Monday, November 29, 2010

THANKFUL

When I began working for NightLight, I had to say goodbye to my independent spirit. You know, the thing inside that says, “I’m an adult, and I don’t need anybody else to help me succeed in life. I’ve got this all by myself.”

There’s actually not a whole lot of room for that kind of attitude when raising your monthly salary. And that mindset won’t fly in a job that depends on help from volunteers.

Someone once told me that to trust means to put your full weight into something, as if you are leaning totally on that thing. Without it you would fall flat on your face. The ironic thing, though, is that it kinda feels like you’re going to fall flat on your face when you decide to give up trusting yourself and put all of your weight into another.

The Lord is that thing that I must put all of my weight into in order not to fall. Finding myself in the arms of Papa is the safest and most wonderful place in the world. Because of the Lord’s goodness and faithfulness, He has never let me fall.

And I am thankful.

I am thankful to be working for NightLight. This is a dream job for me. I get to practice living in the calling the Lord has for me as a mother to many. To say the least, the kids we work with get a lot of lovin and nurturing from me. And I get to use my mad teaching skills to teach them about our precious Lord and King, Jesus. I really love those kids, and I really love my job!!

I am thankful for the team of people who make NightLight what it is. We are an army with triumphant warrior, Jesus, leading us to bring freedom to Atlanta. I love being surrounded by saints who just love the Lord and want others to know the Good News that’s burning in their hearts. What a privilege to be a part of this community! I’ve prayed and prayed to be around people like you for so long, and I praise the Lord for each of you who make up the NightLight family. You are a joy to me.

I am thankful that so many people are a part of this with me. I wouldn’t want to do this job all by myself. It is more fun to include others in the ways that the Kingdom of Heaven is coming to Earth. Thank you, supporters, for trusting the Lord and using what He has given you to bless me and make my job possible.

I am thankful for the seemingly random (nothing is random when you’re walking with the Lord) people I’ve run into who want to support me and hear about what’s going on with NightLight. I am blown away by your generosity.

I am thankful for future supporters. I am not so great at asking for money, but here it goes: I am in need of more monthly supporters. I have not been raising enough money each month, and it seems as if the one-time donors are slowly dwindling. My current monthly supporters are blessing me with about a third of my salary. I am trying to raise $2,000 per month, and would love any help that people can offer. If you're interested, visit www.nightlightinternational.com, click on the "Give" tab, and select "Atlanta" in the drop box after you've entered an amount. All donations are tax deductible.

Praise the Lord for His faithfulness to me! And praise Him for all of His faithful ones!

“Who is like You, LORD God Almighty? You, LORD, are mighty, and Your faithfulness surrounds You.” (Psalm 89:8)

“For great is Your love, higher than the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.” (Psalm 108:4)

“For great is His love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD.” (Psalm 117:2)

“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is trustworthy in all He promises and faithful in all He does.” (Psalm 145:13)

“To the faithful You show yourself faithful …” (Psalm 18:25)

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

ISAIAH 54:17

Let me tell you a story about some precious little girls that have come to our Kids Club a couple of times.

Three sweet sisters, ranging in ages between three and eleven, just moved out of the run down extended stay hotel room where they’ve been, and in with their single mom’s brand new boyfriend.

I felt nauseous when I found out.

I don’t know anything about the man that these girls moved in with, but I do know that this puts them at extreme risk for being sexually abused. A lot of sexual abuse happens in the homes of single moms who have boyfriends and uncles over.

See, the girls’ mom is just trying to survive. She wanted to get her babies out of a one-room extended stay hotel, and she saw this as her way out.

One of the biggest risk factor of entering into the sex industry is a history of childhood sexual abuse. 89% of women in the sex industry say they have been sexually abused. We think it’s more like 100%, based on the women that we know.

People who have been treated like objects (usually by people that they know … like mom’s boyfriend, dad, or uncle, or even their own boyfriend) really believe that they’re not much more than just that – an object.

Pray that they will receive the truth about who they really are – their identity as royal children of the Most High King. They are more than objects. They are more than fearful slaves. They are heirs with Jesus. They are royalty in the Kingdom of Heaven. They were made for greatness. God's plans for them are good. God doesn't ever turn His eyes away from them.

Here’s the truth: NO WEAPON THAT IS FORMED AGAINST THEM WILL PROSPER. (Isaiah 54:17)

I declare that those girls will be FREE to live in the truth of their identity in the name of Jesus.

Fall Season Wrap-Up

It’s been a few weeks, so I’ll give you guys a recap of what Kids Club has been like recently.

We talked about how we are like sheep (I just wanna be a sheep Baa Baa Baa Baa...), and that Jesus is our Good Shepherd (John 10). We spent some time listening to our Shepherd’s voice, and the kids heard some of the sweetest truths from the voice of their Shepherd while we listened. They would call out, “HE SAID THAT HE LOVES ME!!”

My favorite week of Kids Club this season was the week that we talked about how we’re invited to a party in Heaven to celebrate our relationship with Jesus, and until we get to the ultimate party in Heaven, we get to celebrate Jesus here on Earth.

So we did.

We brought some Christian rap music, and we had a dance party!!! And let me tell you something, those kids can DANCE!

At one point, I had my shoulders moving to the music, and one of the eight year old little girls said, “No, Maribeth. That’s not how you do it. THIS is how you do it.” And she went on to show me how dancing is done. So, needless to say, I learned a thing or two that day.

Last week, I spent some time reviewing with the kids about what life looks like in the Kingdom of God. I would ask questions like, “How is the Kingdom like a mustard seed?” and “How is the Kingdom like pearls?” and “What does the Kingdom of Heaven look like on Earth?”

A few kids responded to every question I asked with, “JESUS LOVES ME!” They knew I loved that answer.

And the Good News about the Kingdom really is that simple. THE KING LOVES ME and THE KING LOVES YOU.

We ended our fall season of Kids Club by seeking the Kingdom above all else (Matt. 6:33). I asked the kids what it meant to ‘seek’ the Kingdom. They said that we should look for it. I asked where to look for it, and one kid said, “Just look around you. It’s in the air!”

I got my flashlight out and searched for the Kingdom in the children. They came up and shared stories about what the Kingdom looked like in them. Many of them said things like, “God takes care of me,” and “The Kingdom is beautiful in me,” and “I see a castle, and I’m in the castle with God.”

May Your Kingdom come, May Your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven in the lives of these children. Amen.