God's Wonderful Hug

Last night, at the high school, there was a youth rally.....Fish the Planet.

The bands were awesome, the speaker was great! I am sitting in the upper tier of the gym, still on crutches when he begins speaking of praying with people, asking if for those who are new believers to come and pray, and asking for those who have accepted Christ but then have made some really bad decisions, choices (me), lately to come and confess your sins and let someone pray for you and your healing (me). Then he began asking for people to pray with the kids. He calls for youth directors (me), youth pastors, adult leaders, more women (again, me). Again, I am sitting in the upper tier of the gym knowing that getting to that area of prayer on the bottom floor is NOT what God wanted for me. Thus began the mental pity party. Not only am I guilty of making bad decisions lately, I am also unable to do what I love more than anything, and that is sit down one on one and pray with someone.....I am worthless......Oh look, they need more women.....yep, I am really worthless at this point......I am on crutches and I am not jumping up and running down to be a part of this......this really sucks.......life is hard....I am supposed to be down there.....Praying!!!! When a women whom I have never met puts her arm around my shoulder...."What is your name?" "Margaret", I reply. "Well, Margaret, God just laid it on my heart to come to you and pray for you" And with that she lifted me in prayer not having any clue what was going on in my life but praying knowing God and I both are aware of my life and my struggles.

What an AWESOME GOD we serve!

I learned some things last night. I do not have to be in the middle of everything. I do not have to do it all! It is okay to lean on Him. God will provide for my needs even when I cannot get to Him...He comes to me with a hug and a resounding I LOVE YOU! Things that we all know but, the reminders are the things that carry me from one day to the next.

Really not liking the crutches!!!!

I am still on crutches for another 3 weeks! AAARRRRRGH!

Well, youth was interesting to say the least on wednesday night. We spent about 15 minutes on Revelations and the rest of the time on Ash Wednesday, Lent, the church calendar, the preparation, fasting, praying.....everything....they had so many questions.....

And then there was the Ash Wednesday service. After explaining it to them, two of them came up to me and said they just really weren't sure about the whole ashes on their forehead thing. I assured them it was a choice to get them or not but really hoped they would attend the service. They did! They did not get the ashes but they did stay for the whole service. Anxiously awaiting our conversation next week!

Back to the crutches thing.....I am completely bummed out. I know that things could be so much worse but today I am having my own little pity party. I have done my best to put my best foot forward and stay positive but all I really want to do is cry and I will later on. But tomorrow is a new day....a gift from God and I will enjoy it and learn as much from this experience as I can. I am, however, pretty sure I did not pray for patience....hmmmm.....maybe somebody else prayed for it for me..........

This week

I am sitting here in front of my computer thinking of all the things I need to do this week. And the most important (aside from my kids) is to go the doctor and see if I can turn in my crutches! Living for Thursday.

And what has this whole experience taught me? Well, that would take an entire book!

I am getting ready for youth tomorrow night. We are studying Revelations and playing games in order for them to at least retain a little bit of what we are talking about. But, tomorrow night poses an interesting dilemma....It is Ash Wednesday which cuts youth down to an hour. An hour that I want to spend talking to them about Revelation and Ash Wednesday and Lent. What to do what to do......

I have new pictures that I will post this week.