Bake You Very Much.

Let's face it. We'd be donezo if we didn't have volunteers helping us in ministry.

I can't thank our leaders enough. There is no paycheck at the end of the week for the time that they share with us or the teenagers we serve.

If I had unlimited resources I'd send them all on a vacation, on a mission trip that they chose, and give them the anti-pizza gift card--to a steakhouse of their choice. They would never ask for this and most would refuse this (the veterans would gladly accept), but I'd like to give it anyway.

What we do offer them are the fruits of ministry. They get to see the seeds of faith planted, watered, and tended and then watch to see them bloom in a kaleidoscope of ways.

We offer them great stories to tell at work. Who else can say, "I catapulted a 70 pound middle schooler into the lake on my vacation!" or "There was no sleep for me this weekend, but my status as the state go-cart champion remains." or "I helped a teenager find Jesus during my lunch hour."

Volunteer leaders are hands down my most valuable gift in ministry.

So how do we thank them?

Telling them is a good start.
Gifts are nice too.
But if you're budget is small or non-existent, I suggest baking to start thanking.

I realize that there are a lot of male youth leaders and pastors out there would have never baked anything in their lives. (Perhaps some of the ladies too). I challenge you to start now. It's not hard. And if I can do it (the one with scars on my arms from trying to cook dinner for my husband), than anyone can.

Here are a few recipes that I'll be baking up with my friend Erika (also a volunteer youth leader) to thank our leaders for all they do. If you are one of my leaders and you're reading this, then let thy mouth water. These puppies are going to be good!

Cookie Dough Candy Cookies (From the Pioneer Woman. Everything this lady does is mint. Sooooo goood.)

Salted Caramel Thumbprint Cookies

Chocolate Sandwich Cookies (Homeade Oreos)

Chocolate Peppermint Crinkle Cookies

(P.S. Update on my recent sugar fast. I'm still staying away from the stuff. I give in for the big things like Thanksgiving or celebrating something like a birthday. But just because I'm taking a break from the white goodness doesn't mean everyone else has to!)

PINK OUT 2012

Register online December 1st.

www.hpnaz.org

Go local. | Youth ministry in community.

I've been hearing about an annual event in our area called "The Holiday Walkabout". From what I've read, it'd be a great opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.

Birdie numero uno: Hanging out with my precious family doing something festive and fun together.
Birdie numero dos: Mingling with our community, families, and my guess...tons of middle schoolers.

What will you do locally to love and "walkabout with" your community?

I pray that we wouldn't be so stressed out about our roles and responsibilities that we miss the opportunities to love each other, share peace and the warmth of Christ. Let's let Jesus break into our lives like he did over 2,000 years ago--in a humble and quiet way, surrounded by the community who was looking for hope.

Hebrews 10:25 NLT

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Some opportunities in the 33813:

Annual Holiday Walkabout
Tuesday, November 29th - Downtown Lakeland
This annual event in Downtown Lakeland celebrates the holidays with shopping, dining, music, horse-drawn wagon rides and more! Holiday music from many area schools and churches create a festive atmosphere. And don’t forget shopping! If you want a gift that doesn’t say I was mass produced in a department store, then shopping in Downtown Lakeland is for you. Stores and restaurants will be open from 6:00 pm until 9:00 pm.

Free parking will be available at the main street garage. The public parking entrance is located on Cedar St. The Bay Street entrance is also open and can be accessed from Tennessee Ave.

Lights of Lakeland
Highland Park Church of the Nazarene
4730 Lakeland Highlands Road, Lakeland FL 33813
December 2,3,4 and
December 9.10,11
6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. nightly

Free event. Free parking.
Bring your camera.
Santa's house & reindeer: Featuring "Rudy the Tiniest Reindeer"
Santa & Mrs. Claus
Polar Express
General Store for kids to shop on their own.
Homestyle Candy Shop
Musical Water Show
Walk through Bethlehem with live animals and nativity

If you have a blog, Facebook page, or like to tweet, share your local favorites so others can join you!

