Uncomfortable moments and quick convictions

Sometimes it's difficult to understand why God puts us in certain situations.

Mr. Youth Minister and I have been living in Miami for about three months, and while that's probably not a long time, it sure feels like we've undergone a lot of changes in that time frame.

Many days I ask myself the question, "Why, God? Why did you call us here?"

And I usually don't get an audible answer, but I do see pieces of the puzzle coming together.

Just the other day God confronted me with one of those "this is out of my comfort zone" situations.

Now before I explain my story, let me preface that although I know in my head that God has called his followers to love EVERYONE, sometimes it's hard...so don't judge.

With that being said, the other day I had to pick up a prescription at Walgreens. Now if you know anything about Miami, you know that taking a trip to Walgreens isn't a light task.

You have to battle traffic...which is ultimately controlled by crazy people who think blinkers are unnecessary and honk their horns at you if you're not moving before the light turns green.

Soooo, I'm making my way through the heavy traffic to Walgreens, and after almost having a few panic attacks, I made it to the parking lot.

And if you knew anything about me, you'd know that I did a little victory dance right outside my car door.

You know what they say, "little victories."

As I made my way through the parking lot I also almost got hit a few times by once again, those crazy drivers.

Frazzled, I stepped under the front awning to walk through the front door, and saw a Hispanic man hunched over leaning against the wall.

As I walked by he looked up and made eye contact with me...

This is the part where it's "out of my comfort zone."

I knew when he looked at me that he was going to ask me for money.

Now, in Alabama, at least in small town Alabama, we don't have many "homeless" people.

So when we moved to Miami, I wasn't to used to seeing so many people in those types of situations.

And I also wasn't used to the fact that some may not actually be homeless, they're just panhandlers. And I also wasn't used to the fact that some are a little unstable or have major addictions, so no, they don't want food...they want your money...and they want it now.

So you see, when I made eye contact with the man, my first thought was , "Oh no, I'm not sure if this guy is crazy or not...or really even needs my money..."

After making eye contact the man said, "Please mam, I don't usually do this, but I'm hungry, and I need money for food. Do you have any change you can give me."

 My next thought was brief, and without even really considering I said, "I don't have any change."

He then said, "It's OK. God bless."

Whew! Talk about a quick conviction.

"God bless?"

Really?

Here I was staring at a guy who really did need some kind of blessing, and he's the one blessing me.

So again without really thinking, I hurriedly walked into Walgreen's to the pharmacy counter.

As I stood in line I thought of the Hispanic man.

I then realized that without evening really trying I had let my uncomfortable feelings toward homeless people overshadow my convictions of helping and loving God's people.

Like so many of us do, I let me fears win out even though I know I have nothing and no one to fear accept God.

"If God is for me, who can be against me?"

I also thought about Peter when Jesus asked him three times, "Do you love me, Peter?" And Peter said, "Yes, Lord." And Jesus said, "Then feed my sheep."

Here I had a perfect opportunity to really love God's people and literally feed his sheep, not just through food, but through showing his love.

So after my quick conviction, I ran back through the store and outside to tell the man that I had found a little extra money to help him out.

"What would you like to eat?" I asked.

"Cookies," he said sheepishly.

"And to drink?" I asked.

"A coke."

So I went back inside, found some cookies, a coke, and a few extra things because I thought, "There's nothing nutritious about cookies and a coke."

After purchasing the food and my prescription, I went outside and handed him the bag of goodies.

 His eyes lit up, and then he began to tell me how he's been having a difficult season in his life. His brother had recently passed away, and he didn't want to ask his family for money.

He said he was grateful for the food, and if I needed any help with yard work or things fixed at my home he would love to do it for free, and that he could be found almost any day at Home Depot waiting for work.

We then exchanged a quick hug and he kissed me on the cheek.

In that moment, I received another piece to the puzzle, and realized that God's plan and purpose for us being here is far more amazing than I could have ever believed.

Through uncomfortable moments and quick convictions God is teaching me how to be loved by him, to really know him and in turn love his people.

I hope this brings you encouragement, and helps you to see that although we don't always understand God's plan, he really does have a purpose.

Even if it's facing some of your fears, bringing you out of your comfort zones and getting kissed on the cheek by a "homeless" man.

Until next time...

With His Love,
MYM Jessica

A 12-hour leap of faith :)

Whew! A lot has happened in the past few months. My husband and I moved from small town Alabama to Miami, Fla., where he accepted another youth ministry position. Now we’re slowing realizing that we are definitely small fish in a big pond...but that’s OK because our God is big and has great plans for our time here.

It wasn’t easy leaving Alabama, especially our family, friends and the youth we loved so much, but we knew that when the opportunity arose to move to Miami we had to take a leap of faith.

Adjusting to a new culture, the big city life, a new church and a new youth group hasn’t been easy, but it hasn’t been that hard either.

The hardest part is letting go...not forgetting, but moving on.

