Job 19:23-27 ~ LIVES!

Job 19:23-27

“Oh that my words were written!
Oh that they were inscribed in a book!
²⁴ Oh that with an iron pen and lead
they were engraved in the rock forever!
²⁵ For I know that my Redeemer lives,
and at the last he will stand upon the earth
²⁶ And after my skin has been thus destroyed,
yet in my flesh I shall see God,
²⁷ whom I shall see for myself,
and my eyes shall behold, and not another.
My heart faints within me!

Part of being a Christian is seeing not just people as they are today, but we see them grow into God's promises. Gideon. Gideon was weak and became filled. God didn't take Gideon and dunk him by the heels in Super Grow Vitamin K. The fulfillment of promise. God allowing us God's time. One of life's greatest adventures is the road ahead. In Jesus Christ.

Edward and I have done Youth Ministry and seen some less than stellar results. Thud. But I'm not finished. God isn't finished. I'd love to tell you this teenager's name. With a smile and proud look. He almost isn't a teenager any more. This is a young man who was allowed to attend Youth Group only once. He calls me "Second Momma." Makes me feel 19 feet tall. Yet. His dad, our neighbor, feels prayer weakens people substantially. Critically. So our friend begged and his dad grudgingly said okay. As we returned home, his dad almost ran across the yard to scoop up this 8th grade young man. Had we contaminated him - his so very, really, precious son. Our friend's response was plaintive. "Dad, Dad, it's okay, we did that prayer thing and it was Nice." If he'd felt it was appropriate and people weren't watching - he would have said, "Please. Dad." Like a really young boy. This is a literal story. His dad's response was, "Come into the house Now." No more Youth Group. Again.

What is so great about this boy/man? The Brightness in him. Not the book smart genius. The willingness to question. To sit down, to read. To tinker in the quiet of being alone. This young man has dual skills - he is in an amazingly fine, selective University now. One that required diligence and almost prison like honing to get him in. I worry for him. What it will be like to be that finely trained dog who pivots on command. Where will the Brightness be.

One Summer day, I needed help to get a menu going for this Blog. What teenager is willing to help the Mom next door? With computer skills? I mean, please, these old people just don't "get it". So the computer gurus who do blogs sent me this unfathomable html list to create an extensive menu. Huh. What. What does that first sentence mean.... I spent two days - maybe more - in complete idiocy. Probably breathing thru my mouth. I got my son, who glanced at it - thanks, Son - and he said - get Brightness. Bingo. Not a bad idea.

So Brightness gets a phone call. And..... Brightness is like David. "Okay, I'll look at it." And he gets out of teenage late morning sleep and comes right over. I explain to Brightness in a complete rush, practically frothing, what the undecipherable letter says. Brightness says, "okkkkkaaaaaayyyyy." OMG. This is going to take forever. Brightness is looking at me like "she really is the Mom Next Door." Brightness takes a deep breath. He is beginning to look bored and annoyed. Dammit. We both sit there quietly for a moment. And Brightness says..... "Show me what you want this to look like. The end result." Ah. A Visionary. I Knew I always like this fine, fine boy. And I pull up the HopePointe Anglican Church website to show him their drop down menu. ("Available Now on Your Google Search Engine" - any time - day or night - wind, rain, sleet. Just. Go. to a Bible believing, Christ honoring Church every single Sabbath.)

So.... Owen............ looks at the beautiful website created by people who Love Jesus Christ and spent days working on a project to Honor Him..... and Owen..... his mouth drops open. Not the "I'm a stupid doo-doo bird look", but light fills his beautiful eyes. At this point, Owen literally is speechless. He points at the screen filled with Kirk Beaumont's beautiful photography of the Communal cup and host with the sunlight streaming all around them. And he just can't make a sound. I look with him. Owen is still pointing at the computer. I beam at him and say, "It is beautiful isn't it. Beautiful." And Owen says. "We can't create that. I'm going home. I'll be thinking about that letter." Thud.

Yet not really. The Brightness is still shining. Our Redeemer LIVES.

Philippians 4:6
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God




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