Love is the Greatest Miracle

I've read stories about amazing miracles. I've seen some pretty amazing stuff that God has done, too (my own son was miraculously healed when he was a couple months old). That stuff is fantastic... We pray for miracles of healing, provision, and breakthrough all the time. However, the greatest miracle of all is love: when God takes a heart that is hardened by selfishness, fear, grief, pride, shame, and hurt and softens and heals it so that it can beat with compassion, absorb affection, and shout out joy.

Like the miracle of a flower blooming, this process often happens in quiet, almost imperceptible ways. A conversation here, a hug there, a decision made in a personal moment to think differently or to try something new. Hands are raised. Hearts are opened. And God in heaven does a little dance as we come to life in love...

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26

VBS Monday: Creation Sequence

This was such a cool moment! I got goosebumps watching it live. The fact that God made the world and each of the kids' lives was totally new for many of them.

I had a conversation with a parent as they were dropping off their child in the morning, and they were telling me how grateful they were for this event. They explained that they had realized that their child had no concept of God or Jesus at all... they didn't plan to not teach their child, but that with all of the stuff going on in their life, they just hadn't gotten around to it.

These are the moments that the Truth that God made them, knows them, and loves them begins to sink into little hearts & minds... I am so grateful for all the hard work and creativity of the hundreds of volunteers who are helping to put this all together! Go God, Go Team!

How Long Will I Hesitate?

Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people did not answer him a word. 1 Kings 18:21

The thing I love most about VBS is that it's a chance to launch in with my whole heart. There's something about being surrounded by hundreds of screaming, jumping, dancing kids and adults that opens up a fresh possibility for my heart to enter into pure servanthood (working for others rather than myself), pure worship (working for God rather than myself), and pure joy.

Although I believe everything I teach, I still have areas of my heart that are so stubborn, so proud, and so selfish. Those parts of my heart hesitate to launch in to Jesus. Part of me likes to hang back in the shadows, evaluating and critiquing everything that's going on around me, rather than just going for it.

So if you see me this week jumping a bit higher, shouting a bit louder, and getting a bit messier than I have in the past, it's because I'm desperate! I want so badly to have Jesus cleanse my heart of selfishness, pride, and stubbornness. I want to get rid of the arrogance that makes me hesitate and second-guess with God. I want the humility and joy of a child (Matthew 18:3).

VBS Fast Day

They will be as mighty men,
Treading down the enemy in the mire of the streets in battle;
And they will fight, for the Lord will be with them…
And their heart will be glad as if from wine;
Indeed, their children will see it and be glad,
Their heart will rejoice in the Lord. Zechariah 10:5, 7

Today is our church's VBS Fast Day. We are praying for God to do the impossible. But it's not just up to God... He invites us to fight with Him! So we're rallying together to contend for the breakthroughs God wants to do.

There are hundreds of kids and volunteers registered. Each one needs a touch from God. Families are breaking apart, homes and jobs have been lost... the future seemingly unsure for so many. The desperation in our lives is palpable.

The enemy says that we don't have the time, energy, or money to pull off VBS. He speaks despair to tempt us to isolate in fear. But VBS is an opportunity to reject his lies and step into the battle for these little ones' hearts and lives. As we serve the kids, God will do the miraculous, empowering us to crush the enemy's hopelessness under our sweaty, dusty feet.

In the end, we'll be drunk with joy, and our kids will come to know God. Awwww yeah! That's going to be some serious F-U-N!!!