Being vs. Doing

Although I have a lot of (excessive) free time, I do spend quite a bit of it serving in my church's youth ministry. The junior high and high school students have slowly but surely crept into the crevices of my small heart, expanding it with every conversation, crazy antic, passionate cries, spiritual discussion, eating out hangouts. They're crazy sometimes, but I have such fuzzy feelings for them, each and every one.

Part of being a youth worker is learning how to be a good one, and learning how to help plan an effective youth ministry for our kiddos. Our pastor (re: daddy) recently encouraged us to read a couple of books on youth ministry, including Purpose Driven Youth Ministry by Doug Fields. I finally got my act (somewhat) together and opened the book. His words in the first chapter on Purpose really struck me...

"In the church, doing can become an illusion that requires more attention than our being...Don't allow doing the work of God to come at the expense of being God's person. Strengthen your youth ministry by placing a higher priority on being than doing." (p36-37).

This is head knowledge I already have, but something I struggle to practice. I want to think of crazy programs and studies to guide the youth in. I'm guilty of spending too much time doing, or thinking about doing. Instead, I should spend my time being in the presence of Almighty Father, walking in the footsteps of the Son, immersing myself in the Word, praying ceaselessly.

Am I a person of God? Thank Goodness He has so much grace and mercy to envelop me. And thank Goodness that He was the one who chose us to go and bear much fruit (John 15:16)