Bloggers Anonymous,
It's Saturday morning. I'm reflecting and recuperating after a week-long VBS. 5:30 alarm clocks (well, Echo got up then anyways), singing songs that require my 34 year old body to move odd parts, and the immense energy of LOTS of kids has once again made me wish I was in better shape. :)
I use to go to VBS as a little boy. I'd go with Michael Yates to the Methodist one. I'd go with Jamie Harris to the Baptist one. We'd do crafts. We'd sing songs in which my 8 year old body was accustomed to doing. We'd memorize Bible verses. You know, the typical VBS. Something I distinctly remember though was that I was never overwhelmed by the Presence of God at any VBS as a kid. It felt more like a church day care than a God encounter. Lots of fun, but...
Anytime I had experienced the Holy Spirit was at my home church: Abundant Life. Yes, orange carpet, blue pews, and natural wood ALC. It was in those classrooms and Worship Experiences that I had encountered Jesus. The one that most stands out was on a Sunday evening. Pastor Rigdon had preached. I responded by kneeling on the left side of the Worship Center next to the pulpit island. Tears flowed. I FELT God. I KNEW He was with me. I LOVED what I felt. I was 7. A little boy and a big God.
This past week on Thursday, I had the opportunity to play Jesus in a skit. Don't all of you start laughing at once! (Maybe He could have been a balding red head.) All I had to do was comfort folks when they came down the aisle and lead them to the cross. "Come to Jesus" was the song the skit was set to. The kid that was picked to run down the aisle and jump into Jesus' arms was my second-born son Colin. He came running, hopped into my arms. I hugged him. I told him that I loved Him. I took him to the cross. (Folks, that will preach in itself!) When I stood him up, he was wiping his eyes. God was tugging at Colin's heart. A time of prayer followed. SO many kids were feeling what my boy was feeling. Tears flowed. He FELT God. He KNEW God was with him. He LOVED what he felt. A little boy and a big God.
Same building. Different decor. 5 feet difference in our first Spiritual encounters. Thank you LifeKids of ALC for all the hard work. You made an eternal difference in my family!
VBS Fan,
jEFF m
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