Tonight we had a meeting at the church...a rather frustrating meeting which seemed to revolve around a "dress-code" for those ministering in the church. All I could think was, "I can't believe how important this is to some people!" To me, as long as no one is dressing provocatively, or in a way that draws unnecessary attention to their body, there is no problem. I grew up with very conservative dress standards, and I went to school at a private school that had a dress code. When I moved to Mexico, I lived for two years on a ministry campus with a skirts-only dress code. I believe that dress code has it's place...and it's not in the church.
The story that keeps coming to mind is in the book of 1Samuel...the annointing of David as the future king of Israel. David seemed the most unlikely of all his brothers to become the next king...and I think the prophet Samuel was very surprised by God's choice. Yet God made himself very clear to Samuel in that passage: "I don't look at the same things people look at. People look at what is on the outside, at the appearance, and I look at the inside. I look at what is inside the heart." I don't think that God cares all too much about what we look like on the outside, or even so much about how we dress. He cares about the condition of our heart. He wants to know that we desire Him, that we are seeking after Him, that we want to love Him above all else. If our heart condition is straying from those things, He pursues us and draws us to Himself, wanting our love above all else. Whether we ladies wear pants or a skirt, our dress will not hide the attitudes that are inside of us. When I see a guy wearing a athletic shirt that proclaims the name of a certain sports team, I do not automatically judge him as idolizing that team. We can wear the holiest-looking clothes (I'm not exactly sure which clothes would be considered "holy"...maybe a long skirt and a buttoned-to-the-collar shirt) and have very unholy attitudes in our heart. Or we can wear sweats and t-shirts (the "uniform" around the house for busy moms like me) and be actively pursuing an intimate relationship with our Savior. The clothes...well, they are just clothes. They are just an "appearance"...not at all the real thing.
I will not contend with anyone who has different ideas for how Christians should dress. I respect other ideas and viewpoints...but I do think that it just distracts us from the real issue at hand. If my goal as a believer is to share the good news of the Gospel with everyone that I can, I must admit that I will be much more concerned with their hearts than with their outward appearances! If it ever came down to telling someone what NOT to "wear", I think I would advise against things like unforgiveness, judgemental attitudes, untruthfulness, or gossipping tongues way before I would think about the clothes. After all, clothes wear themselves out with time...but heart issues can have an eternal effect.
5/10/2011
5/09/2011
Listen to Truth
These last weeks have been so busy, and when I get this busy I tend to make mistakes, especially in my thought life. In all the busyness, my focus starts to sway...and instead of keeping my eyes on the Author and Finisher of my faith, I start to look at me. It's not always a nice picture- I can see all my inadequacies and shortcomings, my failures and my errors in judgement. I start to look at myself and my own capabilities to get things done, instead of relying on His perfect strength and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It all seems to begin in my thoughts...I allow little thoughts to creep in, sometimes subconsciously, without even realizing it. Things like, "I can't do this anymore," or "This is too difficult, " or "Why me?" can start a pity-party in my heart that is anything but fun. It is then that I realize I have a choice. I can choose to stop the thoughts that go against what God says about me according to Scripture...or I can continue to listen to lies that go against Scripture and allow them to fester and grow within my mind and heart.
Last weekend, I was unfortunately choosing the latter over the former...and I was in a foul mood. We were getting ready to help out at a Kids' Camp, and quite frankly my attitude was anything but saintly. I was tired and wasn't afraid to mention that fact, several times, to anyone who was willing to listen. Suddenly it dawned on me (actually it would be more accurate to say that the Holy Spirit was trying to get my attention) the huge mistake I was making. I was choosing to listen to the negative thoughts that the enemy was throwing at me instead of taking a deep breath and listening to what God wanted to say to me. When I took the time to listen to God's voice, He reminded me that His grace is enough, and His strength is made perfect in my weakness. He reminded me that what we were doing wasn't just another event, but it was another opportunity to share the love of Christ and the good news of the Gospel. He reminded me that He had plans for the camp that were greater then the plans that I had. I couldn't very well argue with the things that He was speaking to me, so I confessed my sour attitude and asked for Him to fill me. I asked for more of His strength, more of His patience, and more of His love. I asked Him to help me to close my ears to the lies, and to open them to the Truth. He did it all...and guess what? Kids' Camp was amazing! It was fun, refreshing, and all of the children that attended heard about God's great love for them. It was a blessing to my life...and I almost missed out on it because I was listening to lies instead of the Truth.
