Africa4God

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Heart of Obedience- BEing with Him

“Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, ‘Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.’

And Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.’”

Luke 10:38-42

 Many of us can get so “diligent” about the Lord’s business that we don’t even realize when it just starts to become our own busyness.

Being busy, even as a minister of God’s love, does not mean we are doing what we are supposed to do. It might mean that we are operating in our own strength. It could indicate that we are in the way of something else God wants to do, or in the way of someone else He desires to develop and raise up for a certain work. 

Being “benched” these past months in the US, I’ve realized that the team on the ground in Kitgum has stepped up in big ways. They’ve stumbled here and there, but they’ve dusted themselves off and kept going. I’m really proud of them! They’re learning and developing in ways that they couldn’t have if I decided to stay busy “about the Lord’s business” and not stop to lay down at His feet. They would have missed out, and I would have too. It’s not the “Erica” show, it’s the Jesus show. And if we are so busy, tired and worn out that we stop showcasing His glory and power, then it’s time to take a breath. 

 I like to think of myself as Mary (don’t we all), but oftentimes I am Martha in this story. I’m worried about so many things. I’m busy, hustling and running around trying to bless the Lord and serve the people and DO DO DO. None of these things are bad, in themselves. But they kept Martha from the feet of Jesus. And more often than I’d like to admit, they do the same for me. 

 Having the heart of obedience is most certainly a call to arms and a call to action. But not first and foremost. Before that, it is a call to sit at His feet, drink in His love, and be in His Presence. Worship, as we talked about last week, and then just BE. Life will go on even if we aren’t working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! God will still do His work. He doesn’t NEED us, but He delights to use us. As long as we first sit with Him. Spend time with Him. Just be.

He is concerned for His workers; ahem, I mean, children; and rightfully so. 

How often do we stop? 

How much do we care for His Temples that He has entrusted to us? Caring for ourselves is not sinful. Actually, it is sinful to not be a good steward of ourselves. That includes spiritual, emotional, and physical health. It includes taking times to rest and reflect. Doing something fun. Recharging and fixing what may be broken so that we may be that much more effective.. and not only so that we may be more effective, but because this life belongs to God and it is just as valuable as any life we may minister to. 

 I often struggle with a sort of kamikaze Christianity- I’ll go out to the field, pour out every ounce of blood sweat and tears, and I’ll die there for the sake of Christ. We are called to take up our cross, not throw away the life He has entrusted to us. There’s a balance. Yes, He may call me to die on the field. If that’s the case, all glory to Him! I am willing. But He may call me to times of healing because He’s not done with me yet. (Actually, He definitely will- that’s why I am where I am at the moment!) And He may do the same for you. 

We have to take care of ourselves so that we can be all that He has created us to BE. That is the heart of obedience.

Next week we will look at the doing that comes with a heart of obedience. I hope you’ll join me! 

Please comment below and share your thoughts!

[africa4god]

Heart of Obedience- Worship

 Honor and majesty are before Him; Strength and gladness are in His place.

Give to the Lord, O families of the peoples, Give to the Lord glory and strength. Give to the Lord the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come before Him. Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth.

1 Chronicles 16:27-30a

 I don’t know what I’m thinking.. how many people want to read about obedience, let alone think about it? And not only am I writing about obedience, but I’m doing a series on it. (Crazy, I know!)

Maybe no one reads this or thinks about this but me.. maybe it’s me who needs this message the most.. and that’s okay! This isn’t a numbers game anyway, otherwise I would find much more seeker-friendly topics! No, this is a call to reality. This is a call to be who we are created to be before God.

I want to unpack the idea of obedience over the next few weeks. Not outward works, but the heart of obedience. What goes on in the inner realm when we truly desire to obey God with our whole beings. 

And nope, I’ve not arrived. And I never want to imply that. I’m a work in progress, and still in need of much progress, for that matter! (Just ask my husband!)

 So first off, here it is:

The heart of obedience is the heart of worship. (Not the classic worship song that most of us have heard so much we could recite it in our sleep.. but our heart condition.)

Worship is so much more than fancy lights, soundboards, talented musicians and speakers. In fact, it often involves none of those things. Music is one way, and a beautiful one, that draws us into the Throne Room of God. I love music and I’m so thankful that this avenue is available with so many amazing, talented artists and bands out there. But that's not what worship is. I’ve given this definition some thought, so let me know what you think of it. Worship itself is really this: feasting on God’s Presence, reveling in His goodness, being humbled and smitten by His Love. This brings Him Glory. This brings us a fullness of heart that nothing else can compare to. In its purest form, worship is everything that we are meant to be, and it is the most satisfying experience that we will know this side of Heaven.    

 That inner heart of worship expresses itself in many different forms. It could mean going to the foreign mission field, or simply taking out the garbage. Either can be done with the right heart to honor God, so either one can really be an act of worship. Either could also be done with selfish motives, a bad heart, or begrudgingly out of obligation. (That would be the opposite, incase that wasn't clear.) 

 Our challenge for this week is simple and yet SO profound. If we do it, we will see results. Maybe not on the outside (though probably), but most assuredly on the inside where it really counts. Guaranteed.

Ready? 

Whatever your days consist of, spend 10 minutes each day (whatever time is suitable for you) simply making a point of drawing near to God, being aware of His Presence, His goodness, His amazing love. Ten minutes. That’s not too much to ask, right? If you’re one who likes to challenge yourself, do more!! I bet once you do a few days, you will be too hungry for His Presence to NOT do more. 

 I’m going to do this challenge this next week, and I hope that if you’ve suffered enough to read through this, then you have the heart to join me. Will you? 

Please comment below if you’re in! Then we can hold each other accountable. 

[africa4god]

But I Trust in You- by Amy Culp

But I trust in You, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” ~Psalm 31:14

“YOU’RE GOING TO SOUTH SUDAN WITH A BABY?!?!” my coworker asked me.  “AREN’T YOU SCARED???”  

“Of course I am,” I thought as I sat across the table from her, 28 weeks pregnant with my first child.  “I’m terrified.”  Another coworker, also a sister in the Lord, must have seen my fear and quickly responded, “They have babies in South Sudan.” She will never know how much her words meant to me.  In the midst of my fear, she gently reminded me that people do go in – and out – of South Sudan, alive.  

Family, friends, and people we had never met vehemently protested.  I don’t blame them, in my heart I did the same.  Why would we take such a fragile young life to a nation filled with so much war and disease, while legit doctors and hospitals are almost non-existent?  And yet, Jesus called us to lay down our lives for the sake of the Gospel.  So what felt like death to me at the time, was really just Jesus calling me deeper into his love.  Deeper into what I myself, had been praying so vigilantly for since I had first fallen in love the Lord in college.  

I prayed that my children would see the power of God in ways that just don’t happen in developed nations. I prayed that God would use me to bring the Gospel to people who had never heard – and who had no one else to tell them.  But just as he always does, God delivered.

As we prepared to go, I prayed that God would provide a doctor in whatever village or town we ended up living in.  So God provided an American, legit doctor for our team.  I prayed that we would be able to Skype with our family, as they were heart-broken about us leaving.  Upon arrival in our village, we discovered that we could Skype!  I prayed that God would protect us from snakes and scorpions every single HOUR for two years.  And although I killed at least 1 scorpion every night for the first 3 months, we never got stung.  Although there was thick spiritual warfare regarding snakes surrounding our house – and my heart – none of them ever harmed us.  

We spent the first 6 months with someone in our family sick ALL THE TIME.  A year later, when the team doctor left South Sudan permanently, I prayed that God would protect us – and especially our 2 yr old – from sickness. And you know what?  He didn’t get sick once, until another doctor came, 5 months later.  Only God could have done this.  The same God who split the Red Sea.  

