The Chase Is On!

Monday night is Bible study night at my church and I get excited about it EVERY week we have it!  Right now, we are doing Discerning The Voice Of God by Priscilla Shirer.  It is AWESOME!

Although Priscilla and I don't know each other personally, I feel like she, of course along with the Holy Spirit, was the one who nudged me into Youth Ministry.  A couple years ago, I was at a Going Beyond event (Priscilla Shirer's ministry) in Roswell, GA with a couple of gals from my church when God whacked me over the head and said, "GO".  I had heard the call to youth ministry the prior year but kept telling God he had the wrong person.  My kids weren't "youth age", I was past my 20's, I was normally in bed by 9 p.m., and the list went on and on.  Needless to say, God didn't listen to me.  And now I thank Him every day He didn't!

Anyway, Priscilla was teaching on Jonah that night.  As she read 1:17, the Holy Spirit opened my ears.  But the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.  Priscilla said, and I quote, "The LORD ALWAYS provides when He asks us to do something."  The Lord had asked Jonah to do something, he didn't do it and we all know what happened after that!  Not that I thought I was going to be swallowed by a rather large fish, I just knew it was confirmation of the call He had placed on my life.

In Mark Batterson's book, Wild Goose Chase, he pretty much sums up the leading of the Holy Spirit:  Most of us have no idea where were going most of the time. Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit, Geadh-Glas, or the Wild Goose. The name hints at mystery. Much like a wild goose, the Spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed. An element of danger, an air of unpredictability surround Him. And while the name may sound a little sacrilegious, I cannot think of a better description of what its like to follow the Spirit through life.   

Needless to say, from the time I entered youth ministry until now, it has been a WILD ride!  I am so thankful God has allowed me to be a part of the lives of the youth I shepherd.  They are a fun, crazy bunch!  We have laughed, cried, been scared, joyful, and every other emotion there is together.  We have been on mission trips that have totally took us out of our comfort zone and made us realize what blessings we have been given.  We have prepared meals, locked ourselves in the church overnight, been to Six Flags and too many other things to mention.  They are truly a great group!

I am so thankful for "the call".  I am thankful for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in ministry.  But most of all, I am thankful for the sacrifice Jesus made for me, a broken vessel, so He could fill with His Spirit that I may have life and have it more abundantly!