Lately I have been so blessed to be a part of my city's annual Easter performance of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection, which has been life changing to say the least! Not just for myself, but for countless others. The man that is producing the play is a friend of my brother's from High School... someone that God used as a vessel in planting seeds for my brother's salvation, and through that, my own salvation as well. Tonight, after watching the movie, I headed off to the Good Friday performance of our play. I got my costume and makeup done and went with our cast, tech, props and sound team into the youth room for worship and prayer a half hour before the show began.
As we had been practicing and preparing for the for our final performances, I recognized one of the men on our ministry team as my Social Studies teacher from sixth grade- Mr. Christians. Truth is, I never knew that he was a Christian, and I wasn't sure if he remembered me, but tonight after worship he approached me and called me by name. He went on to share with me that he recognized me and went home the evening before and looked through his old year books to find my name. He told me how he had prayed for me and for each one of my siblings when we were in his class. Before I even knew what was happening, tears were pouring down my face.
"Thank you.... so much."
He couldn't believe I was there. "How long?" He asked
"Seven years, Vince too! We are still praying for the rest of my family,"
This man was also the basketball coach for my two older brothers. He knew them far better than he even knew me. He was clearly overjoyed to hear the news, and I could not stop the tears from coming. He asked if my brother was a member of the church, and I explained that he was in prison currently, but had in fact, went before the parole board earlier today, and I was praying he would be able to be with me here soon enough! I was reminded in an incredibly beautiful way that even as I was praying persistently for my whole family's salvation and for my brother's release from prison... here was a man who had been praying year after year for for over 20 years that the students he taught would come to know Jesus. I have been so encouraged to hear the numbers and basic stories of salvation each night this week as a result of our play... I can only imagine the joy that he must have felt to see the fruit of his years of faithful labor in prayer!
I remember just this past summer, voicing some frustration with a friend over the fact that "God promised" and I still have yet to see those promises fulfilled. I will never forget what she told me then... "Moses journeyed with the Israelites through the wildness for 40 years and he never got to see the promised Land." The truth is, we don't always get to see the fruit of our labors, but as Galatians 6:9 says, "Do not grow weary in doing good for you shall surely reap a harvest if you do not give up!"
One of my fellow cast members asked me the other day, how I came out of Mormonism into Christianity. After sharing my story with her she shared with me John 15:16, "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that remains, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, He will give to you." What a promise! Thinking about my past, it is clear that God chose me, and I will be forever humbled by that fact. Yet, the beauty of His paradox is that He allowed me to choose Him in return! Kind of like a marriage, I suppose :) He chose me first. We love, because God first loved us (1 John 4:9) The best part about that promise? "I have appointed you to bear fruit- fruit that remains!" While we may not always see the fruits of our labors, we can be assured that when we bear fruit, it will be lasting! God has promised it will remain!
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Mr. Christians was a victorious reminder of that. God works in His timing not ours. I am so grateful that my middle school teacher cared enough to pray for mine and my siblings' salvation! My life and my oldest brother's are eternally changed by his faithfulness. It is encouraging to know that, looking at my family's future with God... there is always hope! As Philippians 1:6 says, "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work will carry it on into completion until the day of Christ Jesus." I am also encouraged to think of my future career as a high school teacher, knowing that my prayers and connections with the students may be life changing and eternally altering as well. What is the point of it all if our hope is not found in Christ? Thinking about this teacher's prayers for me and my family, along with where God has brought me to now in my life, I can't help but feel extremely blessed! Today is truly good indeed!
Thank you for the Cross, Lord!
For the price you paid!
Thank you for the Cross, Lord!
For the price you paid!
