My last blog talked about God telling me I would be working with children, and how I thought He (and the man He used to tell me such news) was crazy! However, God has shown me so much of His faithfulness and the importance of our obedience through that moment I thought was so absurd! LOVE GOD!!!
This weekend, we had a night of worship called “Praise Jam.” It’s wonderful!! People set aside a couple of hours and just worship God! It’s such a beautiful thing. Absolutely love it! So so thankful to be part of a church that invites the Holy Spirit to move and loves to worship the presence of God! I want to tell you about a couple encounters I have had with a group of people whom I think we should all look up to. I say that quite figuratively, but I mean it with all my heart.
I showed up late to Praise Jam after a rather stressful day. I walk in, set my bag down and was ready to jump into the moment. I looked up to the front and saw three little girls dancing up front, no one was up there with them, they were just dancing and running around having the time of their lives! They stayed up front and danced, ran to the back and danced, and just worshiped with all they had! It was encouraging to me, a reminder to just enjoy the presence of God and put all the cares of the world, all the stresses of finances/ funding aside and just be with God. Towards the end of Praise Jam, the band (which is composed of talented individuals that have so much heart, so much passion for God’s kingdom- so thankful for them) reminded us that the front was open if we wanted to worship at the alter or pray or whatever- the space was there.
As the band started playing some faster songs, me and the kids were dancing in the back, singing our hearts out and laughing uncontrollably at times. The oldest of the three then decides she wants us to go up front so she grabs my hands and begins skipping towards the front. She looks back at me with such confusion when she felt my resistance from standing in place tug her backwards. I hesitated to go upfront with her. NO ONE else was up there. I was embarrassed. Why? I thought “Why am I embarrassed? When did this become about me? So the girls and I ran up front, my little brother followed, and soon another girl came up. We were dancing, and jumping and singing… I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel a little out of place at first… but as we kept dancing and singing, there was such a freedom that broke through! There was so much freedom in that moment. Soon, one of my dear friends ran up to dance with us, and one of our sweet singers from on stage came down to dance and worship with us.
There we were, the six of us, forgetting the weights and fears of judgment from the world, dancing with each other and dancing with our Dad. My heart was overwhelmed with joy! There’s something so mysterious and simply captivating about the heart of a child. I want to be more like that.
THEN…
Sunday, we were having prayer time. I took the girls in a group and Gerry (one of the kids leaders- He’s such a huge help in this ministry! The kids and I are so blessed by his servants heart) anyways, he took the boys and we circled up for prayer time. The girls and I were talking for a moment, and we got around to prayer requests. After they said what they wanted to pray for, I asked who wanted to pray for each situation, and each time- almost all the girls raised their hands. They were so eager to pray for one another, they were so excited about how God was going to move! They prayed, and when we were done the boys were still praying so we were just talking. All of a sudden one of the 4th grade girls says, “ Can we pray for Israel and Ghaza?” I was completely surprised. I encouraged it of course! After that comment another girl puts her hands on her eyes questioning, “and China?” as everyone laughs another girl shouts “don’t forget Africa!.” I was completely blown away. We were all laughing about the way each of the girls said a place in such a silly manner, when all of a sudden one of the girls spoke up and said, “we can pray for all of the world, cause God is bigger than the world!” another girl poked up with a heart felt laughter saying, “Yea, I bet his head is as big as this church!” another followed and spoke up through all the laughter, and with a slight sassiness in her voice said, “I bet His TOE is as big as this church.” The girls bantered back and forth in awe of how big and how great and how powerful God is. We still needed to pray though! So, I told the girls, we would all pray- for whatever place is on your heart- not one person has to lead, the boys were nearing the end of their discussion so let’s all pray at the same time. As we started, my expectation of silence while I prayed was shoved out the door.( I say that because I thought maybe they wouldn’t want to pray- even in Jr. High – College Groups, when we say pray together- one person still ends up leading often times. ) Each of the girls prayed along with another for the world. It was such a beautiful moment I will forever cherish.
Why was something as simple as dancing and praising in the front of the auditorium, and sitting in a circle praying and laughing, all with kids such a monumental moment?
Matthew 18:2 “ He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
There’s so much their little hearts hold. Perhaps, kids are the way they are because their hearts are much bigger than ours are as adults. Perhaps, that’s why they were so drawn to Jesus. He was one of them. His faith was so pure and strong, His heart was big, He was often “moved with compassion.” Maybe that’s the same reason we are told to become like a child. As Christians, our goal is to become more like Christ- but Christ himself tells us to become like little children. The last week, and really the last few months have showed me what that looks like and these kids have challenged me to live more like them. Either by the conversations we have, or by forcefully pulling me to the front to dance.
I have learned so much from these kids and being able to do ministry with them. I hope I’ve helped them fall more in love with God at least half of how much they’ve helped me. They’re simply in awe of how big He is, they rest in how faithful He is, they dance before Him- regardless of who else is/isn’t dancing with them, they laugh with Him, sit with Him… They know how to enjoy Him and trust Him.
I hope you’re challenged by this, the same way I have been challenged, to become more like a child in your walk with God. We are so often given the opposite message, but I think we will truly see the world through the eyes of Christ as we grow more and more to have the heart of a child.
With all the love in my heart,
Andie
I found this quote and it seemed to fit 🙂
