Author: Bill Stoner

Posted on

power of the king

I remember being at summer camp. I decided to go swimming, not realizing you were supposed to know HOW to swim before you got into the water. To this day, it is still a struggle for me to even float on water. How in the world did Jesus walk on water? That shocked a lot of people. People who heard about it and the disciples who saw it firsthand! Everyone was impressed. But why did Jesus decide to go walking on water, especially during a storm? To show them the power of the King.

THEY FORGOT HIS POWER

Jesus wanted to give them relief from the wind: “He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them” (Mark 6:45-52). Jesus decided to walk out and tell the wind to “knock it off”. And of course, the wind listened to Him. The Disciples were amazed, but should they have been? Just a few pages back in Mark 4:41, Jesus calmed the wind. Guess the reaction of the disciples: “Who is this that even the wind and the waves obey Him?” How quickly they forgot the power of the King!

BLIND TO HIS POWER

This wasn’t the only reason for Jesus’ surprise performance. Recently, He demonstrated His power: He calmed the wind and the waves, fed at least 5000 people on a hillside without a Wawa in sight, and walked on water with such ease as if He were the Great Wallenda.  Did the Disciples get the message? Apparently not, as we read in Mark 6:52: “They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened”. The power of God is revealed through Jesus Christ and in ways unheard of! But what about our day? Do we still see the power of the King alive, active and working?

MEANING OF POWER OF THE KING

So, what do we mean by “the power of the King”? Do we mean authority? How much authority does King Jesus have over our lives? Does the King’s power cover everyone within the Kingdom? Does His power mean He can feed thousands with a few fish and some bread, or He can strut across the lake without a boat in sight? It does. Even though these activities are within His power, there is so much more! Acts 1:8 promises: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in all Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Jesus told the disciples that they would do even greater things than what He did! (Imagine that!)

MIRACLE OF A PRODIGAL

I watched an Elder-Led prayer meeting at a Florida church the other night. At the end of the evening, an Elder by the name of Dan Buckles shared his personal story. Dan discovered he had a son he was unaware of for 20-some years. After some time, he had the opportunity to meet Kristian, his son. Dan tried to build a relationship with him. However, Kristian’s health gravely deteriorated. Dan flew to the hospital to share the Gospel with his son. That night, Kristian rejected the message of salvation. Dan would not be deterred, so he went back the next day and presented the gospel to him one more time. Father Dan told his son he didn’t have much time to spend with him in this life and wanted to spend eternity with him. Kristian responded and gave his life to Christ! During the last hour of his life on this earth, Dan had the privilege of baptizing Kristian in the hospital room, and Kristian lived as a new creation in Christ. That is the power of the King!

WE CAN LIVE WITH HIS POWER

You and I can do great things through Christ if we solely allow God the Holy Spirit to be our strength. We can live with the power of the King!

Posted on

WHAT IS CHURCH?

Read: Acts 2:42-47

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about that word “church”. It is both a broad and personal term. What does it mean when people talk about “my church”? Are their lives tied to a location? And then some people talk about church as a place that messed up their early childhood and scarred them forever. So, many associations can be made with the church. Which is it? Is it a good place where memories are plentiful, and families continue to grow? Or is it the place where nightmares are born and continue to thrive? “Church” is wrapped with all kinds of nuances.

WHEN A CHURCH IS JUST A CLUB

First, let’s begin by understanding which church we are talking about. Many groups call themselves a church when they actually are “wolves in sheep’s clothing” (Matthew 7:15). Thousands of churches do not preach the gospel. Without the Gospel, a church is not the church laid out by Jesus Christ. It is a club.

DISTINCTIONS OF THE FIRST CHURCH

What was distinctive in the early churches? According to Acts 2:42-47, they loved being taught, they existed in community, prayer was foundational, and they shared in celebrating communion. Also, they took care of one another, praised God, and prioritized sharing the Gospel. Churches today may call themselves evangelical, but they don’t preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This makes them a community, but not the church laid out by Jesus Christ.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT CHURCH?

When asked, “How do you feel about the church?”, I simply mean the church you grew up in or were taken to as a child. Again, many things caused you to form an opinion about those early years, but I would like to offer some things that should have happened.

MORE THAN A STAINED GLASS WINDOW

Was Jesus the major focus of your time in church? Did you learn all about Him? I know that sounds rather trite, but He must be the central Person in our churches, in decision making, in building relationships, and in our worship. Sometimes, we assume Christ is the center of a church, yet we relegate Him to window dressing. He makes a nice stained glass window, but does not reside in the community of believers.

