Day 3- April 1

What a strangely beautiful day. Rainy days tend to bring out the sluggish version of Eden Martinez, but somehow God really brought to light some beautiful things. I'm in Genesis, and exploring the beginning, really brings to light how amazing the God we serve is. Speaking life into existence and all, last time I checked NOT a simple task, and pretty much impossible for us humans. Though even beyond the stories of creation, it's amazing how God was even then seeking relationship with his people. His coming to Noah and Abraham, is nothing short of amazing. To think how much in his presence they actually were, is beyond me. And how much care he had for them, to make lasting covenants with them. (Encourage you to check out the direct interaction between God and Abraham in chapter 18)

In light of relationships, I really began to explore the relationships around me. As I was at work yesterday, and it was a co-workers last day with us, it seemed like the perfect day to do so. So for those of you who don't know I work at an after school on the Lower East Side, affiliated with a local church in the area. It functions directly out of an elementary/high school, which can be in itself challenging as we have a scattered age range. This relationship challenge to myself, has been to really look at my job as ministry. Just to fill you in I have two great ministry loves Youth & Worship. As much as I have been thankful for my job, I hadn't fully gotten to a place where I consider it a ministry. (And before you freak out, No I'm not handing out tracks and converting kids on the spot, though I do wear my God Belongs in My City Shirt ever so often) The truth is I'm privileged to be able to work with youth on a day to day basis, though it's funny how you add the word job to is and the view of the task becomes so different. It becomes daunting, frustrating, and even a little turn off, rather than considering the fact that God has privileged me to be an extension of YW8? Youth Ministry everywhere I go, anywhere I encounter a young person. And as St. Francis of Assisi once said, "Preach the Gospel always, and if necessary use words." In light of my job and even with my coworkers, it's so incredible to see the level of relationship I've become privileged to. The reality is there is a lot of pain and circumstance that I've seen at my job. I began to realize what the realities of ministry within the urban context are. There is so much pain and loss that people have to work through despite their age or circumstance. Many at my job have lost parents or close loved ones, these things have obviously had incredible effects on their lives. So I've resolved to take every day at my job as an opportunity, because when I spend time with the kids their I realize they like everyone else in this world are looking for love.

A lot of this came about, because at my job one of the young girls that I'm close to had requested me on facebook. I know that facebook is like the place to be, but to be honest I had no idea why she wanted to be friends with me outside of work. And I realized she really considers me a friend, as I am learning to also look at her as well as the many others that have friend requested me as well.

So no I don't have any plans of having a Bible Service at my job, but I do believe I can make it a point to let the Gospel shine through me in every interaction day in and day out. That people would constantly see his love, and that when asked I can give glory directly back to him as he is teaching me not only how to his love, but how to live his love.