I’m not sure if any other youth minister’s wives have faced such a feeling, but I’m pretty sure there’s at least one other person who understands what I mean.

Since the move I’ve accrued much more free time than when I worked as a full time journalist, and my intentions when I first began this blog were to encourage and share with other youth minister’s wives.

So now that I am only working part-time, I figured it was time to restart what I began so many months ago.

As I try to keep up with this blog, I hope that someone out there will benefit from the journey God has set before me and the experiences I have gained along the way.

Until next time...

With His Love,
MYM Jessica

Full-time job, full-time ministry, full-time life

Balancing time for my job, time with my husband, time to clean my house, time for youth ministry, time for family, time for friends...and time for ME

Being a wife requires a lot of my time and adding the youth ministry part requires even more. I'd say 80 percent of my time is spent with youth or at church, and while I love spending time with the youth and serving God, sometimes...my heart isn't there because I'm worn out.

I make a 30-minute commute to a 40 to 50 hour-a-week job at a small daily newspaper as a general assignment reporter. This job not only brings me joy, but it's nerve-wracking dealing with people's lives and emotions and making sure everything is correct and almost perfect so that people don't complain...because they will.

I then make a 30-minute drive home to my wonderful husband (WH), who sometimes cooks supper for us, but sometimes not, so I have to cook and then clean and then, honestly most of the time it's time for bed.

WH and I do try to spend as much time as we can together, but sometimes that time is even hard to find.

Then Wednesday, Thursday, sometimes Friday or Saturday, and Sunday, I come home from work and begin my second "job" (I call it this because it's not really a job...it's a joy, but you get what I mean). I love this line of "work" because it's what my husband is called to do and what I feel like I've been called to do as well, or at least help with.

Then in between all of those activities I find time to call my mom, my brother, my friends...and sometimes...only sometimes...do I find time to meet up with them for some bonding time.

So with all of this being said, and after all of that is done, then I have time for ME.

Now, don't take this in a selfish sort of way. It is, but it isn't.

I know we should serve one another (Gal. 5:13, 1 Peter 4:10), but I have also learned whole-heartedly over the past few months and days (after trials and tribulations over the past year)... that unless I make time for ME then I won't be able to server others effectively.

I know what you're thinking..."No, you need to make time for God. That's when you will be able to serve more effectively."

But that is actually what I mean exactly...making time for ME means taking time for Me and Elohim (Hebrew word for God).

I came up with this acronym to remind myself when I'm being selfish and wanting ME time...that what I really need is time alone with Him.

Sometimes time alone with God means spending time in prayer. Sometimes it means spending time reading the Bible, God's word. Sometimes it means time worshiping Him by myself, singing songs of praise. And sometimes it means just being in his presence, meditating on His word, His silence...without thinking about any worries, stress, anxieties, schedules, to-do lists....just thinking about Him and basking in his glorious presence.

Even Jesus took time out of his busy "schedule" to spend time with God (Mark 1:35).

I found out yesterday that I don't do this enough. And you know what...even sometimes...spending time with God means spending time with people...my family...my friends...the Church.

Yesterday I spent the day with my mom and saw my brother, step-brother and step-dad.

Spending time with them was refreshing...away from my dirty house...away from taking care of someone else...and even away from youth ministry...

I was supposed to have to work this weekend, but somehow I was able to come home for a few days.

Now I know it was a Godsend. He knew I needed time away, time with people he put in my life.

And now I know the importance of making time for ME...you should do the same :)

Resting in His Peace,
MYM

P.S. How do you manage your time as a youth minister's wife?

Why I created Mrs. Youth Minister

I have only been a youth minister’s wife for one year, but I’ve been working alongside my husband (then boyfriend) for the past four years.

I’ve learned a lot in these four years, and even more since we’ve been married.

I didn’t exactly “grow up in the church,” but I knew who God was and my parents wanted me to have a relationship with him. We didn’t go to church every Sunday and Wednesday, and I was never part of a youth group.

So with that being said…I never thought I’d be a woman who would marry a youth minister or be involved in the lives of teenagers on a daily basis.

Now I absolutely love working with teenagers and showing them Christ’s love.

And while I love this opportunity to mentor and nurture youth to love Christ, sometimes it’s difficult being a youth minister’s wife let alone a wife.

That’s why I wanted to create this blog.

I’ve been to the other youth minister/pastor wives websites and blogs and while they are interesting and somewhat relatable, I feel like I can’t ever find the advice I’m looking for.

So this blog, I hope, will serve as a way to connect with other youth minister’s wives.

I want to be able to give one another practical tips on how to handle a houseful of teenagers, how to stay involved with the entire church and not just the youth ministry and also many other “tricks” on how to love God, live life and be an effective youth minister’s wife…not just to the youth, but our husbands as well.

So far it’s been an interesting journey, and I hope that this road trip through life and ministry will continue to reveal God’s will for each of us and His glory to the nations.

Saved by Grace,

MYM