So, what is the Truth that we should be listening to? Here are just some examples:
Last weekend, I was unfortunately choosing the latter over the former...and I was in a foul mood. We were getting ready to help out at a Kids' Camp, and quite frankly my attitude was anything but saintly. I was tired and wasn't afraid to mention that fact, several times, to anyone who was willing to listen. Suddenly it dawned on me (actually it would be more accurate to say that the Holy Spirit was trying to get my attention) the huge mistake I was making. I was choosing to listen to the negative thoughts that the enemy was throwing at me instead of taking a deep breath and listening to what God wanted to say to me. When I took the time to listen to God's voice, He reminded me that His grace is enough, and His strength is made perfect in my weakness. He reminded me that what we were doing wasn't just another event, but it was another opportunity to share the love of Christ and the good news of the Gospel. He reminded me that He had plans for the camp that were greater then the plans that I had. I couldn't very well argue with the things that He was speaking to me, so I confessed my sour attitude and asked for Him to fill me. I asked for more of His strength, more of His patience, and more of His love. I asked Him to help me to close my ears to the lies, and to open them to the Truth. He did it all...and guess what? Kids' Camp was amazing! It was fun, refreshing, and all of the children that attended heard about God's great love for them. It was a blessing to my life...and I almost missed out on it because I was listening to lies instead of the Truth.
So, what is the Truth that we should be listening to? Here are just some examples:
Colossians 1:13-14 I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Hebrews 4:14-16 I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ.
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Romans 8:31-39 I am free from any condemnation brought against me and I cannot be separated from the love of God.
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died more than that, who was raised to life is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:"For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughter"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.- 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 I have been established, anointed and sealed by God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
- Philippians 1:6 I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me.being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
- 2 Timothy 1:7 I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
- John 15:16 I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
- 1 Corinthians 3:16 I am God's temple.Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?
- Ephesians 2:6 I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm.And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
- Ephesians 2:10 I am God's workmanship.For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
- Ephesians 3:12 I may approach God with freedom and confidence.In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
- Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
When I have thoughts that are contrary to what the Word of God says, I need to realize that I am listening to the wrong thing, and begin once again to listen to Truth!
4/18/2011
Eye Drops
I don't like eye drops very much. Not that I've ever had to put any in my own eyes, that I can remember. But I have 4 kiddos who all had conjunctivitis in the last week, so eye drops became a routine for us. Not a fun routine, but a routine nonetheless. I dreaded it almost as much as my kids did...it's not always easy to watch your child scream, kick, and cry (yes, the eye drops allowed their very worst to come out), even when you know that the eye drops will benefit them by getting rid of all infection.
I'm pretty sure you all understand where I am going with this...it's such a simple lesson, but worth repeating. The things in life that are the best, the things that will benefit us the most, are not always the easiest. Sometimes they are hard and even painful...but in the end, they will bring about the best result. I was recently using this eye-drop example with one of our youth at the church. There are things in life that we don't necessarily like or want to do- things that are difficult to accomplish or require a huge investment and a lot of effort. It can be hard to do what needs to be done when we only look at the circumstances. Have you ever thought, at the end of a big project or accomplishment, "Wow, that whole process would have been a lot easier if I had known at the beginning what it would feel like at the end!" I know I have, and it's true. If we can focus on the end result, on the benefit of it all, it tends to be easier to get the job done. If the goal is in mind, if we understand why we do what we do, we can plow ahead, our eyes on the prize, remembering that our work and effort will be worth it in the end.
It's important to be reminded of this truth, because there are times when we all become side-tracked. There are distractions and detours. We can become lost on the way and even stumble and fall. There moments, in all our lives, when we forget the end result. We forget to look at the goal, at the huge benefit that we are working towards. So, if you are like me, and you sometimes forget, let this blog remind you, let God remind you what you have been called to. I believe that God created each one of us with a unique purpose, a unique mission to fulfill. But there are many things that are universal, that speak to all of us as believers in the Word of God and followers of Christ Jesus, as we follow the conditions they require. If you are living in a time full of detours or in a "lost" moment, let the Word speak to you...and remind you that it will be worth it in the end.
