The following article was written by Jen Olive, who is part of the Development Team with YFCI. She lives in Lincoln, Nebraska USA with her wonderful husband of six years and their amazing 4-year old son. They are adding a baby girl to their family in October 2018!

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VICTORY in His Name!

How easy is it to be overwhelmed by the enemy’s hold on us? It doesn’t take much for us to stop and acknowledge how much our world needs Jesus. We can look at our students we minister to, our bosses, our husbands, our children, ourselves, and we clearly see how sin often has its hold in our life. Does this compel you to find victory in Jesus’ name? I know it does for me.

In January, some close friends walked through a horribly hard journey. Just days after they welcomed their healthy baby boy into the world, they said their goodbyes as he made his home with Jesus. My heart broke for Nic and Ashley as they grieve the loss of her only son.  How confusing is this world? There are no answers. More often than not there are no words. BUT JESUS.

Jesus reminds us that there is hope for those who believe. 1 Timothy 4:10 says, “For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.”  We will have times of trial. Of times where it feels like life is so incredibly unfair. Of times when we know nothing more to do than to fall into the arms of Jesus.

Not too long ago the Lord reminded me of how our victory does not come from ANYTHING in this world (or us!) but from what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross. We didn’t deserve it. And we still don’t. But Jesus freely offers us this VICTORY that we get to have in HIS NAME! Let’s find our victory in Jesus’ name today and be freed from the bond that this world wants to have on us.

I encourage you to listen to this song and take some moments to hear from the Lord and how powerful His name can be in any circumstance in which we may find ourselves. Click Here to listen.

Blessings!

Jen Olive
jen.olive@yfci.org

This encouragement is from Jill Duncan. Jill is from England and is currently based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. She is a youth worker at St Andrew’s Church, Abu Dhabi and works with Youth Unlimited (the name for YFC in the UAE.

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Last year, at the age of 30 I was diagnosed with ADHD, this was a revelation to me, but no one else seemed surprised! I get bored, think and act very quickly and my idea of a good holiday is doing as much as possible, in as little time as possible. This is unfortunate, as I live in the Middle East, which isn’t exactly known for its fast pace of life!

I’ve particularly noticed how slow the pace of life was in Biblical days and how Jesus never seemed to be in a rush. For example when reading the resurrection account in John, Mary “went to the tomb early” and met the risen Jesus (20:1), but He didn’t appear to the disciples until the “evening of the that day” (20:9) and then “eight days later” he appeared again to meet Thomas (20:26), I would have assumed that meeting the disciples would have been high on His to do list! There are many examples of Jesus seeming to take his time or telling others to do so; arriving 4 days after Lazarus died, 40 days in the wilderness, be a Mary not a Martha (Luke 10:38-42), teachings about Sabbath etc. There are obviously practical reasons why things happened more slowly in first century Israel, but this is even more reason to have an honest look at how busy we are and why.

In ministry, we can often see being busy, tired and stressed as a badge of honour and we want people to realise how sacrificial and hardworking we are (or maybe that’s just me?). Many of the young people we work with are heading towards exams (if you live in the northern hemisphere). What are we modelling about pace and balance in life? There are some people that we need to push to give more effort, but increasingly I’m seeing young people who are anxious, stressed and are putting unreasonable pressure on themselves. We have a responsibility to be good role models, in how we live our lives, as well as being known for what we don’t do. It’s easy to assume that the busier we are, the more effective we are, but there is a risk that we are being ineffective and doing too much, not very well!

This will be more relevant to some than others, but I pray that you’ll find time to slow down, to be in God’s presence and to let Him love you for who you are, not for what you do.

The Lord your God is with you,
    the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
    in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
    but will rejoice over you with singing.’

            ~Zephaniah 3:17

Jill Duncan
jillduncan@standrewauh.org

This encouragement is from Cindy McGarvie, the National Director of YFC Australia since June 2015.  Cindy and her husband have lived in Uganda and Tanzania for 12 years in the work of Bible translation and language development amongst marginalized people groups. Since returning to Australia in 2010, she has worked in various roles in both the public and not-for-profit sectors. She currently also serves on the board of Wycliffe Australia. Cindy and her family live in Brisbane, Australia. 

