A Need and An Opportunity
by Gail Rodgers
Do you want to talk to a mentor about being a mentor?
http://christianwomentoday.com/chat/askus.html
This week I received an email from a young man in high school somewhere in the world. He stumbled across one of our articles on hearing God. He told me that it was hard for him to hear God in the midst of all the things that life throws at teens. He took the time to write and say it was good to find that others, who have struggled with some of the same questions, have found some answers.
Kids are hungry for truth and authentic life experience that backs it up. Here on this blog there is rich life experience and a track record of God’s faithfulness backed up by the stories of your faith.
This young man’s email reminds us that we are not too old, or too “out of the loop” to share with the next generation. We have faith that has stood the test of time and they are looking for just that very thing.
Psalm 78:4-6 says “We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done. ..so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.”
Last month alone we had over 500 questions come in from young people who are turning to the internet looking for answers. This young audience is hungry for spiritual truth.Often we feel we aren’t equipped or comfortable to reach out to the youth of our day. Yet we have that track record of God’s faithfulness in our lives that they are looking for. That’s the need.
Here is the challenge. Will you be available to speak to a young person? It may be in your neighborhood, or at work. It may be online through TruthMedia. We are looking for volunteers who will be willing to answer one email a month, a week or a day. Whatever works into your schedule. We provide online training and resources and a secure link that all email goes through so personal email addresses are not published. We provide resources and the opportunity to send a question back to the mentor pool if you aren’t comfortable with it.
Will you take the challenge to tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of our God? http://truthmedia.com/team/mentoring/
Lord God, give us a heart to love and care for this spiritually hungry generation that is growing up right in front of us. Give us courage to tell our stories of Your faithfulness. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Question: Do you feel the next generation is open to the story of your faith?
About the Author: http://thelife.com/experience/devotionalforwomen/authors/gail-rodgers/
Dear ones,
Amen to the prayers for Michelle and Kevin. Father God touch them so that they KNOW YOU are walking with them thru this rough time. And as someone has already said, please reassure them that their child is safely in YOUR hands and they will all meet one day in YOUR perfect time when YOU come to take us all home.
Amen to the mentoring of youth. I am already doing this online.
Many of you know that we were missionaries and that neither of our 2 kids are walking w/Jesus. We too pray that God will do whatever it takes to bring them back to HIM. And as someone said, this world is far different than it was for most of us as kids.
We pray for the youth at our church and try to be godly examples in their lives. We have numerous kids from single parent families so we try to be ‘grand-parent’s to them, and some of the men stand in as a dad to them as well.
I think HE has given our church body a ministry to the ‘widow’s and orphans’ for they comprise most of our kids. God bless them; and all of you who work w/kids may HE continue to allow you to speak HIS love into their lives whenever possible.
Andi
Michelle, I agree in unison with everyone for the uplifting of your burden to our precious heavenly Father during this time of loss. I, too, have never gone through this loss, but as much as I love my sons, I can only imagine how bad the hurt and pain. But, that hurt and pain is taken away by the greatest love you will know which is from our Lord Jesus. He alone knows the reasons why things happen, and we may never understand why, but He does. He did by His stripes on that cross for us to take the pain. I pray for comfort and peace for you and your family at this time. I pray for you to feel His presence at all times for your comfort.
I am a teacher in the middle school and God has placed me in situations to mentor them and their parents and I share what God has done in my life and my through my faith. My students ask questions concerning church and God and He gives me the wisdom to know what to say appropriately. Their parents and I have prayed many times together. I am also mentoring a college student in our youth right now. Plus, my son, who is college age, has gotten away from church. The seed has been planted since he was young. He knows God’s Word and still witnesses for God, but he needs to be in church. I have a been praying a hedge of protection around him and my faith has shown me God will intervene and bring him back. I have to keep my faith strong everyday because if I don’t, satan will have control of me, and I have come too far for him to win out. I have been through a lot these past few years, and have come out of it all, because of my faith. To the one who has her child away from church now, I know what you are going through. I believe you are Jerseyangel. I bind these things together with you in Jesus’ name you to have peace and let your faith take care of it all. It have found it out to be true, not to push but leave it to God.
Michelle, keep up your faith and He will bring you through it. Just give Him time to do what He has to do in His own timing.
I bind these things in Jesus’ name and ask them to be bound in heaven. God has given us the keys to do so, and I claim a victory in His name!
I am so sorry Michelle, My prayres and thoughts are with you.
Yes, Michelle, I pray God will give you strength to get through this difficult time as I know He will. He understands your pain in losing a child. God Bless You both and your little ones. He will carry you through this time in your life to great things for your family.
In Christ,
Debra
O Lord, we who haven’t been there can’t know the pain that Michelle and Kevin are experiencing right now, but we know that you do, and that Jesus bore that pain on the cross. So we lift them up to you, the God of all comfort. Though they may never know the why, may they be able entrust that precious little life to the One Who does.
Gail, I will pray about that challenge.
Michelle, I, too, come along side Romel and Patti in the prayer for you. May the Lord cover you and hold you in this time of sorrow. My son and daughter-in-law had a miscarriage about 2 years ago. It is a devastating loss. Allow yourself to grieve. We do pray for you and your husband.
