God is doing some pretty amazing stuff in VBS. Many people don't realize just what goes on in VBS and how God can move even among the children. Here are a few observations of God's work among us this week.
God is working through the young ladies on the worship team. This group of girls are such a joy to work with and are doing such a fantastic job. But there is more to the story. One young lady in particular is very gifted in signing and dance. She not only has been to just about every VBS practice for the last several months but she is also practicing at home. God used Kaylee's desire to practice hard to prepare her for a very special job at VBS, even though she didn't know it at the time. The motions to our songs are American sign language. For the first time this year, we have a young man who is completely deaf at VBS. We had no idea that he was coming as his family have not started attending with us yet. He was assigned to the 2nd/3rd grade group so that he could be with his brother. This group sits right in front of Kaylee. As we sang the songs last night and worshipped God through voice and sign language, God's amazing plan unfolded. As this young man's mother began to sign the words of the music to him, he told her to stop. He understood everything Kaylee was signing to him. His mom said Kaylee signed so well that she could be understood. Kaylee and the other young ladies on the team have worked so hard practicing. Up until now, these young ladies may not have understood the importance of their hard work, thinking it was just something cool to do. After last night, they did. It wasn't a coincidence that this young man ended up in a group in front of Kaylee. It was God's plan! Hats off to Kaylee and all of the young ladies of the worship team who have practiced hard for VBS!
Another amazing story is about several young ladies on the team who decided it was more important to help the PRK children learn the motions instead of being front and center on stage. Amelia, Lexi, and Leilani all focused their efforts last night into helping the 25 PrK children learn the motions. These young ladies learned a very important lesson...leading worship is not about them! It's not about who gets to be front and center stage! Their humility was a shining example of how we are to set aside our own pride and ego, thinking of others first, and serving Christ! Praise God for impressing this upon them at such an early age!
Yet another amazing thing that is happening is what God is doing with the young people coming to VBS who have special needs. Not only is there a deaf young man attending, but we have several children who are autistic. What's really neat is to see all of the children at VBS accepting these special needs children. They are laughing together, talking, looking out one for another. They are all BONDING! These children are kids and loving being with other kids! One autistic young man has been attending with us both on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. Yesterday, he began talking and laughing with the other children. At the end of the evening, he even came down to the stage to dance and sing, along with a huge number of other children in front of everyone! What's neat is that when his mother was told this, she was very excited. He has an appointment today with the neurologist and she couldn't wait to tell him about this very important development in him! God, YOU ARE AMAZING!
There there is the 4th/5th grade group. They already have the reputation of being the rowdiest, loudest, and, ummm, 'most anticipated' group among VBS. But they also have some of the BIGGEST HEARTS. You see, each night we have a spirit competition between each of the groups. The 4th/5th grade group won the very first night. They were, hands down, the LOUDEST group, and still are. The PK group was not. Tried as they might the first night, they just weren't that loud. So the 4th/5th graders hatched a plan. They planned to sneak over to the PRK side one night and shout with the PK group. They planned to help them win. Isn't that the neatest thing you ever heard? But you know what? They never got a chance to do that. The PRK group won the competition on their own last night. Once they got the hang of it, they were good to go! But what a testimony to our 4th/5th graders!
There are so many other untold stories that are happening. We may not know the many ways God is using this VBS to impact children and their families. But HE knows! There are single mothers who work long hours but are making sure their children make it to VBS. There are families who are working around their busy schedules to get their children to church every night! They know the spiritual impact God can do through VBS! There are children who travelled from another state to attend VBS and visit their PCC family. There are so many children here this week being spiritually fed and transformed. There are volunteers who e worked long hours, sacrificing time with their families and even jobs to make sure God's work is done! There is the joy of seeing the little PK children's hands raised in worship! God is doing a great work at VBS!
Please PRAY FOR TONIGHT! Tonight the children will be learning the ABC's of becoming a Christian. It is the MOST IMPORTANT NIGHT of the week. Pray for the outpouring of God's Holy Spirit upon us! Pray for the teachers, the workers, and for me as we lay the groundwork. Pray for the children's hearts to be moved. Pray for a large attendance so that we can reach AS MANY CHILDREN AS POSSIBLE with the love of Christ! Pray for an abundant harvest!
Thank you friends! I leave you with a devotion related to tonights lesson. God bless!
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23
"I love gifts, but we’ve all opened gifts that we were not excited about. Maybe you have a friend who loves buying you things she likes, but you don’t care for at all. There’s always the obligatory gift given to you that is either way more expensive than you care to spend or the very opposite!
Exchanging gifts can be tricky business. However, there’s one gift we will never be able to match. We deserve death for our actions, but God has given us eternal life. The word “eternal” just jumps out at me. Think about it. It’s the gift that keeps on giving, and you will never want to return it! No amount of money in the world could ever purchase it.
Today you might be tired or feel unappreciated for all the work you have put into VBS. Pray for energy and thank God for giving you the best gift ever. Ask God to help you share the gift with children who might not know that God’s gift is waiting for them. "
©2008, LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, VBS 2009, Published in the United States of America OK to copy
In His Love, Cathy
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