Running the Race is a Little Overwhelming Sometimes

For several years I have written and designed Bible Lessons for children.  I have a drawer full of lessons, and notes for lessons.

I am passionate about it. . .messages I hear, songs I listen to, news stories. . .so many things trigger that automatic thought. . .I gotta write that down. . .that would make a great lesson.

Not only am I passionate about writing the lessons, but my heart also grieves for burned out, overwhelmed, under appreciated Children’s Ministry Workers. . .who are doing the very best they know how. . .and yet are left to feel that their efforts always fall a little short. . .so, when we knew were going to travel full time, my eventual goal was to be able to offer encouragement to Children’s Ministry and Youth Ministry Workers along the way.

That is the goal. . .and the desire. . .and yet, when I would begin to work on the plan (read organizing stacks of lessons and notes into some type of order) I would feel so overwhelmed, I would just close the drawer and move on to an easier project. . .

and then, in my morning Bible Study, I read. . .

Hebrews 12:1 let us run with patience (endurance) the race that is set before us.

PATIENCE? are you kidding me Lord. . .I don’t think you really blessed me with very much of that. . .seriously!  I want it done, and I want it done now. . .Oh, and I’d really like it if it could be done my way please. . .there. . .now, that’s better.

OH, I don’t get to do this my way. . .this is an endurance race. . .really?  Cause when I look at that stack in that drawer, it even looks like more endurance than I got. . .actually, it gives me knots in my stomach.

Oh, I need to start at the VERY beginning. . .organization. . .oh, organization I’m really, really good at. . .I’m pretty sure I can do that one. . .

and so it’s gone. . .my discussion with the Lord about this task. . .starting at the beginning. . .building up the muscles. . .spiritual exercise for a different type of race than the one I’m used to running. . .

I have a feeling lots of liniment (prayer) will be involved in this endeavor. . .but here we go. . .got the three ring binder, and the hole punch out. . .step one – organization!

The Desire of My Heart

In all my years of working in Children's Ministry, I have always preferred to teach fifth and sixth graders. . .they were old enough to comprehend lessons that were beyond just basics. . .they had great opinions about life. . .and they could do projects by themselves.

I never dreamed I could prefer any other age, until we went to help with a Home Missions Work. . .and as you know. . .when you are just starting out, you work where you are needed. . .so I was asked to work with the teen class.

What a fantastic experience. . .not something I would have ever chosen to do. . .but wow, they were awesome.  About half the class really had no Biblical Training, so we were starting from scratch. . .

No problem.  They were open to discussion. . .they had strong opinions about right and wrong. . .they were more than capable of analyzing a scripture, breaking it down, and basically preaching themselves a sermon with very little input from me.

I was very, very impressed. . .so now as we travel full time, and visit different churches. . .I find myself studying that age group, and I wonder what their take on living for God is?

I wonder if you broke them down into small groups, and mentored them in how to study the Bible, and showed them how Biblical facts tie together. . .I wonder if they could "get it" a lot sooner?

The desire of my heart is to find out the answers to these questions.  Please pray for me as I undertake this journey!

Join me on my new FaceBook Page:  Falling In Love With Jesus. . .each day I try to offer a quick uplifting point. . .whether it be a link to an article, or a beautiful saying. . .I look forward to meeting you there!