English as an Evangelistic Tool?

“May the words of my mouth and the thoughts in my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord.”

Psalm 19:14

Six eager faces looked up at me from the table that night, expectant and hopeful.  The students could hardly wait to get started and were asking questions even before we began.  I cleared my throat and said, “Good afternoon.”  The English class had begun!

This summer God put it in my heart to begin teaching an English class at my church as a way of drawing neighborhood kids in to the church.  The idea was to have a mix of churched and non-churched kids together, so that friendships would develop with the result that some or all of the kids will come to know Jesus as their personal Savior.  While none of us are able to save people, the hope is that the non-churched children will see the love of Jesus through our lives and desire to have a relationship with Him.

Each week, the kids arrive on time and everyone has their notebooks and writing tools.  (Well…mostly.  We are in Mexico  and they are still kids after all!)  Several of the students do their homework and are able to pick out a prize from our prize basket.  We learn verses and vocabulary words together and each week we have a Bible story with games and activities to make things fun.  We are building a foundation of Bible knowledge and the kids will be presented with an opportunity to accept Christ before the end of the class.  It has been exciting to watch the kids as they learn about God and His purpose for their lives. 

Would you be willing to join me in prayer that each child will draw closer to Christ through the Biblical concepts taught in the class?  Would you also please pray for the salvation of those who do not yet have a relationship with Jesus?  And finally, please pray that God will anoint my words and teach through me, that His Name will be lifted high and the students will see Jesus in my life.  Thank you!

This is an English class, but my desire is that the kids come away with so much more!

Conflicting Thoughts

There was an unconscious drunk guy laying face-down and completely sprawled out in the middle of the park plaza today.  And, to make matters worse, there was a group of about 20 young people, still in their school uniforms, encircling the unconscious man while two of the boys knelt on the man’s back.  The whole group was laughing as if it were great fun.

Maybe they thought the man deserved it.  After all, he had chosen to get himself so completely drunk that he passed out in a very public place.  The Bible does command us not to get drunk on wine because it leads to debauchery.  (Eph. 5:18)  Perhaps they thought they were teaching the man a lesson.

On the other hand, the Bible also teaches that we are to have mercy.  One definition of mercy is:  “Compassionate treatment, especially of those under one's power” (thefreedictionary.com).  At that moment, the man was helpless and under their power—mercy and compassion were needed.  Instead of mocking and taunting the man, they could have just left him alone.  After waking up, the man would have realized his poor choice and felt shame for his behavior.  He did not need others to point it out.

I felt sadness and frustration over the situation.  I wanted to go over and give the group a good tongue lashing.  At the same time, I had to be aware of the setting—there were about 20 of them and one of me.  The situation could have become physically dangerous for me as a single woman or I might have just been laughed at or ignored.  Because I did not know which way things could go, I kept my distance.

As I prayed and walked away, the Holy Spirit brought to mind the story of the Good Samaritan.  In Luke 10:25-37, Jesus taught about a man who was beaten up, robbed and left for dead.  A priest and a Levite (temple workers) passed by on the other side of the road, but a Samaritan man (despised people group) went above and beyond to help the man.  Jesus finished the story by advising that we be people who show mercy.

My heart hurt for the man who chose to look to alcohol for relief from whatever he is facing and I fear for the young people who found it funny to torment a man who clearly needs help.  Though I did pray, I feel upset because I am honestly not sure what else I should have or could have done.  Even though I do understand the need for caution and common sense, a part of me still feels like a coward because maybe God wanted to do something more.

This time, I do not have a good way to wrap up my thoughts.  I am not sure that I did the right thing and I will continue to pray about that.  For now, my prayer is that God will continue to lead me by His Holy Spirit and help me recognize what to do when I find myself facing difficult situations.  I want God to use me and I do not want to “pass by on the other side of the road.”  May God help me be a woman of compassion, wisdom and unselfishness.

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.”

All That We Want Is All That You Are

 

I am listening to a new song, “All that We Want is All that You Are” (Hillsong).  It talks about running to all that God is.  I’ve been thinking recently about what kind of things I want in my life.  Do I want more of God’s righteousness?  Do I want more of His love to be evident in me?  Do I want as much of the Light and Life of Jesus as I can possibly hold?

As a Christian and as one who is serving on the mission field, my immediate response is, “Yes--of course!”  Alright, if that is what I want, what kind of decisions am I making each day to live that out?  Will I turn off a movie during my relaxation time, to spend a few minutes with Jesus?  Will I choose to inconvenience myself to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading when I see a woman struggling to carry all of her bags and I could help her?  Am I willing to give up food for a day and fast, so that I can devote that time to God?  How badly do I want more of Jesus?

Unfortunately, I often prove that in fact, I do not want more of Jesus by the choices I make.  I forget that I need to fight against the flesh, instead of giving in.  (Romans 7:21-24, 1 Pt. 5:9)  I need to be alert instead of apathetic or lazy because the enemy is actively on the prowl, looking to devour.  (Eph. 6:18, 1 Pt 5:8)

All that we want is all that You are.  Really?  God help that to be the cry of my heart!

2 Chron. 15:12—“They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul.”