The crowd exploded in enthusiastic applause and cheering whistles. He could breathe a little easier now that he was finished with his speech. The principal approached the podium, clapping. Clay tried backing off stage, but she grabbed his arm to keep him from leaving."Kids, we want to thank this nice fireman for taking the time to come talk to us today. Now Mr. Hand will field any questions you might have regarding his speech.""How did you get out of the pool in your last story?" a pony-tailed girl in glasses asked.Clay Ennis Hand cleared his throat, swallowing the lump of uncertainty. He had struggled with the decision of whether or not to share his religious beliefs to these school kids. He settled on telling the truth to answer the questions asked if it came up; peace followed."You know, it doesn't really matter how I was rescued out of the water that day. Fact is, God acted mysteriously and uniquely in each of the stories you heard to make me who I am today. The most important thing I have learned through all of this is that God loves me. He loves me enough to walk with me through difficult situations, all the while calling me into fellowship with Him. My whole duty is to love Him back, by obeying His commands faithfully. (Ecc. 12:13) I have tried to stay close to Him even through the trying times. These times are nothing more than God molding me into the godly man He intends me to be."A slenderly built boy raised his hand, "How can I be just like you when I grow up?"The lump returned, this time bringing tears to his eyes. Compassion for these little ones overwhelmed him."Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. (Matt. 22:37-38) Accept God's gift of calling you into sweet fellowship as you draw near to Him. This is how you will come to really know and experience God working through you.""My dad said I couldn't be a fireman when I grow up because it was too dangerous." another boy raised his hand, hoping for direction."The reason I didn't finish telling the last story is because it isn't yet over for me. My passion is firefighting. I've wanted to be a fireman since I was your age. All of life is dangerous. Every career has its hazards. You see, the wounds will come, but "a righteous man falls seven times and rises again". (Prov. 24:16) No matter what you do in life, if you want to experience the exciting life God has waiting for you, listen to these words a really smart man once said: "No one can sum up all God is able to accomplish through one solitary life- wholly yielded, adjusted, and obedient to Him". (Blackaby)"I wish each one of you a successful journey to discover your true heart-the original design penned by God before time began; that awesome adventure of life-wild by nature and everchanging. Trust God on this trek and you will be like clay in His hand, transformed by His love and hardened by the fire of His word."I want to leave you with these words of encouragement: 'I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. "'Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.'" (Eph. 3: 16-21)To God be the glory for all He has done through the "Experiencing God" study. Next we will be tackling "Wild At Heart" by John Eldredge. Read the book; don't wait for the movie.