THE ONE WHO ISN’T HERE

A genuine church loves every child as if he/she were its own. As a Pastor of Christian Education, I hung a sign in my office. It read: “The child who most needs today’s lesson may be the one who isn’t here.”  Jesus wanted all the little children to come to Him. The disciples rebuked the parents who were trying to see Jesus, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mark 10:13-14).  I know how easy it is to overlook that one child, but each needs our love. This is Jesus’ plan for the church.

Maybe you had a bad experience in a local church. Let me ask you a question. Did your church present Jesus as the Savior? The only Someone who loves you and will never leave you? Did you know a believer who reached out to you even when no one else would? I know we can’t change the past, but we can introduce these two items: Jesus’ love and our genuine love for the next person. That’s when one enters the wonderful place laid out by Jesus, called “The Church.”

Posted on

WORDS, WORDS, WORDS!

Last week, my wife got very upset with me. After she was done ‘instructing” me about what I did wrong, I gave up and didn’t say a word in response. Of course, she came back with her usual response: “Words, use your words, what are you saving them for?” I really didn’t have any words to share (at least none that were a reasonable excuse), and so once again I was guilty of not communicating.

Once again, my lack of words didn’t accomplish anything, unlike somebody else’s words. Yeah, you know Who I’m talking about: God. He is the great Communicator. God uses words. God said, “Let there be light.” Thus, light was created. And when He used the words “Let there be an expanse between the waters”, guess what, there was an expanse between the waters. God created everything in the world by speaking; His words are incredibly powerful. (Genesis 1:3-8)

SURPRISE! GOD USES WORDS!

Words are used to both create and to destroy, as when God said to Adam not to eat of the tree of knowledge. “For when you eat of it you will surely die” (Genesis 3:1-19). Adam ate, and death descended upon creation.`

POWER OF WORDS

What flows out of our mouths can create wonderful relationships, as when a person piles on praise to a friend. Words can also destroy, as when someone shares criticism and shame with a young person who is simply trying to please. We are all responsible for the words we use and exactly what words we choose. Are our words building people up, or are we tearing people down?

WORDS ABOUT WORDS

Several proverbs are rich in ways that will help us to communicate with others. Solomon writes, “When there are many words, transgression and offense are unavoidable, but he who controls his lips and keeps thoughtful silence is wise.” (Proverbs 10:19). Let’s face it, some people talk too much. Others don’t say enough (yes, I’m guilty).

Words can help to heal a broken heart. They can encourage someone who is depressed and lonely.  Words can be used to unify or decimate a relationship. “The mouth of the righteous flows with [skillful and godly] wisdom, but the perverted tongue will be cut out. The lips of the righteous know (speak) what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked knows (speaks) what is perverted (twisted). (Proverbs 10:31-32).

POWER OF YOUR WORDS

When speaking to others, think about what you are saying. Are you building others up or are you tearing them down? Are you encouraging someone with your words, or are you just causing doubt to keep them from doing what God wants them to do?  You may not be able to create the sun, the wind, or the earth with your words, but you can help people to see Jesus through the kind and loving words of forgiveness and hope. So, the next time your spouse says, “Use your words”, go ahead (hopefully with wisdom). Make someone’s day!

Posted on

COMMUNICATION THAT NEVER STOPS

Prayer. That’s a universal subject. It doesn’t matter what your faith is, your ethnicity, or who your parents are. Everyone can pray. Just the other day I saw a very famous actor on TV. He invited me to join him in prayer. It didn’t matter who I am, what my beliefs are or what god I worship. If you want to speak to someone who you believe will listen to you, why not get those requests in? No one turns down free stuff!

HOW DO I APPROACH GOD?

Okay, enough with the sarcasm. I am not trying to belittle the practice of prayer. It is the most important highway available to the child of God to communicate with Him. However, I am discouraged by the proliferation of people who push prayer and ignore all the other things that come before that, like a relationship with the God you are trying to speak with. If I am a child of God, how do I approach the very throne room of the Almighty of God? What should my attitude be? So often prayer is a last-ditch effort, and we take it for granted. But this otherworldly communication is a vital to our relationship with God.

