A Short Sermon

We are nearing the end of our first summer living here on the reservation.  We have each experienced great days as well as hard days.  I will be honest and admit that the past couple of weeks feelings of doubt began to creep in.  Can I really do this?  Do I want to do this?  I began to think about things we have given up....a great income that would have easily paid college tuition for our girls, nice vacations, carefree summers, friends and family back home, a "normal" life.

Over the course of a few days, I started to casually ask Darren, Emily and Rachel if they were feeling this way...hoping to make myself feel better.  They weren't.  Rachel even said, "But mom, we know we are called to be here and God hasn't told us to do anything different."   Her short sermon was exactly what I needed to hear.  I have been clinging to that reminder.  It was the affirmation and confidence I needed to hear.

The Lord has also put so much Scripture right in front of me this week to help me and give me strength for each day.  His Word is so powerful!

• 2 Corinthians 4:17 "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs they all." 
• Galatians 1: 10 "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God?"
• Ephesians 6:10 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power."
• 2 Corinthians 8:3 "...they gave as much as they were able and even beyond their ability."  

And then yesterday, the sweetest moment of the day came.  Right during the sermon, I looked over and the 9 year old girl next to me was slowly whispering each word of a song in the church bulletin.  The song was "Mighty to Save" and here are the words I heard her reading aloud, "I give my life to follow, Everything I believe in, Now I surrender.  Shine your light and let the whole world see, We're singing for the glory of the risen King."

My heart was touched.  I felt like it was a gift from Jesus as I watched her.  I thought of Jesus listening to her read the words.  I sat and prayed for the little girls around me -- that they would know Him all the days of their life.

Thank you for praying for these children and young people who are hearing about Jesus for the first time in their lives.  Please pray for healing in their hearts and minds.  Please pray they will fully trust in Jesus and when moments of doubt come to them or there is a wrong path they could walk down, that they will stay faithful to Jesus and keep coming to church.  Thank you for continuing to pray for our family as we also need it.

Lastly, I'm including the words to the whole song. I think she had read every word before I noticed her doing this:

Everyone needs compassion
A love that's never ending
Let mercy fall on me

Everyone needs forgiveness
The kindness of a Savior
The hope of nations

Savior, He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave

So take me as you find me
All my fears and failures
Fill my life again

I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in
Now I surrender

Shine your light and let the whole world see
We're singing for the glory of the risen king, Jesus.