"And let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after awhile we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't get discouraged and give up." Galatians 6:9 TLB
"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." Psalm 1 NIV
"Finally, all of you should be of one mind, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds. Don't repay evil for evil. Don't retaliate when people say unkind things about you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God wants you to do, and he will bless you for it." 1 Peter 3:8-9 NLT
"If you humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, in his good time he will lift you up. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:6-7 TLB
"Pride ends in destruction; humility ends in honor." Proverbs 18:12 TLB
"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30
"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1
"I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete." John 15:11
"When a woman is in labor, she has pain, because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world. So you have your pain now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you." John 16:21-22
"But all who humble themselves before the Lord shall be given every blessing, and shall have wonderful peace." Psalm 37:11 TLB
"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." Psalm 30:5 KJV
I'm pretty sure you all understand where I am going with this...it's such a simple lesson, but worth repeating. The things in life that are the best, the things that will benefit us the most, are not always the easiest. Sometimes they are hard and even painful...but in the end, they will bring about the best result. I was recently using this eye-drop example with one of our youth at the church. There are things in life that we don't necessarily like or want to do- things that are difficult to accomplish or require a huge investment and a lot of effort. It can be hard to do what needs to be done when we only look at the circumstances. Have you ever thought, at the end of a big project or accomplishment, "Wow, that whole process would have been a lot easier if I had known at the beginning what it would feel like at the end!" I know I have, and it's true. If we can focus on the end result, on the benefit of it all, it tends to be easier to get the job done. If the goal is in mind, if we understand why we do what we do, we can plow ahead, our eyes on the prize, remembering that our work and effort will be worth it in the end.
It's important to be reminded of this truth, because there are times when we all become side-tracked. There are distractions and detours. We can become lost on the way and even stumble and fall. There moments, in all our lives, when we forget the end result. We forget to look at the goal, at the huge benefit that we are working towards. So, if you are like me, and you sometimes forget, let this blog remind you, let God remind you what you have been called to. I believe that God created each one of us with a unique purpose, a unique mission to fulfill. But there are many things that are universal, that speak to all of us as believers in the Word of God and followers of Christ Jesus, as we follow the conditions they require. If you are living in a time full of detours or in a "lost" moment, let the Word speak to you...and remind you that it will be worth it in the end.
"And let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after awhile we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't get discouraged and give up." Galatians 6:9 TLB
"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." Psalm 1 NIV
"Finally, all of you should be of one mind, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds. Don't repay evil for evil. Don't retaliate when people say unkind things about you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God wants you to do, and he will bless you for it." 1 Peter 3:8-9 NLT
"If you humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, in his good time he will lift you up. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:6-7 TLB
"Pride ends in destruction; humility ends in honor." Proverbs 18:12 TLB
"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30
"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1
"I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete." John 15:11
"When a woman is in labor, she has pain, because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world. So you have your pain now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you." John 16:21-22
"But all who humble themselves before the Lord shall be given every blessing, and shall have wonderful peace." Psalm 37:11 TLB
"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." Psalm 30:5 KJV
4/13/2011
"They Worship Idols!"
In Mexico, we are surrounded by people who are very religious. Even though many no longer attend services at a church, most hold very tightly to the things they have been taught. It is not uncommon to hear people talking about God, and phrases like "God bless you," "If God wills," and "Thank God!" are heard on a daily basis. So when Uriah began to ask things like, "Why doesn't Emmanuel's mom let him play with me anymore?" I had to explain that some people feel afraid because we believe differently than they do. "But, Mom," he said, "They talk about God too." I told him that what he said was true, that in fact, we believe in a lot of the same things. The biggest difference is that we only worship God, and they worship many different idols. After that ensued a conversation about why other people worship statues and dolls instead of the one true God. I explained it all as well as I could, wanting him to understand why we are in Mexico and why we work with the people we do. His understanding of the subject was summed up in his declaration, "Oh! They worship idols!" That led to another conversation...which in turn led to a heart examination.
