Helping yourself to help your youth

Helen GodwinChris Kidd

Sustainable Rhythms

• Balance of having boundaries but not being legalistic.

• How do you do it in your context? – single– married– children

Identity in Christ• “Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in

them.” (1 John 4:16)• Watchman Nee: sit, walk, stand – Eph. 2 v 6-10• Our priorities:

– God– Family & Friends– Ministry

• Being kind to ourselves

Productivity v Fruitfulness

Henri Nouwen:• “Productivity is an attempt to create life.”• “We are called to deliver lasting fruit.”

Who is in control – God or us?

Sustainable Rhythms

A conformed mind (Romans 12) leads to:• Scarcity mentality• Importance of image• Workplace of culture• Work-life balance• Orphan mentality• Fear

Sustainable Rhythms

God doesn’t need me to do anything but I receive the privilege of joining in

His mission with Him.

Physical well-being

• Take a Sabbath• Sleep• Exercise• Healthy eating

Mental well-being

Stress is “the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressure or other types of demand placed upon them”

Health & Safety Executive

Change (incl. life events)

Demands & expectations of others

Self-expectations

Demotivation & resentment

Attack (incl. spiritual)

Understanding the dynamics of stress

Mental well-being

• Strengthen the spring• Develop your support network• Understand and reduce the weights• Emotions are not bad.

Spiritual well-being

• Where do you worship and feed?• Where do our youth worship with the whole

body of Christ?• Can we see transformation still occurring in

our own lives?

What works for you?

Lectio Divina