Good stuff Sharonb and we praise GOD for it
LORD, I agree with Patti’s prayer for Michelle. Be with her LORD, IN JESUS Name, amen.
i am very blessed to have all of my grandchildren in church and my 15 year old is saved and involved with the youth group just this week they went to feed the homeless in a soup kitchen we begain taking them when they were babies and soon our children recommeted their lives to The Lord
sharon b
It is heartbreaking to see the young people wandering without purpose in their lives. It seems to be all around us and has been for some time now. It seems that by an early age, they have experienced and had things that many of us didn’t dream of until we were much older. Our TV shows and movies depict unreal expectations of life as well as uncommitted marriages and throw away children. How very very sad and it isn’t a surprise so many are wanting answers.
I praise God for mentors….as you show your love, share your life and testimony, and by simply listening to them can mean so much. May the Lord provide many to love these young people….that they will know and understand thru these mentors..the love of Jesus, His sacrifice..and that they will come to know Him personally in their lives.
Ladies….I would ask for prayer for one of our young women who comes here to the blog. It is Michelle. She has been going through some very very difficult times….counseling, new medications to try and just yesterday…she miscarried. She is hurting emotionally and physically. If all of you will pray for her, I know she will appreciate it so much.
Dear Jesus,
We lift Michelle up to you today. Lord..minister to her as she reaches out for comfort. Be her comforter at this moment…wrap your arms around her and just love her. Lord…we pray that Michelle will simply rest in You…..knowing that You are in control of her life and will never…no never, ever leave her. We lift up her sweet husband, Kevin, as he is also heartbroken. Give him the strength he needs during this time to care for Michelle and the two other little ones.
Lord, sometimes we just don’t understand. Sometimes..we just have to take Your hand……and walk into the unknown, trusting like a child. Thank You Lord, that we can come to you in times like this. In Jesus Name…..Amen
Romel, I am sure the young people love to work with you. Mentors are so important, especially because young people do not want to listen to their own parents. As and educator, my students respect what I have to say. But if I tell the same thing to my own children, they think I don’t know what I am talking about. It truly takes a village to raise the children.
Thanks Judy for your encouragement. I am mentoring three young sweet girls at the moment.
It’s truly a privilege to be a part of their lives and successes much more to serve our beloved LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. I know this is one of my purposes why GOD is keeping me here on earth.
I would like to be a FAT Christian as long as I live.
FAT = Faithful, Available, Teachable!
Thanks Gail, This is a devotion close to my heart. I have four children, three boys and a daughter. They are in teens or early twenties. My husband and I have sent the example for our kids. We took them to church every SUnday. We said grace at meals. We read from the Bible. That is a big step for my husband, as he is of a different faith. I actively participated in being a teacher for their religious education instruction. The oldest seems to be firm in her faith. As soon as she moved away recently, she immediately sought out a new place to worship. The middle boys, as soon as they made their confirmation, stopped going to church. I have talked to our paster, and he tells me not to push, as they will come back. I pray that they do. One is in the stage where he is actively questioning whether there even is a God. My youngest has just mad his confirmation. He seems to want to actively participate in our church. I pray that is faith continues to grow. IT is hard to sit back and watch your children leave the faith of their youth. I put them in “God’s hand’s. I did the best I could. I believe they will eventually come back. I hope it is very soon.
Yes it is important for them the have great mentors. I try to mentor my students whenever I can and share my faith when appropriate. It has to be done in a very respectful, loving way. Sometimes they need another adult to confirm what they already know.
Thanks Gail, It is true many young people are lost, seeking direction often from families that have lost touch with who God is.We have a generation being raised without going to church or even discussing the things of God. Life is so hard for many of the teens I work with abuse, neglect, anger,fear. The Youth today often stand alone in their addictions without parental support or even knowledge at times. They are facing things we as teenagers of an older generation could not possibly imagine. Consider being a mentor Romel it is so rewarding and the rest of you too. Many good responses weekly come from all of you represented here. I enjoy reading although I do not always have time to respond. God bless you all.
Gail, it is very encouraging to hear our young people are asking questions about the Lord and that you received over 500 questions last month! Praise the Lord!!
Romel, I have been reading your responses and I think you would make a terrific mentor. You go Girl! May the Lord be with you and guide you through the Holy Spirit. God Bless you.
Thanks Gail. Most of my life I answer the challenge. Quoting you:
“Here is the challenge. Will you be available to speak to a young person? It may be in your neighborhood, or at work. It may be online through TruthMedia. We are looking for volunteers who will be willing to answer one email a month, a week or a day. Whatever works into your schedule. We provide online training and resources and a secure link that all email goes through so personal email addresses are not published. We provide resources and the opportunity to send a question back to the mentor pool if you aren’t comfortable with it.”
Yes, I’m available. I have gone thru the training of being a Mentor but in the process of moving to another place. I will have my proper internet connection to answer the call then. It would be in three weeks.
Another quote:
Psalm 78:4-6 says “We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done. ..so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.”
Thank YOU LORD for the privilege of serving YOU. Count me in LORD and help me not to waiver, be afraid, or be discouraged at anytime answering the need and taking the opportunity to answer the need. With YOUR help LORD I can do it. I must depend on YOUR guidance, help, instructions and on YOUR word all the time. I know YOU are with me to the ends of the earth.
I love YOU FATHER.
I love YOU LORD JESUS.
I love YOU HOLY SPIRIT.