Teaching the Youth Group!

I recently had the opportunity to teach the Youth Group for the first time ever! In fact just recently I had my first teaching experience ever! (Diana and I taught the Elevation 1st and 2nd graders)
However teaching the Youth was a whole different animal for me, but let's take a look back at a few things.

#1. A few years ago I would not have been able to sit in front of a group of more than 3-4 people and talk about anything.
#2. I am a firm believer that God prepares us for His calling in and through our jobs to be a light for His Kingdom!
#3. Had I not decided to try my hand at selling Life Insurance I would never have been able to speak in front of people.
#4. God will take you through many things in your life, but they always lead to a path of serving Him. The rest is up to you and to whether or not you want to follow His lead. I know that if I am going to learn a new dance, I want the Master of that dance to do the leading.
#5. God has the most unique reckless yet masterful way of revealing things to us in and through our lives!

Ok to sum up what I am saying. About 5 years ago I went to work for American Income Life. At this point in my life I had never, ever spoke in front of people. EVER! This was something that they did on a weekly basis. They picked random people to stand and deliver some encouraging words on sales, business, attitude, leadership, or just about anything that pertains to all of the above. Had I not been subject (forced) to do this, I probably would still be terrified of speaking in public, but as I stood in front of the Youth I began to feel more and more like I was doing what I was called to do. To speak to people of God, His desires for us, and everything that this involves.

God used this company filled with nonbelievers to mold me into being able to share His gospel with people who need to hear it. Though the hardest part of this process was not the fact of being afraid to stand in front of people and talk, but it was more about being afraid to stand and talk about God in front of people. Finally, after years and I mean YEARS of fighting His calling for my life I have finally started to embrace what He was ever so drawing me to. Teaching others about His love, and what He did for them on that hill.
If I could give the young men and women of our Youth Group one piece of advice from everything I have learned is, DO NOT FIGHT GOD, just FOLLOW HIS LEAD.

Back to the lesson though, as I was standing up there I just felt this incredible peace. I wasn't jittery or nervous. I wasn't worried or anxious. I just felt the peace of the Holy Spirit come over me, and allowed God to use me.
I hope that at least one of the kids learned something from the message, and I was glad that I got to teach this amazing group of kids. I am so proud to be a part of a Youth Group full of kids who are NOT ASHAMED of who Jesus is and what He has done for them. Thank You, all of you for that AWESOME OPPORTUNITY.