Although we most often think of idols as being statues that people worship, there are other things in our lives that are or can become idols. Idols are anyone and anything that we give more importance to than the Maker of Heaven and earth. Idols can be anything that we worship by giving our time, attention, our love and our trust. Anytime that we substitute God with something or someone else, we open the door to idolotry in our heart. We may not bow down to or even sing to a doll or a statue, but if we are putting our faith in something else or looking for comfort, hope, or love in other places, we begin to give our worship to things that are not worthy. We begin to replace God with other gods...we replace the Eternal One who holds everything for weak imitations that only seem to fulfill temporal needs. No matter who we are or where we are, routine heart check-ups are good things. Even when we think we are following God wholeheartedly, there can be subtle things that creep into our lives and interfere with our relationship with God and the worship that only He is worthy of. Just as a computer virus can sneak into a system and destroy it little by little, there are things that come into our lives, sometimes unnoticed, yet if they are left there, they begin to grow and harm our reltionship with our Savior.
Now, when Uriah sees a parade in the street with people singing to a statue, or when he sees a friend in town that turns his head without saying "hi", he says, "It's because they worship idols." Everytime he says it we have a chat...and do a heart check-up...to make sure the "they" is they and not we. To make sure that we are giving our worship to the Only One who is worthy.
Although we most often think of idols as being statues that people worship, there are other things in our lives that are or can become idols. Idols are anyone and anything that we give more importance to than the Maker of Heaven and earth. Idols can be anything that we worship by giving our time, attention, our love and our trust. Anytime that we substitute God with something or someone else, we open the door to idolotry in our heart. We may not bow down to or even sing to a doll or a statue, but if we are putting our faith in something else or looking for comfort, hope, or love in other places, we begin to give our worship to things that are not worthy. We begin to replace God with other gods...we replace the Eternal One who holds everything for weak imitations that only seem to fulfill temporal needs. No matter who we are or where we are, routine heart check-ups are good things. Even when we think we are following God wholeheartedly, there can be subtle things that creep into our lives and interfere with our relationship with God and the worship that only He is worthy of. Just as a computer virus can sneak into a system and destroy it little by little, there are things that come into our lives, sometimes unnoticed, yet if they are left there, they begin to grow and harm our reltionship with our Savior.
Now, when Uriah sees a parade in the street with people singing to a statue, or when he sees a friend in town that turns his head without saying "hi", he says, "It's because they worship idols." Everytime he says it we have a chat...and do a heart check-up...to make sure the "they" is they and not we. To make sure that we are giving our worship to the Only One who is worthy.
3/24/2011
For Who He Is
A question that has come to my mind often in the last several weeks is, "Why do we praise God?" I've been pondering how I would answer that question, wondering how the people that we are ministering to here in Mexico would answer that question. I think a common response would be that we praise Him because of all He does for us. That's a good, solid answer...after all, He does some incredible things for us. Besides the love He showed us by saving us, He still shows us mercy and grace on a daily basis. He helps us through problems, protects us from danger, and performs miracles that amaze us. Praising God for what He does is a way of showing Him that we are grateful, that we love Him in return.
However, even though we serve a God that is bigger than life, we all know that we don't always feel that He is near to us. Sometimes we just have to believe by faith, but we don't necessarily feel His presence with us. After all, the Bible says that it rains on the just and the unjust. Life happens to all of us. We face problems and difficulties, heartache and heartbreak, danger and trauma, sickness and loss. Often, it seems very accurate to say that, "When it rains, it pours." Problems tend to come at us several at once, not one at a time. If we have only learned to praise God for the beautiful things He gives us, I'm afraid we might be at a loss when we feel like we are drowning in trials and tribulation. Which is exactly why I have been pondering this question and examining my own heart when it comes to worship: "Why do I praise God?"
I want to learn to praise Him, not only for what He does, but simply for who He is. Our circumstances change from good to bad, from bad to worse, but He never changes. He remains constant, true to His Word, faithful to His promises. I want to KNOW, in the very core of who I am, that even when I can't see Him, He is there- with me, every step of the way. I want to be convinced that even when I don't understand the "why's" and "wherefore's" of the situation, that He has it all in His hands. He is never taken by surprise or taken off guard. Everything that happens is in His control. When I hurt and ache, He never leaves me. He is Beginning and End, King of kings and Lord of lords. He is Prince of Peace, the Mighty God, my fortress and strong tower. He is my Savior, the lover of my soul- the one who pursues me and loves me so faithfully and tenderly. He is worthy of all my praise, even in the midst of the worst storms of life.
