God may we be a generation that seeks Your face....

Oh God of Jacob. Psalm 24:5-7

Countless times in the Scriptures it mentions seeking God. Some of my favorite verses are:

God looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. Psalm 53:2

But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul. Deuteronomy 4:29

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6

But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul. Deuterononmy 4:29

I met a man yesterday that was a student teacher in a 6th grade science class that I was substituting for. It was kind of strange being called to sub, but sitting there all day watching a student teacher. I actually got a lot of work done on my paper for Counseling Theory. (Yeah! I finished it today.) This man was sharing with me his testimony after I shared with him I was a student at Midwestern. He began to open up to me and tell me about how he wasn't raised in a Christian home, but someone sought him out in college and invited him to an FCA meeting because he played football. He eventually, during his sophomore year at Maryville, accepted the Lord as his Savior. It was interesting as I listened to his story and how he now is a youth pastor at a church just down the road and he is also graduating in December to teach school, just how awesome God is. I sat there after we talked and after I shared with him a little part of my testimony and how I ended up in Liberty and I thought about how God truly does seek us out. I do not believe there is one single soul that God does not tug at, but it is our responsibility to answer the call. This man was a partier (in his own words...."boozing every night of the week!") and how he had no clue about who God really was or even how Jesus saved us from our sins. Amazing, I thought, the transformation. He was now a perfect, model citizen. He had a somewhat tough exterior, but it didn't take him long to open up to me. I have so many weaknesses in my life, but I believe one of my strengths is that I can get through some pretty tough exteriors. I don't know how, either, because usually all I do is smile and start talking. I have noticed it in the classroom and around total strangers. People talk to me. People feel comfortable around me, for the most part. This man was so stiff-necked when I met him and I thought, "gee, wonder if he'll talk!" He didn't at first, but it didn't take long. I pray God gives me a genuine compassion and love for people always and that it just flows from my heart. God is truly amazing the way He can take someone's life and turn it around all because of His perfect love! Wow!

Today I subbed for an elementary P.E./Health teacher and HS football coach for the Jays. I thought it was pretty neat as I sat at his desk, I noticed his collection of books. There were a few Vince Lombardi books and other sport's books, but he also had two books on Christianity. One was called Where is God When it Hurts and the other was something about Living Your Best Christian Life. Neat! God sometimes just blesses my life in the simplest ways. I feel so alone in my Christian walk sometimes and then I meet (or just sit in the classroom of a man) who is a Christian and it makes me feel less lonely. Even today as I was guarding the cross guard spot, a lady and her daughter walked by and I looked at her and said, "You look familiar!" She said, "You do, too." I asked if she was from Brookfield and she told me she was not. Then she finally said, "Church! I met you at church a few months ago!" Yep, that was it. She was one of the first people I met after I moved here and I have not seen her since. This morning was a good morning to run into her. She asked me about seminary (she remembered!) and how things were going. She was a bright spot in my day! She said I had a voice she would never forget!

I had a few other blessings today that came in the form of children! A little girl just walked up to me and gave me a huge hug! A teacher asked me if I knew her and I said, "NO, but I sure liked the hug!" How precious! Another little boy asked me if I could hold his hand! How sweet! I am a terrible elementary teacher because I just want to love on those little guys all the time! I don't want to teach or even control the classroom. I just want to love and and play! I had the third grade class all singing some "High School Musical" songs because one little girl had a shirt on that said "High School Musical" on it. Well, that is Em's favorite movie. I started singing and they ALL knew it and joined me! We were way off task, but it was fun! I am glad the teacher wasn't there! It was a great day and now I have to take my kiddos to church!