He’s the same God who has protected my 2nd child from being stung by a scorpion (ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS!) while he was playing with them – including one that ran under his foot!  He’s the same God who heard my cries for another family with young children to come and serve alongside us – they are coming in two months!!.  He’s the same God who has captured my little boy’s heart so that all he can think about is heaven.  The same God who spoke and created the world, did all this.  And he’s my King.  

Let me just make one thing clear – I am no spiritual giant, of any sort.  God has just put us in a place where we have no other choice but to trust him.  And honestly, that’s the best place to be.  

We have now been here in South Sudan for 4 ½ years (including a 1 ½ year furlough).  Am I still terrified?  Sometimes, yes.  When I stop and think about the possibilities, probably.  But the longer we are there, the more testimonies I have of God’s power to protect us, his faithfulness to provide and that he is writing a bigger story with our lives.  A story that only God could write.  

Three years ago, after much frustration about who to pour into, I prayed that God would bring me the person he wanted me to disciple.  Two weeks later a young girl came to my door and asked me to teach her about God.  Basically an orphan, she had no one else to ask.  Her mother was severely mentally ill, her father had abandoned them, and her grandfather was known for casting spells on people who opposed him; he had even tried to kill her mother.  “Many people have died because they opposed him,” we were told.  As it turns out, we were already employing her grandfather’s brother and nephew.  We marvel at the ways God is working, that he has given us such an ‘in’ with this family, and are praying God saves them and breaks down walls in the village through this family.  

So as I think about the King who calmed the storm as his followers were terrified, who raised a little girl to life so her father’s heart would be healed, who drove out demons, walked on water and conquered death, I am reminded that he hasn’t changed and that he loves me.  And I choose to trust him.  Some days more than others, some days not at all.  But he is still faithful.  It’s who he is.  

  Amy and Justin Culp met at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and married in 2011. They have two little, crazy boys. They live in a village in South Sudan where they are learning language, Justin is discipling a local pastor and Amy is building relationships with their workers and is discipling a teenage girl, as well as homeschooling. https://wordpress.com/post/amyculp1999.wordpress.com/48 

[africa4god]

We Have No Idea- But HE Does!

In 2009, things still weren’t completely safe in Northern Uganda. There were certain areas that the organization I worked with would not allow us to go to, and rightfully so. One of those places was a remote village where a couple we knew lived, Lucy and Maurice. They traveled by foot for about five or more miles each way to come to one of our weekly Bible studies. They were both sick with HIV and had just suffered through the horrors of the rebels. They begged us to come visit them and start a fellowship where they lived. But we couldn’t. And it was so hard. They were hungry and their village was lost. We couldn’t, that is, until Maurice was found dead in a field. His HIV had turned to full-blown AIDS, and with that his emotional and mental stability diminished greatly. He killed himself. I was given permission to go with one of the pastors from South Sudan to visit Lucy and pay our respects. 

To make a long story short, half of their community gave their lives to the Lord that day. God did an incredible and miraculous work. (If you want the full story, I share it in my book “For the Joy Set Before Us: Insights into the Missionary Journey” which is available HERE.) 

That Bible study still continues today. God has raised up some wonderful people there. Witch doctors have come forward, burned their satanic tools, and turned around to lead people to Jesus. Young children from back then are now grown and walking with the Lord. The story continues in this village.

 A few weeks ago, Pastor Jimmy met a little boy named Saddam. He is HIV+ and lives with his grandmother. They both come for the weekly fellowship in this same village. Saddam has been very sick. Jimmy found out that Saddam hasn’t gotten his treatment for three months, because the local medical clinic ran out of ARV treatments. Jimmy was able to bring them to Kitgum town and to the hospital there where they still have the medicine. Thankfully, he was able to get his medication. But he is still really sick. We are arranging transport for him to the town each month and whenever necessary so that he can get the medicine that his little body desperately needs. 

When I think about how God works, I am amazed. I saw Maurice’s death as a total loss and tragedy. He left behind a pregnant wife and two young children. It didn’t seem fair. And it wasn’t. But what has happened as a result of that green light to go pay our respects to Lucy has turned into many, MANY people coming to Jesus. I think of little Mercy who was living with her grandmother wasting away and who was brought to Tender Trust. I think of Jeneth who was a witchdoctor and graduated from the WIDL (Women’s Intensive Discipleship and Literacy) program that I taught. I think of her children growing in the love and knowledge of God. I think of Norris, who was a young boy in the local village school who I met during an outreach so many years ago. He is now a remarkable young man who is serving with us in the ministry, teaching men at the prison and leading people to Christ. I think of many more, too many to write about. 

And I am totally humbled by God’s Sovereignty and ability to make beauty out of the ugliest circumstances.

What I couldn’t understand on the day that I heard of Maurice’s death was that God had a big plan and was going to use that tragedy for so much beauty. I couldn’t have possibly known. But He did. He saw the faces of the lost, and He opened doors that no man could shut; doors that are still opened today and still bearing fruit. He is still saving lives in that place. I know that Maurice was a young believer and that his mind was going from his disease. I truly believe He is with the Lord, seeing the fruit of his life and death continuing to produce nourishment. He had such a heart for the people in his village who were so closed to the Gospel. God is honoring that in ways I am sure Maurice never could have imagined. 

Our God is consistent. Which means the troubles of today are going to bear beautiful fruit tomorrow. Whether in our lifetime or not. God is weaving things together that we never in a million years could have anticipated, and I believe we won’t know the half of it this side of Heaven! 

Let’s embrace the truth today that we have no idea.

We don’t know why God allows what He does, we don’t know what’s really going on, what’s going to happen, or what He is doing behind the scenes.

But He, without a doubt, knows. He has great things in store. He has lives to save, sick people to touch, salvation to reign where there was only darkness. 

What an exciting adventure this life is, knowing that reality!!

[africa4god]

Letting Go

But now, O LORD, You are our Father, We are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand. Isaiah 64:8

 Have you ever had trouble letting go?  

Have you been involved in work, ministry, or a certain lifestyle, and you feel like God is calling you to new things?

I think everyone in ministry struggles with this, and most in life in general as well.

I’ve only known Northern Uganda as my home and calling for the past 11 years. That’s a long time.Nearly a third of my life. I spent my 20’s and early 30’s there, fully expecting to eventually be buried there in one of the villages that is close to my heart. 

And that might still be the case.

But this time in the US has lasted longer than I thought, longer than I would have hoped. My heart has ached to get back to Kitgum; and yet, I feel like God is leading me into something new. Not that I am no longer called to be a missionary, not that I am no longer meant to do Kingdom work with the people that I dearly love in a place that is more of a home now than anywhere else in the world. But I feel like there are going to be some shifts ahead. I don’t know exactly what they will be yet, but I feel the change coming on.

To be honest, it frightens me.

I have struggled with asking myself- If I am not a missionary for Africa for God in Kitgum, then who am I? 

But the truth is that I am who I am no matter where I live or what I do. I am a child of God, deeply loved. Fully known.

As Tauren Wells says in his beautiful song: 

“I'm fully known and loved by You You won't let go no matter what I do And it's not one or the other It's hard truth and ridiculous grace To be known fully known and loved by You I'm fully known and loved by You”

(If you haven't heard this song, check it out!! The whole thing is amazing.)

I couldn’t say it better. No matter what I do, I am fully known and loved by the God of the Universe. I feel like during this time, the Lord is trying to get this point across to me. Or maybe, drill it into me. I can’t get away from it. (You know when He’s trying to tell you something, and you’re not necessarily paying the best attention, He keeps at it? It’s one of those moments for me. :) )

 As I stay in touch with the staff on the ground in Kitgum, I hear about the blessings and struggles, and I so want to be right there in the center of it all, side by side with my comrades and getting my hands and knees dirty with the red earth. 

