Well, hello everyone! It is such an honor to be able to share a little about what God is doing in Porto Alegre! We have been here for one day, and I think that anyone would say that GOD IS WITH US! Today we visited a local juvenile center for both guys and girls. We were able to do three services with three different groups of teenagers. All three services consisted of a presentation of our skit, sharing of testimonies, worship, and cardboard testimonies. Nolan, Matt, Robby, Nate, Anna, and Angie shared their stories. I could tell that God was using each person on our team for His purpose. I am thankful for every word that the Spirit laid on their hearts.
Before we even arrived at the juvenile center, I was praying for the day. I am a forgetful person much of the time, and it is normal for me to forget to pray throughout the day. So, it was odd for me to begin praying long before we got there. As I was praying throughout the services and between them, I continued to pray one single prayer: “God, may Your name be glorified.” I knew that I wanted every part of the day to be about Him, and this was the only thing that could come to mind. So, I prayed it over and over. I remember thinking to myself, “Wow, I sure have been praying a lot today. I am going to journal about this.” I remember thinking this during the service for young women. During Anna’s testimony, Bekah came to me and asked me if I knew how to ask someone to surrender her life to Christ. She wanted to know if I would invite the girls to surrender their lives after Anna´s testimony. I was hesitant, but I said yes – not with much confidence. I knew that if I were to do this then God would literally have to do everything because I was scared out of my mind. I prayed for His name to be glorified through anything I said. I turned to Angie and asked her to pray. I felt assured that she would. Anna finished her story, and I could see that many of their lives were touched. It was a perfect moment for an invitation. I don’t even remember the exact words I said, but I know that every word I said was God’s. I asked if anyone would like to come to pray, and much to my surprise EVERY SINGLE GIRL came to the front. I lost it. We prayed a prayer and it was like sweet music to my ears to hear voices of surrender. God used me. He used a scared country girl from Cochran, Georgia to speak HIS words. I don´t know why He chose me. Even if He hadn´t, I would be just as excited because I know that HIS NAME WAS GLORIFIED. He is faithful. Now, thanks to HIM, there are many girls that are FREE from the chains of sin! PRAISE BE TO HIM!
What you did not know though is that my prayer was answered. Prayers that my IMPACT family prayed for me were answered. I recently told my team that I was afraid of sharing the Gospel to nonbelievers. I was afraid that I would mess up, be rejected, or be hated. But, my team accepted me with grace, encouraged me, and filled my ears with the Word of God. Today, God answered the prayer that I would not be afraid, and that God would be my power and strength. HE IS FAITHFUL.
The God that was with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, David, Jeremiah, Peter, and Paul is the same God here with us today! Lord of ALL means so much more now that we are able to sing praises with our Brazilian family members. He hears Portuguese and English both! How amazing! God is here and I am so grateful.
Things on my heart:
2 Timothy 1:7 says: “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
“May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering!”
-Lexi Moon
1-21-14