Up for the Challenge?

When it comes to going against the odds, it seems there's usually two types of people -- those who pursue against obstacles and those who give up before starting.  Take my older brother for example.  As the oldest, he was usually the one who bumped headfirst with the obstacles and challenges of life... teased as a kid for obeying our parents, pressured as a teen to not live for the Lord, missing out on the birth of his firstborn...if you start counting there's definitely a list...yeah, somehow he always got the toughest hits of the three of us. However,  he never gave up, he didn't give in, he just always pursued to do his absolute best..."keep your eyes on Christ" is the blueprint of his life!

Then....comes me.  

Hmm...the comparison takes me back to when he and I went through several teachers in our "career" of music lessons. In one particular piano lesson, I remember that one of the teachers we shared said to me -- well, you'll never be as good as me. ughh--thanks! :-\... I already knew I wasn't very good... My reaction was the opposite of what I guess my brother would have done--it was more like, well why bother trying to improve?! Thankfully, in spite of the deflating words of that day and because of the locked-in decision of my parents to continue lessons until the end of high school, I learned that skills can still be developed and you can always grow somewhat by continued practice...not to mention that "not trying" was even an option!

My "why bother" philosophy changed as I learned that it is God who gives, it is God who enables; it is not about me or for me but about God and for Him!

So....the daunting challenge facing me today? It's the group of fifty young teens of varied backgrounds and behavioral issues that await me next Thursday.  I'd have to say this isn't exactly.... comfort zone. :P I surely don't feel like the right person for the job! But I remind myself that...I wasn't the one Who opened the door; my only surety of going through the door is grounded in God who strengthens and enables those He uses; it is He who works in hearts and transforms lives.