When Bay and I sensed God’s call to leave Kenya (Oh! My! Goodness! 25 years ago! 1/4 century past, this month!), we had no clue what His next-steps were for us. None! As we prayed, we saw God-given confirmation of the decision to return stateside, but no grand plan was unveiled. The picture we saw in our mind’s-eye was a Jordan-River-Kind-of-Crossing…we’d take one step, and the Lord would part the waters for the next step. It almost seemed like we would walk blindly into what would become the next new norm of ministry.
There was, however, one little hint.
It was a four word phrase that settled into my soul.
“Shade for the children.”
Somehow, whatever that new-norm-of-ministry, whatever our next season, it would have something to do with those four words.
What it was, at the time, I had no clue!
As God unraveled His plans, I often found myself speechless.
FOCUS Ministries, for God’s appointed time, was to be an umbrella that offered a safe space, a gathering place where students from middle school to high school would be given shelter…spiritual and, sometimes, physical…all the while offering those students a “Fresh Outlook Centering Upon the Savior.”
While that season of ministry has passed, and we are now in another new-norm-of-ministry (we realized why that is when we had our church youth group over last weekend for capture the flag and a variety of other fun…we were EXHAUSTED by the end of the night), I was drawn back to that phrase: Shade for the Children.
The umbrella of shade I now hold covers my own circle of loves (at last count 24 adults and small treasures, but that number is still fluctuating upward). The umbrella of shade I now offer looks more like a prayer covering.
That is where I left off last week, and with this verse:
Lord, may ____________ (name) always be in AWE of You. Open ________’ eyes to see glimpses of Your glory, and to recognize Your hand always at work behind the scenes. May _________’ worship always begin with wonder as __________ comes to know you more intimately.
May _____________(name) seek first Your will and plan for ___________ life. May ____________ remember that Your plans are to prosper and not to harm; that You have prepared ____________ for every good work; and that You will make __________’s way straight as ___________ trusts in You.
May ____________ remember that at Your core, You are love…and Your love is perfect, driving out all fear. May _______ see Your love made manifest each and every day; and, as a result, serve You out of an overflowing heart. May _________ be Your hands and feet to those who need to know You, or need to be encouraged by You. May __________ speak often of your wondrous deeds, and tell the stories of Your power and might.
In a world that pinches it’s nose against anything that reeks of legalism, may ___________ remember that Your ways are higher, and Your commands perfect, often reviving the Spirit. May _________ desire to follow after your law of love more than much fine gold; and, may _____________ find your commandments sweet to the soul. May ___________ remember, abundant life is often found in the middle, between law and love.
Above all, may ____________ find Hope in You; may _________ wait expectantly in remembrance of all You have done and are yet to do.
Amen.