By the grace of God....

I glance down at the piece of paper handed to me and see the words scrawled:

I’m not a Christian

I look up to see tears spilling over – the child in front of me sincere in what he’s just offered me on this piece of paper.

So this is the problem… well he’s definitely found the root of it all.

Over the next 10 minutes I got to share with this student about a personal relationship with Jesus. Many more tears were spilled in his heart breaking open to reach out and accept a Savior. I even had to shed some as I listened to the most innocent and sincere prayer offered before God’s throne.

This is why I’m a teacher. This is why I show up to work every single day. Even if it were for this one child to pray this one prayer that forever changes his life… it was worth it.

That’s not the end of the story though…. There’s more.

This week we’ve been studying the gods and goddesses of Rome to do a short presentation in front of class. After the students present their god or goddess, they then share their personal testimony. This creates a direct correlation between the false gods that were around when Jesus came to earth as well as showing them the difference in their own lives between those stories and the living God (El Chay).

I prayed hard about this assignment, but I can take no credit for the success.

The kids dove in to share their testimonies unashamedly. They all cried. They cried as they choked out hard stories of their lives and then claimed God working through it. They cried as they talked about Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. They cried as they proclaimed the truth that they know about God and how it’s changed their lives. They cried for one another. It was the most beautiful cry fest I’ve ever seen.

They just poured their hearts out and a pleasing aroma rose from our classroom today.  I can’t quite describe the feeling of walking through each moment and listening to the testimonies of these 65 kids. It was a day to beat all days. I sit stunned and yet in awe because it wasn’t like I didn’t ask for it. He’s answering the faith prayers. He’s doing abundantly more than I could ask or imagine.

Another friend accepted the Lord at church this past Sunday.

I can’t stop rejoicing. Salvation is coming.

All that shared….. it’s that time of year again, that hard push to get to the end of the school year, the exhausted time when all the muscles are tired of learning, studying, pushing, and fighting…. We’re all very tired, quite grouchy on most days, and floundering to keep our heads above water.

Running is becoming more and more of an allegory.

I’m pushing so hard, but learning more and more that it is not I, but the grace of God within me. He fills me, equips, guides, carries, and upholds me.  Read 1 Corinthians 15.

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.” – 1 Cor. 15:10 -

I just want to run harder than ever before. The more difficult it gets, the more fruit comes from the labors. The more struggles, the more glory goes to God in overcoming. The more I cry out in weakness, the more His Spirit comes and fills all with His strength and power.

As Paul says, ‘I die daily.’ (1 Cor. 15:31)

I want to daily die to my own agenda, my own selfish motives, my own use of time and resources, my own plans, my own thoughts, my own reactions, my own righteousness…. So that Christ may have the victory in everything I walk through each day. This is running the race with perseverance with eyes fixed on Christ…. Until we sit down at the right hand of the Father, may we press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of us.

As we ALL enter this time of year in one sense or another, let us already claim the victory through Christ in laying down our lives for what He wants. Let us seek first the kingdom of God and let us choose this day, each day, who we will serve. I feel also the Spirit reminding me to pour myself out in pursuit of GOD first and foremost, not in pursuit of a program or a passion.

Go deeper, friends. Seek harder. Run faster. Pray more fervently. Believe fully.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (Jas. 4:7)

 

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” – 1 Cor. 15:58 -

I can already see His answers on the horizon… He’s waiting to show up and do amazing things. (Daniel 9:20-21)

Last verse to spill out… sorry, can’t stop….

“Light is sown like seed for the righteous and gladness for the upright in heart. Be glad in the LORD, you righteous ones, and give thanks to His holy name.” (Ps. 97:11-12)

*** On another random note:
A friend created a website to link Christians all over the world in the pursuit to share the gospel. Would you take a moment to check it out and join? It's a really awesome movement and I want you all to be part of it!

www.theripple.org