as for thursday...
i have to be 100% open & honest here: the morning rolled around & i did NOT want to go to school. it's rare for that to happen but it did. i was oh SO physically exhausted...on top of feeling emotionally/spiritually/socially drained as well. just been going non-stop for awhile now. still wrestling w/ back pain that's keeping me from being able to run. but man, the Lord is using even that to show me what it means to truly find my strength/relief/outlet in Him. that workout hour+ i now have free, i'm trying so hard to use spending more intentional time with the Father. clinging hard right now to I Timothy 4:7b-8 "...train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of SOME value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life & the life to come." so...even though i'd honestly LOVE to be training right now for the 2-oceans half-marathon...the Lord has me focusing my training efforts in a far greater place - getting my heart in shape. that being said, please PRAY with/for me - for healing of my back. been SIX weeks since i was cleared to run & i don't see much hope anytime soon.
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| [top right] before heading to our thursday school, i went & passed out invitations for our showing of the Jesus film this saturday! PRAY! |
all i can say is in my weakness HE is made strong (ii cor. 12:9). i'm actually learning to LOVE being at the end of myself...because i get to see HIM at work in such an incredible way. oh how often we learn lessons the hard way! i could write a novel on thursday. class after class God was moving in big ways. i'll just hit some highlights:
- class 1: kids hungering for the Word. intentionally seeking us out & "completing assignments" in order to receive a Bible. so excited to see a young man so full of joy when he got his hands on his very first Bible. such a joy to teach him how to look up Scripture.
- class 2: kids asking "if i want to follow God what must i do?" which means next week we can walk through some salvation Scriptures in class during the school day!
- class 3: connected with the class on a whole new level. still don't know how to put that into words but so encouraged to see them hungering for the hope that i get to talk about with them
- class 4: toughest class of the week every week. one table of boys is such a discipline problem...so inappropriate. so, i took a different approach. felt the Spirit leading me to encourage them that they are far more intelligent & capable than they give themselves credit for. so i began passionately sharing about how the Word of God radically changed my life & THAT is why i share with them each week...because i want them to find that kind of strength & hope for the future. they too can experience a changed life. one of the boys at THAT table raised his hand. "oh no..." i thought. but i looked at him & as he sat on the edge of his chair with the WIDEST eyes & a pleading, almost desperate voice he said, "HOW???" and it was in that moment that i realized...we have to be faithful & persevere even when (no...ESPECIALLY when) it's difficult. be encouraged that when you are at the end of yourself, HE is sometimes so much more able to work through you. THAT was a major turning point in my heart when it comes to thursdays. and SO many other incredible things happened that day. far too much to write about.
just continue PRAYing with us for thursdays as you feel led. giving HIM all the glory for the day. thank you Father.
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