Hanging out with Kingdom Workers

I think everyone should hang out with kingdom workers.

I was thinking today how my life has been impacted by my relationships with each of you. The reports and newsletters are nice, but it's been through "hanging out" - through the stuff of life - that I have learned and been impacted the most.

Because you've allowed me to live vicariously in your worlds, I view my world differently. I find myself responding differently, wondering how this decision will impact your corner of the world or seeing opportunities where previously I only saw obstacles. Increasingly, I 'get' that we are all connected in the body of Christ, in a way that cannot be described. Even my personal struggles are put into perspective - complaining about an unbalanced washing machine feels selfish when I think of one of you who washes clothes for 4 kids and a husband by hand!

If you are reading this and you're not a cross-cultural field worker - please, get to know at least one. Dangerous prayer: "Lord, send me a friend who ministers over there." In 1998 God starting surrounding me with those sorts of people, and life hasn't been the same - thankfully!

And for those of you who are field workers - please, keep those relationships with the rest of us. I know it's hard, because you often hear from those who don't "get it." It's easier and probably more fun to hang out with those from your organization who understand your struggles. And you need that, desperately.

But we need you. Every day I realize increasingly just how much we need what you offer the Body. Keep the reports and updates coming. But even more than that, be our friends.

Only God knows what fruit those relationships will bear!

Refusing to Settle

My monthly women's group just concluded, and while I thoroughly trust God's sovereignty, I refuse to settle for less that all He wants for us.

You see, we have about a dozen ladies, and every month, a few are unable to attend. Sometimes it's because of God-given higher priorities - a mission trip, a family event. Often, though, it's because of what they describe as "last-minute" distractions, obstacles, or spiritual attacks. Even the high gas cost has been a prohibitive factor. Lately the number who have to miss exceed the number who make it.

And I'm not going to take it sitting down. I've decided the position from which to address this is on my knees. I'm not going to settle - I'm going to fight.

So today, we prayed for the group, for God's purpose and people. We prayed against obstacles and distractions and attacks. We even prayed that God would stretch gas money and increase their mileage so more can attend. We agreed in spirit and in prayer - God hasn't indicated an end to this group. He hasn't indicated that we should be laissez-faire about the roadblocks some of them have shared that have kept people away. We are fighting for their ability to attend, and will continue to fight in prayer.

One of the preparations God gave me for this morning - that I was going to share with the group, but instead found to be for myself - is this brief essay. It reminds me that it's okay to not settle in my prayer life. It reminds me that God honors persistence! Most of all, it reminds me that desperation is a good place to be.

Many of you may be discouraged. You may be thinking you should give in and settle for less of an impact than you were hoping for in your corner of the world. You may be facing a change of service area, and wondering if you should give up on those you left behind. You may be seeking God's will in a matter and wondering if you're expecting too much.

I can't address every situation - but one thing I can say is don't settle. Seek desperation!

Living Out Life in His Presence

I love reading through the Bible in a new translation. Familiar passages leap off the page when presented in a new "language". My current read-through utilizes the NET Bible, a translator's Bible that gives tons of alternate renderings for words and explains the choices made by the translation team.

In Gen. 17 yesterday I read the familiar covenantal condition to Abram: "Walk before me...". The translator's note clarifies the sense of the phrase in Hebrew: "Live out your life in My presence".

WOW. Understanding that makes the second half of the condition more understandable: "and be blameless." One possible way of understanding the connection is that walking before God - living all of life in His presence - has the purpose or result of the individual being blameless, or righteous.

Unfortunately this principle has been taught in some ways that generate fear and legalism. "God is watching, so you'd better be good" is the message we get. Like "Santa Claus is Coming to Town", we think that we'd "better watch out, better not shout" because "He knows when you've been bad or good" and of course, what's in our stocking depends on being good!

But becoming more aware of His presence in the minutae of life has to do with more than our sanctification. This covenant is immediately followed by God appearing to Abraham with two angels in Gen. 18. This chapter illustrates what it means to walk before God. Living life in His presence looks like this: worship, interaction, giving, receiving, interceding. It's relational, not legalistic. It's faith, not fear.

