God is AWESOME.

I just had to get that out there. We had our youth group's 2nd annual outreach last night. We had free food, a band, free giveaways (some pretty sweet ones, like $100 gift cards!), a dance, and a speaker and altar call. Everything went a million times better than I could have expected. Seriously, God was there. I was involved in the dance, helping with giveaways and praying with people after they got their food. Those were all really cool things to be a part of, but the highlight of my night was the conversation I was able to have with a couple people, Mac and Heather. Just as the speaker was starting to talk, I was looking for a spot to sit down. Thank you, God, that there was no place to sit by my friends otherwise I would've missed out on this awesome time to share about Jesus. So I found a table where a couple people were sitting. I recognized the girl on my right, as the wife of a Teen Challenge graduate. So I figured that was who I was supposed to talk with. But actually, I ended up talking with the 2 people on my left.

The guy sitting next to me, Mac started saying things to himself after he didn't agree with something the speaker said. "That's not true, Jesus can't do that. Oh, I am happy enough without any of that. I've got my alcohol..." I looked over at him, "Alcohol makes you happy?" I asked him. "Yeah! Get drunk every night, sober up, then do again." "But you have to keep going back to it to be happy," I replied. "No you don't. It always makes me happy." He didn't exactly answer my question...

The speaker started saying how Jesus died on the cross for every one of us. "He did not," Mac said. "Yes he did," I told him. I looked straight into his eyes and with the words only God could have given me said, "If you were the only one here, the only one on this earth, He would've died for you. He has a plan for you. He knew that you would come here tonight." While I shared this with him, he shook his head, "He would not. And I was drug here by Heather. She said we were going to a concert. I did not want to come here. God must have something against Native Americans because He's never done anything for me."

My heart just aches knowing that inside he's dying. He says all these things will satisfy him, but I know he's not happy with the way his life has turned out. He hates his family, he said they mean nothing to him. I asked him if he's given Jesus a chance. He said yes. I asked him how. He couldn't really explain. "Jesus is the only thing, the only one, who can give you complete satisfaction," I told him. "How old are you?" he asked. I told him I was 18. "Yeah, you just wait and see." He was 24.

His friend Heather said Jesus is her savior, but she doesn't believe the Bible's true. She used to go to church, the same one as me actually, but every time the music plays she starts crying. And that's why she stopped going to church. Because she doesn't like crying in front of people. I could definitely tell she had a sensitive heart. She believed in Jesus but He wasn't first in her life. That would probably be her boyfriend. She's moving in with him in 4 days.

So I asked Mac and Heather if I could pray with them. Heather said yes, Mac said okay, a little uncertain about it. So I prayed with them. Afterwards, Heather had tears in her eyes. One of the best ways to show others the love of Christ is not by the words you say, but how you love them. I really hope that's what I did. I knew shouting Jesus name at them wouldn't do anything but push them further from wanting to know about Him. So I just loved on them. Accepted them, shared about the love I have and listened to them.

So if you're reading this right now, please say a prayer for Heather and Mac. Pray that they'll come to know Jesus as their redeemer, their Savior. That the words I spoke to them would be on their heart. I know that God planned that conversation with them last night, but pray that it has an impact on their life.Pray that a seed was planted.

psalm 17:6

I call to you, O God, for you will answer me;

give ear to me and hear my prayer.