undeserved opportunities

Phew.....

It's a wonder that I ever slack off or falter away from my relationship with God.... because despite my ignorance & lack of effort at times to spend time in the Word & talking to Him, He still blesses me with such amazing opportunities & experiences. It's all coming together, into the bigger picture of just how much Liberty Baptist's youth group has meant to my life as a whole. I was presented with the opportunity to speak tomorrow night for the youth group, while Ben & John Paul (the high school/middle school pastors) are on a leadership retreat with some of the youth. I thought alot of time/prayer would go into what I should talk about tomorrow, but almost instantly it hit me. Well, moreso the general topic... but today as I sat here reading & writing out my message's outline, it became very clear how important this youth group has been for me & who I've become up to this point in my life.

At first, I was merely going to talk about the masks we wear in life... especially during the years of middle/high school... where many feel like they have to change who they are depending on their environment, or who they're around. Putting on a mask for school, and changing masks to go to church, or to work, or even how we present ourselves online. As I sat here formulating my thoughts, the importance of community & fellowship amongst fellow believers inter-weaved itself into the topic at hand. I realized how my time spent as a student in the youth group, and how I was truly myself & comfortable there, shaped who I am now... and how the disconnect between that and how I acted at school was illogical (surprisingly enough... I was the quiet kid who kept to myself more often than not... lost in my random sketching/doodling). It was so liberating for me when I realized that, towards the end of my high school years.. and how important it was for those masks to be thrown away, and just be me.. no matter where I am or who I'm surrounded by. I can only hope at least 1 of the youth tomorrow night walks away from hearing the message, and strives to apply the necessary changes in their own life.

I was feeling a bit hesitant at first... because despite my usual nature, I'm not the biggest fan of public speaking. Luckily word got out that I was speaking this week, and the encouragement & excitement from various kids from the youth group & others has really motivated & pumped me up for tomorrow.

Welp, there you have it.... one step closer & one more experience lined up to keep me in-check & grounded in what I need to be doing with my life... bittersweet to leave in August for school, but exciting nonetheless.... and double-the-excitement when I'm able to come home to see all these youth again for events like Disciple Now weekend retreats and maybe random Wednesday & Sundays