COMMUNICATION WITH A SECOND GRADER

I was talking to a second grader the other week about his actions on the playground. He communicated to me that the ball hurled at his classmate’s head did not come from his hands. It must have been someone else who flung the ball. As much as the young fellow wanted me to believe that what I saw with my own eyes didn’t happen, his argument failed. His communication with me wasn’t based on facts, or sincerity, or even honesty. He just told me what he wanted me to hear. Too often our prayers are just that. We tell God our version of the facts and what we want to happen. We ignore the His truth and Word. Our relationship with God suffers.

CONVERSATION REFLECTS RELATIONSHIP

Communicating with God is like having a conversation with a friend, but it must be absolutely truthful. This is our vital exchange with the God of the Universe. Do you speak with your best friend only when you can fit it into your schedule? Is your conversation peppered with half-truths? Do you speak only to this friend when you need a favor? Maybe you don’t actually have a deep relationship with this person you call “friend”.

MORE THAN JUST COMMUNICATING WITH GOD

Prayer is more than just communicating with the Father; it is our way of demonstrating our love for Him and thanking Him for what He has accomplished in our lives. It is an ongoing practice which we humbly participate in. John Piper observed in The Pleasures of God, “Prayer is God’s delight because it shows the reaches of our poverty and the riches of His grace” Prayer reflects our relationship with God.

DAILY STEPS

Prayer is an excellent to practice daily. The Apostle Paul always let prayer shape his attitudes and desires. (2 Corinthians 12:7-9). Without prayer, he could never have become a spiritual giant. How do we practice this daily?

1. Come before Him in humility. Remember who it is that we are speaking with.

2. Approach Him consistently. Make your conversations a daily habit.

3. Come before Him and expect the supernatural; ask for what only God can accomplish and wants to accomplish in His will.

4. Always remember “We do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:26).

Go ahead, start communicating! This is the conversation that can change both your own life and everyone around you.

Read a great prayer model in Colossians 1:3-14.

Posted on

IS KNOWING GOD A LOVE OR A PREFERENCE?

Read: Psalm 119:97-103

I enjoy watching basketball and baseball. I have an infatuation with the written word. Cheesesteaks, US coins, and Polish pottery are also on my list of passions. To get to know a person, try asking them what they cherish. To get to know my first graders better, I asked them what they love. They said they love me as their substitute (of course!)

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PREFERENCE AND LOVE

We may often say we love things, but they are often just our preferences. The students preferred me rather than the other substitute, whom they nicknamed the “Wicked Witch of the West”. Our relationship was not deep enough to venture into love. It was a preference, not love.

FULL THROTTLE LOVE

Remember when you first became a Christian and learned there were three words for love in the Bible?  The highest form is “agape”, which signifies our love for Jesus. It’s the kind of love that causes us to worship Him and to sacrifice our lives for Him. This type of love means Jesus is not just a preference (like a Heinz 57 variety among gods). This is full-throttle sacrificial love.  

LOVING JESUS = LOVING HIS WORD

What else are we supposed to love as believers? John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God”. If we love Jesus, Who is the Word, doesn’t that mean we are also to love the Word of God? When you read His Word, is it just a preference or because of a deep, enduring love? Does loving His Word change your life? Paul says in Colossians 3:16, “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” If we love His Word, we learn, grow, teach each other, and are filled with gratitude. This can only happen when we understand the words of the Bible and how they relate to our everyday lives.

By studying the Bible, we begin to see the Word of Christ dwelling in us. God wants us to experience the richness that comes with loving and obeying His Word. How did Jesus regard God’s words?  New Testament scholar Scott McNight observes: “Whereas the Pharisees taught a love for the Torah, Jesus taught a Torah of love”.

3 INGREDIENTS TO UNDERSTANDING HIS WORD

How can we best understand and love the words of God? There are 3 key ingredients in understanding the Bible. The first ingredient is Observation. This involves reading the book several times and then asking some simple questions. Who wrote this? What was he trying to accomplish? Who is his audience? What was his theme? Just get a sense of what this book is about and love your time discovering it.

The next step is Interpretation. Ask, what does this mean for today? How does this relate to the other books of the Bible? What doctrines are presented in this passage? What is God saying and teaching you about Himself?

And finally, the third step is Application. How should I respond to this text? How can my love for Jesus grow through the application of this passage to my life? For example, Ephesians says we should “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). When we take the time to study the Word of God, we will be able to speak the truth and do so in love!

Again, you may have preferences for a lot of earthy things, but until you love God and His Word, you will be missing the greatest love of them all. Truly loving God and His Word will transform your own life and the lives of those around you.