When they ask me “the” question: “When are you coming back exactly?”, and I don’t have a definite answer, I swallow hard to fight the emotions and I hear the questioning and doubt in their silence. 

The truth, the beautiful truth, is that it’s God’s work. I don’t need to be there for Him to move mightily. The wonderful people He has raised up are very competent and fully equipped for the good works He has placed before them. Maybe this is their chance to step up further and realize that they can do all things through Christ who strengthens them. Maybe this is my chance to let go and trust God to do His thing. Maybe this is all just a season of deeper trust and fuller dependence upon a God who never fails. 

No matter what the future holds, I have to let go of my own ideas and trust God to work out His plan. I am willing to do whatever He desires for me to do. As hard as that would be if everything I’ve known there was far away (and I don’t know that it will be), I know that it will be good. I know that my God is good and Has my life in His hands. He has your life in His hands too, as long as you are trusting in Him and submitting to His Lordship. 

We get so caught up in the details sometimes, and the plans we have made, only to have them flipped around. If we are leaning on our own ideas for our lives, we will no doubt fall when those paper-thin walls come crashing down with the slightest breeze of unexpected interruptions.

So this day, and this week, moment by moment, I let go of my ideas and I ask Him to lead me. I encourage you to do the same. The longer we fight to hold onto our own ideas, the longer we will be waiting to take hold of that which He has for us. And what He has is always better. Maybe not easier, but better. And worth it. I don't want to miss that! What about you?

It's time to let go of the wheel and let the Potter mold us.

I would love to know your thoughts, insights and struggles in this area. Please comment below to get this conversation going!

[africa4god]

Getting Sidetracked

"Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, 'Lord, save me!'" Matthew 14:29b-30

 This week my brain has been hard to settle down enough to sit and write.

I’ve struggled with this blog post more than I think I ever have before.

Honestly, I’ve felt homesick. I miss Kitgum. I miss Brian terribly. I miss the people, and our dogs.

And just like Peter, instead of rising above my circumstances, I looked at them and felt myself struggling for air but instead getting bitter water and tumultuous waves. In other words, I focused too much on myself and not on HIM. Thus, my struggle. 

I’ve been busy thinking and doing and wondering and longing, and I have been coming to God each day with the crumbs and leftovers and asking Him to bless them. I have been overindulging myself in worry and trying out my own strategies only to fail and find myself spiritually malnourished. I realized how very hungry I was when I finally sat down today to discipline myself to write something. It’s never a struggle like this.

God fills me and pours into me and speaks to me, and then I am delighted to pour that out to others through this blog and the other platforms He has entrusted to me. Needless to say, I had to repent. Then I had to remember that there’s no condemnation and not get stuck there. Finally, I needed to resolve that through the ups and downs I must always abide in and walk by the Spirit so that I don’t try to take over, make my own plans, and come up empty. So I can take a breath and be in His Presence and worship Him- the very thing that I was created for. 

So if doing this blog ever becomes something that I have to trudge through and not something that I feel called to do, I will stop writing. There will be no point. I hope that doesn’t happen. I hope I can stay focused and filled, even through the trials. But if you notice me drop off the digital map, that will be why. 

I will wrap this up here, so I can go hide away with the Lord for a while. I need to re-fix my eyes and my heart upon Him. In being busy about His business, I need to make being WITH Him my #1 business.That’s a balance that can only be found when I am close to my Daddy. And when I go through struggles, and find it hard because of the circumstances, I don’t have to sugarcoat it or ignore it. I can curl up in HIS lap, tell Him all about it, and ask Him to take charge and do what I cannot. Then I can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that even through the pain, He’s got this, and He’s got me.

I pray that you, too, will make being with Him your main business, amongst all the ups and downs that this life may throw your way. 

PS- I know I said I was finished, but just one more morsel for you to chew on. :) 

Peter had the courage to step out of the boat. I love that. Maybe some of you are courageous but later wonder what on earth you’re doing. If you are walking courageously in God's plan, don't doubt His Presence. Keep looking up. When Peter looked down, he cried out for help and immediately Jesus picked him up. Jesus asked why Peter doubted HIS ability to do the impossible. But Jesus never gave up on Peter and never stopped reaching out for him for the rest of his life. The same is true for you and I today. 

We sometimes get sidetracked, but as soon as we cry out to Him, He is right there to pick us up and bring us safely along on an otherwise impossible journey. 

[africa4god]

Lord, we had Hoped

"but we had hoped that He was the one who was going to redeem Israel." Luke 24:21a

Does anybody else feel like God moves much slower than you’d like? And differently than you could have anticipated?

My husband and I traveled to the US around February of this year. We needed healing and rest. We tried to get Brian here too, but failed. Robb left for about two months to try to get that to happen and came back when it was clear that we were hitting a big wall. 

Things didn’t go according to plans.

We had hoped to be back to Uganda months ago, but apparently we needed more healing than we realized. More rest than we were willing to admit.

The staff in Kitgum are faithfully doing the work of the Lord, but oh how my heart longs to be with them.

And yet, I know God has me here right now. I can see fruit in it. I see glimpses here and there of redemption being woven through trials and joy growing forth where there was just a wasteland. 

“We had hoped”. The disciples echoed out loud what their hearts were weeping over- they thought Jesus would save them from the Romans. They thought there was hope, and now their hopes were shattered. The disciples thought the Messiah was going to swoop in and overthrow the Roman Empire. They were looking at the current sufferings and conditions around them, and they saw the Scripture the way that fit their pain.

Yet, God saw the big picture. A much greater overthrowing- of the kingdom of darkness; A much greater salvation- for the whole world. Not a temporary solution, but an eternal one.

Jesus took His heartbroken, disillusioned disciples through a journey of the Old Testament to prove that the Messiah had to die and that everything that happened proved who He was, not the opposite. He opened their eyes.

 Sometimes I need my eyes opened, too. Far more than I’d like to admit at this stage in my walk with the Lord. I should know better, understand more, and walk with stronger faith. But I don’t always get it. I see what’s right in front of me and I can’t imagine what God is doing, or what the bigger picture will be. 

I am learning that I don’t have to know. After all, it’s His job to rule the universe and make everything in my life turn out for His glory and my ultimate good. It’s my job to submit to His Lordship and trust Him with the rest.

 That seems so simple, but it’s much easier to say (or type) than to do. It’s sometimes a minute by minute reigning in of my thoughts and desires. It’s acknowledging my questions, seeking Him in prayer, but allowing Him to work how He will (and when He will). It’s living in the moment and realizing that I don’t want to focus on the future so much that I miss what He has for me right here, right now. 

The truth is, I could die today. Or Jesus could snatch us away. What will I have to show for TODAY, if I’m only sitting here longing for a tomorrow that may never come? Not much. I would be much better suited to live in what He has for me, right now. To enjoy the blessings, to make the most of every opportunity around me, and to trust Him as my Heavenly Father who is in control.

 No, my timing is not His timing. My thoughts are not His thoughts. Oh, how I long that my heart may become more like His and I will walk forward, even if it means walking to a whipping post, a crown of thorns, and a cross. Why? Because there is always a resurrection. But first I have to die- to my own idea of how He should be doing things, to my longings for Brian and Kitgum and my friends, and even my dogs there. 

 God knows what He is doing. I don’t. I may understand eventually, or I may never fully know this side of Heaven. And that’s okay. I resolve within myself today to walk where He has me, to do what He calls me to do in this moment, and to trust that He has great plans and things in store that I can’t understand right now. That is, after all, the life of a missionary. Whether they are on the field or displaced in Southern California, or maybe they (you perhaps?) are called to be His Ambassadors where they live. It’s all about Him, and it’s all for His glory. The minute it becomes something else, it is a work of the flesh and we are undoubtedly getting in the way of His greater purposes.

