Through the Eyes of a Child

Today we had the closing service of DNOW 2010, a youth ministry that reaches out to youth in our area. They take part in games, service projects, worship and learning about discipleship. As a church we got to be a part of their experience and let me tell you, it was an experience! God's presence was so evident in our church this morning, it was overwhelming at times. I learned so much watching our youth worship God with all they had - carefree of anyone watching and what anyone might say. It was a moment between them and their Savior. If only all of us worshipped God with such childlike adoration.

We were blessed with getting to worship with the Jeff Johnson Band and listen to a very profound message by Ed Newton. I wish I could adequately put into words what I experienced today. I love our new church. It seems like each week I learn something new about God and about myself:  things I need to work on and things He is so gracious to forgive and continue to work on in me. But today, it was different. Instead of learning something new I was reminded of something I've known all along: how much I love Jesus. I remember when I rededicated my life to God back in 2003. I was SO desperate for Him and I'll be honest, it's a great place to be. Over time, even though you love God just as much, you forget the passion, the drive and the awesomeness that loving Him really is. It can become the norm even when you never intend for it to. God is so good, so faithful, so abundant and as I was leaving church today I just wanted to jump on top of the nearest building and preach the same message I heard this morning. "Run to Him! Please, everyone, PLEASE run as fast as you can into the arms of Jesus! He is waiting for you, loving you and interceding for you." I wish I lived every day feeling like this.

As I watched our church worship and heard the message with open and willing ears, I lifted my hands to God in praise it dawned on me. I love Jesus so, so much but it has NOTHING on how much He loves each of us...me and YOU. I know the world does not like for us to say it but Jesus is it. He Is. And He is ours joyfully. I pray that each of you reading this knows that.

At the end of the service the youth choir sang Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty Who Was and Is and Is to come and it was like I caught a glimpse of Heaven. Fellow Christians worshipping, my heart filled with so much joy and peace it might explode and our God being Exhalted as He and only He deserves to be. I hope I live to see the day when my own boys are down there on that altar praising God - I can think of no greater thing for my children than that.



~ Bethany