What’s going on? The group middle school girls I am ministering to are a mess. You know how middle school kids can be at times—cliquish, backbiting, hurtful in word and action. Sadly, many hearts are bruised from each other’s lack of love, thoughtfulness or kindness. The drama has been spiraling through the roof!

So I’m praying that they will fail.

It’s simple, they can’t love each other like Jesus loves apart from His power. John and other NT writers used the greek word agape to describe this selfless, unconditional kind of love.

I set a time for the girls to lovingly reveal their hurts to each other as well as discuss how we should treat each other. But that’s not enough. I know they can learn to change their behavior in their own strength to an extent, but their self-efforts will ultimately fall short.

Why? Because agape love only comes from God (1 John 4: 7–12). It’s only when they come to the end of themselves will their hearts be broken and ready to yield to the leading of the Holy Spirt by faith. Then Christ will be the one loving through them.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. —Galatians 2:20 ESV

Just the other day I received a prayer request from one of the girls and am so encouraged to see how the Spirit is working in her life. She said, “Please pray for peace in my life and for the various ways in which [excluding others] is causing pain and tears in many lives, including mine.”

This is exactly what I’ve been praying for— brokenness to “see.” Will you join me in praying that these precious young women will come to the end of themselves and see that loving each other with an unconditional agape kind of love is impossible apart from the power of the Holy Spirit?

Family Stuff

We’re praising God with how well Ethan is doing. Gymnastics is such a blessing for him and we’re seeing changes weekly. It is even helping his thought processing. We’re praying for increased hand strength and abilities in the next five months.

There are some logistics with the middle school ministry that are getting difficult to manage. Please pray God would work things out each week.