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Healing Tree Music Order MUSIC by MAIL Called
as a Child So many times, Christian leaders may not look among the children for workers. But when God puts a call on a child's life, He doesn't expect them to wait around in limbo until they reach some magical chronological age. He has claimed them for His purposes right then and there! I am forever grateful that my pastor and my parents allowed me to teach Sunday School to the 5 and 6-year-olds when I was 10. (I was not the helper, I was the teacher.) My new life began one night at the dinner table when I was 6 years old. As I was trying to eat corn-on-the-cob with a front tooth missing, Mom & Dad told me about how Jesus died so that all our sins could be washed away. They asked if I wanted my sins washed away. I thought it was a great idea! I asked Jesus to forgive me, and I gave Him my whole life. I felt so happy! I remember running into church that Wednesday night, so excited about telling my grandparents what had happened to me! When I was 9 years old, our family bought a farm in New York, so we moved from our home in New Jersey to the country. During the summer, I attended a Kids' Camp, where we spent hours seeking God at the altar. While there, I was baptized in the Holy Ghost. One day, while I was still "just" 9 years old, I was sitting sideways across a big arm chair, reading one of my favorite books. Suddenly, God spoke to me and told me He wanted me to be in the music ministry. Wow! Another great idea. (Our God sure has great ideas!) I asked Him if I could please work with teen-agers too. Right there it was decided! I started fourth grade in a new school. There were so many people who didn't know Jesus--and they needed to know Him! God gave me favor with both the teachers and the kids. Such favor is so important. One of the few things we know about Jesus when He was a child is that He "increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man" (Luke 2:52). Our children today need the Lord's favor to be around them like a shield (see Psalms 5:12) I started leading Bible studies with the kids at school during our free time and lunch. We met in the classrooms, in the girls bathroom--wherever we could. It was hardly ever peaceful and quiet, but that just didn't matter. The Holy Spirit also prompted me to draw tracts. I would make a bunch of them and put pennies or plastic 'jewels' on the front to draw attention. I don't have a clue as to how many kids came to these Bible studies or how
many prayed to be saved, but God knows. Eventually, the questions the kids
asked were more than I could handle, so I told my mom I needed help. she
began an after-school Bible club. Soon parents were asking questions
too. God began moving on their hearts, showing them that a church needed
to be planted in their town. What began as a fourth-grader's Bible study
grew into a church! Since then, that church has planted two other churches. Children can clearly hear God's voice. They must hear Gold's voice! How can we live, except we hear His voice? Jesus said His sheep know His voice, that He calls them by name. Oh, may our children hear God's plan for their lives early, so they won't be
pulled away by the plan of the enemy for their lives--or even by the plans of
well-meaning people. May they be allowed to have strong convictions and a
sense of purpose--even while they are young!
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