God Shows Up

Last week we did VBS (Vacation Bible School) for some of the kids in the neighborhood of our church.  What a fun week we had.  The theme was "Keepers of the Kingdom."  Kids were taught about the two opposing kingdoms...God's good kingdom and Satan's bad kingdom.  

Now, I do not do kids.  I do animals.  I always feel somewhat awkward around children and feel like relating to them is a bit difficult.  Or them to me.  Not sure which it is.  And I was volunteered to do the crafts with them!  Oh boy.  

Well, I have to say, from day 1 God showed up.  I went to bed the night before somewhat dreading the week ahead, but had been praying continually for the weeks leading up to it.  And not just me, our whole church had been praying.  When I woke up Monday morning, lo and behold, I felt excited.  I felt at peace.  I was looking forward to it.  Wow.  What a turnaround.  A God turnaround!  

Each day that came I felt more comfortable.  And the Holy Spirit helped me so often to just be real with these kids, and they responded to His realness in me.  I felt comfortable.  I felt reassured.  And we all planted some wonderful seeds in the hearts of these mostly un-churched children.  What a blessing.  

I will go along with Paul's statement in 2 Corinthians 12:5b "I will boast only about my weaknesses."  In my weakness God showed up!  In verse 9 God tells us, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”  And it does!  Those kids didn't need me.  They needed Jesus.  And He was there for them.  What a trustworthy God we serve.  

Do you fear something you feel God has led you to do?  Does it seem out of your wheelhouse?  Is it different and new?  Go ahead.  Pray without ceasing and go forward in the power of the Holy Spirit.  If He calls you to it, He will get you through it.   He created in me a heart for those children...a heart that desires them to walk with Jesus each and every day of their lives.  And He will do the same for you.  

Thank You Lord for what You did in me....overcoming and working through my fears to reach the children You so love.  And for filling my heart with love for them.  I pray for each of them now Lord, that even today they would be reaching for You and that the seeds sown last week will build a lifetime of faith for them.  Bless them Lord.  Keep them.  Lord, I pray they stick with the things they learned and even though they are young, they will be strong in Your kingdom.  It's in Jesus' Name I pray, amen.  

Rely on God not yourself.