So my prayer this week is that I will consistently live out my life in God's presence - becoming increasingly aware of His presence in the minutae of life. I want to know Him more so, like Abraham, I can intercede better. I want to know that I can trust His no's, like Abram did when He gave him an emphatic "no" about Ishmael. I want to see Him come through time after time after time, year after year after year. I want to know that the blamelessness is because of His change in me, not because of my fear or legalism. And I want to interact with Him in intimacy and relationship and constant dialogue.

I know you do as well. So tonight, this is my prayer for you: That you will increasingly live out your life in His presence. And that together we will learn just what that means!

Fleas and Warfare

OK, confession time. We have a dog, and this summer, that means like everyone else in our area with a pet, we have fleas. We've never had them before in 12 years of pet ownership, and so we've been learning a lot!

For example, did you know that fleas have 4 stages in the life cycle - and at one of the stages, larvae, the flea can survive for months without a food source (i.e., blood). Flea eggs can live after the fleas that laid them are dead, and to my horror, one flea can lay billions of eggs.

All of this means that our approach has had to attack the flea at all stages of development. It means we've had to treat our dog, our yard, our house, and even our car. We've used a variety of tools in the treatment. And in the process, I've learned a lot about warfare.

Sin is a lot like the fleas we've been fighting. It's a greedy parasite that can lay dormant for an extended time. That's why some of the lessons I've learned fighting fleas can help me spiritually as well.

Get to the source. This means fighting a multi-front war. We couldn't just treat our dog - we had to treat all places the fleas went when they weren't on the dog. Likewise, with sin we can't just attack the symptom - such as a sharp tongue. We have to treat the underlying source - the pride, or bitterness, or selfishness, that reveal themselves in bad fruit.

Take serious action to gain the upper hand. As much as I complained about the fleas, not much happened until we started taking serious action. We had to move beyond occasionally spraying the dog to committing significant amounts of time to getting rid of fleas. Similarly, sin doesn't go away on its own, even when we recognize that it's unpleasant. We have to get serious about fighting sin, and that requires commitment that might be inconvenient but is utterly
essential.

Keep the momentum. We're at a stage now where we haven't seen fleas in a couple of days, and things seem pretty "normal". But we've made the mistake previously of quitting after a couple of rounds of treatment - not realizing that those larvae were just waiting for a blood source to walk by :). Now we know that to keep the momentum, we have to fight daily against the fleas we can no longer see. Sin is like the fleas - "crouching at your door", as God told Cain in Gen. 4. The author of Hebrews wrote of sin that "so easily entangles us" and gave us the solution: Keeping our eyes on Jesus. He shed blood for our sin, so any struggle we make against it will never go beyond what He's already done (Heb. 12:1-3). This should motivate us to keep fighting for a victory that has already been secured on our behalf. But the fight must proceed daily!

Don't fight alone. The tasks involved in "flea-proofing" our home would be overwhelming if I tackled them by myself. But because my husband and I team up, we are able to maximize our efforts and maintain a better consistency in the process. When you are actively trying to gain the upper hand against a certain sin, it's important to solicit prayer support and accountability. Find believers you trust to fight with you and help you maintain the momentum. And realize that you are not alone in the struggle! When I shared my "flea prayer request" with a friend the other night, she immediately said, "Oh, I'm having the same problem"! We realized that we were fighting the same battle. 1 Cor. 10:13 tells us that our temptations are "common to man" - whether other people mention them or not. And Jesus is our way out!

The battles you face on the field certainly involve significant outside warfare from the enemy. But I've talked to enough of you to realize that you also struggle with the same sins we face daily at "home". Keep fighting!

New Post on Big Picture

Hi everyone,

If you're following it, I have a new post over on The Big Picture (http://worldchristianfoundations.blogspot.com).

Thanks!

Detours and Clouds

We don't always get all the choices we'd prefer.