This is a link to a video of one of my favorite songs. It's not new, but I only heard it for the first time a few months ago, and I've adopted it. I want to words of this song to be my heart attitude: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji2rLXr3cEU
However, even though we serve a God that is bigger than life, we all know that we don't always feel that He is near to us. Sometimes we just have to believe by faith, but we don't necessarily feel His presence with us. After all, the Bible says that it rains on the just and the unjust. Life happens to all of us. We face problems and difficulties, heartache and heartbreak, danger and trauma, sickness and loss. Often, it seems very accurate to say that, "When it rains, it pours." Problems tend to come at us several at once, not one at a time. If we have only learned to praise God for the beautiful things He gives us, I'm afraid we might be at a loss when we feel like we are drowning in trials and tribulation. Which is exactly why I have been pondering this question and examining my own heart when it comes to worship: "Why do I praise God?"
I want to learn to praise Him, not only for what He does, but simply for who He is. Our circumstances change from good to bad, from bad to worse, but He never changes. He remains constant, true to His Word, faithful to His promises. I want to KNOW, in the very core of who I am, that even when I can't see Him, He is there- with me, every step of the way. I want to be convinced that even when I don't understand the "why's" and "wherefore's" of the situation, that He has it all in His hands. He is never taken by surprise or taken off guard. Everything that happens is in His control. When I hurt and ache, He never leaves me. He is Beginning and End, King of kings and Lord of lords. He is Prince of Peace, the Mighty God, my fortress and strong tower. He is my Savior, the lover of my soul- the one who pursues me and loves me so faithfully and tenderly. He is worthy of all my praise, even in the midst of the worst storms of life.
This is a link to a video of one of my favorite songs. It's not new, but I only heard it for the first time a few months ago, and I've adopted it. I want to words of this song to be my heart attitude: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji2rLXr3cEU
3/21/2011
True Humility
I am learning humility. I find it's easy to preach, but it's a hard thing to actually live. When it comes down to it, we are all quite selfish beings. It is hard to admit when we are at fault...and often instead of an apology, we make an excuse or some justification for our behavior. When we know that we had no fault whatsoever in the situation, it can be even harder to mend relationships. After all, why should we fix it when we did nothing wrong in the first place?
The biblical definition of humility is so different from our own human definition...and it's a lot harder to comply with in my estimation. In Matthew it says (and this is my paraphrase), "If someone was mean or rude to you, or did you wrong or offended you in some way, then go to that person. Leave church, leave your own private devotional time, leave work or whatever else is important to you, and fix things with that person FIRST." Every time I read that passage, it hits me in the gut. "What???? Why should I have to fix something that I didn't do? I'd rather just leave things alone. I won't even be upset or hold a grudge against the person that offended me. But, confront the problem? That's the last thing I want to do!" That's my reaction...but I am so glad that the Holy Spirit doesn't let me rest at that. It's not easy, and it's not always fun, but the Lord has been teaching me to "leave my offering at the altar" and go talk with the people that are unhappy with something I've done or said. Sometimes, I know I did nothing wrong. Sometimes it's all about a misunderstanding. Sometimes talking with the person doesn't even fix it. All I know is, I need to leave my pride at the door. It doesn't matter if I was right all along. I need to obey the Spirit within me. I need to obey the Word, even when I want to kick and scream and say, "It wasn't my fault!" I can't always make things right, but at least I can know that I tried.
The ultimate example of humility? Jesus Christ. His example blows me away every time I think about it. In the Scriptures that talk about the life of Jesus and the crucifixion, we see so many examples of people that were so angry with Him...so many that were so offended because He challenged their religion and their traditions. How did he respond? He healed them. He cried for them. He prayed for them. He taught them. He never defended himself, not even when they spit on Him and mocked Him. He, who had every reason to shout from the cross, "But I'm right!!!! I never did anything wrong!!!" remained silent, living out the Truth He knew, his heart breaking for those who couldn't see or understand. Even in his last moments on the cross, His only thought was for them, for us. "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." He who had every right to be offended, continued to love beyond our understanding. And he left the ultimate sacrifice at the altar to "fix" everything. For you. For me.
