Friday, August 24, 2012

Love Wins Every Time!


Fellow Leaders, 
 
   Love unexpectedly.

   Youth workers love surprises—but too often our spouses end up with the predictable and stable part of our lives. While there’s nothing wrong with stability, it’s also a good idea to take the same creativity that helps you think up crazy games and invent an unexpected way to love your spouse. 
   This week, make it a goal to love your husband or wife in an unexpected, surprising way.
   Love your spouse in front of your students.
There’s nothing wrong with letting your students see that you love your husband or wife. But it’s important to remember that your students are watching your relationship; it might be the most important lesson you teach them all week.
   Love your spouse in front of your kids.
Same thing goes with your own children (if you’ve got them). They need to see you in love with each other, too. That doesn’t mean that everything in the home is perfect, but through the good, bad, and the ugly you share a loving commitment to each other and to Christ.
   Love your spouse when no one is watching.
A consistent loving relationship can’t only show up when people are watching. Make sure you love your spouse when you aren’t trying to be a role model to your teenager. Youth ministry takes a toll on marriages. Sadly we’ve seen it first-hand far too many times. One of the best ways to model healthy marriage within your ministry context is to do the hard work of building a healthy marriage behind the scenes.
  Loving our students – that is the other requirement for a good youth leader – first we love God, then our family, then our students.  That is a hard order to live by at times, especially when we see such a need around us.  Who is the student in your ministry that needs to feel love the most this week?  Take some time to spend with them to show them they are loved, especially during a week that they may feel left out, abandoned, or far from loved.
Love wins every time!

I Love each and every one of you, and am proud to be in this ministry along side of you. I'm always available to chat.  Just call  865-250-8499.

Pastor Rob.