Answered Prayer

What a dreary day it was yesterday! I was home alone, and in the middle of the day I found myself at a really low place. Crying. Feeling sad about so many things. And I cried out to the Lord, "Please help me! Send someone to help me out of this hole I've dug for myself."

Immediately I had an answer. I turned to working on finishing up on an Amazing Race I had been asked to plan for the TLC girls at our church. I had been asked to plan this over a month ago. I had worked two or three hours in the thinking stage earlier in the week. Yesterday morning I got up and put it all together. I went to church to copy the clues and put everything into place.

It was at this point that I spoke my prayer. And the answer was... the Amazing Race. I knew God had planned for me to be working on this race to help me through this day. Otherwise I could have gotten up this day and spent the entire day wallowing in my sadness.

God had sent the answer before I had even asked. He had known my need months ago.

I'm so thankful that I serve a God like that. A God who hears and answers our prayers, even before we ask.

Bethlehemian Rhapsody

Just as I said when I sang Sunday, God continues to speak to me through our Wednesday night Kids Club lessons. Tonight was David and Goliath. I shared this music video with the kids. It gives the ones who know the story well a fresh look at what it says. Those of you who are old enough will recognize this parody of Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. I love how they've taken a really unique song and given it such an inspiring message. It makes me smile.

My favorite part of this Bible story is what David says as he faces off against this giant:

“You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” (1 Samuel 17:45-47)

Now you parents out there, if you want to give your kids something to fight temptation with, have them memorize this passage. Teach them to turn this into a prayer about whatever they're dealing with:

"Dear Lord, the devil is coming against me with (anger, hate, peer pressure, fear... whatever you're dealing with), but I come against him in your name, the name of the LORD almighty, my God. Deliver me from the devil's hand... so that the world will know that there is a God. All those around will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is yours, and you will help me and be with me."

Talk about the Sword of the Spirit!!

*You can find links to the lyrics if you really want to know all the words. They're very clever.

This weekend I took a trip up to the Cumberland County Playhouse in Crossville. I went to see Camp Rock. This wouldn’t really be a show of my choice, but I went to see two of my students, Lenny and Lindsey, who had parts in the show. Lenny actually had a large part and did a great job. Lindsey was one of the campers and did a lot of singing and dancing. It was a high-energy show so I know it was quite a workout to perform, and they did three shows Saturday. I really enjoyed it!

But one of my favorite parts of the day was spending time with my good friend Jamie. She used to work with me at school, but she’s retired now. I was glad to get to share this beautiful day with her.

The earthquake

The earthquake

Go to this link to find some good thoughts about the situation in Japan.

Kids Club

On Wednesday nights I help out in Kids Club at our church. I’ve been doing this for sixteen years when we first started having AWANA at our church. Although it has often made for hectic evenings, and I can’t deny that Wednesday snow days are my favorite (no school= no Kids Club), I love teaching kids about the Bible.

Every week it’s my job to tell the Bible story. I love figuring out how to connect the story to real life. I love trying to make a story that many of the kids have heard over and over come alive. I love getting them to help me with the details so that they can share what they know.

But the best part of all is how God uses the stories so often to meet me where I am in my personal life and minister to me. In the last few weeks I have taught about being strong in God’s Spirit like Samson. (Teaching about Samson is challenging because he did so many things wrong, yet he is included in Hebrews 11 as an example of faith.) We sang a song with words from Joshua 1:9 which says “Be strong and courageous…” and the words nourished my heart.

We talked about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and how they believed the truth even when faced with the fiery furnace, and I was inspired by their words: “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

We talked about Abraham and how he believed God would keep His promise even though it took many, many years for it to come to pass. It reminded me that God will keep His promises to me also. (I’m hanging onto this one tightly.)

I am blessed when you who have children in Kids Club tell me about the conversations that you have with your own children because of things we have talked about in class. God bless you for taking these teachable moments and running with them.

All the adults who have served so faithfully through all these years bless me too. Many of them have served as many years as I have. It is a privilege to share this ministry with them. And it has been great to provide a place for people to learn how to work with kids. We’ve trained a lot of people through this ministry.

I could go on, but you get the picture… I’m blessed.

There are a lot of needy kids who come to Kids Club. And there is nothing I can give them that is more valuable than the truth of God’s Word. I’m so thankful to be able to share.