Hey, girls! If you know me, you know how scared I am of sharing the Gospel with unbelievers. Well, I'd like to tell you what God's done recently.
As I spent time reading His Word each morning, I felt like He kept telling me to host a backyard Bible club. I knew that my friend had recently been trained for this, so I asked if she'd be willing to help me. I think I secretly hoped she'd say no, so I could tell God, "See, I tried!"
But she said yes. She even offered to knock on my neighbors' doors and invite them with me. I loved having an "excuse" to meet neighbors I never would have met otherwise. My friend and I even prayed with one woman who was moving out of state—she had tears in her eyes when we finished.
Then, God blew me away. My friend called to tell me she'd "just so happened" to ask a young girl she knew if she could invite the kids in her neighborhood. Eight enthusiastic kids from Fifth Street said, "Yes, we'll come!" (I moved from Fifth Street to Main Street a year ago and still love and care for my old neighbors.) This was an only-God gift!!
The weekend before the club started, I was really scared that no one would come. But I kept reminding myself, God called you to do this, Paula. He cares about these kids way more than you do. He'll bring them . . . and He did! Fourteen kids came that first evening.
While it was exhausting to work all day at the office and come home to spend five evenings in a row with kids, it was also exciting. I wasn't living for myself; I was living on mission with Jesus. I want to do that more!
While none of these kids believed in Jesus as their Lord and Savior that week (that I know of, anyway), I believe God was doing about a million different things and that "seeds" were planted in them that He will cause to grow in the future.
How about you? Is there something God is telling you to do? How can you reach out to your friends and neighbors with the good news of Jesus' rescue? Any creative ideas? If you don't have any, will you ask Him for one, and tell Him you'll obey whatever He gives you to do?
I pray God will fill us with His love and make us as bold as lions (Prov. 28:1). I pray that we will be faithful to do what He puts in front of us, so that He will say, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" (Matt. 25:23).
