Like, Like, Like.....

Last Tuesday, we went to the South Carolina Baptist Convention (SCBC). It was a great time! Lots of men and women excited about God, Seminaries wanting you to get your Mdiv, lots of free random stuff, and of course a lot of important business. Having gone to things like this a few times I have kinda found my niche and am able to easily accomplish what I need to do. 

This year, I noticed something though. To fully understand this you have to know me and know that I love to people watch! As I was doing this throughout the day, I couldn't help but notice some guys, by their actions and conversations were playing the comparison game. You the know the drill, the young guy with the faux hawk, skinny jeans, plaid shirt and cool watch walks in. Automatically, there will be some youth pastors who look at a guy like that and think..."I bet he is such an awesome youth pastor!" As if the clothes you wear have anything to do with it. 

Then you will have the others, while in conversation, you can't help but hear them brag. Numbers this, numbers that. Numbers are definitely important. But, when you are using it to pat yourself on the back, watch out. 

I say all that to say this, I too am guilty of the comparison game. I see other youth guys and think, "man If only I could be more like that guy, I would be able to draw more students in." Or, "Wow, if i was funny like, or could communicate like, or came up with games like, or prayed like, or dressed like, or was creative like." Or "If I was at a Church like, If I had a youth room like, If I had a leadership team like, If I had technology like, If I had curriculum like, If I had more schools like, If I had a bigger budget like..." 

We can get on blogs and instagram, and twitter and drive ourselves crazy, if we aren't careful. 

Stephen Furtick says, "We are comparing our everyday, with everyones highlight reel." 

We can get ourselves into a lot of trouble when this happens. God designed each of us with the perfect gift set that we need to reach and impact the people God places in our lives. We can't doubt that and we shouldn't feel bad because we aren't as funny as the guy across town. MOST LIKELY you have something the other guy wishes he had in his skill set. 

When we try to be something we're not, we usually cause more harm than good. Let's be us! 

Craig Groeschel says it this way, "We're living for likes and looking for love." 

I'm so thankful God made us all so different! It takes everyone of us. With our different hair, clothes, games, sermons, prayers, methods, strategies, encouragement, short comings, pasts, love, etc. Let's stop the comparison game and use what God has blessed us with to reach as many as we can! It's a huge task to Walk Alongside Teens As They Journey With Jesus. Don't grow weary, Keep going!  

A Verse to encourage you today: 

"Your hands made me and fashioned me; Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments." - Psalm 119:73