Take Ownership : Jonathan Crabtree
This post is aimed at everyone, everyone is included and no one is exempt. We all need to take responsibility for our own world, that being the places we do life, so where we work, where we shop, where we hang out, all of this is our world, and all of our world needs Jesus. Now I know what your thinking, how can I make a difference in all of those places that were just mentioned? Well I don't mean to be corny, but every little helps, stretching out a hand of friendship, kindness and love where ever you are makes a huge difference and speaks out for your faith. If you regularly shop at the same shop, make an effort to get to know the staff there rather than ignoring them. You would be surprised how much of an impact that can have on a person, and how much that will make you stand out from the crowd. The rest of the world pay no attention, but you take an interest. It will make you stand out like a sore thumb! The problem we tend to have is we categorise outreach to a specific type of person. The outgoing type, or the outreach pastor at church, or people older and more mature. The fact is, none of those people live in your world, yes your worlds may cross over in a few places, you may share the same church or the same supermarket, but the fact is you are in touch with different people, speak to different people and live different lives, so no one else in the world will be able to reach out to the same people as you. And yes, your outreach pastor may have that as a job, but no one is a better suited outreach pastor for your walk of life than you, because you are there day in and day out. Don't just rely on other people take ownership and get involved yourself! Also, if you feel under equipped for the job, step out and see how God will support you! It says in the bible that god provides anything to those who ask, if your short on some courage pray about it and watch yourself grow in strength, you feeling quiet or unable to string a sentence together under pressure? pray about it and god will provide you with the words to say! God isn't going to let you get into a situation where you aren't prepared or don't have the skills to succeed, he is only going to stretch you a little to build your character, but if you never step out your never going to grow! we need to put some faith in god and put ourselves in a place where we aren't comfortable.
Just to end with, I want to send a message out to the young people like me. You need to stop letting your youth get the best of you. Just because your young doesn't mean you cant achieve anything or succeed. Look at the bible, God used 11 young people who were mostly teenagers, and they founded the church as we know it! The disciples were all young people, so if anyone tells you your too young or if you feel that in your head, shake it off and tell yourself otherwise! Your born to thrive from the second you walk the earth, don't spend your time waiting to be older, because you have never been as old as you are right now so make the most of it!
(Also thankyou to Beth Rollo for the amazing photo I used in the graphic!)
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