My Frustrations & God's Redemption.

**Attention**
If you were at The Chill on friday, I want to make sure everyone understands what I meant during the prayer time at the end. I am so thankful for those of you that came to me to thank me for the message (although, all credit belongs to God), I have never had that many people comment positively to anything God decided for me to preach. However, one person sent me an e-mail that I want to address. I asked people to raise their hands if they feel frustrated or helpless to reach their school...I think I said sometimes feel, but I am not sure...because honestly, I don't have much clue what I said at all. So...if any of you were offended by my statement "if you didn't raise your hands then you are either perfect or don't care" I am so sorry! Almost everyone raised their hand and the idea there was that everyone would raise their hands as a sign that they need prayer. I was frustrated that some hands didn't go up, which was clearly a misunderstanding. I will say this, you need prayer...we all do, all the time. I am so tired of sitting in meetings and bible studies were when prayer requests are taken, no one has any prayer requests! Let's be real, life is never perfect, we can always pray for SOMETHING for EVERYONE! So, once again...sorry about any confusion.


I have no scripture to go with what I am going to blog about, I am reading in Job right now and I definitely don't have it that bad!! On my way home from church last night, I followed Perry's advice of turning everything off in my car and asking God to speak. He definitely did. God told me to do several things...first, I have to start journaling again...second, I have to join a home group of men my age that are single...third, I have to lay my frustrations at the feet of Jesus. Here were the things I laid there. The reason I am putting this stuff on the Internet is so that those who read this blog will pray for me. Please, please, please pray for me.

1) Working at a school and actually caring about kids spiritual lives is hard.
I am definitely very sure of God's calling on my life and know I am very blessed to do what I do. However, when you begin to see the things that happen involving students and former students, it weighs on you. Let me make sure everyone understands...I am a sinner, I have to constantly ask God for forgiveness for sins that I struggle with...one of those sins actually stems from my involvement with high school kids. I find myself battling frustrations when it seems that kids aren't getting it. I am so thankful for the handful of Christian kids at TLH that do get it...that really understand how tough the Christian walk is.

God showed me through talking to some incredible people that I have to keep from getting discouraged about things I cannot control.

2) Sometimes I just have to shut up.
This is hard because when you are the adult around lots of students its so easy to be condescending, especially when they show their ingorance about certain things...but lately I have realized that sometimes I have to just keep quiet.

3) I am guilty.
I am guilty. I do the same things that so many students do, just in a different form many times. They neglect telling their friends about Christ, I neglect telling my fellow teachers...what a hypocrite I am. Students refuse to get up early for The Chill, and I sometimes become angry.

Here is the bottom line from my heart to this blog...I have to recognize that I am to love unconditionally. It is so easy to allow kids to affect my attitude towards them. There are some kids in the school that do not like me...I don't know what I have done to them, but I have to get over it...I must continue work in my mission field and must continue to help lead students towards Christ.

4) I am still a little immature.
I just am...I still find myself wanting to argue about stupid stuff. What an idiot.

5) I need to spend more time reading.
I realized through prayer that I need to read my bible more...

In conclusion,

please pray for the following
1) That I will not become frustrated by what I cannot change.
2) I will have discernment on when to speak and when to shut up!
3) That I will work in my mission field
4) That I will continue to mature.
5) READ READ READ...and journal.

I WILL GO
Chase Culbertson