Acts 4:33

With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.

Story by Robin

My Sunday was so amazing!! Jesus is still alive and He loves us much more than we could ever know. Sometimes it is hard to know that because we don't see Him in a physical sense and we have to rely on faith, which can waiver at times. But, He graced me so tangibly yesterday, I just have to testify to His grace in my life.

While I'm not an apostle, I feel appointed, by God, to teach kids and plant "seeds" of faith in the hearts of our community. Working for nine weeks with the Simon Says has brought on quite a bit of spiritual warfare in my life. For the first three weeks, my body was physically attacked, but I was blessed by my sister coming during my worst days. Then, I had attacks of discouragement from within our 'camp' of helpers another couple weeks. Each week, I brought my troubles to the Lord and tried to leave them at His feet. As the saying goes, "The Battle is the Lord's".

I had a couple of good weeks until last week. Our car was down and in need of some engine-threatening maintenance. So we became a 1-car family all week. Wednesday's initial run-through with the kids had its share of challenges, including me accidentally making a child cry. (In my defense, she was tired & getting sicker by the hour. Still, that didn't help how horrible I felt inside.) The next day, our musical director's car broke down and she had to have it towed in. For Christians, there's no such things as coincidences. Everything happens for a reason and all things work for the good of those than love Christ (Rom 8:28).

On Thursday morning, I awoke to Ms. Lori (musical director) on the phone and had an hour-long chat about changes, challenges and we tried to encourage each other and laugh about the car situations. After breakfast & another call from Lori, I knew I still needed "lifting up" in my heart. Maybe even a good cry. So, I went to my YouTube Favorites. I have a couple special videos that always bring me strength and joy. I started with this one. My Favorite!! (That's My King!) My kids have even memorized it. I wanted so badly to call the church office and put my request in for this one to be played on Sunday morning. Oh, but then I remembered that they don't take requests like a radio station.

Then, I listened to this one this one (Orphans of God) because I know it will give me that good cry I needed. It puts things in perspective for me too. Last, I put on Brooklyn Tab Choir's I'm Amazed!! . It talks about God's love. Whew, we had revival until the fight had come back into me. When I went to my online Bible study, It was about putting on the whole armour of God (Eph 6). God was speaking back to me in response to my worship & praise. I had to testify all that to my "Simon Says" group because I wanted to encourage them too.

Saturday's rehearsal went so much better. Not only did it go great, but it went fast. Sunday morning, my son blessed a bunch of us to tears with his singing. THEN....... get this..... THEN, what pops up on the screen, but my video, "That's My King!" Again, more tears. He knew my heart's desire. He spoke it into the heart of our pastor. And there it was. More tears of joy. And, I could hear the congregation getting fired up as they watched the video too. What a spiritual high to think God cared enough to put that video there for me. Me. Undeserving me. God who created heaven & earth. Me. More tears.

Fast forward through a great performance. Not flawless but who cared. It was funny. It held the audience captive. It preached SOLID SCRIPTURE to a packed house! (We had two other churches in attendance with ours.) Each child got their 15 minutes of fame and then some. I was a proud mama, not only to my 2, but to my 15!! I know Jack probably thought I'd never shut up and get to the ice cream social & then Cracker Barrel.

While at Cracker Barrel, we ran into a few other families from church. (not unusual in our small town) Let me interrupt here to remind you that we just had a hefty car repair bill two days ago.... Ok, so we are finally done with the meal and the waitress comes to us and says somebody paid for our dinner. Is it so wrong to cry at Cracker Barrel? Maybe, so I held those back. In my heart of hearts, I felt like God blessed us through somebody's generosity because of the expenses occurred from the car.

It had been a day of miracles. It had been a visit with God. It had been a reward for a long & sometimes trying nine weeks. It had been a time of strengthening my relationship & dependency on Him. It had been a time to watch children mature through commitment, nurture gifts they didn't know they had, see life-lessons unfold and make new friends. I wouldn't be surprised if we had twice the response of children & helpers next year. (If we do this again next year.)

God, I'm amazed at how you love me and how much you care. I'm blessed because of You. Thank you. It's my desire that I have blessed You back.