Tuesday, November 8, 2011

On your behalf

Last week, I had the great opportunity of leading elementary chapel. We meet up once a week to sing, share a Bible story, and enjoy staring at the excited Friday faces of all the little children.

In seeking to connect the prior week's lesson to what we would be talking about, I quickly asked the kids..."Okay guys. Can anyone tell me what big word we learned last week?" Anticipating the answer easily being "Intercession", I was completely thrown off when the kid I called on answered with an intensely confused face while saying "Conception?" Hmm. A topic I probably won't bring up in chapel anytime soon.

I love God's precious timing with the connections of the very things we have to convey to children becoming the very things we have to truly learn in our own lives. Intercession, or the importance of praying for others, isn't necessarily a new lesson, but it is a good one.

For example, you learn more about a community when you are with them at least 8 hours a day and sometimes more than 5 days a week. There have honestly been moments in the past few weeks when I have felt the "smallness" of the community, or the "fishbowl" so we call it, cave in around me. I have asked myself the question between what is gossip and what is simply finding the right person to share things with. Even more, Satan can more easily divide a community that is already so small and connected anyway.

Yet, even in the pressure of tension constantly caving in around me, I have seen the beautiful way God not only changes our hearts through interceding for the Body around us, but also allows us to see Him move when we are praying for others. In light of this, thank you for praying for me! It is through your prayers that I believe God is transforming my life and the lives around me. Keep praying...