I have gotten to see Molly grow in her walk with Christ this year and it has been the most beautiful thing. She is not longer the timid freshmen; and that was made clear today. Her and I went through her talk yesterday and in talking to her and hearing her, I could tell she was very nervous. She was anxious to see what the feedback would be and Satan was getting in her head. I kept telling her to speak genuinely and just share what's on her heart. She kept saying she was afraid nobody would get anything out of it. But something she said Michael Harrison, also a senior, said was that we can't change people's hearts, only God can do that.
I kept telling her to speak from her heart, and God will bless that. I was able to sit beside her today during morning prayer; and I literally thought she was going to pass out from a panic attach before she went up. We were singing a praise song as we always do before the speaker comes up and she was extremely anxious, I could tell. I took her hand, closed my eyes, and asked God to overwhelm her with peace, for the students hearts to be receptive, and that God would speak through her for the next 10 minutes. The song ended and she went up there and spoke with such power I don't even have words to describe it. She seemed to have no nerves, she only glanced down at her notes a few times, and her talk was so relevant and everyone in the audience was silent. I had heard her talk the day before and it was like a completely different talk. I could almost feel the Holy Spirit filling the room. Her talk was on the passage John 10:1-10 and specifically on satisfaction. She talked about how she used to run to friends and how we, like sheep, are so stupid because we run to other things that won't satisfy us, like trying to jump over the fence when the gate is open. God is that gate and we as sheep are so foolish in trying to conquer it on our own. I, myself, got so much out of it. I was convicted that so many times try and take things into my own hands and run to things that won't satisfy me. She talked about when her friendships were going well, so was her relationship with Christ and visa versa because that's what she ran to. I find that so many times, that happens to me. She said that there is a difference between joy and happiness - that happiness is "I got an A on my test" but joy is mindset that we have when we are satisfied in Christ. God taught me so much in those just those few minutes, and gave me reminders of things I so often lose sight of.
When she finished, I wanted to get up and dance and cheer...but I didn't. All I know is that her life is an example to me and I am so excited to see where God is going to take her in life. She is so much farther ahead and wiser than I was at her age and that is beautiful thing to see.
Bottom line, I am beyond blessed to be in her life and so thankful God has worked so beautifully. And if you haven't met her, you should definitely do so because she's awesome, and she's a twin.
“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.
Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:1-10