So today I challenge myself, and you as well, to trust Him. Wherever you are, whatever you’re going through. Don’t fixate too much on the future or try to wiggle your way out of where He has you at this moment. 

Live in the moment, enjoy the scenery, and make the most of every opportunity. 

Don't lose heart or give up!

HE really does know what He’s doing.

[africa4god]

Being a Missionary Anywhere- by Chloe Quimby

 Back in February, America experienced a tragedy in the form of another school shooting. Since then, we’ve had additional acts of violence to grieve. But on that particular day, as the media once again exploded with politically charged calls to action, I kept thinking about the 19-year-old who had destroyed other young lives and his troubling record.

I kept thinking, Lord, where were all the Christians in the young man’s life? Did no one reach out to him?

And I can’t say that God answered me audibly, but He did lay on my heart, Would you have ministered to a teen with his history in your home? Near your son? Would you have been willing to love someone unlovely or even dangerous?

No, I wouldn’t have; not in my own wisdom and strength. And God forgive me, I remembered that I had recently played the Pharisee and crossed the street when I saw a particular neighbor there. From some previous observations, I had concluded that there were alcohol and/or drug problems in that particular household and I had decided it was best not to have a relationship with her. Because it might be messy, or awkward, or unsafe. My kid might learn words I wish he hadn’t; I might feel uncomfortable talking with someone from such a different background. Yet there’s my neighbor sitting on her porch, not physically bleeding like the Jew in the story, but from my observations clearly in need of Christ’s compassion.

I wanted to start this post with my own brief commentary on the Great Commission. I wanted to lead with all the things I’ve been doing to purposefully reach out to folks in my community. It’s so much tidier to write a list of practical suggestions, but the truth of it is, I’m not good atthis. I’m timid, not just about sharing my faith but about talking to people in general. And I’m one of those people who’s been talking and praying about a heart for missions since I was 13. But God is calling me out on it, calling me to do better.

After participating in a few short term mission trips, I tend to think many of us prefer the “hit and run” gospel sharing tactics. In a lot of ways, they take less courage than developing full blown relationships with people. There are few long term consequences if you manage to offend someone. There’s little danger of anyone calling you out on personal hypocrisy. And youhave no responsibility to the person you evangelize; you have no messy growth-process to contend with.

Please don’t misunderstand me: I am not condemning speaking of Christ in whatever ways you can, whenever you are able, as you are led. How could I? Philip is probably the most famous of the Spirit led “hit and run” evangelists, conveniently showing up just in time to explain Isaiah 53 to the Ethiopian eunuch, baptize him, and instantaneously disappear to another part of the country. (Acts 8) Talk about efficient travel.

But you’ll also notice that the Gospels are full of relationships. In addition to the many brief encounters they record, Jesus also takes two years to teach His disciples. He returns again and again to the home of Mary and Martha and Lazarus. When He meets Zacchaeus in the sycamore tree, He offers to return to the man’s house to have dinner with him. Why? Because that’s how relationships are formed. Paul, too, throughout his mission trips around the Mediterranean takes time to stop and work and live with people in addition to praying and teaching.

How to be a missionary anywhere? Make introducing God to people a priority. That statement contains two prerequisites, which I’d like to briefly unpack by saying this: it’s difficult tointroduce two strangers, particularly when you don’t know either of them yourself.

1) You need to know God. You need to have a personal relationship that is more than a passing fancy or casual acquaintance. You need to be prayed up, to know His Word, and to care about and act on His purposes for your life.

2) You need to know people. This is where my tidy list was going to come in before I trashed my first draft, but it’s really not all that complicated. Purpose to engage in your community and reach out to the people you meet. Take a class, sit on a board, run for a public office, talk to moms at the playground, coach a team, volunteer at the library, work your job – whatever it takes to lovingly live alongside others.

Be part of the place you live, whatever that place is, such that you create opportunities to invest in others. Offer to babysit, have another family/couple over for dinner, engage in God-honoring discussion and debate, go to the movies together, bring a meal over when they need it, discover what you have in common, be a friend. As Christians, we have no business hunkering down in our homes and Churches, eyes and prayers turned solely inward, our ministries primarily meant for us and ours. We must risk a little and reach out. Think of the souls at risk if we don’t.

“For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?”Romans 10:13-14

I haven’t seen that particular neighbor I mentioned about in a while. It’s possible that opportunity came and went; God will reach her by other means and I can only repent for not following the Spirit’s prompting. Or maybe, like Jonah, He’ll give me a second chance at obedience. But regardless, whether sent down the street or across the globe, we’ve all got thefollowing marching orders and encouragement:

“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)

 About The Author

I am Chloe, a Christian housewife/mama/writer. I have a passion for learning - anything and everything - which leads to a fair amount and wide variety of reading. I also enjoy tea, long phone calls (or as long as Little Guy permits), writing/getting snail mail, and my (very slow) journey to becoming a diy'er. God continually blesses me with good friends and more-than- sufficient grace for each day.

I blog at An Audacious Poet (http://anaudaciouspoet.wordpress.com) as a way to share the sweetest parts of my lifelong learning; lessons on God's Word, deep friendships, motherhood, and marriage. Thanks again, Erica, for the opportunity to guest post!

[africa4god]

Religion is Killing People

We Couldn’t Reach God

“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.[c]

 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

Matthew 23:13:15

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit.

Psalm 32:1-2

Please forgive me, but this week’s blog post is a bit of a rant. Honestly, I felt a righteous indignation recently and I have something to get off my chest…

Last week I shared with a group of women about salvation and Jesus. These ladies are lifelong Catholics. They also happen to be inmates in the prison. You see, the normal group of women (those who know their own hopelessness and long to come to the Lord, and those who have surrendered their lives to Him) were all out working in the field. Those few who remained behind were so secure in religion without transformation that they couldn’t and wouldn’t hear the Good News that Jesus came to set them free. My friend Anna and I both explained to them through Scripture that when they die, God is not going to ask what church they attended, if they took part in confirmation or jumped through any other hoops. There is going to be one question from the Living God on that day- What did you do with my Son Jesus? We explained that we weren’t inviting them to join a denomination (or leave their church necessarily) but to join the family of God by receiving forgiveness for their sins and being put back into right relationship with God. Verse after verse we shared. The truth was plainly laid out before them, but at the end they chose to reject Christ. It broke my heart! How can they blindly follow the words of men and not take heed to the Words of the Almighty God? But I realized that it is only the Holy Spirit who can open their eyes, that I have to pray for them but it was pointless to share any further with them that day. We left and I felt grief over their blindness and stubborn hearts. It made me think of the condition of the world today.

Religion is killing people.

If they think that coming to Christ is just about joining a religion, then we have done a disservice with His message. That couldn’t be farther from the truth! Religion has taught people how to stand, sit, perform rituals and participate in ceremonies. It hasn’t taught men that our good works can’t save us, as His Word so clearly states. It hasn’t taught us that there’s a God who loves us so much that He took our place and endured our punishment until the wrath of God was satisfied. It makes us believe somehow that we can do enough to earn the favor of God; that somehow the stench of our sins will not reach His nostrils and that somehow God must be less than completely Holy to allow us to get in based on the good outweighing the bad. And according to whom, does the good indeed outweigh the bad? And who are we to make God into what we want, to suit our preferences and to allow us to continue in our despicable sins?

There are many different religions deceiving people; but only One true God who desires fellowship with us, who loves us, and who died for us. There’s only one way to Heaven, and it’s not by doing A, B, and C (in that order), hopping on one foot, bowing on the ground certain times of the day, facing a wall, holding beads or becoming friends with cockroaches. It’s by faith in Jesus Christ, repentance of our sins, coming to Him knowing that we have nothing good to offer but believing that He will accept us based on the Good and Complete work of Christ on the Cross. It’s grace through faith in Jesus, all because He loves us enough to make a way back into His Presence. It cost Him everything. Why would He pay that price if we could get back to Him any other way?