Suggested reading: Seven Things I Wish Christians Knew about the Bible by Michael F. Bird

Posted on

DARK AND LONELY NIGHTS

3 AM, I lay in the hospital bed, waiting for the nurse to interrupt with a visit for a blood pressure check, respiratory treatment, or blood sugar check. It is a very lonely time. I do not know if the readings from my last blood tests are improving.  Or are the numbers climbing even higher, causing my stay in the hospital to be prolonged? At that moment I feel alone. All the encouraging comments like “It’ll be alright Bill” or “You’ll be out of here in no time” ring hollow. The darkness of the silent hospital room consumes me with thoughts of despair and doubt.

I CANNOT SEE A WAY OUT

My faith is tested, and I cannot see a way out.  I feel shame. After all, I was the preacher who for the last 30 years told others: “All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose”. Do I believe this? Is any of this working out?

GLIMPSES INTO THE REASON FOR THE HOSPITAL BED

Then God begins to show me glimpses into why He is allowing this crisis to come upon my life. He starts to turn this period of self-doubt and discouragement into a time of hope and purpose. As I lay there feeling lonely and cast aside, a young nurse comes into the room ready to take my vitals. I initiate a conversation which turns into a lengthy talk regarding her Vietnamese mother and spirit worship. She tells me about how her mother worships the dead. She does not necessarily agree with her mom but does not know anything wrong with it. The Holy Spirit and my training in evangelism kick in. I begin to explain to her how Jesus is the only Savior any of us needs. He forgives sins no matter what we have done. A great conversation for a long, lonely night!

The next day, at about the same time early in the morning, I have another discussion with the head nurse (she also came to extract blood – a team sport!) We end up having a long conversation about her family and how God seems to be missing. Again, I share with her the hope of salvation and what Jesus means in my life. God is speaking to me and this dumb fool (Patient Bill) listens to Him. He shows just what His purpose is, and He wants to bring glory to Himself.

NOT ALONE!

Many nights I spent in the hospital wondering what was going to happen to me and how I fit into His overall plan. Finally, I realized that feeling lonely meant I was only thinking about myself. I wasn’t alone. The God of the Universe was right there, listening to me, watching everything I did, and prompting me into conversations with the people around me.

David reminds me: “I will lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2) My help comes from the Lord, not from those surrounding me. God beckons me to get me eyes off myself and my own situation regardless of how lonely and dark the nights are.

LET GOD USE EVEN THE DARK AND LONELY NIGHTS

Whenever you feel lonely, remember the Eternal One Who stands right beside you, regardless of the circumstances. Do not take as long as I did to realize that the situation might not be all about oneself, but about those surrounding us who need to know about the Maker of Heaven and earth. Let God use even the dark and lonely nights.

  • Note from Jacqui: This is the first completely new devotional which Bill has been able to write since his first hospitalization on November 25, 2025. Recovery has been very slow, but we want to thank those of you who have been praying for us, encouraged us, and have been asking God to use all of this for His glory.

Click for further reading regarding Romans 8:28

Posted on

THANKFUL EVERY DAY

IMAGE OF THANKFUL

This week we celebrate Thanksgiving, the day we give thanks for the usual stuff: family, food, and football. Maybe on Thanksgiving eve, we attend a special service and sing songs of worship, hear a brief homily, and then return home to work harder than any other day of the year. We vacuum the stairs, dust the furniture, polish the silver, pick up the toys, and throw dirty clothes into the hamper. Of course, we make sure the litter box is empty (or at least guarantee the cat odor is gone). Then finally, we can “die”. All that for family we may only see once a year!

“WHEN EVERYBODY GOES HOME”

That is a scenario I cobbled together from several reports, both from adults and from one of my 2nd graders. At school, we went around the circle asking what part of Thanksgiving was their favorite. Most of the answers were about food and games, but when we got to Bobby (name changed of course) his answer was a little more honest, he said his favorite part was “when everybody goes home!”

THANKSGIVING NOT A CALENDAR DATE

Does this sound like your day of Thanksgiving? Is it simply another day of food and family and even a few days off from work? Not according to David. He expressed thanksgiving in times of joy and in times of persecution. “You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever”(Psalm 30:11-12). His thanksgiving was not a date on the calendar. It was an essential portion of him, an expression of rejoicing in the knowledge of a powerful God.  

SATURATED BY THANKSGIVING

The apostle Paul did not see giving thanks as an occasional day either, but an element which saturated his life. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). Perhaps we should print a new calendar with every day marked as Thanksgiving.

