just a little something something that God has gifted people who like to serve with the youth with so that we stay committed to their spiritual journey and getting them connected with God.  But on the same end…for some reason there are some out there who know they feel that pull to step in and serve but are fighting it tooth and nail (I did that when it came to being a Spiked Community Group Leader until God just smacked me and made it evident…there was no ignoring his call).  And maybe there are some out there who think they can, but they don’t step up because they don’t think they “have what it takes.”  Well let me tell you—if you feel a little pull—God is telling you you have what it takes.

Serving in youth ministry can be as simple as checking them in to our kiosk on Sunday mornings, making sure the room is prepared, making sure the snack bar is stocked or a little more involved - like being a table game leader during the icebreaker games or a community group leader and mentor who will be accessible when they have their drama and crisis issues (that can sometimes seem trivial and sometimes tug your heart to the core) as well as when they are seeking praise and congratulations.

Maybe you scrolled by my blog because…God pulled you to read it today as just another cue that he’s trying to tell you you are ready.  God knows that you are up to the challenge.

Here’s the deal - you have been a teenager before (and maybe like some of us you think you still are)!  Therefore you are already half equipped to hang out with them.  Times may be different….but the issues they face today are really the same.  And hey - if you don’t LIKE teenagers (hey it’s true- some people just can’t deal with adolescence a second time around)…no problem.  Some serving roles don’t require a lot of interaction WITH the teenagers.  And if you want to serve, but you have a teen and want to give them their space…well no worries.  We’ll find a spot where you can be “incognito”.

So yeah - I am putting out a serving call…we need some good volunteers in our youth ministry.  Just a little of your time on a Sunday.  And if you feel a deeper call…an hour and a half on Wednesday nights AT NHC from 7:00PM to 8:30PM.  You up for it?  Hit up Adam at Adam@newhorizonchurch.tv and let him know…you are up for the challenge.  That’s all you gotta do and we’ll do the rest.

I promise - if it turns out to not be for you…we’ll help you plug into another serving area at NHC.

So Friday  night - a gang of us (several NHC peeps) hit the movies to contribute to the $41.1 Billion Dollars Madea Goes to Jail brought in this weekend.  Now if you know me - I normally am not an opening day movie goer because I hate long lines and crowded theaters.  And it was selling out like hot-cakes.  But for Madea - I made the exception.  I love me some Mah- to the dang D-E-A!  So much that I’m probably going to see it again this Friday (and I NEVER do that - see the same movie twice in the theater) with some peeps who haven’t seen it yet and want to - just for the sake of going.

Saturday I spent a good part of the early morning and afternoon doing educational outreach for Animal Control (earning me a whopping 5 extra hours of pay) and then we headed to some friends for eats, laughs, cards and just hangin’ out. 

Sunday- well Sunday WE headed to NHC.  Yep - the BFG decided he’s ready to give church another go again after one of those tell-tale bad experiences at a smaller church.  He’s been serving with the youth and has come on occassion, but recently decided in one random statement “I think I’m going to try going to church on Sundays again!”  Hallelujah!  And Pastor Dave hit home on the heart today so the timing couldn’t have been better.  So better in fact….that later on the way home he said “I really needed that”.  Not only that - he wants to try  to bring a friend next weekend that he thinks might benefit from the series.  So come check out the House of Blues.

Oh yeah - want to give a major shout out to my girl Kristy who belted out “Hurt” by Christina Aguilara.  She blew it away.  I got a sneak peak at rehearsal - but WOW!  She BROUGHT IT!  I’m proud to know such an aspiring young singer who I’ve seen blossoming up from the Youth Worship leader when I first started coming to NHC.  She laid the smack down with such confidence and well- - - you had to be there to appreciate it.  She sucked you in and kept you there.  It was awesome.

Well we finally moved out of the  (not so) “temporary” trailer into the new Animal Control building officially on Friday.  And I now have a nice, shiny new office!  Come by and say hey.  I’ve got room for you to come in and sit and hang out.  I am now officially all unpacked and set up and ready for company, irate owners and complainants and whoever else strolls through the doors.  Bring it!

