the awesomeness of me

Forgive the title. It seems a bit prideful, which is not normal for me. I often like to brag about the fact that I am the most humble person I know.

This week I am preaching to the kids about how important we are to God. I am normally full of insecurity and self-loathing, so I am trying to get myself ready to preach about something that is really a struggle for me. Something you may not know about us pastors is that we preach the best about the things that we struggle with. My three best sermons this year, so far: everyday prayer (struggle); living for Jesus when nobody's looking (struggle); pretending things are ok when you hurt inside (ulcer/struggle).

So I am beginning the week by telling myself, I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, etc. It's going to be an interesting week, because God's going to be working on my heart as much as the kids. I am going to stand in front of 75 kids on Sunday and tell them that sometimes I feel like a complete loser. That's not going to be easy, because I might get some of them to agree with me.

Fortunately, I'm God's favorite. (Don't get jealous. You're his favorite, too.) The greatest feeling in the world is doing what God created you to do. God created me to stand in front of a bunch of kids and tell them I feel like a loser. I promise you, that is not what I dreamed I'd be doing when I was a kid, but letting God use me to touch the heart of a child is greater than anything I ever dreamed of. Take that, bullies from my 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade classes! I am the awesome now!