"Jesus called the Twelve to him, and sent them out in pairs. He gave them authority and power to deal with the evil opposition. He sent them off with these instructions: " 'Don't think you need a lot of extra equipment for this. YOU are the equipment. No special appeals for funds. Keep it simple. And no luxury inns. Get a modest place and be content there until you leave. If you're not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don't make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way.'" (Message) Mark 6:7-11
I'm internally struggling with some thoughts and the best way for me to rummage through my thoughts and begin making sense of them is through talking or writing. For now it seems writing is the best method. So, realize as you read this entry I may not come to a true resolution.
As I've been reading the book of Mark as well as "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan, I've been interacting with some folks who are "looking for God's will" for their life. I'm beginning to think that God isn't as concerned with that "perfect plan A" that we think we're in pursuit of, as He is the way we pursue HIM.
This "pursuit" requires some proactiveness on our own...possibly more than simply praying. It may require some action/ movement from us. We are not called to be "passive participants". Many times as opportunities are laid before us, I hear, (and have said myself), "I don't really feel the Lord leading me to do_ _ _ _ _."
The thought and question I'm dealing with is, what if the Holy Spirit wants to reveal details for our life in that "opportunity" and we choose not to take advantage of it!? I fear that often we are presented with opportunities which are "no-brainers"; opportunities that relatively cost us nothing, yet could be priceless, opportunities that would reveal to us more of the character of Christ; opportunities that would further enrich our lives all for His glory; opportunities that are "bottom line acts"--meaning, things He requires His followers to do, period!...with no questions asked. Jesus was very specific about a lot of things, especially as it relates to caring for others.
I heard someone say last night there are only 3 things we can do that have eternal value; 1-invest in studying "the Word", 2-invest in humanity, 3-glorify God! That's it in a nutshell! EVERYTHING we do should be centered around those 3 basic things.
Something else I'm in thought over is, IF we are in hot pursuit of Christ, if we think there is any way that our participation in something will reveal more of Him, OR if we see there is any method of caring for humanity and our participation would give glory to God...shouldn't we pursue that???
I think Francis Chan put it well when he discussed the notion that many times we have our life all planned out and we "invite Him to join us on our life journey"..to "follow us where ever we feel we should go rather than following Him as we're commanded". Christ didn't choose to be crucified on a cross to follow us. He died so that we could forsake everything and follow Him!
Our life is just a snap and then we're gone. Living a "radical" life for Him shouldn't seem radical. Doing so should seem extremely logical if our goal is eternity. If our goal is pleasing self and storing up things to enjoy this millisecond-of-a-life on earth, we certainly are being short-sighted. God desires treasures for us in heaven for eternity.
Much like taking trips, keeping our focus on the final destination is key. Instead of focusing on the layovers (this earth), we need to keep our focus on our final destination, doing all we can to please our Maker in bringing glory to Him!
How are YOU bringing Him glory?
Friday, January 8, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Love = Sacrifice
For anyone out there who's a runner, you understand that deep need to go for a run. A need so deep that you think, "Man, If I don't get 60 minutes of time to myself to run, I'm simply gonna combust!" Well, that's how I often feel about running and that's how I've been feeling about writing over the holidays.
When I write, I need just the right environment. It has to be in a nice quiet, cozy, warm spot in my house...a place where I can go, close out the world and definitely with NO interruptions! :-) Well, at holiday time, when schools are closed, that ideal environment no longer exist! The Asian-Invaders (my younger 2 girls, who are Chinese) are home and their presence is certainly known! Well, today, school is back in full swing!
Our holiday was nice but to be completely transparent, I woke up the day after Christmas and before my feet it the floor, I breathed a sigh of relief and said out loud to the Lord, " I'm so glad Christmas is over! Now we can get back to worshipping you!" I know! I know exactly what your thinking. But it's true! That's what I was feeling and that's exactly what I said.
