For several weeks now we met in preparation for Youth Sunday. It seemed like initially we worked together and at times she may have felt it was a solo project and she was all alone. Little did she know, she was never alone! Feelings of being overwhelmed, frustrated, pressed and sometimes stressed. There were moments of regret and disappointment, possibly defeat. God knew there would some bumps in the road, a few pit falls, plenty of red lights, but in the end she would reach her destination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
From meeting at the park to discuss the plans to meeting weekly on Sundays, to incorporating a Wednesday and Saturday practice that felt like we were doomed, going to several stores in search of needed supplies, using her imagination to come up with a cost effective creation costume for her kids the night before the big day, to getting to work to cook just to find out the protein wasn\u2019t in the place it was supposed to be. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The task at hand seemed to be far and distant and quite impossible but with her FAITH in God she knew there is nothing impossible for God and in Christ. So she preserved, she prayed, she may have cried, at times wanted to throw in the towel, yet she never gave up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Todays message is about being obedient. Despite everything that was stacked against her, she remained obedient to God and she followed her hearts desire to serve Him and His church. Again, the road was not easy. In fact let\u2019s be honest it was a road many of us couldn\u2019t travel without leaving us with 4 flat tires, shattered glass, and a busted engine. Because before she could even get to the part in her story where she would meet weekly with the youth; her washer machine broke, oven stopped working, tub and toilet at home backed up and overflowed, etc. And on top that she was the steward of 3 young children, whom she had to raise and parent by herself. Yet she still remained obedient to God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Outside looking in one would question why on earth would she volunteer to lead the praise dances, orchestrate not only the praise dance portion but write out the whole layout for youth Sunday, help assign parts, volunteer to do face painting for the youth all while single handily preparing a home cooked meal for not just her family, but an entire church congregation after church. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She could be bull headed at time and refuse help and in my opinion be very stubborn but she had a heart of gold and just wanted to follow her heart and be obedient. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She got to work shortly after 4 to find out the chicken wasn\u2019t where it was supposed to be. In South Carolina it\u2019s like no stores open until 7 so knowing she had to be at church at 8 what was she to do?!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is where the story gets more interesting!!!!!!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Her pig nosed friend got up to use the restroom and before she went back to sleep, she decided to text her horse nose friend to say thank you. She wanted to thank her for her due diligence and not giving up even though it had been quite the process with many struggles. Knowing her pig nose friend was still awake, she called frantically. She told her friend there was no chicken and if she waited until the store opened at 7 someone else would have to take her spot and lead the youth with the praise dance. Her friend could hear the sound of defeat in her voice. So they began to brainstorm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Her pig nose friend assured her that everything would be okay. He friend suggested just ordering the chicken from Publix but then remembered with big orders, you have to place the order in advance, how much advance notice could they need they wondered?! So knowing that going to the store to get frozen chicken that needed to be unthawed, cleaned, seasoned, and then cooked was IMPOSSIBLE <\/em><\/strong>to do and be at church at 8. God showed up right when she probably would have thrown in the towel. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You see the friend that she called just so happened to be the manager of a local at home restaurant. This friend remembered she had chicken in her freezer that she could use. She had recently gotten into a car accident and the chicken that was on the menu still sat awaiting to be cooked. Little did she know it wouldn\u2019t be cooked in the Durty kitchen, it would be cooked in God\u2019s house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Could God have known this was going to happen and that she would get to work to cook the food for the church just to find out the chicken wasn\u2019t there?! Who knows, but trusting in God and keeping the FAITH and remembering God can do the IMPOSSIBLE sure proved to be true. Her obedience to God was about to be rewarded. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Her pig nose friend told her she had 12 pounds of drummettes, 15 pounds of whole wings, and 20 pounds of drumsticks that she could use for her meal. So with swollen hands and swollen ankles her friend proceeded to take it to her job. Her friend faced some opposition of her own, but she too knew she had to be obedient to God and just roll with the punches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n She boiled the noodles, shredded the cheese, cut up her potatoes, warmed up the oven, started the fryers, seasoned the rice, prepared the green beans, and just as she finished mixing the macaroni her 47 pounds of chicken had arrived at the back door of her job. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I observed the most beautiful smile on her face! I got to witness the light of God through her eyes and she thanked me and we parted ways. She didn\u2019t know she had people praying for her this whole time and thanking God that despite every pit fall she had this week and in the last few weeks, she remained steadfast in her FAITH and her determination and obedience to God would be todays inspiration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So on my way home verses taking the interstate, I drove through the city. Normally I would meet every light to find it red, I would be behind a slow driving car, and the speed bumps leading to my house would seem endless but not this time. As I drove down the long, well lit road and approached every light, it turned green. As I drove around the corner and entered my neighborhood I only went over 3 speed bumps and I made it home safely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Faith\u2019s determination and commitment to God was symbolized so beautifully on my ride home. Faith\u2019s green light was the chicken delivered to her back door. Faith\u2019s smooth and minimal speed bumps was the joy she had when preparing the meal that would provide nourishment to so many families. And her making it home safely was the deliverance of a beautiful Youth Sunday where parents would be so proud of their children in all of their various roles. And the icing on the cake was a meal and fellowship of sisters and brothers in Christ, around God\u2019s table. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The moral of todays story is to never give up. When God places something on your heart or tasks you with something, don\u2019t quit. Sure it may get hard, the road may seem bumpy, narrow, with lots of bump but remember God will straighten your path, He will provide light while on your course, and He will smooth out every worry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n