push out your chair...

I had an epiphany last Sunday around 11:30 in the morning and I feel the need to blog about it...

sometimes thats the way that Jesus speaks...ya know? just abruptly and all at once...it's like something that happens out of nowhere triggers a lightbulb and suddenly you've got fireworks goin off behind your eyes like it's straight up fourth of july time..it's crazy stuff..of course, he speaks in many different ways and if i touched on this subject, i'd be here all day..but i'd really like to be short and sweet today if that's alright with ya'll fine folks...

okay, SO back to the crazy epiphany i had last week...i decided to sit with our fabulous and sassy 9th grade girls last sunday during our student time (trying to avoid the words "sunday school class" because that just sounds so...mmm...how do I put this..old fashioned..?)...well, as i walked in and pulled up a chair to the already developed circle of chairs, i noticed something almost instantly...when i walked into the room..most of the girls turned their heads towards me and the door, smiled their cutesy pearly whites at me and all scooted out their chair just about an inch. 

my eyes grew wide.

lightbulb.

mouth wide open (in my mind).

did you hear what i just said? they all scooted out their seats to form a bigger circle. for me. 

I kindly pulled up a chair to fit right inside the small opening they had made for me. the lesson began and girls listened intently. i could tell they were really listening. their eyes were on their leader. my eyes were all on THEM. i love seeing girls get it. girls, i want you to get God. i want you to get scripture. i want you to get that his promises, his dreams, his vision, his "stories" spoken to you on sundays are not just that..."stories"...they are breathing. they are massive. they are bigger than the sun, brighter than the stars that shine at night...they are more beautiful than the landscapes he has created...i want you to grasp that concept. 

as the minutes and lesson rolled on, more girls, one by one, poured in through the door...some arriving late, some coming from the service, some brand new to the class...and i kid you not, as each girl walked through that door, the circle got bigger. no lie. each girl in that circle of chairs pushed their feet out from under them and scooted their chairs back about an inch or two to make room for the new arrival, as they weren't even aware of it. 

my eyes grew wide.

lightbulb.

mouth wide open (literally this time). 

GIRLS, THATS CALLED THE GOSPEL. PUSH OUT YOUR CHAIR. PUSH OUT YOUR BORDERS. OPEN YOUR EYES TO SEE GIRLS AROUND YOU HURTING. GIRLS WHO ARE NICE, BUT LOST. GIRLS WHO HAVE MONEY, BUT DON'T HAVE JESUS.  GIRLS WHO ARE SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE, BUT REALLY HAVE NO ONE. 

PUSH OUT YOUR CHAIR. OPEN UP YOUR ARMS AND MAKE A NEW FRIEND TODAY. GIRLS WHO DON'T LOOK, TALK, ACT, OR THINK LIKE YOU NEED CHRIST. YOU COULD BE THE ONE GOD USES TO BRING THEM LIFE ALL BECAUSE YOU CHOSE TO PUSH OUT YOUR CHAIR.
you would be absolutely shocked at all that God pours out on you if you would simply choose to embrace pushing out your chair and allow people to walk into your life who would be the least likely in your own eyes to change your world. trust me. God will use that to increase your borders, to expand your opportunities. to use you in ways you never thought possible. if you never push out your chair, how will you ever experience anything NEW? anything DIFFERENT? anything SUPERNATURAL? 

"your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds..."

"how precious is your steadfast love, O God..."

"Oh continue your steadfast love to those who know You..."

Psalm 36

extend you love.

life or death is hanging on it.

push out your chair.