Frankly, after going to Uganda...well... I'm just no fun anymore! I hated the Christmas parties, the presents, the excess food, and my goodness--the focus on "things". I'm serious! I absolutely HATE what "Christmas" has become. We work ourselves into a frenzy through the busyness of the season...and for what? We stretch ourselves financially...for what?? ---and why in the world to we eat so much food???? I just don't get it!
Before experiencing the Lord in Uganda, Christmas was like 5:00 rush hour. It WAS what it WAS; I hopped on the freeway and road with the traffic to keep from getting run over, giving the season little to no thought. Ashamedly I confess, and those days for me are gone...they are "no more".
Over the holiday I began reading the book of Mark...it had absolutely NOTHING to do with the fact that it contains the Christmas Story. In addition I started reading a book by Francis Chan, "Crazy Love". If you're in season for a life change, I dare you to read the book of Mark and Crazy Love, simultaneously! It will mess you up for life...in a good way.
The theme God keeps laying before me is how Christ was sent here on earth to demonstrate for us how we are to live our life, through a life of sacrificing. And the more I continue to read, the more I realize how far off course we are! Not the unbelievers; the believers! I expect unbelievers to act like they do...they don't know any better; they don't know the heart of Christ. But man...Christians...WOW!
We have been commanded to "Love the Lord with all your passion and prayer and intelligence. This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: Love others (your neighbor) as well as you love yourself. These two commands are pegs; everything in God's Law and the Prophets hang from them" (Message Bible/ Matthew 22:37-40)
--I dare say we even know who are neighbors are! The physical neighbors OR the figurative neighbors! These are the 2 greatest commands from Christ. Have we thought about how much "sacrificing" goes in to living each of these out?!?
In reading the book of Mark, the theme of Christ sacrificing is everywhere. Have you considered how many times Christ sacrificed his time to meet the needs of people? I really hadn't. When I've thought about His "sacrificing", it's always been in relation to the cross. However, now my eyes are being opened to His sacrificing prior to the cross. Whether it was Christ sharing intimate times with the disciples, healing the Leper, healing the paraplegic, feasting with the Tax Collector, healing the crippled hand, feeding the crowds, or casting out demons, He demonstrated how we are to "love our neighbor".
In Uganda I encountered starving orphans, starving caregivers, orphans dying from untreated Malaria and a lack of basic medical attention, people drinking contaminated water, children without adequate clothing and adequate housing. I believe God wants His people, His "Church", to be the solution to these vulnerable people. The essence of the second most important command is that we "love others"...equal to the way we love ourselves. Christ took the time to walk this earth to demonstrate how we are to "love"---do we really view ourselves as higher than Christ? ---Our lack of action, our lack of sacrificing for others, seems to suggest we do.
Christ desires us to be radical followers who truly sacrifice. What have you sacrificed lately for your "neighbor"? Have you sacrificed a meal lately?
I know of an American serving in Uganda who sacrifices meals on a regular basis, to ensure that each of the orphans she cares for, gets enough to eat. This American, who has given up her American standard of living to serve orphans in Uganda should NOT be going hungry. She is having to sacrifice MUCH because we remain in America unwilling to sacrifice at all. Many of us should be financially sacrificing here in America and ensuring her ministry to those orphans doesn't require her to further sacrifice her meals. That American understands and demonstrates the level of sacrificial love Christ demonstrated, and expects of His followers. What would this world look like if all believers sacrificed to this level?
While my focus has been on Uganda...many of these same needs exist here in America. I challenge you, to challenge yourself, to a level of sacrifice you've not yet experienced! You might just experience Christ in a whole new way!
Constantly standing in need of His grace!
When I write, I need just the right environment. It has to be in a nice quiet, cozy, warm spot in my house...a place where I can go, close out the world and definitely with NO interruptions! :-) Well, at holiday time, when schools are closed, that ideal environment no longer exist! The Asian-Invaders (my younger 2 girls, who are Chinese) are home and their presence is certainly known! Well, today, school is back in full swing!