As I type a shiny new roundpen has been unloaded and set up at my house and I’m so excited to go home.  Now to get the footing deliverred.  (Only my horsey friends can appreciate my excitement!)

I know this much - rehearsal last night was hooooooooooooooooooot and I’m fixin’ to tell you you do NOT want to miss worship so don’t be one of those people who lags in late when the music is half through. 

Don’t forget - new service time - still 6:30PM Saturday night, but Sunday is 9:30AM and 11:00AM (instead of 11:30am).  We will be there bright and early for first service.  Hope to see you there. 

My Valentine’s Day goodies in addition to dinner and a movie consisted of a dozen of my favorite peach colorred roses (deliverred to work Friday)  and a trail of fresh rose petals that led me to a GIGANTOR teddy bear AND a dozen red roses!  Also got a cute singing smaller bear - if you know me you know I love them singin’ toy animals and will run the batteries right out of them.  But this one was extra special, too. Add to that God and warm fuzzies…and what else does a woman need?

Yeah - I know, you shouldn’t have to wait for one particular day of the year to feel special…and I don’t (feel special only on ONE day that is).  But it was very sweet and romantic and so…well…yeah I’m giddy about it.  

Taira got BOTH of the stuffed animals she couldn’t decide between and she was so cute all cuddled up with them in the backseat on the way to moms for dinner Saturday night.  Mom she made seafood GUMBO and fah-shizzle Momma put her foot in it (and I just had some for lunch for round 3).  She also got some V-day prizes.  He got her a rose trio and I gave her a red stuffed V-Day dog.  (Cuz she loves red).  Then we all watched a movie and then hit the road to get home extra late.  

NHC bound Sunday  morning.  I felt very busy - rushing around.  In the absence of our ever aging Youth Pastor I deliverred the message to our teens to wrap up our Lovesick series.  It was focussed on getting them to consider the other side of relationships as  how they treat the other person.  Respecting them physically, spiritually, emotionally and honoring God in the way they treat them.  I really saw some wheels turning and hope that God really put it on their heart to make some changes. Oh yeah - I also rapped Heartless - and Linc laid down a funky vocal to it!  I’m no Kanye- but it was cool.

Could be me - but the vibe at NHC seemed OFF da Chain dis weekend.  For those who are confused - that is a GOOD thing.  So make sure you are there next weekend cuz House of Blues is gonna hit home with a lot of folks for the next couple of weeks.

You’re getting old - but you still haven’t caught up with me yet!   Hope you have a good one.

 Hey - I have good reason.  I’ve been busy.  Let’s see - we had Spiked small groups AT NHC last week (and they happen again tonight so get your teenager in!)  Someone made a big move and stepped up to the plate to serve as a small group leader so I’m praising God for making some big moves in their life.  Even to the point where they are considering stepping into the church on the regular for service after staying out of it due to one of those negative church experiences we all know about.  God’s on the move…jump on the ship or get left behind.  (Don’t worry…He does have a tendency to swing it back around and give you more opportunities to jump on).

In addition - while working on plugging in new serving volunteers I found one who has two teenagers who will be reaping the benefits of being in a Community Group as a result of their parent’s simply signing up to serve.  God does big things sometimes….quite unexpectedly.  These are two kids who weren’t even coming to Spiked due to their parents attendance time that conflicts with Spiked service….so this is a very good thing.

Adam deliverred an awesome message to the youth last weekend about not putting all of their eggs in one basket when it comes to life and relationships.  Let’s just say - he really drove the point home when he smashed a whole carton of eggs right there on the stage.  I think they got it.

The weather has been phenomenal and I have been taking advantage of it by working horses and getting them back into shape.  Gonna be a lot of riding and showing this year!  I got the fever (it’s really just the weather).  I was out working two horses last night and didn’t come into the house until between 8 and 8:30PM last night. 

I finally did have to buck up and buy a new washing machine.  I really didn’t want to and had plans to use that money to pay off a debt, but God must be waiting for the right moment on that.  But I will tell you that we hooked the new washer up last night and it just amazed me. You don’t realize how raggedy your old stuff was until you replace it with new.  But I got my money’s worth out of the old washer since it was free when I got it used and it has been washing lots of clothes over the past few years.  But…it was time.

