Locked In: My dive into Youth

One thing you should understand about me before reading this blog, I have NEVER wanted to work in youth. My passion is for the children of our nation and the future children of my generation. I'm a mother, a nurturer, a caretaker. I've always limited this to meaning I would be a mother to the mother-less, but only for children/woman ministries.

Yes, I know children are youth, but I wanted my Calling to be limited to ten years old and younger.

Well, God thinks it's funny to tell me to do what I dislike (something about moving me out of my comfort zone to "grow..."), so when He finally decided to poke through that screen I talked about in my other blog (the one where you can keep contact with God but not entirely let Him in), the more my Calling came through.

I finally accepted it, with reluctant joy (because don't let me fool you, I'm stoked but in a nervous kind of way), and told my best friend: a youth pastor. (I know, my life is all kinds of ironic.)

She, of course, already knew and just kinda giggled at my giddy obedience.

So, last week I was hanging out with my friend and she, also a youth lover/leader, tells me she is holding a youth girls lock-in this weekend. You may think my reaction was the same as yours,

"Locked in a church with teenage GIRLS for a night?! You MUST be crazy."

But...it wasn't. And before I could come to my senses, I blurted out and asked if I could go with her and help out. 

My terror only increased when she said, "Of course," and soon became palpable. I didn't like teenagers when I was one, so what in the world would make me want to hang out with them!?

Jesus. That's who. 

He has changed my heart and helped me realize that some of the people I'm supposed to be a mother to (spiritually), are actually within the youth groups of our nation.

So, without further adieu, I am taking a dive into youth ministry. I'm nervous and have no idea what to expect.

Already Satan has plotted against me with fun distractions. As soon as I said I was definitely going, a friend says he'll be in town, a crawfish boil is scheduled, a disco is to be had, and I'm to be invited to it all! I don't know about you but that just makes me laugh!

This is my prayer request right now, that God would do whatever He needs to in my heart to get me ready for this laid back girlfriend weekend. I'm pretty excited for what He can do in the girls' lives, but I just KNOW this weekend will have a bigger impact on me than it probably will on the girls. Oh, and pray for protection. That's good too. ;)

Ha...God's funny yall. Hilarious, in fact.

--Maggie Mae