What should we be doing in youth ministry?

I found my self guided back to the center this morning, to a place where ideally I'd always rest. Hoping that in all of our efforts in youth ministry that we would be about the most important things. I found guidance in the chorus of a song I was listening to called "Search Our Hearts", by Trinity Grace Church. My husband and I watch their ministry, listen to their songs, and hope to be learn from this body of Christ as we grow up in the Lord. It wasn't surpassing to me that there would be instructions for my youth ministry written plainly in the lyrics.

If you're wondering what to do in your youth ministry. If you're wondering what you should be about day in and day out, then read the words in bold and let them inspire your questions. Youth ministry is about making life--through the miracle of Christ's redeeming love. I pray that we would always sing freeing songs with our students and replace lies with the truth so that teenagers would experience the healing transformation of grace...and that they would share it with others as they live in it for the rest of their lives.

search our hearts

search my heart
and make it clean
let it be
an offering
sweet and simple
unassuming

touch my heart
and give it words
to bring the light
to the cause
to offer up a blessing for a curse

and overflow
from these thirsty souls
that we might sing
freeing songs
speak healing words
live with clean hands
and heal this land
nursing its wounds
offering truth
instead of lies
and bringing life

form my heart
stir my soul
till your thought is my will
when you're speaking
i am listening

you fill our hearts with your design
and from our mouths
what you inspire
fills the world and offers up your grace

and overflow
from these thirsty souls

that we might
sing freeing songs
speak healing words
live with clean hands
and heal this land
nursing its wounds
offering truth
instead of lies
and making life

Pray: Justin Bieber and Youth Ministry

I'm unapologetic about being a Justin Bieber fan. Let's face it, the kid rocks.

This music video is one more reason to continue my fan club membership.



I don't know if Justin is a Christian, but what I do know is that this message is absolutely at the heart of being a kingdom person. What if each of us, who knows Christ would pray this prayer: "how can I make a change".

My hero in the faith, the late Martin Luther King Jr. closed his eyes once too and he saw something different--and he prayed, not only with his words but with his life. Let's teach our teenagers to pray and to see a future where they make a difference for Christ in the tears and brokenness they find around them.

*Shout out to middle schooler Nicholas Ulloa who scouted this video for me. We'll show this during our polk project offering for homeless kids in our community. Thanks to you.

Leading up...when you feel like throwing up.

This week I got to join Kurt and Jake on the Simply Show (watch it here). We talked a little about Arnold Schwarzenegger, Pauly Shore, people with two first names, basketball, grandpa's idioms, Austrailian landscape photographers, Fast Buck Freddies, what I'm not working on currently, the SYMC coming up, and some good things about what it means to be a leader in youth ministry.

I hope you'll check it out, enjoy the conversation and think about how you lead, wherever you are, and however you serve.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Brooklyn Lindsey

(Brooklyn is my first and only first name. Lindsey is my last name, which sounds like a first name and can be very confusing to some people. If you find this confusing, you can just call me Wilson.)

Sugar update. (See "I quit sugar" post) I'm doing great without it. I had a piece of pumpkin bread that a friend made, from a real pumpkin. People don't do that much anymore so it was cause for a break from the fast. But I feel good about it and I'm not tempted to dive back into the halloween candy. New habits are awesome. Enjoying feeling truly hungry again.

You are a child of God.

I'm preparing a message for a young ladies conference happening this weekend. As I was sorting through papers tucked away for future reading, I discovered a piece that has sat quietly waiting to shine like a fine piece of silver covered in tarnish. This piece has reminded me and inspired me in different seasons of life and work--I believe it's words have the power to speak to us all.

Marianne Williamson from her book “Return to Love”

Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate,
but that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome,
talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won’t fee insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some; it is in everyone.

And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give
other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.