It begins with faith

​​It starts with faith. God gave me a word to share this day and I do not want the freshness of His revelation to fade. 

If you were at the dinner, I shared that this past week, on our prayer team, one of our teammates had us praying for a local Palm Beach Gardens girl (24yrs) that had beenstruck by a semi-truckwhile crossing the street. Her situation was grave, but she was alive in the trauma center at St. Mary's. 

We spent day and night praying for this young girl. One of the ladies on the prayer team (whose friend's daughter it was) had been at the hospital since it happened. 
The day before the dinner, a day after the accident, this prayer partner, asked if one of us could join her at the hospital. Since most of the prayer team resides in Port St Lucie, it made sense that I would go. Ashamedly, I was panicked for a moment thinking about how much I still had to do before the dinner. How much time did I have? I, of course went, out of obedience. 

Arriving, I was led to a trauma waiting room where mom, dad and a few friends were and where more family/friends were trickling in. All, of course, deeply distressed. Lord...why are you placing me here? I felt like a stranger in a foreign land. I did not know this young girl. Would I be seen as an intruder in this sacred space of mourning?

My prayer partner introduced me to the mom and her friend and through tears, mom asked if I were there to pray for her little girl?! Yes. This is why I am here. I am here to offer comfort and hope in the midst of the unimaginable. So much was going through my head and heart. 

We eventually went  into the trauma icu room and prayed over this sweet, non responsive young woman. She had been so torn up by the truck. Modern medicine was the only thing keeping her alive. I think after I left, I was in shock. Numb. Wondering about the timing of it all, and why God has wanted me to be there for this very random, but divine gathering. 

Fast forward to the dinner. My mind is focused on what our mission is at Love's Calling. I am thinking of the program and who will be sharing and speaking, what I'll be saying and how those attending might respond. Then God, in only the clarity that comes from Him, gives me this. 

We don't have time. God created time and it is his to own. We don't get to choose the span of our lives. God is sovereign and he has determined our days. We have today to share about the love and hope of Jesus. 

Sitting in the room with the friends and family, I don't know the extent of their faith, but I do know that there was no peace. I know there was no prayer (other than what we were bringing), there was no hope, beyond hoping for her to live. My prayer is that there will be peace and hope restored to this precious family in the days ahead and that Jesus would hold them firmly in His loving hands, sending them hands and feet that will serve them and offer compassion. 

Friends, I have seen tragedy strike families. We all have the same primal response to it...wailing, crying out, asking why, begging! These are all normal inititial human responses. But those who know the hope of Jesus, will recieve a peace that passes all understanding. They have a Savior to call up on who offers supernatural peace and understanding and ultimate healing.  

Most of my life has been spent working with students/young adults. In all my years as a mom, teacher, coach, youth worker and mentor, never have I seen more healed, more confident, more stable, more forgiving, or more compassionate young people, than the ones that have chosen to give their lives to Christ in service. 

I'm serious. We have some very strange lines we've drawn up between religion and culture and it's time to cut through it. Christianity has been grossly misrepresented, God has been misrepresented. As a nation, we pride ourselves on education, sports, military and hard work ethics, but not ONE of these things alone covers a student the way knowing Jesus does. 

Jesus is teacher, he is counselor, he is accountability partner, he is protector and he is provider. The lack of his love and the dark sinister lies of the enemy have held captive our kids long enough. 

Why are we resistant to his teachings? Why do we give so much money and time to things that are OF THIS WORLD...things that offer nothing of eternal value...nothing of love. 

When you get placed time and time again, to sit with parents in the midst of their pain and crisis, your perspective shifts. Mine has shifted and I can't unsee what God is doing in and among his young people. He is calling them out to be his and to fight for others that are lost. He is sending them to love on the broken. He is equipping them with his word and with confidence, mercy and grace to seek out the hurting. Can you really think of anything bad about this? Conversely, can you think of anything better? Search your heart and see if there is a hurt somewhere about this subject. Have you been hurt by the church? Have you been hurt by a Christian? I pray that if so, your heart will lead you to investigate that and let God lead you to healing in that area. 

Would you prayerfully ask the Lord to give you eyes for this? Would you ask him what shift is needed you, to see the desperateness of the situation. I could yell it from the mountain tops a million times and before the message makes it to your heart, the enemy distorts it so it can't land. 

Please pray and ask God to reveal the truth of this to you. Then, when you are touched by it, reach out to me or just begin the change. He'll direct your path, your thoughts, your decision making, your time and talents. 

Our world is utterly broken. Shootings are a norm in America. Drugs are stealing souls. Media is distracting nearly everyone. Please turn off the noise and join me in the silence of the Savior. Seeking first the kingdom of God is where we can begin. 
-In His grip, Lee

**please lift up the parents/family/friends of this young girl as she passed away, Saturday September 14, the night of our dinner. She and her mother has been planning to attend.