Last night was one of those times for us. Driving through Oklahoma on the way home, we missed the turn for our turnpike. By the time we figured it out, we were in a stretch 7 miles from the next exit and absolutely no way to get onto the other side of the highway. The long-awaited exit bore a sign we dreaded to see: No re-entry. In other words, keep going the wrong direction; this is going to take a while. By the time we finally had the option to exit and re-enter 13 miles later, we were halfway to an alternate route home. A 2 hour trip took almost 4, but we made it.

Life often affords unscheduled detours as well. A doctor's visit with unwelcome and unexpected news. A forced job change due to downsizing. A teenager's pregnancy. A reassignment from a sending agency. We struggle with these changes the most, I think, because we feel such a helplessness, such a lack of choice.

We fail to see that these times are like the storm system I also saw yesterday -- from the backside. Like the picture above I could tell precisely where the system ended. I marveled at how sunny it was from my perspective, and how fierce the storm must look to those underneath its massive dark clouds. When we're underneath the circumstances of our life's latest detours, we see the darkness, the storm, the whirlwind. We struggle to see the handprints of God. But when we get to the other side, we can see the beauty of the clouds. We can see the detour had a purpose.

What detour are you struggling to accept today? Pray for God to give you eyes to see the sun that will signify the end of the storm. And ask Him to reveal the beauty of the scenic route.

Changing the World

We all want to see the world changed.

Wherever we live, if we have a biblical worldview there is something we want to see changed. And yet we so frequently get discouraged - "weary in well-doing", Paul called it. We determine that changing the world is impossible, that the best we can hope to do as an individual is make a difference in othe lives of one individual at a time. If we're diligent, we think maybe we can make a different in a few dozen individuals' lives.

But we're still not satisfied - nor should we be. Because God never asked us to change the world by ourselves.

The limitations of the English language combined with a western individualistic mindset have turned a lot of the plural "you's" of the New Testament into singular ones. The church - the body of Christ, all true believers regardless of denominational attendance - has a role to play in society. The Gospel and our lives should preach the same message. And when we move to view things from a group perspective, we realize it's not just me making a difference in one life...it's us making a difference in lots of lives!

There are so many strands that go into social change. Who "caused" slavery to crumble? The abolition movements, to be sure - but what stirred them, and how did they move from merely assessing and praying about a problem to a movement that impacted two continents? We think of the big names - Wilberforce, Brown, Sojourner Truth - but they were only strands in the rope that forced a new worldview about slavery. So often when we are one strand we feel insignificant. But when one becomes many, it matters!

That's why you must realize that "you" aren't alone. You're not singular, you're plural! You are part of a team where you are ... you are the feet for the team that sends you ... you are positioned at the head of the battering ram that is the church's offense against the gates of hell. You're not alone.

And that very fact should help you realize that it's not hopeless. Whatever the situation on the ground, whatever your personal struggles right now, the change you are longing for doesn't depend on "you". God is the one who is working all this out, and He has put an "us" behind you as part of the task.

And the victory around the throne will be oh, so sweet.

New Post on Big Picture

Hi everyone! If you're following my studies this module, there is a new post over on The Big Picture. Check it out at http://worldchristianfoundations.blogspot.com. Thanks!

Legacy

A year ago this week, we were in mourning.

On May 25, my mother-in-law went from worshipping in this life to worshipping in the next. Her praise on earth poured out in full, we could only imagine what that moment was like when she stood before Jesus to hear Him say, "Well Done".

The next days were filled with family and friends, with planning and details. Yet in a way, the world stood still. It's one of those times when you know what really matters, and it's usually not something on your list.

My mother-in-law didn't want a funeral - she wanted a Coronation Celebration. And boy, did she ever get it. We had a grand worship service and memorial of her life. I've never seen anything like it - but God was glorified in the very unorthodox way she wanted us to remember her.

After her death, we sought intentionally not to grieve "without hope", but we still grieved. We faced times when we started to make a call that we couldn't make. We still think of things "Mom would know".

