God Moments: Important or not?

Many students spend their day running questions through their minds about how to experience life.  Just to day I had a conversation with a student who left school and drove to the church to ask me a series of deep questions.  She was intentional about working this into her very busy high school schedule, to stop and to ask.  She was curious about things like, "does the bible really have no error?"  One question was, "what happens to a person who commits suicide, and can they go to heaven?"  These are extremely deep and highly valid questions that are thought about daily in the minds of teenagers...

Students are passionate about being deep and will often express themselves about how they feel.  Many students even have a passion for Christ which is coupled with a passion to speak out about their love for God.  The only problem is they don't know how to celebrate these "God Moments" in their lives!  That is where the parent comes in...

We need a generation of parents who will step forward and celebrate the movement of God in their teenager's life.  This is extremely important in the process of raising up young adults who strive to grow in their faith.  I have seen students want to grow, and even take big steps in their faith walk; but never see their efforts celebrated within the family model.  I personally believe that parents truly desire to celebrate but just don't know how.  But we can't over correct ourselves on this. 

Celebrating God Moment Ideas:
When a student takes a step in their faith like witnessing, a baptism, overcoming a sin problem or defending their faith we should definitely celebrate.

Easy Tip:  Take them out to eat and be intentional about the dinner as a celebration for taking a step of faith.  (Especially if they have younger siblings, this will not go unnoticed)

Easy Tip: Call a family meeting and have the student talk about their experience, and end it with a family prayer time.

Easy Tip: Let the kid whose God moment is being celebrated pick the next family outing. 

Culture tells us to raise up our kids and celebrate all of their sports and school accomplishments.  As parents we almost never let a home run, or an "A" goes unnoticed without praising.  But can you imagine a generation of parents shelving the importance of worldly accomplishment for the absolute importance of God moving in the lives of teenagers! 

In Him,
Randy Beggs
Youth Pastor