3 more weeks...than i'll be a youth pastor

Just in case someone reads this that I havent told, I recently accepted a positon to be the jr.high pastor of about 40-50 kids at Nasung Wesleyan Church In La Habra area. I'll officially be starting Halloween weekend. I found out about 2 weeks ago, and I have to admit, my initial reaction, though I had been praying about it and knew I would accept the position if it was offered to me, was absolute fear. Since then i'm not quite as scared as I am excited (though i'm still scared).

During my devotional today, Luke 4:42-43 stuck out to me.

Luke 4:42 ¶ At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. 43 But he said, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”

Though the people wanted Jesus to stay, he was committed to a specific mission, that is to preach the good news to the kingdom. It wasn't about him being staying somewhere he was comfortable, or even somewhere he was wanted, but it was about the kingdom! Jesus was so committed to his mission, his vision, his purpose. He didn't let anything distract him or get in the way of that mission.

Though I'm definitely still scared, nervous, and will definitely be taken out of my comfort zone, I feel confident in this decision. There are sheep without a shepherd, and my heart can't help but be pulled towards this new opportunity. But more than that, I want to see the kingdom of God furthered. I can't let what I want dictate my decisions, or even what other people think. Jesus had a clear purpose for being on earth. And as he was sent by the Father, Christ sent us out to preach the good news.

Please pray for me! Specifically, pray for everything you can think of =P But in particular, that I would cultivate an eternal perspective, focused on one mission, the spread of the gospel of the kingdom.

*By the way, if you're looking for a good read on what the kingdom is, I'd recommend Gospel of the Kingdom by George Ladd.