But most importantly, we have learned the true meaning of "legacy". It's not something you can plan. It sounds profound, and many people try to sit down and think of the "legacy" they want to leave. Let me tell you this: You can't. The legacy you will leave is being written on the hearts of those closest to you, those in your sphere of influence, and those you seek to serve. It's the message of your life.

Mom's basic life message can be reflected in the prayer she prayed less than two weeks before her Homegoing. It was the last prayer I heard her pray aloud.

Mom was in a long-term acute care hospital - it was about the 85th day out of 90 that she'd been in some hospital or another, with countless progresses and setbacks. A dear family friend - the kind more family than friend - came by to see her. Before she left, she asked if we could pray. Mom never turned down a chance to pray with others, and so the three of us clasped hands. Beth and I prayed heartfelt prayers, but to this day I can't tell you what we said. Because Mom's simple, one-sentence prayer rings in my ears: "Lord, cause me to be a blessing to someone today."

That certainly defined Mom's life. She was a blessing even in the hospital - kind to the nurses right up to the end, always loving and gentle with her family. But when we were looking for photographs for the PowerPoint before the service, I realized just how much that prayer defined her life. We found pictures of her with kids no one could identify - some of the many "strays" she took in over the years. Months later friends who didn't come to the service told me stories of her impact on their lives. The prayer I heard may have been the last she verbalized, but it reflected a life lived in blessing others.

What a legacy! She had no idea, I'm sure, that her simple prayer would be such a defining moment for me. And if it hadn't lined up with her life, it wouldn't have. But the words and the works were consistent, and the legacy was solidified.

No matter what I face in a day, I often remind myself of Mom's prayer. I fully believe that we are "blessed to be a blessing". My challenge is the outworking of that into action. And so the prayer, "Cause me to be a blessing to someone today, Lord," is becoming part of my daily quiet time. And so it goes - legacy.

You want to make a difference where you are, or you wouldn't be there. In your own way you desire a legacy. Remember the lessons I learned in grief: Legacy isn't something you determine. It's a reflection of who you are - a reflection that shines beyond the grave and teaches those who follow.

Those radicals!

"These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also" (Acts 17:6b)

You have to love those radical early Christians. Ousted by the synagogues but set on fire by the Spirit, they became known as men who "turned the world upside down". Their passion was Jesus, their aim was His glory, and they couldn't be controlled. They just couldn't stop talking about Him! And it got them in quite a few jams.

Good thing we've moved beyond that, isn't it? I mean, almost 2000 years later, especially after the Enlightenment brought the triumph of reason, we know that there are far more rational, safe ways to demonstrate our faith. We can be Christians without seeming weird or radical. We've come so far.

Or, maybe not.

When I read the New Testament, I see a lot of things - vigorous debate, radical obedience, serious prayer, the hard work of unity, a passion for the Word and the kingdom. I see the Holy Spirit working in and through imperfect people. What I don't see is safe. What I don't see is comfortable. What I don't see is a lot of things that "make sense".

We forget, I think, that it's really a battle. There are spiritual forces that don't want the kingdom to advance. We rightly rest on Jesus' words that the gates of hell won't prevail against His church ... but we forget that we are to be making a forward assault on those very gates. And if you're at the front of the line, you may get pounded in the process.

For all the craziness of the idea, God uses people in His great plans. Whether it's Peter preaching to a crowd of thousands, Paul teaching in Ephesus, Augustine defending the faith against false teachings, Wilberforce fighting to free slaves and tell of God's glory, Brainerd sharing with the Native Americans and treating them with dignity - God's message and the hope of transformation is always carried in the vehicle of human flesh. This "treasure in earthen vessels" Paul spoke of.

In a sermon dated 1819, Rev. Heman Humphrey delivered a message upon the commissioning of missionaries. After discussing the spiritual battle facing the new kingdom workers, Humphrey observes:

"Although the excellency of the power is of God, this great work is to be accomplished by human instrumentality....How was the Gospel first propagated, even in an age of miracles? By toil, by perseverance, by encountering a thousand dangers."

In other words, by being radical.

As you fight on the front lines, take courage in those who have gone before you - those who know that we never move beyond the simplicity of those first missionaries. May you never be too reasonable to be radical for Jesus.

