Beauty for Ashes.

What do I love?  Seeing God make beauty for ashes.

So often I feel like Jeremiah, with such a burden for the God's people and the lost, but no results in sight.  It's like "God, I pray everyday to you for my school, for this community, for countries and people around the world and then I don't see anything.  What now?"  However, lately, I have been seeing some amazing answers to prayer.  It's like when we do something whole-heartedly for God's glory and according to His will, He blesses it. 

 

1) In Mexico. On Friday in Chapel I saw more of what God did in Mexico while the Juniors were on their trip.  I was beyond encouraged.  It was estimated that somewhere around 500 people came to know Christ.  That number astounds me.  But what astounds me more is that for each and every person of that number now can have hope in Christ.  Though Mexico is ridden with crime and broken by poverty, it is finding beauty in Christ our Savior.  

2) At my school.My school has been hurting a lot lately, but we've grown together because of it.  I see God answering the prayers that we pray as a prayer group every Friday.  I see a divided school beginning to become united for Christ.  I see individuals really seeking God.  I know that I only see the outward appearance, and God looks at the heart, but I still can't help but be encouraged. 

3) In Human Trafficking. It's an intense subject, but it's one my school decided to address in their dance concert this year.  The dance explained the horrors and pains of human trafficking, but also the hope of God's redemption.  In a club at my school, students are uniting to race money to build a school in India for Dalit children.  One step at a time- awareness, action, support, God's help- can be the starting points that can led to us seeing God making beauty for ashes in this area.

4) In Golden Acres.  This community is truly being transformed.  Every Friday night when I am there with the kids, I watch the sunset in the background as we do worship and bible studies with the kids.  There is hope on the horizon.  And we all are beginning to see it.  This community is slowly but surely changing, by God's help and for His glory.  The children are beginning to really understand that our love for them is because of God.  I don't see the outreach there ending for many years.  Maybe, just maybe, each new generation of high school students each year will continue to embrace and pour into this neighborhood. 

5) At Love Bags. My friends and I are now going to be able to mobolize the elementary students to collect items for the outreach to the homeless- Love Bags.  We will hopefully be able to speak in their chapel and spur them on.  Then they can continue the ministry of Love Bags long after I graduate from high school.  I am in awe of God for working all this out.  Truly, I am so thankful to be able to be a part of all this as His servant.

Gracias Senor! Por todo!