| The Tuesday I Went to Dinner... |
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I am so blessed to serve in our youth group. Josh graciously calls us "leaders," but I often feel as though I'm just an "older" member of the group, waiting for Thursday nights to come so that God can explain to me what He's been up to in my life that week. This week was no exception.
I spent most of the week traveling for work, as usual. This week I was blessed to spend a few days with a colleague who is also becoming a very dear friend, thanks to the Father's hand. You see this person isn't (yet!) a follower. In fact, up until our friendship, his experience with the Church in general and Christians personally, was filled with judgement, criticism and condemnation. Now my faith was no secret to him as we spent time together at work. But as our friendship grew, he took a chance to open up and share some personal information that he was pretty certain would put an end to our friendship.
Years ago, it probably would have. Thanks to the grace of God in my life, the experiental love of our family, and good deal of time wrestling with Boyd (see my book section), his revelations didn't phase me. Instead, my affirmation of friendship floored him! (Okay, me too! God isn't done with me yet :-) And this has opened the door to many great conversations. My respect for where he's at is met with respect for what I share. Because he knows I love him, he's willing to hear what I have to say.
This week he shared with me something that was burdening him. He was worried about his mother; she'd been depressed and struggling with various things. We talked for awhile and he mentioned that maybe he should make some time to see her. We had already made plans to have dinner that evening, so I suggested he call and see if his mom wanted to join us. The look on his face was more payment than I could have asked for - he was so excited! Would I do that? Really?? Have dinner with his mom, whom I had only met once in passing???
Of course!! After all, it wasn't even much of a sacrifice; it wasn't as though I was going to have to make any real change in my plans. And this was my friend -- his worries are my worries -- if I can help, why wouldn't I? But more importantly, there's nothing I like more than taking the love of Jesus to people who are in need!! I couldn't think of anything I'd rather do than go to dinner with my friend and his mom.
We had a lovely time. No miracles worthy of the next Darren Wilson epic, at least not yet... but we laughed and joked and shared and everyone left feeling better. That night and the next day, as I was praying for my friend and for his mom, I was so overwhelmed by the Father's LOVE for each of them! I could hardly find words to express the LOVE that I was seeing / feeling! What JOY to share HIS heart!
So fast forward to Thursday night. We opened youth group with another clip from Finger of God, this time the ministry to the Gypsies, and Heidi Baker looking to pray for the Muslim woman in Turkey. And the message -- you guessed it, LOVE! How God wants nothing more than to show His love to a lost and hurting world!
Cool ~ I love it when a plan comes together! Learning the WORD. Living the WORD. Touching the heart of God. Seeing the World through HIS eyes...
Just call me the oldest member of the youth group! |
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