For years I have conveniently avoided helping at VBS. I never felt like it was something I was "called" to do, so I would weasel my way out of the volunteer meetings and avoid the director like the plague.
This year, something different happened. One of my new best friends in Cali is the Children's Minister at our church. Enter VBS. And this conversation, "So...I'm looking for someone to help me at VBS, just run around and make sure people have everything they need...you interested?" In that moment, I wanted to say no. I wanted to, I really did, but what came out was, "Sure. Yeah. Can I have a clip board?"
In the months that followed I helped her pick a theme, I went to volunteer meetings and I helped run the decorating committee.
Last night was the big day. Opening day. In rolled 70 kids, ages 4-12 for a week full of VBS. In the midst of running around making sure the teachers had the right papers, answering questions that I didn't know the answers to, and make sure cute little guys didn't cry, I realized something.
VBS is fun.
It is. Real, genuine, fun.
These kids don't care that my hair was a mess, that my paper chain drawbridge fell down or that I had no idea what I was doing half of the time. All they cared about was that I gave 3 hours of my time to make them a portcullis from duck tape, family crests from painted pizza boxes and told them if they were scared they could hang out with me. They only cared about the hugs, love and attention that was showered upon them for 3 hours. For those 3 hours, they were the star attractions.
Then I realized, this must be a little taste of how God feels when we finally understand the love and grace He has for us. He doesn't care that our hair is a mess, that we sometimes say the wrong thing or act in a way He isn't that fond of. All that matters is that we understand that He loves us. All that matters is for that split second we understand that His grace means we can conquer the world.
God is always speaking, always trying to show us something new. I'm sad that I waited so long to let VBS teach me this lesson. Tonight I'll go back and patch up my paper chain drawbridge. I'll hope that no one cries for their mom, and I will wait for the next lesson these little guys can teach me.
Tuesday, June 25
Wednesday, June 5
Cut back...
I love food. In (most) sizes, shapes and forms. Fried, grilled, baked, smothered in cheese, or icing. I love food. I always have. I come from a long line of food lovers, you can ask my mom if you don't believe me.
And until I entered the 6th grade, I thought food loved me too. Until my pediatrician asked me what my favorite foods were and cringed when I answered, "Sprite and Cheese Pizza."
Enter the words..."Cut back." My mom, God love her, never told me I had to diet, she just told me we had to "cut back" on things like Sprite and Cheese pizza. One slice, not two, one can of Sprite, not a bottle... you get the idea. I lost weight and bought size 4 jeans and loved it! Then life happened again and I found my love for brownies, ice cream, Hershey bars and Pepsi. Now I don't wear as size 4 jean, and I hate it!
I was thinking this week, as I shimmied into my snug jeans about how I always say I'm going to cut back, but never do. Some what like I always say I'm going to have an abundance of Faith in every situation, but when the going gets tough, I get worried. Cutting back on food is a lot like cutting back on worrying. I am in control of what goes into my mouth, and God is in control of what happens to my life. You would think by now I would have learned to take everything in stride. To not worry when we need new brakes or when someone unknowingly hurts my feelings, or when I get homesick, or when I long to go out and buy tons of new things, but we just don't have the money...but I haven't. Much like my mom urging me to "cut back" in the 6th grade I find God urging me to "cut back" on the worrying.
Matthew 6:34 tells us, "So do not worry about tomorrow, tomorrow will take care of itself..."
This week, I've decided to cut back physically; and I've lost 3 pounds! Yay Me!
But I've also made a decision to cut back on my worrying. Whenever problems arise, I trust that God put me here for a reason and that He can take care of the extra weight.
In the next few weeks my food cut backs are going to be more interesting. I'm starting a 3 day juice fast next week. Perhaps while I'm drinking juice and watching my jeans get loose, I'll be even more confident in the physical and spiritual cut backs I'm making.
And until I entered the 6th grade, I thought food loved me too. Until my pediatrician asked me what my favorite foods were and cringed when I answered, "Sprite and Cheese Pizza."
Enter the words..."Cut back." My mom, God love her, never told me I had to diet, she just told me we had to "cut back" on things like Sprite and Cheese pizza. One slice, not two, one can of Sprite, not a bottle... you get the idea. I lost weight and bought size 4 jeans and loved it! Then life happened again and I found my love for brownies, ice cream, Hershey bars and Pepsi. Now I don't wear as size 4 jean, and I hate it!
I was thinking this week, as I shimmied into my snug jeans about how I always say I'm going to cut back, but never do. Some what like I always say I'm going to have an abundance of Faith in every situation, but when the going gets tough, I get worried. Cutting back on food is a lot like cutting back on worrying. I am in control of what goes into my mouth, and God is in control of what happens to my life. You would think by now I would have learned to take everything in stride. To not worry when we need new brakes or when someone unknowingly hurts my feelings, or when I get homesick, or when I long to go out and buy tons of new things, but we just don't have the money...but I haven't. Much like my mom urging me to "cut back" in the 6th grade I find God urging me to "cut back" on the worrying.
Matthew 6:34 tells us, "So do not worry about tomorrow, tomorrow will take care of itself..."
This week, I've decided to cut back physically; and I've lost 3 pounds! Yay Me!
But I've also made a decision to cut back on my worrying. Whenever problems arise, I trust that God put me here for a reason and that He can take care of the extra weight.
In the next few weeks my food cut backs are going to be more interesting. I'm starting a 3 day juice fast next week. Perhaps while I'm drinking juice and watching my jeans get loose, I'll be even more confident in the physical and spiritual cut backs I'm making.
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