We couldn’t reach God, so God reached us.

For us believers, we must be sure to present the Gospel to people accurately and precisely. We must not add our own words, traditions or customs to the Truth of His Word. This world is our mission field, and multitudes are lost and hopeless without Him, trying to perform and wishing for the best.

These supposed people of God (though which “god” is unclear) who have taught bondage to the masses will stand before the Living God and be held accountable for all of that. Let that not be us! Let us have a burning fire within us that people may know Him, be forgiven and experience the freedom that is only found in the mercy and grace of God. Nothing needs to be added to that, and certainly nothing taken away.  

For us who have experienced that amazing grace, we are blessed indeed! Let us not keep the blessing to ourselves, but freely share what has been freely given to us.

 Religion is Killing People

Keeping them from knowing the Truth

Blinding their hearts and minds

Giving them no reproof

 Happily going to Hell

As they dance, they sing, they kneel

They’re pros at customs and traditions

Walking wounded as God stands by to Heal

 Always reaching but never grasping

Always running but getting nowhere

Deceiving and being deceived

Their works leave them grasping only air

 Religion is killing people

While God longs to set them free

To open their hearts, forgive their sins

Show them who they were created to be.

 I would love your thoughts and stories in the comments below! Let’s get this conversation going.

[africa4god]

Transform Your Pain

“But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” Genesis 50:20

 Do you like pain? (I hope your answer to that is no!) 

None of us really want pain in our lives. 

We don’t pray and ask God for more trials and suffering and sickness. But inevitably, these things come into our lives. How could they not when we live in such a broken world?

 My heart has been crushed this past week hearing of two more celebrities who were consumed by their pain. They had the money, the prestige, recognition. The world at their fingertips. And it wasn’t enough. Because those things cannot satisfy a longing soul and a broken spirit. That’s not even mentioning all of the veterans who fought for this country and survive their overseas tours to come home and take their own lives. The rates of suicides all across America and many other nations are on the rise. It is staggering.

I hear often in the Christian community about how God wants to use our gifts. This is so true. He has uniquely gifted YOU for a purpose that no one else in this world can fulfill. You are one of a kind, and meant to use what He has given you for great things. 

But today, I would like to talk about how God wants to use our pain. He isn’t a sadist who purposely puts us into painful situations. The condition of this world, the decay and violence and sickness, break His heart. (Whatever touches His Beloved children touches the apple of His eye.- see Zechariah 2:8) 

But God desires for us to transform our pain. That is, to walk through it and find victory. Not only victory, but to be better than we were before. To minister to others through the pain that we have gone through. 

I am not exactly thankful for being a victim of a home invasion early this year. But I am thankful for how God is using that pain to transform me and giving me more of a heart to see others healed from their pain.  

I came across a quote this week that says: 

“If you do not transform your pain, you will surely transmit it.” (Richard Rohr)

 Are we walking wounded? Are we allowing our pain to define and consume us?

Or are we walking through it, though it hurts to face, and allowing God to meet us and walk with us through it? To bring us out stronger, with a freedom that we never would have experienced?

Now is not the time for the Church to walk around as a bunch of victims.More than ever, our calling is very clear. We need to wake up and transform our pain so that we can minister to this broken world. So that we can show love and grace to someone who doesn’t know Jesus, someone who could be on the brink of suicide; someone who will experience a Christ-less eternity if they don’t turn to Him. 

Time is of the essence!! 

Let us live as victors, not victims.

God has great plans to use not only your gifts, but also your pain. 

Will you let Him?

[africa4god]

Spiritual Health Check-Up Pt 2

"And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers." Acts 2:42

Are you feeling healthy today?

Last Week, we started our spiritual health check-up. If you didn’t get the chance to check it out, I encourage you to do so. You can look at it HERE. 

There are three more points to summarize our brief inquiry. However, there are many more things to say about this topic. 

I would LOVE it if you could just leave a sentence or two in the comments section below sharing one way that you stay spiritually healthy. That way we can all learn from each other!! 

Here are the three remaining points:

 1)        How often are you involved in fellowship? I am a missionary currently displaced from the field that God has called me to. Do you know how much I crave fellowship with other missionaries? Just getting a fb message from a friend back in Uganda ignites my heart and encourages me. I met a couple at church a few weeks ago who are missionaries in Brazil. It didn’t matter that they were called to a different part of the world. They understand it, they get me! I practically ran to introduce myself and wished I had more time to fellowship with them. In the same way, all of us need to be with like-minded believers. We are surrounded by a world of people who don’t get us! We need the encouragement, and sometimes we need the rebuke and exhortation. And there’s something about corporate worship that cannot be compared to anything this side of Heaven. 

 2)        How often do you share your faith? I love the quote from St. Francis of Assisi that reads: “Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary use words.” Our lives should share our faith. Our love should impact those around us. Our concern for the lost and broken, the hurting and the hungry, the sick and the marginalized of our world should shout to those around us that they are loved. And when they ask us, our tongues should boldly share that it’s the love of Jesus flowing through us. It is His Spirit that reaches out to the hurting, His heart that breaks for the broken, His salvation that can rescue those who are so far gone. 

 3)        How often do you examine yourself? It’s smart to get a yearly check-up at the doctor, to have your teeth cleaned by the dentist every six months, to check any health conditions with specialists as needed, and get whatever blood work is recommended. If you are on a diet or trying to lose weight, you will typically check your weight about once a week or so to monitor your progress. So, why wouldn’t we apply that same logic to our spiritual lives? God tells us to examine ourselves. We should get a check up, and regularly. Look over this list. Check in and see if there are any sins that you are holding onto. Any attitudes that are not God-honoring. Any bitterness in your heart. Any ways that you may be causing someone else to stumble. Check yourself, and allow the Holy Spirit to point out the things that need to go. Then, be courageous and surrender them to Him! We can do all things through His strength!

I would like to leave you with this encouragement that the Apostle Paul gave to Timothy, a young man he discipled and raised up to be a pastor and minister. It is good advice for each one of us! 

"Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourselfand to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you." 1 Timothy 4:13-16

[africa4god]

Spiritual Health Check-up Part 1

Spiritual Health Check-Up Part 1

“He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.” Psalm 1:3

“But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.” 1 Timothy 4:7-8

Last week we looked at a few physical health tips. If you missed it, check it out HERE. I’m excited for the things I’ve been learning! As I mentioned, I will be including a weekly health tip in my email newsletters. If you are on the list, you will have seen the first one already.

As I’ve shared several times, through this difficult trial that my family and I are going through- God is allowing me to heal emotionally, physically, and MOST importantly, spiritually. If we have the physical health, the emotional health, if we are on top of the world doing our thing BUT neglect the MOST IMPORTANT spiritual health-

Then we are a failure.

As Jesus puts it in Matthew 16:26- “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?”

Really. It’s okay to be health conscious. As long as we are first and foremost Jesus conscious!  

The healthiest person in the world could get into a freak accident and die today. Where will they spend eternity?

If we are so busy about the world’s business that we neglect the Lord’s business, we are wasting our breath. We are, in fact, wasting our life.

God has a purpose for each one of us. That purpose can only be fulfilled as we grow closer to Him, and STAY close to Him. Through the storms, through the joys, through it all. He is the giver and sustainer of life itself. We aren’t promised one more breath. (If you just took one, thank Him for another opportunity. I just did!)

This blog post isn’t intended to give anyone a guilt trip. Rather, it is intended to sound an alarm that we will all hopefully wake up and see that time is short. Yes, we should take care of the Temples that He has entrusted to us. We will give an account for that. Yes, we should make sure our minds and emotions are operating at the optimal level as well. But let’s not neglect our great salvation!!