Tiny Signs of Growth

It's become a daily ritual.

My husband and I walk through our recently-planted garden, avidly seeking signs of growth. We delight in spotting the first leaf of a tomato or cucumber plant pushing stubbornly through the soil. He journals to keep up with dates so we know precisely which row was planted when, and can anticipate when growth might be expected.

But some plants are just stubborn - they push through the soil ahead of schedule. Others are right on time, and there are always a few on each row that are stragglers, lagging behind at each stage of the game. We find ourselves rooting for these "runts".

This early in the season, it's hard to imagine that soon we'll be spending hours chopping peppers and canning green beans. We worry about the plants still under the soil, wondering what is going on down there that will eventually bring them into our view. We dread the sound of thunder and potential hail that could easily wipe out the entire garden at this point.

It's easy to forget when faced with a plethora of produce at the height of harvest, that each plant started as a seed in the ground, that stubbornly pushed its way through the soil to greet the morning sun. Each one fought off the threat of disease and destruction by bugs of some sort or another. Rarely was the combination of sun and moisture ideal. And yet somehow, they survive. With appropriate, but imperfect, care on our part, the seed becomes a plant that yields "in due season".

How like our ministries! We plant a seed - the word- and watch for it to push its way through the soil. We nurture and do the best we can to provide an environment in which a believer can flourish. We anticipate fruitfulness, but worry when we don't see the tiniest shoots. We wonder if something catastrophic will wipe out a believer or even an entire church. And we pray that our care is doing what needs to be done.

Those daily walks through the garden encourage us. We are reminded daily that what we are doing is sufficient - even if not perfect - and that God has put into that seed everything needed to push the plant toward the sun and into the world where it can be fruitful.

Pray that God will give you eyes to see the tiniest signs of growth today. He has put in the word everything needed to push the believer toward truth and fruitfulness. We just need eyes to see the work in progress.

Perception, Reality, and Truth

"Perception is Reality." It's the modern mantra of a post-modern society ... the idea that we create our own reality. Scripture tells us differently.

While it is true that we think we know what is real based on our perceptions -- if we perceive that eating a certain food makes us sick, then we are going to avoid it regardless of whether that is truly the culprit. You've seen many examples in the cultures in which you live and work as well. People perceive that a person has some sort of power over them, and they act as though it is true. Festishes and idols have the same perceived power.

But the Biblical worldview teaches us that while perception is reality, it's not necessarily truth. Truth, as we know, is a Person - and the truth He teaches surpasses any perceived reality. It's one of the best things about Scripture - giving us that external grasp of what is true, what we can hold on to.

It's easy to take for granted though. I find myself giving into perceived reality sometimes faster than truth. I've challenged myself to look for the truth, beyond the perceived reality. And it is transforming me!

Whatever struggles and challenges you face, seek the Truth beyond the perceived reality. And when you find Him, He will show you what you can really hold on to. May you too be transformed!

Pray for Asia

Asia is heavy on my heart this week. First the horrific cyclone in Burma, where the astronomical death toll is worsened by the government's desire to control the aid flow. Then the tragic earthquake in China - wrap your mind around the fact that the earthquake was physically felt over an area the size of the contiguous United States. Tens of thousands dead.

That's why I'm asking you to take time to pray for Asia. The strong Chinese church is well-positioned to impact all of Asia, and they can get into places like Burma where westerners cannot tread. As the body of Christ, we should support them any way we can - and prayer is at the top of that list. We all can't go to the Olympics and help the Chinese church evangelize -- but we can all pray.

So please, take some time to pray for Asia. I'm asking that this Saturday, May 17, be a special time of prayer for Asia. But please don't wait until then. Ask God this week to break your heart for Asia. Pray for Asia daily, especially China. Ask God if He would have you fast and pray Saturday, or even join with a group for prayer. Some possible prayer points for now and later:

* Pray now for children trapped in the rubble of a school. Parents are organizing a vigil - let's have one of our own. How fervently would we pray if children were trapped under rubble in a Dallas school? Let's pray for these as if they were "our own" - because they are His. This is a time-sensitive request - officials fear time is running out for these little ones.

