Shallow Waters Devotional 5

Shallow Waters Devotional from Shaun Mayfield on Vimeo.

Explore the bible as we look at Paul and his "thorn in the flesh". Could it be simpler than once presumed? Could it be pink eye as he references in Galatians, "See with what large letters I write." Maybe he was struggling with conjunctiva and couldn't see well, just a thought.

**So those of you who know, I actually had pinkeye a couple weeks ago but after this video was made audio would not upload due to technical difficulties, it is now working and my pink eye is gone!**

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They Have a Mac

This is a leadership lesson I put it together a couple years ago and used it in Peru when I spoke as the speaker for a Pastors Leadership conference to all the Youth Ministry leaders (don't worry I did not show the Mac commercial).

Don't worry about what someone else has, worry about what you got. Leadership is stewardship and you need to focus on that. If you are a leader then steward what you have.
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How to Stay Put for the Long Haul: Being happy fulfilled where God has planted you.

Ministry is not measured by your happiness, it is measured by looking back at your fulfillment. Every great leader has hit a moment where raising the white flag seems easier and better then staying. Almost every study on pastoral longevity has shown that ‘long-term’ pastorates are the most fulfilling and fruitful. There are great leadership qualities required for great leaders, such as vision (discovery and articulation), discipline, empowerment, and persistence. Of course true leadership senses two parallel dichotomies; vision, and the management (of that vision), again the discovery and articulation.

However it is not these attributes that keep you as a youth pastor/leader, full-time/part-time/volunteer at your post. It’s often the overlooked areas and the subtle leadership qualities that keep a team together. The average teenager will experience on average 4-5 youth pastors, the average for a YP is 9months. Following are five areas to focus on in staying for the long haul. Hopefully these help remedy some excuses that may come.

1. Build Personal Connections. [Doorway] This is your way into peoples personal lives. When you develop connections in a personal way you will enjoy where you are at. Jeanne Mayo said, “safety is in relationships, not in doctrine.” Doorways are not given, they are made and created. You must be intentional and care enough to get into people's lives and let them in yours.
   
2. Building Personal Vulnerabilities. [Windows] This is allowing others to see you, the real you. Pastors live in a glass house. When we live vulnerable people relate and see that we are genuine. No fakies!
3. Building Creative Adaptations. [Remodeling] Growing stale and comfortable is a wasted effort. Nothing is more annoying then bread that is dried out. Look at your surrounding, your environment and change it, remodel it. Spurgeon says, "When fatigue walks in faith walks out." Get out your tape measure and start making measurements and evaluate everything. Maybe just a remodel in your ministry might save you and help you stay for the long haul.
4. Building With Better Tools [Sharpening] Now that you have measured all that needs to change go and sharpen your tools. Abraham Lincoln said, "Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe." Don't waste your efforts working to hard when a little more work upfront pays off in the end. Read a new book, a new blog. Listen to a new podcast, there are many AMAZING ones! Learn, grow and adapt.
   
5. Build Comfort Without Getting Comfortable [Redecorate] Get new furniture, or remodel, don’t move. Apply this to ministry (this doesn't mean a new sofa for your office), change the look, the feel. Begin a new campaign. Launch a movement. Start a Cause. Experiment in a new way. Start a new ministry. Roll out a new strategy. Launch an outreach. The only thing is to not be comfortable. The day you get comfortable in your ministry sofa is the day you stop affecting lives in your ministry. No spiritual couch potato pastors! However make your ministry a comfortable place for people, students, people, VISITORS, and make it an enjoyable experience not boring.
   

Let the words of Jeanne Mayo be a boost to you in ministry! "It is precisely where you are gifted where you are dangerous." She also had this to say about your position, "Your charisma may get you in the door, but your character will keep you in it."

But they have a Mac, they have lighting, they have a nice sound system and videos, people actually show up to their outreaches and service, it's no fair. Remember to be a steward where you are, it is not yours, it is God's. What the other churches/ministries has is of no issue to you to be jealous, chances are they are possible feeling the same feelings at a different level. If you have a vision and they have what you need in order to fulfill that vision then just hold on to that vision and God will make it happen in due time.

This post was published by a Mac... but our ministry needs a good speaker. That other church has a great speaker. *oops was that out loud*

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You Matter [a bunch]

It is scary of the amount of jobs that are being lost in the past 4 months. American job loss has accelerated at an alarming rate, especially at the end of 2008, and 2009 is keeping the trend strong. Pastor friends of mine has experienced this. I spoke to one pastor luckily enough, who's church administration chose a 5% reduction in pay for all staff instead of having to let go of great leaders. His comment to me was:

We couldn't think of trying to decide who is 'it' to let go. Ministry is what we do and our life is designed to love others. We couldn't even think to have to let someone go.

However there are a couple other churches in Arizona, megachurches, who are on their second and third job cuts. This takes a huge toll on the emotional and spiritual climate of a church.
Having the largest job loss at a level higher than that of the last six decades for America as a whole is a tough reality. There is an implosion in the job market and Lawrence Mishel, president of the Economic Policy Institute says,"We're seeing a complete unraveling of the labor market and are on track for getting beyond 10% unemployment."

This WILL affect the church. In multiple ways:

• Those needing help and the church being a help financially. [This definitely will be a larger topic in the near future for the church response to this issue]
• The church not being able to 'afford' to keep staff or able to keep paying staff as they are currently being payed.
• The churches ability to pour money into evangelistic efforts.
• The ability for children, students, and even adults in participating in events that costs money. [Blog to come to discuss how do we do ministry less expensive but still good]
• Families that have one or no parents that are working. They will need groceries and clothing for their families. How does the church respond?
  

Okay so here are some things to consider about your current situation and where you are at in life/position. Here are a couple thoughts on perspective:

• If you have a job, count your blessings. Make everyday worth it. Begin, if you're not already, to start working as if your job was dependent on your work ethic. Don't take any day for granted. Your church may feel the crunch even harder as congregants struggle to keep their jobs and pay their bills.
• If your church has cut your income don't revolt. Be thankful that you were considered worth keeping and that the whole team meant more to the church than any one individual. Find ways to bring in extra money, sell a kid or kidney (I think eBay frowns on selling people or body parts), sell the golf clubs, pick up side jobs.
• If you are one of the many that has lost your position due to the financial crisis in America keep your head up. Right now will be a tough season trying to find another ministry position. Here this next line well: Your job does not define your calling, and your calling does not define your job. Live out ministry where ever you are, in whatever location you are. Find fulfillment in living the moment real and not based on your 8 to 5.

Now for the message everyone reading this needs to hear for yourself but also to be your message to others. It is this.

What you do matters. It does! What you do matters a lot.

EVERYTHING you do matter; you matter! Make that your personal mantra and make that your pulpit/soapbox/social megaphone voice. Believe it for yourself and tell everyone you know. Each person that God has for you to meet by appointment is no accident. This is not based on whether you are on payroll at your church of choice or are searching Monster. Everyone you meet matters and everyone that meets you needs you to know that you matter. Walk in those shoes and begin to 'matter' to everyone you meet. You have significance that is more than people may recognize, possibly even more than you realize. Your job or lack of does not define your significance, or maybe it does.

Thoughts?

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