I want to learn from the Lord's example. I'm sure I will never know what it's like to make such a complete, humble sacrifice for people who don't even like me, but I want to begin to experience it in the small things, in my everyday life. I want to love the people who have hurt me, and I want to speak words of life to them. I don't want my pride to get in the way of ministering to broken and wounded hearts. My husband has used a definition of a clear conscience for years that I love, and I'll end this post with that. "A clear conscience allows me to look directly into the eyes of everyone around me knowing that no one can say to me, "You hurt me and never tried to fix the damage." God, let it be so in me.
The biblical definition of humility is so different from our own human definition...and it's a lot harder to comply with in my estimation. In Matthew it says (and this is my paraphrase), "If someone was mean or rude to you, or did you wrong or offended you in some way, then go to that person. Leave church, leave your own private devotional time, leave work or whatever else is important to you, and fix things with that person FIRST." Every time I read that passage, it hits me in the gut. "What???? Why should I have to fix something that I didn't do? I'd rather just leave things alone. I won't even be upset or hold a grudge against the person that offended me. But, confront the problem? That's the last thing I want to do!" That's my reaction...but I am so glad that the Holy Spirit doesn't let me rest at that. It's not easy, and it's not always fun, but the Lord has been teaching me to "leave my offering at the altar" and go talk with the people that are unhappy with something I've done or said. Sometimes, I know I did nothing wrong. Sometimes it's all about a misunderstanding. Sometimes talking with the person doesn't even fix it. All I know is, I need to leave my pride at the door. It doesn't matter if I was right all along. I need to obey the Spirit within me. I need to obey the Word, even when I want to kick and scream and say, "It wasn't my fault!" I can't always make things right, but at least I can know that I tried.
The ultimate example of humility? Jesus Christ. His example blows me away every time I think about it. In the Scriptures that talk about the life of Jesus and the crucifixion, we see so many examples of people that were so angry with Him...so many that were so offended because He challenged their religion and their traditions. How did he respond? He healed them. He cried for them. He prayed for them. He taught them. He never defended himself, not even when they spit on Him and mocked Him. He, who had every reason to shout from the cross, "But I'm right!!!! I never did anything wrong!!!" remained silent, living out the Truth He knew, his heart breaking for those who couldn't see or understand. Even in his last moments on the cross, His only thought was for them, for us. "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." He who had every right to be offended, continued to love beyond our understanding. And he left the ultimate sacrifice at the altar to "fix" everything. For you. For me.
I want to learn from the Lord's example. I'm sure I will never know what it's like to make such a complete, humble sacrifice for people who don't even like me, but I want to begin to experience it in the small things, in my everyday life. I want to love the people who have hurt me, and I want to speak words of life to them. I don't want my pride to get in the way of ministering to broken and wounded hearts. My husband has used a definition of a clear conscience for years that I love, and I'll end this post with that. "A clear conscience allows me to look directly into the eyes of everyone around me knowing that no one can say to me, "You hurt me and never tried to fix the damage." God, let it be so in me.
3/17/2011
God's Story
We are beginning to see the unfolding of a beautiful story. God is writing it, and we certainly don't know how it will end, but are so excited about being a part of it.
Two years ago we were asked to step in and pastor a church in a small town. The long-time pastor had stepped down due to a personal issue, and he was ready to close the church, when God led him to us. When he asked us to help keep the church going, we were surprised and very uncertain. We hadn't planned on pastoring, especially not pastoring a church that, according to all the other pastors in the area, was spiritually dead. However, God's plans are not our plans, and through a series of events, we knew that He was leading us to that small town. We didn't know why...but we knew we had to obey.
It's been two years, and the progress has been SLOW. The church was spiritually dead when we arrived, and we were at a loss as how to wake people up. We did everything we knew to do- we prayed, fasted, preached, taught, and prayed and fasted some more. We held events, retreats, crusades. People came, some people came to know Christ, but the spiritual atmosphere remained the same: apathetic. We were seeking God more than ever, but seeing so few results. Then last year, we had a breakthrough when several of the women went to a retreat and were filled with the Holy Spirit. The change in them was huge, and there was no doubt that something supernatural had taken place within them when I suggested prayer meetings 4 mornings a week, and they said "YES!"
So, we began to pray. My husband was to pray with the men at 6am and I was to pray with the women at 10am. The women were excited and we began to intercede together. Unfortunately, my husband was left to pray alone as none of the men wanted to pray before going to their jobs. The women kept praying, for the nation, for the town, for the church, and especially for their husbands. They prayed fervently, at times sowing in tears, that God would raise up their men to be true men after God's heart. As trials and tribulations came and went, some of the women dwindled, but the women that remained were falling in love with the Lord more each day. They began to share with their husbands...and we all kept praying.
