When God Moves
I've been taking my girls through the book of Romans on Sundays and it's been really great, but this week, I just wasn't feeling it. I didn't have the first thing from Romans to share so I felt like the Lord was pointing me in another direction. I planned to share with my girls what the Lord has most recently been working in my heart. I had a list of awesome verses, and questions to talk about....
We got to class and I was running through announcements. We have a new Wed. night class for kids from broken homes, experienced death of a parents, foster situations, you name it. We're trying to be life coaches to these kids who are wandering aimlessly and facing huge hurts alone. (Most of our youth ministry is made up of such stories) In an effort to promote, and genuinely let the kids know that, hey, we as your teachers HAVE truly been where you are and we truly want to help you find the peace in Christ that we have...I shared a clip about my journey with Mom's death. Little did I know what was about to happen.
My little clip turned into a request from the girls to share the whole story. All of it. So I set aside my plans, opened up and shared the goodness of God. My journey of grief, to bitterness, hate, anger, forgiveness, love, acceptance, the peace that only Jesus brings and the 22 years it took me to get there. I don't think a single girl even so much as blinked for 30 minutes solid as they sat in complete attention. The next thing I know, the little girl next to me started pouring out her heart of horrible hurts that have been done to her. She's been badly abused in many ways, blamed for some of them, unloved, her parents are divorced and threatening to put her in foster care... My heart broke for her. I wrapped my arms around her and just listened. Every girl at our table listened and I just kept holding her. She told us how much she needed to hear that and how much she needs our Wednesday night class. I think she hugged me for almost the rest of the class. We talked for a long time after Sunday School and I'm praying she'll come back on Wednesday.
If you wouldn't mind praying for this precious girl, she needs it! She hasn't been through any counseling yet and while she knows the cliches of "God loves me and will take care of me" she needs to feel His presence in her life and KNOW beyond doubt that He is with her every step. I know this little one is in my life for a reason. Please pray for me too, that the Lord will grant me wisdom in helping her, that he would speak through me and the leadership, and that I/we will be a vessel of God's love to her.
It's moments like today that remind me how closely I need to listen and pay attention to what the Lord is trying to tell me...
We got to class and I was running through announcements. We have a new Wed. night class for kids from broken homes, experienced death of a parents, foster situations, you name it. We're trying to be life coaches to these kids who are wandering aimlessly and facing huge hurts alone. (Most of our youth ministry is made up of such stories) In an effort to promote, and genuinely let the kids know that, hey, we as your teachers HAVE truly been where you are and we truly want to help you find the peace in Christ that we have...I shared a clip about my journey with Mom's death. Little did I know what was about to happen.
My little clip turned into a request from the girls to share the whole story. All of it. So I set aside my plans, opened up and shared the goodness of God. My journey of grief, to bitterness, hate, anger, forgiveness, love, acceptance, the peace that only Jesus brings and the 22 years it took me to get there. I don't think a single girl even so much as blinked for 30 minutes solid as they sat in complete attention. The next thing I know, the little girl next to me started pouring out her heart of horrible hurts that have been done to her. She's been badly abused in many ways, blamed for some of them, unloved, her parents are divorced and threatening to put her in foster care... My heart broke for her. I wrapped my arms around her and just listened. Every girl at our table listened and I just kept holding her. She told us how much she needed to hear that and how much she needs our Wednesday night class. I think she hugged me for almost the rest of the class. We talked for a long time after Sunday School and I'm praying she'll come back on Wednesday.
If you wouldn't mind praying for this precious girl, she needs it! She hasn't been through any counseling yet and while she knows the cliches of "God loves me and will take care of me" she needs to feel His presence in her life and KNOW beyond doubt that He is with her every step. I know this little one is in my life for a reason. Please pray for me too, that the Lord will grant me wisdom in helping her, that he would speak through me and the leadership, and that I/we will be a vessel of God's love to her.
It's moments like today that remind me how closely I need to listen and pay attention to what the Lord is trying to tell me...
Awesome story Rebecca. I have no doubt God is about to use you in a huge way with these girls. My continued prayers will be with you and your group.
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