* Pray for the national churches in China and Burma. The Chinese church is highly evangelistic and kingdom-minded; pray for them to grasp the opportunities they have within their own country. Pray for God's work in their purification. Pray for God to help them stretch their limited resources even further to reach the needy in the earthquake zone. Pray for unity between the house churches and the true believers within the official church.

The Burmese church, by contrast, has only "a little strength" like the church at Philadelphia. Pray for this trial to bring them together in unity and love. Pray for God to open previously closed doors as the Buddhist-linked regime is shown to not care about its people.

* Pray for kingdom workers "on the ground". Few new people are getting into Burma, but there are many believers already there with established relationships both here and in the country. Pray for wisdom and discernment in disseminating resources and funds. In China, pray for a couple who will be going into "earthquake zone" Thursday. They need protection and wisdom!

* Pray for the international community to see the tragedy for what it is, and not get desensitized. I am so thankful for internet and media that afford us the chance to see and pray about things in almost real time. But that same information flow can easily become information overload, with people dismissing tragedies and moving on to the next story out of Hollywood. Pray that Christians, especially, would be gripped to do more than move on; pray that God would awaken them during the night to intercede, to give, to go if that is His plan for them.

* Pray for provision of practical, tangible needs. That is one way Christians have always set themselves apart - meeting practical needs when no one else could. We saw it here during Katrina. Pray that it will be even more apparent because of the contrast to the predominant religions in the areas.

Thanks so much for caring. God is in control - and I'm thankful He has put us together for this season to come before His throne together for these precious individuals. May we see some of them around His throne!

He's Not Safe

Yesterday, on Pentecost Sunday, I celebrated the Global Day of Prayer in our town. It was such a blessing to pray for the world in unity with believers from all over the world. I thought of many of you who have shared your GDP stories over the years. I hope it was as significant a day for you as it was for me!

One thing that made it significant for me was being reminded that God never called me to play it "safe". We spend a lot of time making sure things are "safe" in our Christianity. We call it "balance" and there is certainly a need for that. But often our pursuit of "balance" turns into lukewarm safety. Safe worship - so we don't cross the line to emotionalism. Safe prayer - so we don't get into selfish excesses. Safe adherence to the Word - so we don't find ourselves out on a limb.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not negating the need for balance or correction in our pursuits. I'm just saying that sometimes we start down one path, and end up in a box. I'm guilty of it myself. I used to be so scared of anything "emotional" that I developed a completely rational view of my relationship to Jesus. Then I read the story of the woman who washed His feet with her tears, the one who loved much because she was forgiven much. And I saw a depth of intimacy that required me to get out of my safe comfort zone. I saw emotion, pure and raw, based on love. And I saw Jesus affirm it.

That wasn't a safe action for her to take. The upper room wasn't safe either - that day when tongues of fire visited the congregation. That rational part of me would have been looking for the door - things were getting a little radical here! And yet, it was the Holy Spirit at work. His power filled the crowd, and the apostles were later called men who "turned the world upside down". Also not a safe approach.

So I have been called afresh to reject the safe life and live the surrendered life. Surrendered in worship, in prayer, in service, in Bible study and radical obedience to what I learn there. Surrendered to Him, to His corrective balancing.

As C.S. Lewis wrote of Aslan, the Christ-figure, "He's not safe - but He's good." He doesn't call me to be safe either.

But the surrender is oh, so good.

Happy Mother's Day! and Pentecost Sunday!

Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” (Mark 10:28-31)
My parents came up yesterday, and I was sad to have only a few hours with my mom before they had to leave. I haven't seen them since Christmas, and I longed for days together. But God's provision and work schedules only allowed part of a day, so we thoroughly enjoyed that time together.