Remember those friends or relatives you do not have an easy relationship with? Paul pleads with two women, Euodia and Syntyche, to agree with each other, along with the others that are written in the Book of Life. We must even do this with rejoicing and thanksgiving.

HOW TO GIVE THANKS DAILY

Can we make giving thanks an everyday part of our devotion to God? Of course. Here are some of the ways:

We can begin every day by giving God thanks for another morning, health, and loved ones. So, let’s celebrate Thanksgiving together as part of the Body of Christ on that day, and let’s continue to remember His goodness the other 364 days of the year.

Click this link for even more verses to spur you toward thankfulness in this season of your life.

Posted on

BEFORE AND AFTER LIFE

IMAGE OF NEW LIFE

I was subbing for a first-grade class. The teacher next door came over to tell me how wonderful the children were. She smiled, I smiled, and then she spoke that one little word that gave new appreciation for everything she said in the previous sentence: “but.” That one word can illustrate the difference between light and dark.

WHAT WE ALL WANT

In Ephesians 1:17-23, Paul writes one of the most encouraging prayers made over believers who embrace the name of Christ: “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious father, may give you the spirit of wisdom, and revelation, so that you may know Him better”.  Wow. Isn’t that what all of us want? To “know Him better.”

HOPE IS GREAT

He goes on to describe the hope He calls us to, the richness each of us can experience, and the great power each of us have working in our lives. He says we have all these things because Christ rose from the dead! Great encouragement! Paul then closes the chapter by saying: “And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head, over everything for the Church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.” That sounds great. What more needs to be added to understand this blessed life?

WHAT WE WERE LIKE

Paul begins Ephesians 2:1-7 with: “As for you.” Here he reminds believers what they used to be like.  “All of us also lived … gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts.” We by nature deserved wrath. Not desiring the spirit of wisdom and revelation, we desired to feed our hearts with sin. Ahh! Sounds like a bad memory.

TWO REALITIES

The word “but” is used by Paul as if to say, “We have a great group of kids today, but oh, how they have changed from the mess they once were.” We have two realities, not only how wonderful our new life is, but what our past was like without Christ. This is the reason Paul takes time to remind the church where they came from. He uses our past to explain our future.

A MIRACLE OF NEW LIFE

The other day I was talking to a man who covered from head to toe with tattoos and piercings all over his body.  I asked him about the Christian t-shirt he was wearing. He said he was saved just seven years ago and today he is studying to become a pastor. By sharing his past with people he meets, he deliberately opens the opportunity to tell them about his future! He doesn’t focus on his past, but he explains how great God is, and how wonderful God was to send His son to die for our sins. To understand the miracle of new life, it was necessary to understand where he came from.

Paul offers a word of hope. “Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive in Christ even when we were dead in transgressions, it is by grace you have been saved.”  Remember, we have a wonderful life in Christ. The “BUT” before Christ and our total separation from God is a fact. However, Christ’s sacrifice on the cross that makes an entire new life possible!

THE “BUT” IN YOUR STORY

Do people know the “but” in your story; both what you were before Christ and how Christ is being glorified today? I was blessed by a tattooed guy with multiple piercing to hear about the miracle of transformation. Are you blessing others with your story of before and after?

Posted on

MIRACULOUS FORGIVENESS

IMAGE OF NICKEL MINES

On October 2, 2006, at 10 am, a mass shooting took place at an Amish schoolhouse in Nickel Mines, a rural village in Pennsylvania. A young man, married and the father of three, entered an Amish schoolhouse. He ordered all to leave, except the young Amish girls. After a standoff with the police, the man shot 10 girls, killing 5 of them, including himself.

The news of this terrific tragedy spread throughout the rolling hills of this bucolic community. Amish and non-Amish alike began to mourn for these innocent young children and their families. No one was able to understand why a person would commit such a depraved act. What drove him to do harm to his friends and neighbors, let alone innocent children?

FORGIVENESS IN ACTION

All of this was confusing and beyond comprehension. But as it turned out, it wasn’t the only thing that caused people to scratch their heads. The same afternoon after the shooting, some Amish neighbors visited the wife and children of that murderer to comfort them in their time of sorrow and pain. They wanted to express their forgiveness for the actions of a troubled man. Their forgiveness was not just a polite gesture; it was wrapped in kindness and love. The Amish even attended the funeral of the killer. Amish mourners outnumbered non-Amish. The world took notice of how the Amish reacted, and they were astonished at such grace in a time of despair. What they were seeing was forgiveness in action.