There are lots of prayers needed out there so don’t forget to get some God time in and do some praying.  There are so many sick people who need prayers of support and healing and people having hard times right now due to this economic crisis we’re in.  So make sure you’re also praising God for the things He HAS done for you and stop worrying about what you think he hasn’t done.  There’s a lot on God’s plate and we all know he can handle it…but sometimes you just have to be patient in waiting for him to dish out your serving. 

COME TO NHC TONIGHT - 7:00PM!    

We’re moving community groups BACK to NHC and one of the reasons is that we hope this will make getting into a small group easier for you.  Everyone is familiar with the church, maybe you can carpool with a friend…and we know how much you love NHC!

So, hey - you can even grab a friend you’d like to help bring to Christ and come check out community groups TONIGHT at NHC. 

We’re talking about Dating God’s way….and we all know dating is a big area of pressure at your age.  (Yeah - even your adult leaders can remember their Middle School and High School dating years).  So come hang out with peeps your age and let’s see what God has to say about it!

If that’s not convincing enough for you….we have PIZZA!

Let’s see- went to a friend’s to watch the SuperBowl and eat lots of unwholesome foodstuffs (resulting in an allergic reaction and a dose of Benadryl that knocked me out for the last two minutes of the Super Bowl.  Now I’m not BIG into football - but before I zonked out that was one of the most exciting football games I’ve ever watched.  Go Cardinals - Go Steelers.  They both deserved to win that game.

Oh - on the way home we saw an ALBINO deer.  Beautiful!!!  Then an owl smacked into my car and I, being the AC person I am, had to go back and check.  He was knocked out so I put him in the back of my car since he was still alive intending to check him out at the house.  Well he woke up and started flapping around so I had to pull over then put my hoodie over him and wrap him up for the rest of the ride.  Got him home and took him out of my hoodie and he turned out to be okay and flew away.  I think I heard him last night.  (Okay - well we’ve got tons of owls - so maybe he’s making friends in the woods across from me since I took him miles from home).

Anyway - I was very disappointed that after all the WINTER STORM ADVISORIES yesterday (even resulting in my ICS 400 class being postponed til next week in anticipation of snow) I woke up to NO snow today.  Not that I’m a BIG snow fan - - - cuz I really hate the mess when the snow melts…but I was ready for it.  They predict snow - we don’t get any.  They predict no snow and we get shut down for a week!  What gives?  I’m thinking I could be a weatherwoman!  Why not get paid to GUESS what the weather is going to do and be wrong and still get paid.  WOW!  LOL!

Our Middle School and High School groups are moving back to NHC tonight.  I think it’s a good opportunity for some kids who have not been able to be connected in groups to get connected since NHC is a pretty neutral location for their parents.  So if you know some teens that need to get connected tell them to be at NHC tonight at 7:00PM and we’ll get them connected with other teens their age and great adult volunteers to mentor them along.

I’m so proud of a few of my friends.  They have recently joined churches where they live!  Congrats to Michelle for joining up with Gateway Church in Texas AND for getting connected into a group this week and to Belinda for joining up with Brick City Community Church in Sanford and signing up for some serving!  It’s so nice to have your long time friends connect to the God side of your life!

My Tuesday night small group is kicking off into some new Bible Studay on Faith revolving around Hebrews 11 and the characters referenced in that Chapter.  Our group has a couple of new members, too!  So it’s pretty exciting.

On the praises note, I have successfully gotten my 2008 taxes filed!  My washing machine which was having ”issues” the other night (prompting me to think that’s where my tax money was going to have to go rather than catching up some bills and unpaid debts) decided to start working right again. (not saying that wasn’t a warning to be prepared).  So I can do laundry this week!  HA HA!  My roommate is in the process of buying a property that is going to be perfect for her.  One of my very best friends got a new job this week!  I just recruited a few new folks to Student Ministry from the serving call and as a result of the call it looks like we’ll also be plugging 2 teens in to Community groups who otherwise may not have been.
God is good and it is a good day!

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• @Dougbug24 You know you missed it! 09:26:36 PM November 23, 2009 from web in reply to Dougbug24