Still About Praying
So, about ummmmmmmm......yeah 1 month ago I volunteered to lead the study lesson for a missionary meeting. when I got the book a week later I saw the lesson was about prayer. (Woot! Woot!) way to go Jesus! That's right up me spiritual alley! I reviewed the lesson & felt pretty good about.
At the same time, I was preparing for our YPD emphasis service. I truthfully didn't give it too too much thought beyond lining up my kids until 2 weeks before. Yeah I'm a procrastinator. Don't judge {huge, crooked grin}! But when I did God was all in 'DAT.
I remember being a child/teen/young adult desiring spiritual guidance. But not a ton was given. So when I prepare our YPD services my goal is to build a youth-centered service that will speak to the young people. I love every version of the Bible but they are not feeling us on the KJV at all. Plus, they're facing a lot. So I try to order a service to minister to that.
Who knew all of this was for me? God that's who!
So service was set, lesson was set & I was nervous. I wasn't worried though. I wanted our young people to shine & be blessed & my Pastor proud of it all.
My life has been wicked rough since 3/11/2011. But I got up at 8am today with joy & humility about the day's assignments+a migraine. I ate my oatmeal & drank my coffee. Then God set me in front of the TV to hear the close of a sermon about listening to God, resting, waiting, & letting God work.
I dressed & went onto service. I led the lesson on prayer & we discussed the listening portion of prayer & interceeding for others (Libya. Japan). I went on to greet/thank our youth members leading service & the dancers. Service started well & then lil' Torion starts "preachin'" his face off during altar call about God knowing what's best & caring for us; that we may never know why things happen such as the recent tragedies in Japan & out west...Libya & how we should be praying for them (ummm, Lord, You better get it! This was my missionary lesson!). Of course then the hymn for altar call was uber fitting: *Be not dismayed what e'er be tide. God will take care of you.*
I quickly got full & more attentive on worship vs. organizing because I thought God was trying to get my attention. Then Sydney read the scripture lesson:
CEV
25 I tell you not to worry about your life. Don’t worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food or clothing? 26 Look at the birds in the sky! They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren’t you worth more than birds? 27 Can worry make you live longer? 28 Why worry about clothes? Look how the wild flowers grow. They don’t work hard to make their clothes. 29 But I tell you that Solomon with all his wealth wasn’t as well clothed as one of them. 30 God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. He will surely do even more for you! Why do you have such little faith? 31 Don’t worry and ask yourselves, “Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?” 32 Only people who don’t know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows that you need all of these. 33 But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well. 34 Don’t worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself. You have enough to worry about today.
Verse 33 in this version smacked me dead in my face. Oh!My!Gosh! It is visible that I'm missing because a sistah' aint been about God's business. Not fully...
Service continued with wonderful dancing from Praise in Motion. They danced to "He Wants it All Today". So I had to say again to God, "Ok! I hear You! Yes Sir! I will!". Rev. Bean preached...oooohwheee! I didn't hear it all because I was helping the boy get ready for soccer.
The points I heard were about the fruits of the spirit & god's attributes. And that's what I studied all week (ok God!). He did a demonstration with the youth & talked about planting seeds & the growth process...long term. God was all in my face with this!
I was overjoyed that God had ordered everything & that I was in tune with Him. Even if it was all for me. This is never easy. But I love it & thank God for placing me in a church that allows me to use my gifts in his vineyard.
*In Peace*