I have come up with a quick check-up list to look over. It’s not rocket science, it’s simple Biblical living basics. But maybe you, like me, needed a reminder. There’s too much for one post, so I will share half today and the other half next week (if the Lord tarries.)

 1)         How often do you talk to the Lord? If you are in a relationship, surely you must talk. How much? And how much do you sit back to listen to His voice? He speaks. He speaks through His Word, through other believers, through visions, and in other ways. When we stop and say: “Speak, Lord, Your servant is listening” and we actually take the time to listen, we will be amazed! He really does speak to His children. It is all about relationship. Being with the lover of Your Soul.

2)         How often do you read the Word? Do you have a set time and place carved out? I know some people like to read from cover to cover, others take a book at a time, others hop around. The important thing is, we need to know the Bible. It is God’s roadmap for our lives, it is our spiritual food and sustenance, it is the answer to our questions. It is the very heart of God poured out before us, warning us, directing us, encouraging us and loving on us! I encourage you to carve out time every day. Just as you take time every day to eat, take time every day to get that spiritual nourishment as well. Otherwise you will be malnourished and ill-equipped to face the struggles and challenges before you.

3)         How often do you STUDY the Word? This is deeper than reading the Word, but this is more of an in-depth approach to dig in, understand the original language, explore context, and be familiar with the whole counsel of the Word of God. (See 2 Timothy 2:15). We need to know what we believe so that we can stand against the lies of this world and give an answer to those who ask us why we follow Jesus. We also study to gain a deeper appreciation for what God is speaking into our lives. It produces growth, strength, and a greater love for this amazing God of the Universe who has left us such delicious meat to satisfy our souls! This is like not only eating, but eating WELL. So make sure to take time to feast on the Word through studying.

The rest of the list will be included in next week’s blog post.

Chew on these for now, and please let me know your thoughts and insights in the comments below!

[africa4god]

Health Tips (from an unlikely source)

 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 Timothy 4:8

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Do you consider yourself physically healthy?

In the general culture of our day, health is a big deal. But in the culture where I’ve lived for so long, it has been more about survival and eating what I can get. 

I have not been a picture of health.

I have been overweight for most, if not all, of my adult life. Living in Uganda for more than a decade has scored me Malaria, Typhoid, Brucellosis, Subcutaneous Leishmaniasis, and Bilharzia (not to mention the other wonderful amoebas and things). If you have no idea what some of these diseases are, count yourself blessed! Suffice it to say, they’re not fun and they’re not easy on one’s system. 

I have developed food allergies since being on the field as a result of a very limited diet without access to all of the nutrients my body needed. I had half of my thyroid removed and developed Hashimotos (which is the most common auto-immune disease in the US, and I’m sure many of you are familiar with it). 

I haven’t been able to lose weight, even when deathly ill, until the past two months. So I’m not coming at this topic lightly or from the standpoint of someone who is a size 0, lives at the gym, and eats tree bark. (No offense to those I love who may fit into one of those categories! If that’s you, I applaud you!)

But no, that’s not me.

Genetics are against me. 

Obesity runs on both sides of my family. 

My own palette is against me (naturally, I’m a carb-o-holic). 

My thyroid and immune system are against me. 

And it seems Uganda and all of the tropical diseases I’ve been able to acquire (some resume’, I know) are against me as well. 

The main problem for all of us is, we live in a fallen world full of pollutants, things that are contaminated and chemicals that we were reared on. We have so many bad and cheap options at our fingertips (at least in the US!), which are actually quite costly in the long run. 

Something I’m learning that I’ve mentioned in my blogs about taking our thoughts captive (you can check out the beginning of that series HERE)- is that we are not victims. We can make the choice to be as healthy as possible. 

We all have choices.

Just because I have a bigger mountain to climb than someone else does not mean I am doomed to be unhealthy. (Maybe you can relate to that as well.)

I honestly thought it did, but I was wrong.

It turns out, God is helping me during this time of healing to even heal physically and get into better shape! I’m so thankful. I love how God is a big picture kinda Guy, how He sees everything and wants us to be whole. 

The world is corrupted by sin and is decaying before our eyes. Greed, corruption, ease of access and addiction make it so easyto be unhealthy. 

But it’s still no excuse. 

So if you feel like you can’t achieve a dream or a goal that God has put on your heart, maybe you should rethink that. God desires for us to have an abundant life. I know that means to bear the fruit of the Spirit, to walk in His fullness and to fulfill His plans for our lives (because that is the only way to have abundant life). Surely, though, we can do that much more easily when we feel better, lose the extra weight, and let go of some of the unnecessary stress. We can’t control every physical ailment in our lives, but we can do our best with what we are given, and honor God even under the most difficult circumstances.

God has blessed me in many ways during this time of trial that I'm going through. I have learned of a company called Plexus that has great supplements and products to help many ailments. God has used these products to help me lose weight, when I haven’t been able to, at one of the most stressful times of my life. Not just that, but I have more energy and feel better than I have since before moving to Uganda. That is His doing!(If you want more information about Plexus, feel free to email me about it at: [email protected].) The purpose of this blog post is not to promote a product, but rather a lifestyle of health. 

I am taking vitamins, eating as much organic and green food as possible, going for walks, and even hula hooping! (Yeah I know, you can laugh.. but that’s the closest I come to being good at a “sport”-type activity.) Most importantly, I am asking God daily to make me healthy in every way and taking steps to let go of the unhealthy habits that I have turned to for too long.

I want to encourage those of you who may feel overwhelmedor hopelessover your own struggles with health, weight, energy, aches and pains or whatever; that there is hope. 

I am one of the least likely people to be healthy with all of the diseases I’ve battled and all of the consequences of living where I have, and having thyroid issues on top of that. But God is bigger. And He has opened doors for me which I am so thankful for. I can’t wait to see what else He has in store! For me, it's not about being skinny, which I am not and I never honestly want to be. It's about being healthy, and having the energy that I need to be a Jesus follower, wife, mother, missionary, and all that He has for me. He desires the same for you.

Starting next week, I will be including a weekly health tip in my email newsletter. If you are not subscribed, I would encourage you to subscribe so that as I learn, hopefully we can learn a few things together. You can do that HERE. And please, those of you who know far more than me, do share some tips with us in the comments below! 

(Next week, I want us to look at the most important aspect of our health- the spiritual side. Because without that, nothing else matters. And if that is secure, then we have everything for an abundant eternal life!)

[africa4god]

Dealing with the Difficult in Us

“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.” 2 Corinthians 13:5

Okay, so this may be a challenging (difficult, even? ;) ) pill to swallow..

But..

Here it is. Brutal honesty.

I can be difficult. You can be difficult. We may be the difficult person in someone else’s life. I am willing to guarantee that there is at least one person in this world who doesn’t like you.

Ouch!

It hurts, doesn’t it? But sadly, we are just as human as the next person. This is an uncomfortable, but nonetheless legitimate, reality.

To think that we are always the right ones, the good ones, the reasonable ones, would be nonsense (not to mention blasphemous).

So let’s look for a moment honestly at the fact that we can be difficult. When the Lord said “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), He was talking about us. We mess up, we fall short.

And there are also times when we can be misunderstood, or our personality could rub someone else the wrong way.

God tells us to examine ourselves (2 Corinthians 13:5). We should be checking out:

-               our words (and the way we say them)

-               our actions

-               our attitudes

-               even our facial expressions

-               and finally our motivations.

