water into wine

Over a month ago some of the girls sang a song in church that has been stuck in my head since then. It doesn't help that I hear a child singing it at least once a day; it has a catchy tune and I can't seem to stop singing it....the lyrics go something like this...(you'll have to add your own tune)
"Mary, Mary was a virgin woman
Mary, Mary was a virgin woman
Mary, Mary was a virgin woman
Master Jesus turned water into wine.
David, David was a small boy
David, David was a small boy
David, David was a small boy
Master Jesus turned water into wine."
There were lots of verses naming characters of the Bible and each ended the same.

This morning, in our Bible Study, we came to the verses in John where Jesus went to the wedding and turned the water into wine...the kids had some great questions...like did Jesus drink wine?!? why did he talk to his mother like that?!? why didn't he announce what he was doing and do it infront of everyone instead of keeping it a secret?!? (okay, so maybe these were questions Pst. Daniel and I asked but I'm sure the kids were thinking them!) and the discussion lead to a point where we talked about Jesus taking what is ordinary and turning it into extraordinary...
God took and ordinary girl and made her the mother of the Messiah!
God took a small shepherd boy and turned him into a king!
God took a homeless murderer and saved a nation!
Jesus called some fishermen and made them leaders of a world-wide movement!
Jesus took a small meal and fed a multitude!
Jesus turned H20 into (okay so here, if I was smarter, I'd put the chemical dohicky for wine, I'm sure it's much more complicted that H20!)

What was the point really? That we are all ordinary. Many days the confession that I read this morning in my new favorite book I am naked and I am right ashamed. I know how monstrously inhumane I can be. Raging at children for minor wrongdoings while I'm the one defiling the moment with sinful anger. Hoarding possessions while others die of starvation. Entertaining the mind with trivial pretties when I haven't bowed the head and heart in a prayer longer than five minutes in a week. My tongue has had a razor edge and my eyes have rolled haughty and my neck has been stiff and graceless and I have lived the filth ugly, and idolater, a glutton, and a grace thief who hasn't had time for thanks. And yet God uses me.

I had the priveledge this week to listen to our senior staff tell the stories of redemption that make them the men and women they are today...

A Muslim boy became a pastor who leads hundreds to Christ...Master Jesus turned water into wine!
A street wise girl became a children's ministry leader and the mother of 2...wait 25...Master Jesus turned water into wine!
A man hurt terribly by war became a man who brings peace....Master Jesus turned water into wine!
A young mother, abandoned by her boyfriend became a nurse who encourages and calls our girls to chose a different way...Master Jesus turned water into wine!

For the children we talked about how God chose them...they were no different than any other child living on the street or in the fatherless & motherless homes of Sierra Leone. Yet, God chose them for a purpose, a plan bigger than themselves and bigger than any of us can fathom.
Some of them will end up in America because God has a plan and a purpose for them there.
Some will stay in Salone because God wants to change a nation for himself.
Some will go to Ghana, Malawi or wherever! (One boy thinks Brazil would be a great place for God to send him because they have a FINE soccer team!!!!) God will take these ordinary children and turn them into extraordinary followers of Him! None of them will be left out or not chosen...God has a calling for each of them...they just have to be willing to listen to the Jesus Heartburn.