Tom, Huck, and Plans Devised by God

Getting a young person to a Bible study no matter what

A real deal ...

As I made “the deal,” my morning devotion had me wondering if this was the kind of thing God would put into my brain. I’ve had many ideas come to me as we try to reach out to those in our community. And when you deal with a lot of kids, those ideas can seem “non-adult” most of the time. I couldn’t think of one that had been quite so over-the-top as the one I was currently getting myself into. As Keasia, sitting on top of the swings (probably 12 feet up in the air), and I were discussing how she got up there, “the deal” came to mind and without really mulling over the implications -- or my fear of heights -- I had an idea. Unfortunately, the idea somehow came out of my mouth before I had finished thinking about it, and it involved me balancing on the top of the swings and walking across to the other side. I know, a little Tom Sawyer/ Huck Finnish, but that happens a lot when you’re around ten-year-olds. If I could walk the length of the swings, she agreed to study the Bible with us one day a week for eight weeks.

Thankfully, she was more then accommodating, which kids tend to be when they make deals with adults who they figure would never do such stupid things in the first place. Either that, or God is working so hard on their hearts that they want you to make it just so they will have a chance to learn about Him. Either way, I was given more than my fair share of chances, so from bare feet to flip-flops to shoes, I was slowly practicing to fall. Then, with heart beating fast, palms sweating, sweat pouring (and that’s just from knowing I don’t have health insurance), I started walking. With each step, I'd imagine God stretched out over the distance between Him and her and held my feet in place, and one step after another I somehow crossed that great divide, and when I had my feet firmly planted on the ground, my mind rang triumphant with the thought of Keasia sitting with our family as we looked into why a crazy adult would do such a thing for her.

Years ago, someone told me that God would take our worst character defects and use them for good. Now Mark Twain never wrote a book about my character defects, although I have always been too head-strong, egotistical, and daredevilish for my own good (read show boater), but I like to think that God was communicating with me when He inspired my walk along the swings.

“All who engage in the work aright, cheerfully and hopefully, will find it a very great blessing. The Lord does not force any to engage in His work; but to those who place themselves decidedly on His side, He will give a willing mind. He will bless all who work out the spirit which He works in. To such workers He will give favor and success. As field after field is entered, new methods and new plans will spring from new circumstances. New thoughts will come with the new workers who give themselves to the work. As they seek the Lord for help, He will communicate with them. They will receive plans devised by the Lord Himself.” 6T 476

Nothing Separating,

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