Walking with the Lord has it's challenges and it's great rewards. During worship this morning, the realization came once again just how much God loves His children. His love for us goes beyond what we often realize. In my ladies' Bible study in Clairton I have a lot of ladies my age, but I also have young mothers. As time went on the young mothers for various reasons stopped coming, but I kept in touch with them. I began to realize that God was wanting me to start a separate Bible study to meet their need. That's when Thursday evening Bible study began.
In starting that study, came 2 new young moms hungry to learn about the things of God. These ladies challenge me with questions all the time. I love their insatiable appetite! Even with the chaos of all the kids they are eager to learn. These mothers are asking for Bibles for themselves and for their children so that they can read it to their kids. One mother, when I showed up at her door with a children's Bible, gratefully hugged me with tears!
But even with all this energy towards God, there is such a magnetic pull that wants to drag them back into the old lifestyle. The struggle to break out of that is so strong for them, but these women really want to push through. That's why I want to invest in their lives.
One of their requests was to go to church. I attempted to get them into the churches there in Clairton, but they really desired to go to mine. So my search for a van driver began. Many were not available and the one guy who had shown interest in getting involved had just broken his collar bone so he couldn't do it for at least 6 weeks. I kept putting these ladies off until I could find someone. With no one available, that left me as the only option.
I really did not want that ministry. I didn't know how to maneuver a long van around some of those narrow streets, plus that would mean getting to church that much earlier and getting home late. I would also have to give up teaching Sunday school. But God provided someone to take the class so I reluctantly boarded the van and drove to Clairton. For the 1st 2 Sundays I only had 1 family or 2 ladies - nothing worth hauling a large van for the job. So the 3rd Sunday I just told them I would go in my minivan to pick them up. Well, God had something up His sleeve! All the mothers promised me they would come and they have come each Sunday since! We have a full, and I mean full van each time with carseats and boosters included.
This van ministry that I dreaded has turned into a ministry of opportunity, and I love it! We talked about all kinds of things, but we always end up talking about the Lord. Practical questions arise and situations get covered - all on this ride in the van. And what is neat is that I have "gotten me come skills" in learning to drive the van. God is so good!
So while I was worshiping the Lord, I realized just how much He loves these women to take someone like me and teach me to teach them and to serve them. Tears just trickled down my face, He loves them so much and wants to see them succeed! That is my God!
