A week ago (last Thursday) I was able to join in on ministry taking place at the juvenile detention center in Hamilton, Ohio. My coworker, Valaira, and members of her church regularly visit and share God's Word with girls who are there. It was quite the experience to see Valaira's compassion being enacted in her words and actions. She is being used by God!

After having some conversations with Valaira over the past several months, I told her that I'd love to visit with her and encourage these girls and their abilities that will help them once they leave. To do so, I wanted to invite them to contribute their stories and talents to ENCOUNTER--The Magazine. So Valaira asked if I would like to give the devotions as well as talk about the contributing opportunity.

For once, I wasn't nervous. That's rare for me, especially going into an intimidating situation facing teenagers -- always a tough audience, but this one sounded even tougher! Yet I was confident in what God wanted me to say. One night it just hit me what I wanted to share with them. (God does that out of the blue most times!!) I focused on this Scripture:

Praise the Lord, who is my rock.
He trains my hands for war
and gives my fingers skill for battle.
He is my loving ally and my fortress,
my tower of safety, my rescuer.
He is my shield, and I take refuge in him.
(Psalm 144:1-2, New Living Translation)

I talked about David's background and how he had second chances for the mistakes he made. Then I told them to look at his psalm: God had given David the training and skills he needed to fight the battles he faced. We talked about physical and mental and emotional and spiritual battles they face now and would face when they leave. I told them to recognize the talents God gave them that He would use in their lives to help them battle temptation, negativity, etc. And to remember that He has a purpose for giving them those skills.

There was more said. God brought it along. But the neat thing was that I didn't want to rely on my notes -- and usually I have to unless I memorize something. I wanted to be able to look them in the eyes so they could see the sincerity as I spoke. And God allowed me to remember what to say and brought new things to add as I spoke. (Steve has told me he has these experiences each week as he preaches. I got a taste!) And I expected the girls to put up a wall. But they started breaking down -- literally! They shared heartaches and we all shed tears. Wow. There were some harsh experiences they've faced. But there was hope for the future.

God showed up in that place. I witnessed it firsthand. And I was amazed at His power. No matter how many stories you hear of God, when you see Him active and moving (or when you stop and recognize that the things happening around you are God active and moving!), it brings awe. And it was pretty neat to be there and feel used as a tiny portion of His grand scheme of things.

From the time I was a child, I always felt closer to God when I was around nature. I wrote poems to God in my journal while I was by a lake, in the woods, or on the beach. I adored mountains and forests. And I enjoyed such nature-inspiring awe of God in solitude. My time growing close to the God of the universe was exciting when in large conferences as a teen where thousands of us worshiped together -- but my favorite and most thought-provoking times were alone.

But God began to change me. It started when I got married. Suddenly there was this guy I lived with and he was ALWAYS AROUND! What's up with that?! Plus we lived in a one-bedroom apartment at first, meaning we saw each other often! In all seriousness, I struggled. How could I spend quality time with God when I couldn't be alone? Even though the husband I chose happened to be a minister—you'd think I'd find some spiritual solace in that! But instead, I was frustrated.

People continued to keep coming into my life. First I was a youth minister's wife. Then we joined a small church where we helped lead worship and I helped start a drama ministry. And it was a small congregation where everyone knew everyone. People were always around! Going to a mega-church after that just added to the mega-schedule of ministry and hosting Bible studies and going to church services on Saturday and again on Sunday. People, people, people!!!

Pregnancy certainly changed my solitude. Suddenly a little person was now constantly attached! It didn't stop once she was born either! She now follows me around, even when I try to go to the bathroom!

What has all this done to me? Through ministry, but also through these other aspects of life, God has shown me that He is not just found in the rippling waters or high upon a majestic mountaintop. His ultimate design is to be present in the lives of the faces I meet every day. And those lives He's not currently a part of, He LONGS to be. And this transformation that's been happening in my own heart over 9 years has been fitting me more and more into ministry. Which I recognize is not just Steve's calling as "the pastor" but has been mine as well -- ever since I was a teen, connecting with Jesus in my solitude and begging Him to use me to change the world. Well, He's been answering, and He's showing me that to impact the world for Him involves people! :)

I explain all of this because I was reminded of my transformation tonight. As I thought about our recent vacation to the beach, I recall that I had a different reaction to our time at the ocean than I usually do. The ocean was beautiful and an amazing tribute to God's power and creativity -- as it always is! But while I was there, I didn't feel some super closeness to God as I used to when I was younger. I felt the same closeness as always. In fact, I felt closer to God during my conversations that I had throughout the week with Steve, my mom, my dad, my aunts. I felt closer to God when I saw the wonder in Kaelyn's eyes over every new little thing she discovered.

I am closer to God because of the people He has placed in my life. And I see that's His design. To live in a relationship with a three-in-one God is already a community! And His desire is that our time here on earth should reflect that community and give us a glimpse of our eternal community up in Heaven. And I want to do as much as I can in my role for the Lord on this earth to make sure that Heaven is crowded with people! :)

Steve's commentary on his blog is true. I AM addicted to The Office. And I like it!