I have a few friends who love me enough to be totally honest with me, and whom I love and trust enough to receive from. They tell me when they think I’m being off base, if they think I’m doing something sinfully, or when I’ve offended them. It hurts when they rebuke me or say things about me that aren’t glowing, but it’s a good hurt. It means there’s a blind spot in my life, and they are kind enough to point it out to me.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Proverbs 27:6

If we are willing to let God deal with the difficult in us, we have to humble ourself to receive rebuke at times, to be called out on our junk, and to go to the Lord in prayer with an open heart to see if what was said is true. If it is, then we need to be willing to allow God to change us and to take steps toward that.

This is a tough challenge, because these attributes don’t come naturally. Naturally, we want to stand up and defend ourselves, and prove ourselves to be the right ones, the good ones.

 But that is not Christlike. And if our goal is to be like Him, then we need to humble ourselves and receive correction when necessary. That is the supernatural working itself out in our lives through a beautiful process of sanctification. We sometimes first have to go through mortification, lots of pain and discomfort and brokenness, to reach that place. We are still sinners and will be until the day we die, so it is not a quest to be made totally perfect today, but rather a journey with the Lord to become more and more like Him and to trust that He will complete the work He has began in us.

If you are willing to face the mirror and really admit that what you see there that isn’t all exactly perfect, you are on the right track. And God’s heart is blessed by your willingness. He is pleased with you and loves you just the way you are.

But He, the Master Potter, sees you as the completed, beautiful masterpiece that you can and will be as you allow Him to work out the rough spots in your life. Will we each let Him? I hope so!

I pray that I will be willing and humble to receive any discipline and correction that He may want to use to beautify my life. And I pray the same for each one of you.

[africa4god]

Dealing with Difficult People

 “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8

Do you ever have anyone who just rubs you the wrong way? You know who I’m talking about. That person at church who you feel is undermining you, someone in your family who wants to run your life for you? Or perhaps a ministry partner that doesn’t see things eye to eye with you, or someone who demands all of your energy and attention?

Of course you do, because you’re human. We all have people who are difficult for us to interact with and relate to. They get on our nerves and sometimes we can feel infuriated by interactions with them. This often leads us to try to avoid them at all costs, constantly try to fix them, or confront them, depending on our personality. In my flesh, I’m mostly an avoider. I would just rather not deal with them or speak my mind to them in order to avoid conflict all together. But that doesn’t actually solve anything. In fact, it just increases my anxiety and depletes energy that could be much better spent. 

So today I would like to look at some ways that are healthy in dealing with these difficult people, and contrast them with what is not healthy. Hopefully we can all find greater development and progression in the Lord and in our human relationships.

I have been a missionary for over a decade now. When I was first starting out on my journey to Northern Uganda, I heard an alarming statistic. It said that the number one reason missionaries leave the field is because of conflict with other missionaries. Not because of cultural issues, not because they miss the luxury they left behind, but because of others who have followed God’s call on their lives and live and work amongst them. There has been some debate as to whether the information gathering was complete when they (whoever they are, I’m not quite sure) came up with this information. Nonetheless, it’s safe to say that many times missionaries leave due to frustrations with others. How sad this was for me when I first heard it, and how terribly sad it is today as I have seen it fleshed out on the mission field again and again. Divisions, split ups, irreconcilable differences. Some people run from the field, others just go their own way. Some of this is natural, of course, as not everyone is supposed to work together or has the same calling and objectives. But it should not be the way it is now. It must deeply grieve the heart of God to watch His Body torn apart down here, holding up petty little offenses against each other when He already died for each one of them, including ours. (Next week we will look at dealing with the difficulties within us personally.) 

The Bible tells us that love covers a multitude of sins. Jesus literally did this for us, clothing us in His Righteousness and washing us in His shed blood. This verse doesn’t mean "cover" like we excuse sin, lie about it, or pretend it’s not there. Because that’s not love. The term is used repeatedly in the Bible to talk of forgiveness. God covers our sins= He forgives them. We are called (actually, commanded) to forgive the sins of others as well. 

That being said, It is not love to tolerate or stay in a situation where there is any kind of abuse. You are priceless to God. He doesn’t want His most precious creation trampled in the mud. So if the difficult person in your life is being abusive, this verse doesn’t mean that you sit there and take it. You don’t. You stand up for God’s creation (you) just as you would for someone else. 

But there are times when doctrinal differences, differing styles of doing ministry or life, or just personalities that don’t meld well can get in the way of our peace and our effectiveness as children of God. I don't want that, and I'm willing to bet that you don't either! 

Below is a list of some Do’s and Don’t’s that have helped me as I have started to put them into practice in different areas of my life. I hope they help you as well, as you deal with those who rub you wrong.

DO:

1)        Stand up for what’s right, in love

If the difficult person is behaving sinfully, then God’s heart is to restore them unto Himself and get them on the right track. This will probably require you confronting them in love. The best way to do this initially is one on one, but only if it is safe and appropriate. It may require that you seek counsel from your pastor, a missions leader, or someone who is discipling you in the Lord to help step into the situation. 

2)        Set good boundaries

If the difficult person is requiring too much from you, and you feel overwhelmed, take a few steps back. Let them know your boundaries (for example- I can sit on the phone with you for only one hour a week. I have family responsibilities, a job, etc..) Be clear, respectful, and firm. Make sure to follow through on your boundaries. The person may get offended and want nothing to do with you. That’s okay, because it’s not your responsibility. They may try to push the boundaries, but stand firm. Be loving and available to the extent that you are able (both physically and emotionally), but set good boundaries and keep them.

3)        Pray- for them and for your heart

The person may be difficult because they are going through something. Or they may have a blind spot (or several) that they haven’t yet been able to face. Pray for them, and pray that you will have God’s heart of love for them. This is really the most important thing that we can do in dealing with difficult people.

4)        Accept the differences

Recognize that we are all different. They may seem difficult to you, but it might just be personality, style or something innocuous. So recognize that you’re two different people, and appreciate the differences that both of you are able to bring.

5)        Part Ways when Appropriate

Not everyone is meant to work together, hang out all the time, and so forth. So it may be appropriate in your situation to put more space between yourself and the difficult person, or to cut off the relationship completely. This should be a last resort, except as noted earlier- when there is abuse going on.

DON'T:

1)        Bury your head in the sand and ignore sin 

This is not loving. God’s glory is at stake. This person’s spiritual health and potentially many others who are in their circle of influence is on the line. 

2)        Gossip

This should go without saying, but sadly in Christian circles there seems to be just as much of a problem with this as there is in the world. We justify it, of course, and even make it seem spiritual. Do not bring up in a prayer meeting that this person needs prayer because of “a”, “b”, and “c”. Don’t talk behind their back. Vent to God, journal, and share perhaps with one close friend or counselor who will keep things confidential and hold you up in prayer for how you respond to this difficult person.

3)        Be rude to them or try to get even

Don’t invite everyone from church or your fellowship group to an event except for them. Don’t speak unkindly to them. Just show God’s love, with the boundaries that you have set in place.

4)       Judge them 

You may not know the things they have battled or are in the middle of wrestling through. We all have a story. We have all gone through painful circumstances in our lives. You can’t fully understand them. Thankfully, God can. And God is their judge (and yours). He will sort it all out. It’s not your job to be their Holy Spirit or jump to conclusions or judgments. The exception would be if they are doing harm to others and have not confessed or changed. Then, what is being done must be exposed and stopped, for the sake of those being hurt. But even then, this should be done according to Jesus’ instructions to us outlined in Matthew 18:15-17.

 No doubt, there are many more things to do and not do. Hopefully this list has helped to get you thinking and meditating on what the Lord would have you do in your situation.

If you have any more to add to these lists, please share them with the rest of us in the comments below, and let us know your thoughts! 

[africa4god]

What is True Success?

“For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

What, really, is success? This is a thought I have been pondering this week.

I am so thankful for this blog. It’s a place where I can share things that God puts on my heart related to ministry, the mission field, the Christian walk, family, and other life topics. 

