It' All Connected

We sat together at the computer analyzing the history of bubble gum. Rolling her eyes at me I genuinely felt like this project was the equivalent of suffering a major illness.  "Why can't we just copy the stuff from the Internet into the paper?" she moaned.  I expounded on plagiarism.  "Do you know what it is?" I inquired. "AHHHH... My teacher doesn't care." squeaked out.  Now she really didn't like my answer.  I went into "Mom" mode explaining how simply "cut and pasting" and calling it your own work is unethical, illegal, just plain wrong and yes her teacher does care.  I went on to instill the virtues of learning.  Without even looking at the screen I began to recite historical bubble gum information that I did not know five minutes before. "I learned that as we have been writing this out." I smiled.  Her eyes narrowed to daggers.   Suffering through a few minutes more, I told her that we could finish the next day.  It was time to move into Bible study. "Now I have to go home and redo the whole rest of my report. I only cut and paste." she whined. Inside I was laughing, she had taken my point to heart.

As we got up to go back and join the rest of her class I eyed something in the kitchen. A good friend of mine works for a coffee company that donates pastries and other wonderful things to the ministry.  Two huge bags of  goodies sat on the counter. "Let's go see what's over there?" I nudged.  Looking into the bags I asked if she might like to take something home.  One by one I removed items for her inspection.  Together we counted the members in her family to make sure everyone got something. We wrapped all up and began to head towards Bible study.  There was a certain lightness that had settled over Lorinda now. 

This young woman comes from one of our roughest families. All of her siblings have a certain hardness about them. It is the type of  shell that builds when care and tenderness has been absent.  At 12 Lorinda is closed and belligerent.  I can tell that she wants more, but doesn't know how to reach out and accept it.  Receiving love is very difficult for her.

Bag in hand,  we headed out just as my friend came around the corner. "LORINDA!!" she exclaimed. Now this friend of mine is one of those effervescent people that simply lights up every room that she enters. You can not leave her presence without a hug  that has reached into warm your soul.  Arms wide Lorinda leaned into the embrace. This was no half hug Lorinda allowed herself to be embraced but still allowed herself to  just squish someone with love.  Again, I saw the weight of the world lift from Lorinda's small frame.

I had almost forgotten that before Bible Study all of our students gathered for group worship. She secured her bag of treats in her back pack. Lorinda wanted to make certain that no one would take these from her.  Both of us smiling now we headed into the worship time. Lorinda never sings, but today she did. We ended our group time with showing the older students a very powerful 5 minute video. It is a Cross Movement song with clips from, "The Passion of the Christ."  This powerful and moving five minutes made me weep. I was reminded of what my Savior endured in his death for me. I looked over and Lorinda was glued to the screen.

Moving into Bible Study,  all of the students in our small group began to ask questions about what we had scene.  The first question? "What did Jesus do to deserve that?" I was overwhelmed at the reality that He did nothing to deserve the burden of my sin.  Lorinda sat and listened and engaged. This is a girl who struggles to enjoy Bible Study. The truth of Christ's love contrasted with her own difficult life is hard for her to grasp. Instead, this day her heart had been softened. She was ready to listen. She was ready to know.

What I saw that day is truly how Christ longs to take care of the whole of us. In one day the Lord hit Lorinda as a whole person. Lorinda saw that she was smart. As we worked on her report, I had looked into her eyes and let her know just how brilliant God created her to be. She was reminded the God has a purpose and a plan for her (Jer. 29:11) Lorinda was cared for physically. I talked of how this would be a nice treat for desert that night, but we both knew that it just might be the only food that she got that night. She saw that one way that God takes care of us is to love us through our physical needs. If we are looking for help God will come through (Matthew 7:7-11) God came through for Lorinda. Then she was loved one. Finally, her heart was truly open to seeing the truth of what our Lord and Savior has done for us 

(John 3:16-20. )

Lorinda saw Jesus in everything that day. She saw Him take care of her. I was so blessed to be a part of the process. I was able to see how each and every facet, equaled the sum of the whole. Each thing that happened was important. Each aspect made her know how much Jesus really loves her.  I can't believe I got to witness the miracle of God at work, much less be used in this.

In this we must make certain that we don't compartmentalize. It is like a big ball of string all connected and intertwined. We can't simply show the gospel without telling the good new. However, on the other hand, faith without works is dead.  Jesus himself grew

" in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man" Luke 2:52  Lorinda got to see that the Lord cares the same for her as He did for His one and only son.  SO the homework is important. The needs met are important. These are all ways we start the presentation of the Gospel. For the hope is that one day once and for all Lorinda will follow Jesus all the days of her life. This love will transform her.  One day she will loose the shell and go on to show that same love to others.