A New Desire

Psalm 34:11
Come, you children, listen to me;I will teach you the fear of the LORD

I had a funny post to write but I think it needs to be moved to tomorrow. Today I have exciting news.

This weekend my husband surprised me with news from our Pastor that completely humbled me and excited me at the same time. I am feeling completely humbled but in a wonderful way. The news?

Mike said our Pastor approached him about Mike & I starting a "Junior Ministry" together as a couple teaching the middle school age children. We would do activities outside of the church together too. The details are not worked out yet, Pastor just wanted to know if we were interested. Interested? I was blown away.

First, I just want to say I have never even thought about teaching the kids. I teach the ladies class and that's all I have been focused on. HOWEVER, on Easter Sunday I was asked to fill in for the middle schoolers Sunday School class and I loved it! I was beside myself with happiness when my son (12 years) asked me if I would teach them all the time. I said why? He said because usually the teachers teach them first and then they do an activity or a craft. He said it's kind of boring. But he said the kids liked it that I brought out the craft to do first and I taught the lesson while we did the craft. I made it more of a discussion too. Basically, I threw the lesson plan out the window and just talked with the kids about the topic and made it completely Q & A for them. What middle schooler wants to sit and listen to an adult yap yap yap? So I would yap for a bit and then I'd ask them questions about what I yapped about while they were relaxed and doing something. I found the kids to be quite open and willing to discuss the topic. I didn't realize I was doing it all wrong, ha ha. But, that's my style anyway. I like to go my own way. Such a little rebel in my own little Jesus way. Well, I knew that was out of the question to teach them, the slots are filled and I never thought about it again.

Second, I was surprised at how delighted I was at the idea of doing this with the kids. I am the very last person in the church that would volonteer for nursery or Sunday school. Um, I have four kids and church is my place of "me time" and "rest". I don't do nursery. EVER. I hide when I know they need nursery workers. HATE IT. But you have four kids they always say...you must like kids. Um, NO. I am trying to get away from them for a couple of hours people....leave me alone and I duck and hide. I immediately thought of this scripture:

Philippians 2:13 For it is God who works in you to will and act according to his good purpose.

God changes our desires if need be to act according to his purposes. This is why we should not fear God's will and being asked to do something that will make us miserable or something that we will fail at. If He desires us to do it, He will give us the desire and the ability. I am humbled that He has given me this desire.

Thirdly, are you kidding me? A ministry with the hubs? This is all kinds of prayers being answered all rolled up into one, okay. I can't even begin to tell you. WOW. I can't even begin to imagine all of the fantastic implications that this can bring! He loves kids, which is why I have four. I wanted to stop with the two. Well, wait....the third kid is my fault. But the fourth was all his doing. The fact that he was interested blew my mind. He likes his walk with God to be very private. He likes to do his own thing, at his own time and he totally hates feeling like he is supposed to go to church more than once a week. He says you should go because you want to and not because you have to. That's another topic but you see if we do this it will most likely be a Wed. evening thing or Sun evening or both perhaps? Well, if we commit to it then we have to be there. I am surprised and see God's hand in this. Whoopty doo. Plus, Mike never reads my bible studies that I write and has never much liked discussing spiritual matters with me. I have no idea why but if we do this then that will be a given that we are preparing lesson plans together and on the same page with the kids.

Mike has been given a wonderful gift. He has great faith and is easily able to live out what he learns. He always amazes me like that. Sometimes it's sickening. Most of us at one time or another have tragic circumstances hit us and we flail about and moan and groan and cry out where are you Lord. Not Mike. He just stays steady and faithful, like an old dog sitting on the porch waiting for his master. He doesn't waiver much. He's great with people, everybody loves Mike. I think he would be really good at it. He's always coached and is President of the local baseball rec league so he's very good at working with kids. This would be more new territory for me. But I do have the gift of being able to talk easily to people. I am extremely open, I will share anything. I could care less. I have some good life experiences to share and I do well with the middle school age kids. Just um, don't give me the elementary ages or younger. Not cool. I am pretty funny too, so I am told, humor and that age group works well. I like talking "with" them rather than talking "to" them so in this informal setting that may just work out fine. If we do it I guess the Holy Spirit will just lead us in that direction.

I had some wonderful youth leaders in my church. Boy were they fantastic! It is so important to guide our youth. I never thought I would have that desire but pretty humbled that it has been given to me. Whenever God does something new with me I always find it extremely humbling. What an honor that He has bestowed on us. To trust his beloved children into our hands. Gives me goosebumps! It's not final yet or anything but I am exicted about doing whatever the Lord has in store for us.

This could be a nice blessing for my marriage too. You know I'm always griping that he doesn't pay much attention to me. Although lately he has been making strides. He's weird to me and he thinks I am weird for wanting him to say nice things to me and flirt with me still. Maybe we are both weird? Maybe this will help bring us closer? Anything is possible! It certainly can't hurt. I am always saying he is like John Wayne, I am more of a Mae West. Can you see those two together? Sheesh. I'd be the Christian version of Mae West though, um just to be clear ha ha. I'm excited.

Love y'all,

Jenn