While I was in college at Columbia International University, having the wonderful privilege of studying the Bible and learning how to teach, I came across a verse that has become my life verse. It is in the Old Testament, which fits me perfectly because I just love the Old Testament and find myself reading there more than anywhere else. There is just something about the narrative portions of Scripture where one has the opportunity to see the truth and realities of God fleshed out in the lives of the people in the OT, that I find fascinating. So here I was preparing a lesson to teach on the life of Ezra to second graders and I read something that grabbed my heart and made my blood run!! Ezra 7:10 and here is what it says (in the NAS translation) “For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord, and to practice it and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.” Now I may need to do some explaining if you are to understand what I love about this verse and how it is a life long challenge to me.

Ezra was a priest working in Israel during the days when the Israelite people were returning to their land after being in captivity in Babylon/Persia for 70 years. I have heard it explained that Ezra was there to rebuild the people as Nehemiah was to rebuild the wall and Zerubable was to rebuild the temple. Ezra read the laws of God to the people and instructed them in how God desires for them to live. He was a passionate convicted man, which you can glen from reading his book in the Bible. And I believe this one verse summed up his life.

He set it in his heart – He made a decision and made it his goal and purpose!

That he would: 1) Study the law of the Lord 2) Practice it and 3) teach it!

Notice the order: study, practice, teach. I was so encouraged and convicted that day when I first read it and I am still today. I want to set it in my own heart and make it my own goal and purpose to study God’s Word. To then seek to put those things into practice, to allow the Word of God and His Spirit to transform my life into something more like Himself and less like myself. And then as the Lord gives me the opportunities I want to share with others what He has been teaching me. If I skip any step then I am minimizing God’s work in my life and in others. I am standing in the way of what God truely wants to do and am left with something of myself, a pathetic replacement.

Next week I am teaching at Study & Share, our women’s Bible study at church, on prayer. So my challenge for myself this week is to follow Ezra’s example. I have been studying up on prayer and the specific topic I was asked to cover, and now I am going to put in the practice so that I might share with the ladies what He has taught me.

Are you teaching this week? I bet you are even if you do not realize it! Will you be leading your first Mpact (or small group) meeting? Are you teaching in Sunday School? Do you have kids at home that you long to see understand things of God? Will you have the chance to share with someone at work how the Lord is your strength and encouragement? Will there be teenagers hanging out at your house this weekend and you can never guess what they might ask you? I know the Lord will bring you an opportunity! He loves to have His word shared with others!! So join me in studying, practicing and teaching for God’s glory. May we be more like Him in the process!

This morning we had the daunting task of putting together the Mpact (small) groups for our Student Ministry. These groups are the backbone of our ministry here at Calvary Church, we are a ministry of small groups not a ministry with small groups. So I found myself in the church board room with my three youngest children (running around and playing all over the room) trying to place leaders and teenagers into groups. It is a hard task I must say!! And why in the world do I choose to spend my time like this, much less drag my kids there to do it???? Because I love teenagers! It is such a great age and stage in a person’s life. In adolescence the individual is beginning to solidify who they are and who they desire to become. It is here that many set the course for their lives. It was true in my own life, in fact in one month in 1989 I met the Lord Jesus Christ as my savior and I met Brian who would become my husband. (Now not everyone meets their future mate while in adolescence, that would be the minority of experiences!)

I love the energy and enthusiasm of teenagers! I love to joke around with them and act like a teen myself sometimes. I love missions trips, retreats, sleep overs, and movie nights (but I must say I hate Lock Outs!!) I love sharing with them things I have learned about the Lord and amazing things I have found in His Word! I love seeing them grasp Christianity with both hands and make it their own. I love to watch them step out in faith and soar!

So I am excited and pumped about this new Mpact year! I will be helping eight leaders to lead four groups of Junior High girls. It is going to be crazy at times but if the Lord has anything to do with it, and by faith I believe He will, then it will matter for eternity! Because I am convinced that He loves teenagers even more than I can think or imagine!