God is in Control!

Going into Youth Night last night I felt extremely weak and unprepared (although I had devoted a good bit of time to preparing).  I arrived a few minutes later than usual to find 16 youth, a new volunteer, one of the other youth leaders and 3 of his friends (who were in town visiting) standing outside waiting!  When I called the lady who opens the clubhouse for us, I found out she had to go out of town for work that day, which meant we had to stay outside the whole time.  The youth all complain about staying outside (it's hot and there are too many bugs) and it's extremely difficult for them to focus for a lesson while lined up on the curb with kids running around and cars driving by with horns and music blaring.  Things were not looking good....

Game time was more challenging than usual.  The group was not cooperative.  More teens arrived until there were 23.  (It was a good night to have extra adults present!)

Finally they all settled down on the sidewalk (with biting ants) and I went to retrieve my Bible from the car praying, "God, I really need your help!  I can't do this."  Jacob prayed for us and I asked the group to share some things they believed about God.  One said something about Him being the Father of us all.  That led into a great discussion about who was really a child of God, what it means to be a child of God and how a person becomes a child of God.  Several of the youth were really intent on the discussion and had some really good questions.  Even the ones who weren't so interested were quite calm and not disruptive.  Jacob did a great job of moving around and quieting those who were distracting. 

God took over and what I thought would be a night of complete chaos ended in a really good time of sharing Christ and God's plan of redemption.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV)

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Halfway

the end of another week...

Some weeks are easier than others - this was not one of the easiest. But despite some frustrations, stress and pain, the Lord answered prayer, confirmed direction and taught me. When I was upset, I retreated and opened the Word and He faithfully met my need. (In the process He gave me a personal illustration for the week's lesson that I was teaching at Youth Night.)

The elementary school that most of the kids in my neighborhood attend had early release on Wednesday. In the past that has meant NO ONE wanted to come to Homework Help a few hours later. This week, they had all been playing outside and had time to eat, and they were ready to come and really needed help! (often they don't need much help but like to come and do their homework with us anyway) We had a new lady who was there for the first time and she was a great blessing!

It looked like we would have "Girls Night" for our youth group tonight. Some of the guys eventually arrived, but the first part provided time for some girl talk. It was good.