"My heart is overflowing with a good theme;
I recite my composition concerning the King;
My tongue is the pen of a ready writer." - Psalm 45:1
I remembered being so burdened for the lost, for those who don't know Jesus. Evangelism has been one of the passion God has given me for the past months and I remember studying and learning how to evangelize. Still I know it is not enough, or I thought so. I prayed to go to a conference by the Living Waters where they teach you a lot of things about the Gospel, understanding the Word and Jesus and preaching openly to the public. However, God closed that door and I wasn't able to register. The next one would be next year.
There are so many people who need God. I see an overwhelming need in people. There is a lot of hopelessness and emptiness. I have found this life and peace from Jesus. So it has been a burden to share what I have freely received to those who are hungry for the same thing. Also, there are many people who die everyday and I wonder, "Did they receive Jesus?" I wondered how many people are out there who are also dying and in need of Jesus. I wanted to jump out to the world and spread the Gospel. I desired to do great things for the Lord. I know God put me to serve in the Children's ministry in Church but I didn't really understand why. Kids are fun sometimes but they can also wear you out. I also love ministering to girls and I desire to teach about purity. There is also a need for widows and old people. There is just so much need. I wondered,
where does God want me to be?
Who does He want me to reach for the moment? God is taking me on a journey that I want to share with you.
Just like what I shared about His faithfulness, He took me to Missouri. The night before travelling to Missouri, a friend of mine told me not to go because they might block me from the airport. I am legal here but I am waiting for a paper that they might ask for. I told her, "If God faithfully provided a way, He won't leave me stuck." I was reminded by God's promise, "
being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6 I put my confidence in His promises. I prayed really hard before sleeping and when I woke up trusting and believing in God and rebuking any fear that have set it.
Praise the Lord for His faithfulness! I passed by the check-in and security with no problem. I arrived safely in Warrenton, MO. When I got there, the peace was just
unexplainable. I was accomodated very well and when I got into my room, I was blown away. I can see the lake from the window and everything in the room was beautiful! I was literaly blown away! I knelt down and I cried in amazement and thanksgiving to Jesus. It is NOT just because of the place and the carpet and the lake. It is
MUCH MORE than that. I cried because I have experienced the faithfulness of the Lord: When He calls you to do something, everything that comes along is always perfect and way beyond our imagination. I cried because I didn't deserve such goodness and love from God, yet, He gave and He gave abundantly. He taught me that day that when He calls me, He has already put everything in place and it will always be beyond my imagination. That is how faithful God is! What an assurance from the Lord that we are never to be afraid when He calls us. I am changed.
The Explore Weekend was by Child Evangelism Fellowship, the largest ministy in reaching the children for Jesus Christ. I didn't know what is going to happen to me there but I knew God is going to show me something. One thing I know, CEF is a big part of it.
I listened intently to the speakers. I am very surprised by how much children there are in the world. I am also surprised by how much they are neglected in preaching the Gospel. I admit that I thought we can't really spend so much on children because they will forget anyway. I was amazed by what I have learned. Children are important. They are easy to talk to. They are living in the season of their lives where the values and everything are being founded in their lives. They are living in the season of when the foundation is being built. What a great way to build Jesus in their lives at an early age! That is what astounded me. I have never truly realized the importance of this part of a kid's life. How much we neglect that! This is the best time to minister to a person.
Also, Jesus loved the little children. He said in Matthew 19:14, "Let the children come to Me." What a lovely sight it might be. Imagine Jesus playing with the children. And children surely loved Him too. Isn't it amazing? We are Jesus' hands and feet to these children too. God continue to impress in my heart the importance of children.
One of the amazing stories that really inspire me is the effects of ministering to children. There are stories that parents gave their hearts and lives to Christ because they can see the changes in their own children. There are many stories like that. And so we are not just ministering to children but through the children, the parents will get to know Jesus Christ as well. Amazing! That is a great way to reach adults because children are easier to talk to than adults. They are also more open and receptive and they never stop talking what they heard.
Now I can see. Now I know the importance of children. Now I know that children are valuable and important. I know God led me to serve in the Children's Ministry in Church. God also led me to start the Bible School in the village where I grew up in. Then He brought me to doors where I am teaching kids in their homeworks. I LOVE teaching. But children? I never used to understand why but now I see them coming together. That is it. God answered my prayer. God answered my long-awaited question.
We ask, "What is God's will for me?" Sometimes, He doesn't answer it right away. But He allows us to experience things first and He builds our foundation in Him. He wants our security to be in Him and who He is rather than on things and dreams. He wants us to be faithful and obedient in little things rather than jumping into the ocean. He trains us in our daily lives. He trains us in our daily struggles and He slowly reveals His plans for us one by one. He takes us from one adventure to the next where we discover more of Him and seek Him more. Are you up for your adventure with the Lord? It is exciting!
I praise Him because He brought me to CEF, the ministry that has stood strong and effective for 70+ years. They have the best materials. They also have training. They also have people who are passionate for God and His glory. They have a culture that is not centered on things but on Jesus Christ alone. It is truly what I desire in my heart.
From that day, I went back to my tutoring and it has become more lively and I seem to have this love that grows everyday - love for teaching and love for children. I don't know but it is a miracle. God continue to give me the wisdom to teach and love. Last Sunday, I served the Toddlers in Church, and it was my first time in my church to teach (I used to assist only). I really enjoyed it. I was loving it and my outlook has changed a lot. The way I view these children have changed. I now view them as God's special creations. Because of that, the way I treated them is so much different. God is a miracle-worker.
Next step would be to contact CEF in DC and pray for money to be able to take online classes (
http://www.cefcmi.com/) on how to teach kids effectively. I am very excited to see what God will do next. I am enjoying the ride.
He is faithful!
"Oh, that I had a thousand lives, and a thousand bodies! All of them should be devoted to no other employment but to preach Christ to these degraded, despised, yet beloved mortals." - Robert Moffat
"Many, LORD my God, are the wonders You have done, the things You planned for us. None can compare with You; were I to speak and tell of Your deeds, they would be too many to declare" - Psalm 40:5, NIV