Our holiday was nice but to be completely transparent, I woke up the day after Christmas and before my feet it the floor, I breathed a sigh of relief and said out loud to the Lord, " I'm so glad Christmas is over! Now we can get back to worshipping you!" I know! I know exactly what your thinking. But it's true! That's what I was feeling and that's exactly what I said.
Frankly, after going to Uganda...well... I'm just no fun anymore! I hated the Christmas parties, the presents, the excess food, and my goodness--the focus on "things". I'm serious! I absolutely HATE what "Christmas" has become. We work ourselves into a frenzy through the busyness of the season...and for what? We stretch ourselves financially...for what?? ---and why in the world to we eat so much food???? I just don't get it!
Before experiencing the Lord in Uganda, Christmas was like 5:00 rush hour. It WAS what it WAS; I hopped on the freeway and road with the traffic to keep from getting run over, giving the season little to no thought. Ashamedly I confess, and those days for me are gone...they are "no more".
Over the holiday I began reading the book of Mark...it had absolutely NOTHING to do with the fact that it contains the Christmas Story. In addition I started reading a book by Francis Chan, "Crazy Love". If you're in season for a life change, I dare you to read the book of Mark and Crazy Love, simultaneously! It will mess you up for life...in a good way.
The theme God keeps laying before me is how Christ was sent here on earth to demonstrate for us how we are to live our life, through a life of sacrificing. And the more I continue to read, the more I realize how far off course we are! Not the unbelievers; the believers! I expect unbelievers to act like they do...they don't know any better; they don't know the heart of Christ. But man...Christians...WOW!
We have been commanded to "Love the Lord with all your passion and prayer and intelligence. This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: Love others (your neighbor) as well as you love yourself. These two commands are pegs; everything in God's Law and the Prophets hang from them" (Message Bible/ Matthew 22:37-40)
--I dare say we even know who are neighbors are! The physical neighbors OR the figurative neighbors! These are the 2 greatest commands from Christ. Have we thought about how much "sacrificing" goes in to living each of these out?!?
In reading the book of Mark, the theme of Christ sacrificing is everywhere. Have you considered how many times Christ sacrificed his time to meet the needs of people? I really hadn't. When I've thought about His "sacrificing", it's always been in relation to the cross. However, now my eyes are being opened to His sacrificing prior to the cross. Whether it was Christ sharing intimate times with the disciples, healing the Leper, healing the paraplegic, feasting with the Tax Collector, healing the crippled hand, feeding the crowds, or casting out demons, He demonstrated how we are to "love our neighbor".
In Uganda I encountered starving orphans, starving caregivers, orphans dying from untreated Malaria and a lack of basic medical attention, people drinking contaminated water, children without adequate clothing and adequate housing. I believe God wants His people, His "Church", to be the solution to these vulnerable people. The essence of the second most important command is that we "love others"...equal to the way we love ourselves. Christ took the time to walk this earth to demonstrate how we are to "love"---do we really view ourselves as higher than Christ? ---Our lack of action, our lack of sacrificing for others, seems to suggest we do.
Christ desires us to be radical followers who truly sacrifice. What have you sacrificed lately for your "neighbor"? Have you sacrificed a meal lately?
I know of an American serving in Uganda who sacrifices meals on a regular basis, to ensure that each of the orphans she cares for, gets enough to eat. This American, who has given up her American standard of living to serve orphans in Uganda should NOT be going hungry. She is having to sacrifice MUCH because we remain in America unwilling to sacrifice at all. Many of us should be financially sacrificing here in America and ensuring her ministry to those orphans doesn't require her to further sacrifice her meals. That American understands and demonstrates the level of sacrificial love Christ demonstrated, and expects of His followers. What would this world look like if all believers sacrificed to this level?
While my focus has been on Uganda...many of these same needs exist here in America. I challenge you, to challenge yourself, to a level of sacrifice you've not yet experienced! You might just experience Christ in a whole new way!
Constantly standing in need of His grace!
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