Grace like rain...

We started a new topic in our Rock groups this week. We're going to be talking about it for the next 3 weeks. It's a scary topic... one that is not to hard to explain at all, but very hard to grasp deep down. GRACE.

For those of us in an intimate relationship with the Lord, we shout for joy when we hear that word. For those of us who don't really understand it, it makes us nervous. Last night Ron brought an awesome DVD to explain the concept of grace. The narrarator was a father and he told a story about his son. He told about a time when his son got caught stealing and still denied it to his parents. But there came a point as he got deeper and deeper in the lie that he realized he was caught. So he ran and hid for a few hours before his dad finally found him. When his dad finally found him he said, "there is nothing you can do that could make me love you any less". And as the video clip faded out, the narrarator just kept repeating those words over and over. THERE IS NOTHING YOU COULD DO THAT WOULD MAKE ME LOVE YOU ANY LESS. The video went off and the room of 30 or so teenagers went silent.

We then split into our Rock groups. I started out my group by explaining what grace means to me personally. I told a story about a few months ago when I ran into an old friend from my freshmen year of high school. We exchanged hellos and then the person asked, "so what are you doing these days?" I replied, "Well, I'm an inner-city youth pastor". You should have seen the look on that person's face. "YOU are a PASTOR?" they exclaimed. They were shocked and although deep down I wanted to cry because I was embarassed at some of my past decisions... I just smiled and nodded. The person then said, "How did that happen?" I couldn't really think of any words to say so I just said...."Jesus saved me!"

Then I began to explain times in my life when I've made bad decisions and how when I finally reached a place where I came face to face with the Lord I wanted to say, "But God, what I've done is soooo bad, how could you ever forgive me?" and He would stand there with his arms open and not say a word. And I would say, "but God.. I'm so embarassed and ashamed" and He would stand there with his arms open. And I would keep making excuses and He would still stand there.

Then outside on the corner of 9th and Mckinley I got really fired up. I began to repeat the words over and over "there is nothing you could do that would make me love you any less". And I got louder and louder and then quieter down to a whisper. And when I reached the point I thought the 5 kids in my group were going to call me crazy and walk away I just kept repeating it over and over.... and the more I repeated it, the more glassy their eyes got and as we began to pray I could hear big sighs and sniffs... and then every single one of their broken voices prayed outloud.

That was a powerful moment... but I want more. Now that I know they feel the burden of theirs sins.. I want them to grasp how wide, long and deep is the love of Jesus. After they grasp it, I want to them to run to his open arms. I want every one of the 5 kids in my Rock group to accept Jesus by the end of the next 3 weeks. I've got a big goal... and it's scary, but it's possible.

I want each person reading this to make a commitment to pray this coming Thursday and the next around 7 o'clock. Pray that at that very moment the Lord will break down walls and the let the kids really FEEL the grace of the Lord raining down on them.