This morning I am especially grateful, because I know many of you aren't with your moms on Mother's Day - and probably haven't been for years. Even with yearly furloughs, you aren't likely to be home on this weekend. And for the women among you, especially those who are moms yourself, I know you feel that absence keenly. It's hard to describe, that mother-daughter relationship, comforting and maddening at the same time, with a strong dose of "Oh no I'm becoming my mother" thrown into the mix!

So when I read these words of Jesus I think of you especially today. Jesus doesn't let Peter get much out. Peter - of course it would be Peter - points out in the midst of Jesus' teaching on the kingdom that they had given up a lot to follow Him. Jesus is talking about how hard it's going to get, and Peter explains how hard it's already been. Jesus doesn't hear a word of it. He simply points out that we receive back a hundredfold more than we give up.

Bottom line: He knows how hard giving up is, more than we can imagine. The Father gave up perfect intimacy with the Son in heaven. Jesus gave up the glories of heaven. "For God so loved the world that He gave." We can never do more.

But in His grace and mercy, He meets us at the point of pain and promises more in return than we ever give up. Mark it down: You will never surrender anything to God - nothing - that He doesn't more than make up for. I'm not talking treasure - I'm talking relationship. He will be the great reward, the hundredfold return.

This Mother's Day doubles as Pentecost Sunday. What a beautiful illustration of this truth. The disciples had to "lose" Jesus in this world in order to gain the perfect intimacy of the indwelling Holy Spirit. They had to "give up" the daily walking and talking with Him in the hills of Jerusalem and plains of Galilee in order to see Him revealed to every people group. They had to "surrender" their position within the Jewish community to become part of the Diaspora with the Gospel to all peoples.

May He meet you at your point of loss and sacrifice today, with a fresh revelation of His sufficiency.

From my Heart

My posts have been much more sporadic lately, and as I sit before the computer tonight committed to blogging something, I realize that I don't feel very profound right now. All I really can do is share my heart.

We all go through seasons where God rearranges our furniture - moving our carefully set routines and patterns around, shaking things up a bit. That's the season I'm in right now. It's all for good reasons -- God brought new ministry to our doorstep and asked us to pour out love. That's all He said, and we are learning to trust that it is enough. At the same time, He has advanced other ministries in our lives. He's opening doors and giving us the choice to walk through them ... and enabling us to do what He calls us to do on the other side.

But at the same time I find myself spending less time on a couple of things I love with a passion: this blog and my studies. I find that I have no frustration about doing the ministries God places before us, unless I factor in the things I'm doing less of for this season. That's when I start wanting "more time". I don't have any profound answers, but I know this: learning to be "content with what I have" means being content with the amount of time He gives. It means balancing what is before me in the "now" with the visions I really feel are from Him that take a longer-term investment. And it means being sure I'm not being selfish -- even about ministry.

So tonight, I just share my heart. I'm sure you can relate. I've heard so many of you tell stories about being moved into an area that gave less time for what you were passionate for - only to see God move mightily in the new ministry context. I don't want to limit Him. I realize that I am by nature prone to ruts and He is faithful enough to prod me along. I'm by no means giving up on this blog or my studies -- He hasn't given the slightest indication that those purposes are served. But He has given me peace that they might not look the same. How He has me approach them might be different. And if I want to see maximum fruitfulness in my life, I have to submit to the pruning and weeding process. I have to let Him rearrange my furniture.

Because in the end, it's all His anyway.

New Post on Big Picture

FYI in case you follow it - there's a new World Christian Foundations summary posted on my other blog, The Big Picture, at http://worldchristianfoundations.blogspot.com.

Thanks!

What Really Matters in the Darkness

If we live very long at all, we'll face dark days. It just goes with the territory - our fallen world at times blatantly invades our lives, and we feel as though the light goes out.

It may be overwhelming depression. It might take the form of a dreaded disease. It could be a day you think you might die. It could be tragedy to a loved one. Whatever it looks like, you are left groping like someone lost in a cave. You fervantly want to hold on to something solid - something that matters.

One the darkest days of our lives, all that really matters is relationship: with God and with others. Those relationships are all that survive this temporal realm, this fallen world, this present darkness. When we are certain that our standing before God is unchanged because we come through Christ, and when we know we have invested our lives in others and have authentic relationships with them, we can land on our feet in the tumult of darkness. We can have a stable point of reference as we grope our way back to the light.

