Jesus' healing power touched LGM youth this year...

Throughout December, the log will feature stories shared in our special end of year newsletter. Each story about someone who’s been helped by Lord’s Gym Ministries is accompanied by a quick devotional and a challenge that we ask you prayerfully consider.

Kamya, 12, of Price Hill loves coming to the Lord’s Gym Family Activity Center. She’s a regular.

I know she’s safe when she’s there,” said Kamya’s mother Heather. For Kamya it’s more than just a place to “have fun.” The Family Activity Center is a place to grow in knowledge and a place to heal.

This past spring Kamya was caught in the crossfire of a shooting while spending the night at a friend’s house. She was on the second floor when a stray bullet hit her on her side. The bullet traveled through her body and injured her small intestine, spleen, stomach and left kidney.

Lord’s Gym immediately reached out to Heather, offering help and prayer.

When Kamya finally left the hospital she wanted to visit “Mr. Danny and Ms. Lola” at the Family Activity Center right away. She thanked them for praying for her and for their care.

 I like it here because I like get to learn more about Jesus and I get to hear stories about what He did and how He saved people,” Kamya said.

Kamya’s favorite story about Jesus, found in John 9, is how he touched the eyes of the blind man and his eyes “went back to normal.”

Jesus touched me,” Kamya said. “He helped me overcome my fears. Jesus heals.”

Devotional – Scripture: Luke 2:1-7

The greatest of gifts, is offered to mankind simply swaddled in cloths lying in a manger. A humble beginning to an extraordinary life – a life that did not end with death on this earth, but resurrection power. In His death He saved us from sin and in His resurrection He brought us eternal life. It all began with Jesus coming as a little child.

 In Jesus’ time children, according to Christianity.com, were considered to be of little value to the wider life of the community. In Greece and Rome, it was an accepted practice to abandon unwanted children along the roadsides to die.

 The Bible is explicit, however, when it comes to children. They are declared a blessing from God. Jesus, as an adult, had a real heart for young ones. According to Matthew 19:13, little children were brought to Jesus so that He could put His hands on them and pray.

 In Luke 9:46-47, the disciples were grumbling over which of them would be the greatest.

Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside Him. He said to His disciples, “Whoever welcomes this little child in My name welcomes Me; and whoever welcomes Me welcomes the One who sent Me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.”

 In a previous story in Matthew, chapter 18, Jesus explains that greatest in the kingdom of heaven is like a little child. Think about a child. They love unconditionally and they believe faithfully. These are things we all need to practice as adults. Jesus says: “… whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

 He goes on to say, in verse 5: “Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.” Matthew 18:3-5.

 Your Challenge

At the Family Activity Center (FAC) in Price Hill you can serve at-risk youth and their parents. Visit www.LordsGymMinistries.org to learn how you can provide encouragement to these children to become involved in healthy activities that promote positive life skills at school and at home, while nurturing their relationship with God if they so choose.