Brothers, Sisters, Mothers, Fathers

^{1 Timothy 5:1 "Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity."}


Over the past couple years as a youth leader, I have really focused my time and energies on my small group guys and other guys in the youth group. For the most part, I didn't make a huge effort to connect with the girls too much because  I figured I'm a guy leader, I should invest in the guys, and because of some of the precautions you need to take as being a guy leader. Being 1 on 1 with the opposite gender is something I think you should never do as a leader. But I took it even farther by not really talking to them a whole bunch. 


So ladies, I apologize. I realized I should've made for of an effort. Some of the these girls need an older brother to look up to. Someone who isn't flirting with them and looking to date them. A positive influence. 


The verse above  says basically treat everyone as family. family are people you are close to and don't ignore. If a younger girl is my sister, I need to treat her as one, with absolute purity as the verse indicates. So next ministry I am in, I'm still lovin on my guys, but I won't be afraid to be a brother to the ladies either. 

Like Your Last

If you haven't heard yet, I will soon be leaving Crystal Valley Youth Group. God has called me to other places. I will be in Hawaii this summer for an internship and returning the next fall, as hopefully an RA.

After Adam announced I would be leaving, many people came up and gave me a hug and told me how much they would miss me. One of my small group guys gave me about 5 hugs.

As I was taking it all in, I was wishing that I had done more. That I had prayed for them more while I was them or that I had a deeper conversation with the students. And I started to tear up. I was really going to miss this place. 

It was during this moment I felt the Spirit saying to me: Nate, minister to people as if it's your last time with them. 

It could be the last time you get to pray for them, to talk to them, to tell them what they may need to hear.

Now, taken literally, this phrase could get carried away. But it's the attitude that is important. To do ministry like it's your last time. To go out with a bang so to speak, but to strive to do that every time. Imagine how your ministry and life might be different. We aren't guaranteed tomorrow.

As the apostle paul says, "¹⁵Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is."

The Righteous Man

I thought this Psalm was a beautiful picture of a righteous man, perhaps a counter to the proverbs 31 woman, although both passages have good things for both men and women to strive after. Take some time and reflect through it.

Psalm 112

 ¹ Praise the LORD.
       Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
       who finds great delight in his commands.
 ² His children will be mighty in the land;
       the generation of the upright will be blessed.
 ³ Wealth and riches are in his house,
       and his righteousness endures forever.
 ⁴ Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
       for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.
 ⁵ Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely,
       who conducts his affairs with justice.
 ⁶ Surely he will never be shaken;
       a righteous man will be remembered forever.
 ⁷ He will have no fear of bad news;
       his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
 ⁸ His heart is secure, he will have no fear;
       in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.
 ⁹ He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor,
       his righteousness endures forever;
       his horn will be lifted high in honor.
 ¹⁰ The wicked man will see and be vexed,
       he will gnash his teeth and waste away;
       the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.