3 Things I Learned at Mission Arlington

Every summer my youth group goes to Mission Arlington in Arlington, Texas to participate in their Rainbow Express program for kids. We are split up into groups and each morning and afternoon we go to an apartment complex to do a VBS style bible study with the kids in the complex. We go to the same complexes each morning and afternoon for 4 days. Texas in June is generally HOT and you are sweaty, and tired, and kids are running around and often not listening to a word you say. This trip is always a patience tester, but it is always without fail a blast! And without fail, God always uses this trip to show me something new. This year I learned 3 things at Mission Arlington....

1. God often chooses to use those you least expect. 

There is always that one kid in your group. You know the one I'm talking about... the one that tests your patience and pushes your buttons. The one that you think will be more of a hindrance than a help. The one that you just hope and pray doesn't do anything crazy while you're trying to share the gospel with the kids.

That one kid in my group was also the same kid who, on the very first day, was in the middle of 5 kids with his Bible in his lap, sharing the good news of Christ, without any suggestion from the group leaders. I was blown away by his initiative, courage, and intention. And I was convicted of the judgmental perspective that so easily blinds me to the incredible power of the Holy Spirit in believers.

It is all too easy for me to limit someone's potential based on their personality, skills, or abilities. I quickly forget that sharing the gospel has nothing to do with any of those things. Sharing the gospel is about boldly obeying the call we have received and trusting The Holy Spirit to work through us. The gospel is always about God's abilities and not yours. In fact, God often chooses to use those who seem to lack needed abilities just to demonstrate His own power and ability. Take Moses for example in Exodus 4:10-12 
Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

I was surprised to see "that one kid" sharing the gospel so boldly, but I should never be surprised when The Spirit is at work.

2. My entire life is a full picture of God's grace. 

Generally, when I think of God's grace, I think of my salvation: the moment when He opened my eyes to His perfect sacrifice and forgiveness for my transgressions. But this is not the only example of God's grace in my life. The truth is that every moment of my entire life is a picture of His grace. It is only by His grace that I have the parents I have, that I grew up in my particular state, city, neighborhood, and house, that I have the friends I have, that I was never exposed to drugs until I was old enough to know I definitely didn't want them, that I own everything I do, that I have the job I have. God's hand has been in my life in every single aspect and it is by His grace that my life is what it is. That I am who I am.

One of the apartment complexes we were at had a particularly rowdy bunch of kids. I have never seen kids behave so violently. Almost all of their interactions were laced with violence. It was normal. It was all they knew. On top of this, it was clear that most of their parents did not care where they were, who they were with, or what they were doing. They ran free of any responsibility or authority. Many of them probably experienced violence at home and it simply carried over into the rest of their world. This could have been my life.

God doesn't owe me a good, happy, easy life. God owes me nothing. So every single part of my life is simply a gift that demonstrates His incredible love and grace.

3. Is it safe is not the question you should be asking.  

One morning at Mission Arlington, the man who leads our devotional time said "Is is it safe? I don't really care. The real question is: is God worthy?" I have never really felt unsafe while doing anything in ministry, but often I hold back from God's calling with questions like is it comfortable? Is it easy? Is it convenient? The answer to these questions should never stop me from doing anything God asks, because the question I should be asking is: Is God worthy? And the answer to that question is always YES!

Jesus did not say, "Come follow me, and your life will be safe, easy, convenient, and comfortable." He said  “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it." 

Deny yourself? Take up your cross? That does not sound like an easy and comfortable life to me. But this is the only life that leads to REAL life. Eternal life. You must loose your life (by surrendering it to Christ) in order to save your life (spending eternity with God in Heaven).

Christ is worthy, and He is the only thing that gives us any real meaning or purpose in life.

Game time fun!

Silly Girls!

Small Group Time

Taking shelter in the rain for small group