Last weekend, we held our very first men's retreat. It was hard to get the men to attend, and several backed out at the last moment, but for the ones who attended, it was an eye-opening experience. They experienced aspects of God's character that they had never experienced before...and some of them were truly transformed. They shared testimonies with the church on Sunday, and some of them have even approached us about getting more involved in ministry...very exciting, yet the real transformation was this: this morning, my husband wasn't praying alone. Today, when my husband arrived at church at 6am, there were 2 men waiting for him! They prayed and interceded together, and when the women heard the news in their prayer meeting, they rejoiced!
Some might say, "Two men at prayer meeting isn't a big deal. It was only one day. They might not even be there tomorrow." It's true that we don't know if they will show up tomorrow. Even if they don't, no one can take away what we are learning from this whole experience. We are watching God write a story here, in this town and with these people. It has been a long, slow process for us, but He hasn't given up on any of them. He is still working and still moving...and prayer really works! We are seeing prayers answered...things that seemed impossible to us are now happening because ALL things are possible with Him. The church that everyone wrote off as "spiritually dead" has a flame that is burning brighter every day. God is breathing new life into His people, and He is awaking within us a new hunger for Him. The beginning may be small, but it is still a beginning...and He is not finished yet! Greater things are yet to come...
Two years ago we were asked to step in and pastor a church in a small town. The long-time pastor had stepped down due to a personal issue, and he was ready to close the church, when God led him to us. When he asked us to help keep the church going, we were surprised and very uncertain. We hadn't planned on pastoring, especially not pastoring a church that, according to all the other pastors in the area, was spiritually dead. However, God's plans are not our plans, and through a series of events, we knew that He was leading us to that small town. We didn't know why...but we knew we had to obey.
It's been two years, and the progress has been SLOW. The church was spiritually dead when we arrived, and we were at a loss as how to wake people up. We did everything we knew to do- we prayed, fasted, preached, taught, and prayed and fasted some more. We held events, retreats, crusades. People came, some people came to know Christ, but the spiritual atmosphere remained the same: apathetic. We were seeking God more than ever, but seeing so few results. Then last year, we had a breakthrough when several of the women went to a retreat and were filled with the Holy Spirit. The change in them was huge, and there was no doubt that something supernatural had taken place within them when I suggested prayer meetings 4 mornings a week, and they said "YES!"
So, we began to pray. My husband was to pray with the men at 6am and I was to pray with the women at 10am. The women were excited and we began to intercede together. Unfortunately, my husband was left to pray alone as none of the men wanted to pray before going to their jobs. The women kept praying, for the nation, for the town, for the church, and especially for their husbands. They prayed fervently, at times sowing in tears, that God would raise up their men to be true men after God's heart. As trials and tribulations came and went, some of the women dwindled, but the women that remained were falling in love with the Lord more each day. They began to share with their husbands...and we all kept praying.
Last weekend, we held our very first men's retreat. It was hard to get the men to attend, and several backed out at the last moment, but for the ones who attended, it was an eye-opening experience. They experienced aspects of God's character that they had never experienced before...and some of them were truly transformed. They shared testimonies with the church on Sunday, and some of them have even approached us about getting more involved in ministry...very exciting, yet the real transformation was this: this morning, my husband wasn't praying alone. Today, when my husband arrived at church at 6am, there were 2 men waiting for him! They prayed and interceded together, and when the women heard the news in their prayer meeting, they rejoiced!
Some might say, "Two men at prayer meeting isn't a big deal. It was only one day. They might not even be there tomorrow." It's true that we don't know if they will show up tomorrow. Even if they don't, no one can take away what we are learning from this whole experience. We are watching God write a story here, in this town and with these people. It has been a long, slow process for us, but He hasn't given up on any of them. He is still working and still moving...and prayer really works! We are seeing prayers answered...things that seemed impossible to us are now happening because ALL things are possible with Him. The church that everyone wrote off as "spiritually dead" has a flame that is burning brighter every day. God is breathing new life into His people, and He is awaking within us a new hunger for Him. The beginning may be small, but it is still a beginning...and He is not finished yet! Greater things are yet to come...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)