God Loves Angelique and Roger

Last night God showed His love for Angelique and Roger.  Our youth group meets at a community rec center once a week.  As we moved from ultimate frisbee outside on the green to Bible study inside, my husband, David, invited the kids hanging out at the entrance to join us.  Some of the kids were teens, but many were much younger.  That's when it began.

Before going in to town, I had packed a set of lessons entitled, "Do What's Right," a music cd and speaker, as well as visuals for the children's portion of our ladies' Bible study.  Remembering they were in the vehicle I said, "If you're willing to wait, I have a Bible story and songs for 5-12 year olds."  I prayed and walked quickly, amazed at God's preparation and provision. 

When I returned, only two of the 12-15 kids were interested.  They sat on a park bench outside and waited patiently while I started the music and ordered the teaching materials.  The song visual had a picture of a young boy that looked suspiciously like Roger.  His eyes locked on that figure as we sang the chorus repeatedly.  Once again, I shook my head at God's personal touch.

I shared the story of Ruth, praying earnestly.  It's been at least six years since I've taught that material and had no time to review.  But God knew.  As I showed the first scene, the other kids returned.  They delighted in reading the teacher-part over my shoulder and shared answers to the opening question: "What is the one true way to get to heaven?"  When told that Jesus Christ is the only true way to heaven they scattered, all but Angelique and Roger.

Earlier, as I walked to the vehicle, I reminded myself that God calls.  I asked Him to keep those He had in mind and took confidence in that.  And there were Angelique and Roger. Before they left, I read from Romans and visited with them about Jesus. 

Wow.  What a humbling, wonderful experience.  And to think that God loves me....

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.   No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.   And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.   If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.   And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. (1 John 4:10-16)

Removing Dingle-Berries

Spoiler/Warning:  Farm life is rarely politically correct.  And, while the example below may seem offensive to some Bible scholars, Jesus called Himself the "good Shepherd," presenting Himself through the lowly, real objects of daily life.

Wednesday is barn-cleaning day.  While the girls shoveled cow schlpoo, I clipped dingle-berries from the back end of sheep.  Usually it doesn't need to be done, but a couple of the gals ate something they shouldn't have and the dingle-berries grew, interfering with normal functions, creating a maggot habitat.
You may wonder what this has to do with Jesus, the "Heart Quencher." Just this: Jesus is our Shepherd.  Just like a shepherd protects the flock from many things, including disease, Jesus protects us from the ill effects of sin by cleansing and restoring us.  It's up-close and personal.
Our youngest daughter helped me herd the ewes into the barn, down the alley, and into a jug (pen) that happened to be too big.  The sheep evaded me and pushed their weight around, endangering all of us while I had scissors in hand.  After shuffling them to a smaller pen, I climbed over the side and got to work, snipping matted wool that might otherwise become infected or infested.

As I walked back to the house, I thought of Jesus, our Great Shepherd.  We shared a comeraderie today as I realized: 
- Young shepherds tend to move quickly and make loud noises, frightening the sheep.  An experienced shepherd walks slowly, talks softly, and stays behind the sheep, guiding them to an exact destination. 
-  A shepherd creates order out of chaos.
-  A shepherd uses other sheep to buffer a new situation, control those who need care, and settle the unsettled. 
-  A shepherd speaks reassuringly to all the sheep while working closely and personally with each one.
-  A shepherd uses different instruments for different jobs: in this case, utility scissors vs. finely-pointed ones.  The wise shepherd uses the tool that is best suited for each situation. 

It's fair to say that all of suffer from dingle-berries that resulted from poor decisions.  But it's equally right to say that Jesus desires to free us of our sin and restore our spiritual health.  Perhaps God is trimming away sin in your life through people, circumstances, or His Word.  He is the only One who can do it with the quietness, gentleness, and sensitivity that lead to healing and restoration. 
A final word about sheep:  Not one of them said thank you.  Have you thanked your Shepherd today?

Falling Short

"There is a huge difference, I have found, between committment and surrender.  Committment says,'I can.  I'll do it somehow.  I'll serve you, Lord.  I'll keep my promises this time, you'll see.  I'll witness this year, I'll lead that Bible study.  I'll stay away from alcohol, drugs, etc.'  But surrender says,'I can't.  I've tried, but I don't have the strength.  Lord if it's going to happen, the only way it can is if You are in the boat, calling the shots.'"  (Roger Glidewell, Youth Ministry by the Book, p. 26).

Last weekend, while we were celebrating our son's graduation, visiting family was showing mercy:  buying crepe-paper poppies and slipping money into the pockets of needy individuals they didn't even know.  Their examples were both encouraging and discouraging, because there were people in the back of my mind I'd been wanting, intending, to help, for weeks.

This week passed and people nagged at my thoughts, but I just didn't get done.  Until yesterday.  And maybe today.  And as I lay in bed this morning giving thanks, I was reminded that, "it is God who works in you, both to will and to do for His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).  I can have the best intentions in the world.  I can have the best, most creative intentions in the world.  I can have the best, most creative, and earnest intentions in the world.  But apart from the hand of God, they won't happen.  Without God, something will thwart those good works, those good ideas, every time.

This morning I'm praising God that He accomplishes His good work:  being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.(Philippians 1:6, Ephesians 2:10).

And the question is not, am I committed to God and doing His work?  The real question is, am I surrendered to giving up my way and waiting on God to accomplish His?