LET ME BE EMPLOYED FOR THEE, O LORD
I've never been homeless in my life. I may have not wanted to be where I was living, but I had a roof over my head. Technically, I've never been unemployed, but I know what it;s like to hit rock bottom. It's a place where everything you touch crumbles. Prosperity is a word in a dictionary that doesn't enter into your vocabulary.
"Let me be employed for thee, O Lord." Those were the words in a church bullrtin every January 1st as long as I can remmember going to Elma United Methodist Church. The last time I was there, I decided to own those words. I was working at least three jobs and still not making enough to cover all of my responsibilities. I didn't feel like I was doing what I was capable of or called to do. I believe God created us for a purpose. He will work with us if we work with Him.
I began to pray verses in the Bible and pushed myself on God. "If You knew me before You formed me. Why did You form me?" "Your Word says You will teach me and guide me in the way that I should go. Which way should I go?" "Your Word says that You established the work of our hands. What is the work of my hands?" God answered my prayers and sent me to be a youth pastor on the West Side of Buffalo, NY.
Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;"
Psalm 32:8 "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye."
Psalm 90:17 "And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us,
And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands."
DAY NINE WORD
Nothing can shake me; he’s right by my side.
I’m glad from the inside out, ecstatic;
I’ve pitched my tent in the land of hope.
I know you’ll never dump me in Hades;
I’ll never even smell the stench of death.
You’ve got my feet on the life-path,
with your face shining sun-joy all around."
Acts 2: 26-28 The Message
DAY NINE PRAYER
DAY NINE DEEP THOUGHTS
If we ran an ad for the position of Youth Director, it might look something like this:
Wanted: an individual or individuals for what can be a very dangerous mission.
You will visit prisons, hospitals, schools, funeral parlors, courtrooms, police stations, cemeteries, airports, mountains and family homes.
You'll hear about atrocities committed in other countries that affect the people in Buffalo.
You may hear or see gunshots. You may see young people die.
You may see a 13 yr. old girl with a premature stillborn child.
You may get your heart broken at least once a week.
You may receive phone calls at any hour of the day.
You'll hear about and witness all kinds of abuse.
You'll get to break up fights between gangs.
You'll give love and receive hate.
You will cry.
So why would you do this?
You'll see the AH HA in a child's eyes when they begin to understand what love is.
They'll ask you to help them make music. You get to watch them dance and sing.
You will climb mountains, fly airplanes, go camping, play basketball and soccer.
They come back to visit after they move, go away to college or get out of jail.
They will ask their deepest questions because they trust you.
You'll get to know what love really is through brokenness.
They'll give you Valentines and surprise birthday parties.
They'll invite you to family parties and graduations.
You get to hug them when they cry.
We do eat pretty good.
You'll get to pray.
And what's your pay? It's not much, but what you receive might be invaluable. If you'd like to learn more about this life altering opportunity, please call us.