Oh, how He loves us ALL

I've been thinking a lot since coming to Wales about the pit God rescued me from. I'm sure most of you who are reading this know I grew up in a Christian home. And I know I was really young, but I can remember the love of Christ in my life as a child. It was so pure and innocent. So sweet and refreshing. It was joy. But the enemy has the ability to rob that joy and soon that love begins to feel like a distant memory.

Third grade was the worst year of my life. If you're reading this and thinking, "Seriously, Caitlin; you were 8. How can that be the worst year of your life?" And it's not that there were not other times that were bad...like 9th grade. But third grade was the year I began to lose that joy. I won't bore you with the details of my tramatic third grade year, but it's enough to say that sometimes those who claim to love Jesus are the ones who can tear us down the most.

I spent the next 10 years playing the Christian game as I like to call it. I knew the right answers to the questions. I could convince different people that I was totally sold out for Christ. But it was a lie. I knew was to say and I knew what to do. I lived in sin. Sinful relationships, but my heart and attitude were where the problem truly lied. When it came down to the heart of the matter I had forgotten my first love and believed the lies that there was something/someone else better.

But there's not. I found myself broken, with the outward appearance of a smile and laughter. However, the great Lover doesn't stop pursuing. He always fights for us. Always brings us to places where He alone can rescue you us. All we have to do is call on Him and He hears us and He answers us. I've seen it in my own life. I've experienced His rescue and known the return of His love.

Okay, so I know the things stated above don't express what I've done in Wales for the last week. They express something I want to ask you all to join with me in praying for the children and youth who I am meeting and have really captured my heart in short time I've known them. I always knew the height of which I had fallen (Revelation 2 - sorry I don't remember the verse but it's in the letter to the church in Ephesus), but a lot of these kids don't. They are growing up in families, in schools, in a society where God and Jesus don't come into play. My heart breaks because at such young ages they are trying to fill the voids with so many worthless and damaging things. My heart breaks because they don't know the awesome love of Christ. They don't know the great joy and peace which come from knowing Christ. But they can. God loves these kids so much. He desires them to know Him. To spend their lifes in warmth of His embrace.

So I ask that you would pray for kids and youth whom I have met and whom I going to meet during my times in Wales. Pray that I would love like Christ loves and I would be an example. Pray the Holy Spirit would give me the words to say and make me aware of opportunities to tell the kids of God's love for them. Pray that their hearts would be opened. Pray for seeds to be planted and for a harvest. There is hope for these kids. There is hope for us all. Being here has reminded me that no one is beyond the saving grace of God. Look around at the people wherever you currently are and remember that God created them and died for their sins as well. Christ paid the price for us all because we were all worth it to God. God loves us and desires us all. So pray for me that I can convey this message, but pray that you too can convey to those around you.

Much love!