HOW MUCH FORGIVENESS?

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (Colossians 3:12-13).  God commands us to forgive those who have committed grievance (suffering or distress) against us. What degree forgiveness? Does this just apply to the neighbor who always mows his grass early on Saturday as you are trying to sleep? Or what about your fellow worker who makes jokes about you whenever you happen to be out of the office? Or more seriously is this the man who ran over your dog and never even apologized?

Remember, you’re one of God’s chosen people, you’re holy and loved. How can you find a way to forgive that co-worker and also resolve the situation (if that is possible)? Can you do it with real compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience? All of these are difficult but not impossible.

HOW WERE YOU FORGIVEN?

What stands out in is when the Lord said, “Forgive as the Lord forgave you”. How did the Lord forgive you? Did He give you a test to find out what kind of person you are? Has He checked your credentials? Did He ask your neighbors to write you references? None of that. Just the opposite. Romans 5:10 says that when He reconciled us (He saved us) we were enemies of God! We were on the opposite side of truth.

REAL FORGIVENESS

That’s what real forgiveness is, when you choose to forgive someone because you have the humility, kindness, and compassion of Christ. We often weigh the injustices people do to us and then decide whether forgiveness is necessary. But if we follow the command of Christ, we must realize, it isn’t about the wrong someone committed. Rather, we must forgive, just as Christ has forgiven us, unconditionally. Forgiveness, just as the world saw given by the Amish in the Nickel Mines community. This makes the world notice and wonder at such grace only found through Jesus Christ.

Posted on

THE GIRL WITH THE AGENDA

IMAGE OF THE UNLOVABLE

Most of you know me as a substitute teacher who loves little kids. I say “little kids” because that is my wheelhouse, my comfort zone, my area of knowing everything that is presently in the mind of first and second graders. I feel loved and needed. It never fails, whenever we’re out for recess, someone will come up to me and ask me to tie their shoe or zip up their coat. With each act of kindness, I feel like I did something that was productive, or helpful. 

TIME WITH THE “BIG KIDS”

Yet, I left my comfort zone, my wheelhouse, to enter the world of “big kids”.  It was a moment of weakness which I soon regretted when I took a class of sixth graders. Yes, sixth graders, the land of drama, of hormones, of boys who act like they are in second grade and girls who wish they were in tenth. But even though that is true most of the time, this was a very nice class.

AND THEN THERE WAS “AUDREY”

Yes, they had the rowdy boys and the chatty girls, but they also had one student who had her own agenda: to make my life as miserable as possible! Her name was Audrey (not her real name). I knew I was in trouble when I came into the room and read the notes from the teacher. There was a half sheet explaining the antics of Audrey.

WATCH OUT FOR AUDREY!

The note said to “watch out for Audrey” and then it listed all the things she could possibly do in the classroom. (It failed to mention what she could do on the playground!) It was a difficult day for me, trying to appreciate each of the 22 students and at the same time, keeping an eye out for Audrey, wondering when the next outburst would occur. I don’t think she considered me her “favorite substitute teacher” and she wasn’t my favorite student, but as the day wore on (and my patience wore out) I began to pray.

GOD ALSO SAW ME AS A MISFIT

The Lord reminds me that this girl appeared to me as I once appeared to God. God saw me as a misfit, as a kid who wasn’t living by the rules like everyone else, and as someone who wanted nothing to do with all the things that everyone seemed to desire. In middle school, I was also the one who was looking for attention from the other students and faculty but in an unacceptable way, just as Audrey was doing.

COMPASSION IN ACTION

By the end of the day, I wasn’t just “watching out for Audrey” but I had compassion for her. I could see past her rebellious actions to a person who was hurting for friendship, for affirmation. As I was finishing my day of substituting, I found myself praying for Audrey, that she would find the same peace and hope that I found in Christ Jesus.

Looking into the eyes of this child, I realize this is just the beginning. If she doesn’t discover who Jesus is and what he offers, she could have years of this: a hatred of other people, a loss of true love, and an attitude of never being good enough. Jesus said, “Whoever believes in the Son, has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.” (John 3:36).

MY CHANGE IN ACTION

When you see a child or an adult in this condition, pray for them. Right here, right now. Pray that they could see life, and that God’s wrath would be upon them no longer. They need the life which refreshes the heart and mind. If you come across an “Audrey” and she seems to have an agenda that works against you, remember, pray for her and watch God do His work to bring her to believe in life, in the Son of God.

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. (I Thessalonians 5:16-19)