So today, a reminder: Prioritize those relationships. No matter how "busy" you are, how task-oriented your personality, come face to face with what you would hold onto in the darkness. Then build it in the light. Develop the intimacy that will pull you through when you can't see up or down.

The day will come when we each discover what really matters. Let's make some advance preparations now.

The Manifold Wisdom of God

To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. (Eph. 3:8-13, ESV)

If I was going to show off God's wisdom, I sure wouldn't pick the church.

Creation, definitely. The intricacies of the human body, the profound beauty of a sunset, all the creatures that live beyond the human eye showing that creation is for God's pleasure and glory - obviously show God's wisdom. If Scripture said "through the creation ..." I wouldn't have blinked an eye.

But as He so loves to do, God stunned me with His Word. God's manifold wisdom is made know - through the church? Really?? Did I read that right?

But indeed, there it is preserved for all eternity - God shows His wisdom through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places! Those spiritual beings see in the church God's wisdom.

It's a stunning thought, really - and a profound one. What we do, how we respond to the struggles in our lives, the reactions we allow ourselves to demonstrate when no one is around -- are all watched from the heavenlies. We glorify God when we demonstrate His character in such situations, even when no one is watching. As "the church", we show God's wisdom when we work in His power and not our own; when we exercise spiritual gifts and work as a body where each part is needed; when we come together in unity around Christ without distinction of our racial, gender, or socio-economic differences. We may not feel like it's anything special, but from a heavenly perspective, God is being glorified in our simple acts of fellowship.

You and your support team are part of the body, the church. When you walk out together the propogation of the Gospel, when you truly see each other as parts of a whole that is needed for kingdom advancement, when your gifts strengthen and edify each other and the churches of which you are part, then God is glorified as His wisdom is made known in the heavenlies. When you personally handle those difficult people, those hard days, those disappointments, with grace and love and the fruit of the spirit, then God is glorified as His wisdom is revealed.

I'm still shocked that for all the failures of "the church", it is still God's tool to demonstrate His wisdom to heavenly beings. But I'm also encouraged and challenged, because this truth gives a new depth of meaning to every reaction, every word, every relationship. It's not about me. It's about glorifying God for His wisdom.

And all heaven is watching.

Open Doors and Shut Mouths

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.

“‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet and they will learn that I have loved you. Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’(Rev. 3:7-13, ESV)

It's great to know that the advance of the kingdom doesn't depend upon us.

The words of Jesus to the church at Philadelphia remind us that when we feel the pressure of having just a "little strength", there is a Power moving that is above the fray of earthly struggles. And even more amazingly, this Power is both personal and loving.

When God opens a door, no one can shut it, and when He shuts one, no one can open it. But one of the most amazing things that jumped out to me today when I read this passage is what that while He is opening and closing doors for a tender church with just a little strength, He is also encouraging them about His personal love for them. In fact, He makes an amazing promise: "they will learn that I have loved you."

Wow. He isn't just going to advance the kingdom despite their lack of strength. He is going to make sure that His love for them is evident. I couldn't help but think how this echoes the principle David observed in the beloved 23rd Psalm: "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies" (v. 5). He doesn't promise us a lack of trials or opposition, but the theme underscored by both David and John writing under the inspiration of God is that our relationship with Him will be obvious, even to our opposition. Even to our oppressors.

Peter addressed the issue of our interactions with the opposition as well. 1 Peter 2:15 tells us that our right actions in the face of their abuse will shut their mouths: "For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people." What I learn from the principles of David, John, and Peter is that when we are so focused on our relationship with God, and the love He has for us, then we will be able to do what is right and even our opposition will know that the relationship is deep, real, and loving. And they will be silenced. Maybe not on earth - but in the heavenlies, none of their arguments will have merit. God will have shut their mouths with His love - and what He shuts, no one can open.

Watch for open doors today. And trust Him to shut mouths.