Pray for me

I would like to ask for prayer on my behalf...

In recent weeks I have had to deal with oppression with it becoming worse in just the last few days. The enemy is asking me to doubt everything Biblical, questioning me about everything I believe. In my heart I know I will not give in, but the pressure is awful.

As I ponder the reason about the intensity of this attack, I have come to the conclusion it has something to do with my agreement to teach "Bible Survey" to the 12-16 YO girls at VBS coming up in June. I was given the book "The Stranger - on the Road to Emmaus" by John R. Cross to use as a text. It is very thorough, divided into 15 chapters and I am to condense it into FIVE lessons! Now this alone could be depressive....but this is a problem that can be dealt with - I think. But it is the fundamental issue of what I will be talking about that has me in the dumps.

So if, when, the Holy Spirit prompts you would you mind bringing me before the throne of grace that the LORD would strengthen me and above all that I would be found faithful? And that the WORD will find fertile soil in which it can grow and produce fruit? And that ALL the students would be attentive?

About this class: most will be from the black community with a few white girls. Some will be Christians, but most will not be. The black girls come from single parent homes where illicit sex is common...This is the spiritual state of the students I will have in my class. Pray for them. The goal of this class is to teach the Gospel.

Thanks and God bless.
ginnyrose

Will pray.

Yes, I will pray for you and that the Gospel spreads to the hearts of these young women.

Greetings ginnyrose

I will be praying for you during this time, may He sustain you and strengthen you daily. I will also pray for the young girls you will be sharing with that Father will soften hearts and give them eyes to see and ears to hear His truth.

God Bless
Maryjane

Dear Ginnyrose,

It has been weighing on my mind about teaching unsaved girls and not teaching them straight from the Gospel. They will not be as able to take the meat of Apostle Paul as they may be able to accept the milk of the Gospel. What made the Powers that Be decide to use that text?

Are the coming voluntarily, or are they being sent? What makes an unsaved teenager give up her summer days to go to Bible school?

You will be in my prayers.

white stone

I am praying for you, Sister ginnyrose. Be encouraged during these times: The eternal truth of God and His Word is more powerful than the fleeting excuses of this fallen world.

I will be praying for this possible, upcoming teaching experience too. May God give the increase!

What made the Powers that Be decide to use that text?

I do not know how the organizers decided to use this text book. It looking through it it appears to be very fundamental. It also has a workbook which each student will have but they will have no text which will complicate matters...and challenge the teacher more. I asked the planners if I could just take the first five lessons and they continue with the book at Kidz Klubs...no answer on that, yet.

Are the coming voluntarily, or are they being sent? What makes an unsaved teenager give up her summer days to go to Bible school?

Yes, these children come voluntarily. Our church owns a van which will go out into the community to pick up the children. Some folks also loan their vans for this purpose. This may be the fourth year for VBS, am not sure. But anyhow, we tell folks it is for ages up to 14 but if they had been there before they keep coming, even if they are 16, 17...Last year our enrollment was close to 120 with 75% from the surrounding area. We think we have maxed out on the number of potential enrollees. (Our church is next to a very small town, a poor town with very few businesses - doesn't even have a convenience store! - but people live there.)

Why would the teens give up their summer days? For one thing, this VBS is held evenings...maybe they are bored and this promises some variety in their life?? Or, just maybe the Holy Spirit is pushing them to come? Remember - this is a small rural town with only several hundred people.

The children seem to love it! However, it is very obvious they come from one-parent homes where loving discipline is not exercised. We have rules and if they are violated they will be taken home and perhaps banned for the rest of the secession.

I love these children: they are so precious! They are victims of circumstances beyond their control and how we long to help them make a break from the rut they are in. Most of these children are knowledgeable of God but it never impacts their lifestyle. So, we are expecting that at some point the LORD will intervene and bring these people to himself.

Thank-you all for your encouraging words...

FYI: the VBS is scheduled to run from June 8-12. If the Holy Spirit prompts you to pray for this event, please do.

Blessings,
ginnyrose

Praying.

I will be praying ginnyrose.

Heavenly Father,
We come before your throne of grace and mercy and lift up ginnyrose and her decision to spread your word and bring your life into situations that are beyond imaginations. Bless - help- cleanse- everyone involved.

We plead the blood of Jesus upon every life involved. Step in Holyspirit of God You are welcome here and in all our lives. Let The love and holiness and blessings of the most Holy God flow thorugh all these lives -esp ginnyrose and all of us interceding for this cause. We love you- We trust in you- We praise you.IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY. Amen.

Praying - Your posts have often encouraged me. Do it unto Jesus, only then can you have the neccessary grace and compassion. I am also teaching 12-14 year old Sunday school kids mostly from the black community.

I am also teaching 12-14 year old Sunday school kids mostly from the black community.

I would love to sit down and talk with you about this!

To the rest who encouraged me and said you prayed for me, I would like to report that this pressure of oppression has lifted! Praise the LORD! This oppression was nasty, depressive. On one hand I felt foolish, even foolish to ask for your prayers, but on the other hand felt compelled to do so.

Now my next thing is to get a handle on this curriculum...I would prefer making my own but they never suggested this, so I must submit to the 'powers that be'. It is an excellent text...I love to teach but am a tad bit independent when it comes to teaching out of another book...so pray that the devil will not make me so busy that will rob me of the time needed to work on this project.

God bless you all for your prayer support...I am deeply grateful.

Love,
ginnyrose

This is an update:

Our VBS started Monday night, June 8. We had 95 students, most from the community which is black. I had 12 girls from ages 12 on up.

At first, I felt frustration with the lesson, then by Tuesday night the LORD had given me insight on how to handle it and so on my part went well on Tuesday night.

BUT the enemy is working hard to thwart the gospel message with crazy distractions: like a black bug flying through our tent (we are housed in a tent outside where it is really hot and if you perspire easily - which I did- you are soon all wet) or fire ants that have a way of finding a victim or any other bugs. One of my helpers brought bug repellent along which helped very little. To think these things distract is a tad bit absurd when you consider that all are natives who grew up with these creatures.

Then you have the few who will do anything to get attention and are disrespectful. Nevertheless, there are those who really want to learn and do listen.

So if the Holy Spirit inspires you to pray for this event, please do so. Pray that the forces of evil will be restrained so the Holy Spirit can work; also pray for strength for the teachers. This morning I still felt exhausted and after a nap, I feel better...now to the lesson I go, hoping to be inspired so I can share this wonderful message of God's love and mercy with them. (Tonight I want to share the giving of the ten commandments.)

ginnyrose

Thanks for the update. Now I have a clearer picture of what the situation is, I will be able to be more specific in my prayers.

Doing it right now.

white stone

John 1:36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

sometimes in the midst of battle our responsibility is to just behold the Lamb of God.
I'll be praying. Your bro in Christ daryl