things I've learned......

OK,
What's goin' on in that brain of mine?????
Well, me tell ya.
I have been priveledged to be part of MANY areas of ministry this summer and God has taught me many things.
He has shown me that He is in charge of all things.
He has shown me that I am to love all people, even mean people.
He has shown me that he uses mean people!!
Cool stuff.
But, the biggest thing that God has shown me is that His grace is sufficient.
Over and over, this summer I have counseled with young people who had questions about thier salvation and their spiritual walk.
Over and over I heard disheartening things from these precious children about what they think of God and His salvation.
The common thread was this:

these children of God have been taught, to a fault, that their salvation has to look a certain way or, they are taught, to question that salvation.

They are not even keenly aware of God's grace in these matters.
We are teaching our children to have a works-based walk with their Lord.
We are sending the message to them that If they do their quiet time in the morning and Pray and Act a certain way, then, God will love them and keep them.
Somehow, those things take precedent over His grace, which meets us where we are at and these children are missing out on that Grace.!!!!
I understand there is a balance here, and it starts in the heart.
The heart issues are missing in these children.
It's the miracle of transformation that is missing, especially, in churched kids.
Because they are immersed in Godly material and Godly education, they can get lost in that and feel it is enough, and they are missing the mark.
What can we do????
I think about the times I felt closest to God and the times I was lending my ear to God was in times of suffering.
Think about it.
It's probably true for you, as well, because it is in that time that we relinquish control and let Him guide us through.
How do we let our children suffer??
Jesus said, "Suffer not the little children to come unto me...."
That is the answer, let them come unto Him.
Let them stumble and fall and let them be brought into His presence, His Throne of Grace.
Let them minister to the poor, the down-hearted, let them do the hard things that will teach them to lean on their Heavenly Father for wisdom and guidance.
As I sit and write these things, I am weeping for my own children who fall into this same category.
I want them to grow and be strong in the knowledge of God and His word and I want to protect them from suffering, but God is saying to my heart, "let them come unto Me."
Suffer not the little children.....