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I have been reading the book David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell. This story has challenged me to think creatively about weaknesses I see as disadvantages. The book is based upon the story of David and Goliath. We all know it well; the Philistines’ champion Goliath challenges the Israelites to send their own champion to fight him. The Israelites are terrorised. Everyone on both sides was expecting Israel to send their biggest, strongest and most skilled warrior, the conventional way of combat. There was a standoff.

In those times, it was the conventional way to send a champion to represent the army in hand to hand combat. This was to save entire armies going into battle.  When David volunteered, Saul, still thinking conventional, dressed David in his own attire of armour, shield and sword.  If David used these, he would have been obliterated. David chose unconventional. A way that no one was expecting.

David was a slinger. The experts say that slingers were used in the armies of the day to take down infantry combatants before they got near. Slingers were deadly accurate and could shoot down a bird in flight. As a slinger, David could confidently take down lions and bears. Goliath was expecting a warrior like himself to come forward. It never occurred to him that the battle would be fought on anything other than those terms. David ran at Goliath, took him by surprise and it was over in seconds. The Philistines fled. The Israelites, in shock, celebrated.

With that in mind, I ask the question, should we be viewing what might look like a disadvantage in the current situation as an advantage if we rethink our approach? Are we attacking problems in the conventional way and not thinking outside the box?

Today, this story of David and Goliath is entrenched in our language as a metaphor for improbable victory.

Sisters, perhaps the Lord wants us to start thinking unconventional.

Cindy McGarvie
cindy.mcgarvie@yfc.org.au

 

This encouragement is from Mary Wolgemuth, the wife of YFC/USA  President, Dan Wolgemuth. They recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. In the early years of marriage, Mary worked for YFC in the Juvenile Justice ministry. Denver is home to them, as well as, their three grown children and their families. Being Emmie and Pops to 10 grand children brings them both delight. Other favorites are anything that takes them into the mountains, like hiking, biking or skiing.
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WITH YOU. Those two words have come to mean a lot to me.

Those words are code to my husband, Dan, as we cycle together. You see we often have hills to climb on the various paths we ride around Denver. Dan races up each and every incline, while I slowly and steadily pedal to reach the top. Then my challenge is to catch up with Dan! When I do, I call out, “WITH YOU!” Meaning that once again I am following close behind him.

I am grateful for a number of dear friends. The kind that are more family than just friends. These women journey with me, as we share our struggles, disappointments, joys and challenges. They hold me in prayer and remind me of God’s constant love and care. ‘WITH YOU’ has literally been said and is often demonstrated by their actions. Just a note from one of them signed ‘WITH YOU’ strengthens me, because I know I am not alone. I sense them locking arms with me, together through the whatever. I am truly thankful for the love and faithful support of these women. They are a sweet gift to me.

But even stronger are the words ’WITH YOU’ when they are spoken to me by my God in His Word.

‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God is WITH YOU wherever you go.’ Joshua 1:9

‘So do not fear, for I am WITH YOU, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and help you.’ Isaiah 41:10

‘Yet I am always WITH YOU, You hold me by my right hand.’ Psalm 73:23

What comfort to know my Lord never abandons me. No matter what the circumstances are swirling around me. No matter what the unknown situation that lies ahead of me. No matter how I feel or what I think. My God does not leave me. He is present. He is ‘WITH ME/YOU’. Always. Together, yet spread around the world, we are women in Youth for Christ. I believe that sense of sisterhood we share is another way I know that God is ‘WITH YOU’. I see Him in you. I hear of your earnest desire to impact your community for Him. I join your prayers as we battle for the sake of Christ and His Kingdom.  ’WITH YOU.’

Let’s cling to that truth together!

Mary Wolgemuth
mcwolgie@gmail.com