Reflections from a Velada...

Recently one Saturday evening, our church had something called a "velada." It was simply a time of prayer and worship together. The velada reminded me of "Concerts of Prayer" that we used to have with our high school youth group or that we had at the beginning of each ministry week in New Orleans in the summer. I have always loved intentional times like these, where we spend time seeking the Lord and interceding for specific request together.

The velada was no exception--I loved it and desperately needed it. We had just finished our second week of Club, and it had also been a busy Saturday for me complete with Torta, a Club visit, and helping with the first youth group meeting of the fall. To be honest, I contemplated going home and just going to bed and not staying up at church for the velada. However, I was so glad I didn't because I was refreshed by God's presence as only He can do. As we were singing worship songs together in Spanish, I was just filled with joy over who God is and what He is doing through and in His church--all over the world. I also was powerfully struck by how all that really matters is the CENTRALITY OF CHRIST. All of our various ministry tasks and jobs are pointless if Christ is not central in them. My mind drifted to back home and teaching, and I thought about "why do I teach?" and "why I am here?" I realized that the answer is the same to both of those questions, just as it should be the same for even our reason for living...to glorify God and point to Christ. How that is fleshed out in our lives will look different at various seasons and according to what the Lord calls us to do in obedience, but the centrality of Jesus Christ must always be first and foremost in our lives. When my own soul is anchored in the centrality of Christ, then will He flow into others' lives, whether I am explaining long division or sharing the Gospel or preparing food for those who have none. May Jesus teach us how to abide in Him so that this will be true!

"For In him we live and move and have our being..." -Acts 17:28