When I first started setting up my website, writing books and establishing this blog, I was told by people in the industry that a successful blog has at least 5,000 followers. I thought: Wow. I don’t think I even think I know 5,000 people who are literate. I know many people living in villages who would never have the ability to read a blog, or even know what it is. But I thought- I will write anyway. Even if only a few people subscribe to this blog, then those are the ones who God wants me to reach. It may not make me a “success” according to industry standards. In fact, according to the writing world I am nothing more than a grain of sand covered by an ocean of others. I am not, in the eyes of the world, successful as a writer. 

But it really doesn’t matter what the world thinks. 

What matters is what Jesus says. Period.

Jesus defines true success for us. What was His platform? Though he often shared with the multitudes and spoke with power and authority, though He was well known as He walked this earth (who could ignore this miracle making forgiver of sins who spoke with such authority?), He only had a few close followers. In the end, most of them deserted Him. Was He unsuccessful in His ministry? Not even remotely! Exactly the opposite. The ramifications and consequences of His humble life and sacrificial death will live on for all of eternity. He changed absolutely everything, even for this little blip of a person here. 

What is your platform?

Whatever you do, I’m willing to venture a guess that at times it feels like you aren’t making enough of an impact, that you aren’t really successful. You might feel that if you had ____ and _____ , that would be your true measure of success. Whether you are working in full time ministry or doing your work unto the Lord, you are called by God and on a mission. And sometimes it might seem like you’re a failure. Sometimes others might even dare say that you are. I want to assure you, as long as you are walking in what God has put before you, they are wrong. 

I wonder what Billy Graham’s parents thought of their lives. Living on an obscure farm, not the picture of success or prestige in the least. Little did they know that in their little sphere of influence, God would raise up one of the greatest evangelists of our times. 

Maybe your realm of influence is small.. but so what? Isn’t one life worth giving it all for?

Jesus thought so. 

And true success is not about quantity, but quality. It is about doing what we are called to do, and doing it well. Jeremiah the prophet had little or no converts in all of his years of walking in exactly what God told him to do. Was he a failure? Not at all. He did precisely what God asked him to do. And the words he penned under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit still comfort, correct and encourage us today… Thousands of years later! 

I submit to you that true success is simply obedience to the Lord. Let Him handle the outcome. I may never have a large following, but if God can use the words in this blog to influence one person in their faith, who will influence one more, and so on, then that is success! 

You may never be a success in the eyes of the world, but that is okay!

Please don’t feel that what you do or who you are is insignificant. 

Please don’t buy into the lies of our times that say we have to have viral YouTube videos, make the New York Times bestsellers list, build huge churches, or have a missionary impact on tens of thousands of people. 

Another thing to consider is that we are here on earth to learn to love God, to glorify Him with these lives He has entrusted to us, and to lead others to this amazing grace and love that we have experienced. If we desire to be successful according to this world’s standards, we can be dangerously close to getting in the way of God’s glory. That would be a failure of what God has designed us for. I’m not saying that it’s wrong to have thousands or even millions of followers- as long as you are pointing them to the only One who deserves the honor and glory. 

In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul says: “Imitate me as I imitate Christ.” It’s really that simple. Your life is not insignificant. You have at least one person that you can set a loving example for. So do it, and do it well. 

I want to be able to rest this evening knowing that I have walked in what God has set before me today. I will try not to focus on tomorrow or on those around me who think success should look differently. I choose to abide in Jesus and let Him live and love through me. At the end of the day, I will have peace and joy, because I am not trying to create things in my own strength, but relying on Him and pouring Him out wherever I go. (And I’m certain I will get my wires crossed at times and mess things up.. but I will thank the Lord for His amazing grace, dust myself off, and get back on the path to true success.)

I pray that you will do the same.

Honor God with whatever platform He has given to you. 

Point people to Jesus. 

And your life will truly be a success.

[africa4god]

Toxic Thoughts Lead to Toxic Health

“Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.” Proverbs 16:3

We have been discussing toxic thoughts. You can check out the first part HERE, and the second part HERE. 

This week we are going to wrap up our conversation, and I would like to give you (and myself) a little kick in the pants as to the URGENCY of taking our toxic thoughts captive as soon as possible. Ready?

Let me tell you, according to everything I’m reading and what I’m feeling in my heart of hearts, there is such an urgency to capture these bad thoughts. Science shows that when we dwell on the negative, or things that are not honoring to God, the results are clearly seen in our bodies, our attitudes, and our actions. That means that the way we think today can have an impact on our spiritual, physical and mental health! I am not saying that every disease is because of bad thinking. There are chemicals, contaminants, genetic mutations and hosts of other factors. What I am saying is that, according to the experts, there are many health issues that could be less severe or even completely prevented in our lives if we take our thoughts captive. These can include cancers, ulcers, heart disease, memory loss, Alzheimer’s, mental illnesses (many of which can be linked directly back to unforgiveness and roots of bitterness), and the list goes on and on.

Again, if you are suffering from a physical or mental illness, it does not mean that you have given yourself over to toxic thinking. But it might. And it will help you to meditate upon the Lord through that illness. It could cure you completely, alleviate some symptoms, and at the very least (which is actually far more important) it will give you joy as you go through suffering, knowing that this is not the end of your story. This is always helpful, whether we are sick or well. 

In his book “Christian Psychology”, Oswald Chambers says this: “The Bible reveals that every part of man’s physical life is closely connected with sin or with salvation, and that anything that sin has put wrong, Jesus Christ can put right… The organs of the body are used as indicators of the state of the spiritual life... The internal part of a man’s being is affected by his spiritual relationships. If his spiritual connections are not right with God, his bodily condition will, sooner or later, manifest the disorganization.”  

What this science also means is that you are not a victim of your biology. Your family life may have been messed up, but that does not mean that you have to go down that same path. You are more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ. That is signed, sealed and delivered by His Blood which was shed on the Cross. But it takes you receiving that, it takes you making choices to create new patterns of godly thinking which result in healthy, godly living. It’s that simple. (Not easy, but simple.)

And remember, God doesn’t ask us to do anything that He won’t enable us to accomplish through the power of His Holy Spirit.

This is just the tip of the iceberg as far as science proving that toxic thoughts lead to negative impacts on our lives. There are people with letters behind their names who have written libraries filled with books on this topic. And one thing that is really cool is that science is starting to catch up with the Bible. Years before we could do brain scans and understand the complexities of our minds and thoughts upon our lives and those around us (not that we even fully grasp it now, not even close), God told us in Proverbs 23:7 that we are what we think. We become it. That means it’s our choice. Dwell on godly thoughts, and change your life. That means that the Bible is smarter than the scientists. I have been doing a lot of reading on this topic, and I plan to continue to do so; but the final authority that has PROVEN itself over and over again throughout history, is the Living and Infallible Word of God (the Bible).

So, in light of what we have discussed the past three weeks, and to reiterate a few of the practical steps that you can follow:

-    Recognize your negative or toxic thought patterns. Ask for God’s help to identify ones that you may be so accustomed to that you can’t even recognize them.

-    Take those thoughts captive as soon as you become aware of them. Don’t dwell on them.

-    Replace ungodly, negative or toxic thoughts with truths from the Word of God and what you know to be true by His working in your life. 

-    Repeat over and over and you will notice good, healthy patterns forming. You will most likely  notice a difference in your physical life (more energy, stronger immunity, less chronic symptoms, etc). For sure, you will be different spiritually and emotionally. 

Proverbs 16:3 says:  “Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.” Want your thoughts established? Want a healthy thought life, and life in general? 

Of course you do! And so do I. So let’s do this thing!

Let us take those toxic thoughts captive and allow the Lord to change and transform who we are!

Dwell on that for a bit, and leave a comment below to let me know what you think! :)