Over a year ago, we were invited to give a class on how to reach students by a pastor in Las Varas, Nayarit. This past weekend, six of us went to "show" them what has had huge success with us here in Cofradia where hundreds of youth have been exposed to the gospel and have participated in our Student Ministry's EL RETO.
Pastor Luis, his daughter Carolina, his son Luis, Alfredo and myself along with my daughter, Rebecka put together a small mini-RETO for the students at Redeem Church in Las Varas. It was very impactful for all of us as we saw students excited about EL RETO and open to learn.
EL RETO is mainly designed for reaching young people. However, during the event, all of us can learn something if we allow ourselves to "listen". Luis and Alfredo helped as coaches to the local captains from Las Varas. Both of them shared in church the next morning about how they learned to work together as a team. One shared from the point of view of being on the losing team, and the other shared from the point of view of being on the winning team. They were great testimonies of how God teaches us through EL RETO. I'm proud of Alfredo and Luis for helping and seeing something that God was speaking to them about.
What caught my attention most was the dynamic of one team who started really strong, but lost most of the activities...it seemed like everything went wrong for them. One game after the next, they lost. In the end, they ended up with minus points! This is something that can happen, and probably has happened, to all of us. When we feel like the world is against us. Things don't always go the way we've planned them. And, "When it rains, it pours" is a common phrase that many of us claim when so many things aren't going "right." But, this is something that we can look at and say, "What are you teaching me, Lord?" I can remember some instances of things happening last year that surprised me. It seemed like every time something got "fixed", something else would happen and we would end up focused on "fixing" that problem. I think ultimately, God wants us to trust in Him in all things. He is faithful and will continue to be faithful. His love endures forever. So, when things aren't going the way we've planned, we can trust in Him that He knows His plan. When we submit to His Will, we only come out winners--even if we loose in a simple, yet complex, EL RETO game.
Are you facing a hard time right now? Are things not going "your" way? The most simple answer is to put your trust in Jesus and know that He loves you and cares for you. He will make a way where there seems to be nothing. If you haven't, you can ask Him for forgiveness of your sins and invite Him to be Lord of your life. He has already won the victory over evil. We can only win with Him!
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