I can't believe I went through all of 2013 without a single blog entry. It was a crazy year with a lot of transition but one that God blessed beyond measure. He clearly reveals so much wisdom to me through the power of the Holy Spirit but I confess that I keep most of it to myself because I don't want to put my thoughts "out there" and possibly offend someone. However, through conversations with other believers, I realize the benefit in being transparent and trust the prodding at my heart is from God. So I took the time to put into words which I know so many of us struggle with in Christian living.
At the heart of the issue is the ways in which we, as Christians, create boundaries for others in an attempt to keep sin at bay but in doing so, we may be stifling the potential for Holy Spirit to convict and move and lead as He sees fit. In particular I see this evident when it comes to the sensitive topic of Christians who drink . . . yes alcohol (hold your gasp). This is a subject that I have prayed about, researched, and consulted with people seasoned in their walk with the Lord and I wanted to share what I've learned. Before I go any further, I am not talking about getting drunk. It clearly states that being drunk is wrong (Ephesians 5:18 "do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit"). I am talking about an occasional glass of wine with friends or a beer with dinner which I believe we cannot approach with a "one size fits all" mentality.
The easiest way to break it down is to respond to the arguments I have heard used to support why Christians shouldn't drink alcohol. One of the most common things I hear is that "you don't know what someone struggles with and you wouldn't want to cause a brother to sin." The verse often quoted is Matthew 18:8 "whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea." I agree that consciously leading someone to sin is absolutely wrong and encouraging any kind of sinful behavior is an offense against God. However to interpret this verse to mean we have to avoid something due to the POSSIBILITY that someone MIGHT sin, we are walking into very restrictive territory. If this is our logic than we must also avoid inviting someone to a buffet or offering someone seconds at a meal because that person MIGHT struggle with gluttony. It would mean not wearing anything that reveals skin between the ankle and the neck at the POSSIBILITY that someone struggles with lust. Oh and don't talk about your recent purchases or shopping trips at the risk of tempting someone into greed or jealousy. Do you see where I'm going? There is no end to this way of thinking. I will say that if you know someone struggles with a certain area of temptation or their painful past is revealed, then it is your responsibility to respond out of respect and love accordingly to the issue they share. But this is not isolated to alcohol but any area including sex, food, idolatry, etc and that is when we rely on the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to give us discernment to handle these situations.
Another common point made is that "drinking can damage your witness." There may be some truth to this, especially in the context of church leadership. I do feel that there are those that God calls to be set a part and this could include the area of consuming alcohol. But we must be careful to establish policies and platforms that seem to encourage a superficial change for the sake of "what others think." This is the very thing that Jesus told the proud to avoid, "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment" (John 7:24).
I was recently reminded of the story in Matthew 15 when the scribes and Pharisees tried to call out the disciples of Jesus for not washing their hands before eating. There was a tradition passed down from first-century Jews by their elders to wash their hands in a very specific manner before, during and after eating. However this ritual was not a part of Old Testament law. Jesus responds to the scribes and Pharisees by pointing out the ways they put tradition over Scripture and in verse 11 Jesus says "Hear and understand: Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man." Christ came to free us from the law by the power of the Holy Spirit to convict and lead where He pleases. But yet we continue to live in fear of what others think which in turn paralyzes our walk with the Lord.
I just heard a statistic this past Sunday that after four years of becoming a Christian, the majority of Christians do not have friends outside of church. Does this surprise anyone? It doesn't surprise me because most Christians are too afraid of what their Christian friends think to associate with non-Christians. What would people think if they saw a pastor coming out of a bar? Well I don't know what other people would think but I would think "there's someone who knows how to reach the lost." Not in a state of drunkenness or sin, but confident in their faith and walking in the fruit of the Spirit to exercise self-control. I've also heard that Christians avoid situations where alcohol may be present because of the risk of it being posted on social media and the judgements that may follow. For me, that is a risk I'm willing to take and if judgements are passed about me based on assumptions then they will be passed regardless of the subject. It could be on what I was wearing or who I was with or the expression on my face and if I buy into that fear, then I wouldn't go anywhere.
I absolutely believe that God calls some of us to live a life free of alcohol for the sake of His bigger purpose, the same way he calls some people to homeschool or to adopt or to have a large family or to the mission field. These are all personal convictions between the individual and the Lord and not meant to be blanket directions for all Christians. We can encourage others who might feel the same way or reveal the ways in which God directed us down a certain path but there should be no condemnation for those who don't make the same choice. I know that there have been times when I have shared a glass of wine with friends that lead to great conversation and an open dialogue about faith and eternal issues. I can think of several examples of when having a beer with friends ended with some eye-opening theological discussions. I recently heard of a chaplain sharing cigars with men who sought his counsel in an effort to foster relationships. It was his ability to step down into their world for a moment with the love of Jesus that those men shared their heart and felt a genuine connection. People might call it "compromising" or "being of the world" but I see it as great confidence in the face of temptation or ridicule for the sake of building trusting relationships. Maybe those conversations could have happened in a different manner but they didn't and God used those encounters in that setting at that time to fulfill a divine appointment.
I have repeatedly asked the Lord if I need to remove alcohol from my life and so far, the answer has been no. I reflect on the fact that there would be no communion without wine. It was the wine that was blessed at the passover feast that is referred to His blood shed for us. It is the wine that came from water at the wedding celebration in Cana which Jesus first revealed His capability to do the impossible . . . and it wasn't just any wine, it was GOOD wine. And yet so many Christians would rather He have turned wine into water to fit their personal platform.
This is our family's truth because struggles with alcohol are not part of our past or our present situation. Therefore we are able to make those decisions with discipline and control. If this is you, then do so accordingly and if the Holy Spirit convicts otherwise, then obey. But my prayer is that regardless of what you are convicted of, that you exercise caution and restraint before you pass judgement on others because it is in that prideful air of self-righteousness that we will ultimately fail to walk rightly with the Lord.
Friday, January 31, 2014
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
He is before all things
Don't get me wrong, we were still hesitant at times and doubting if this was the "right" thing to do but those moments were fleeting and His call was clear. We knew early into to the trip (actually before we even arrived in Mexico) that our group was going to do great things because the Enemy had our number and was doing his best to bring us down. We stood firm in prayer and fellowship and remained faithful in our mission to serve. I am sure you can relate that when we persevere in the face of opposition and challenges, the blessings on the other side are that much sweeter.
Every summer Back2Back Ministries has a theme which surrounds the week for the groups coming to serve. There is a devotional handed out and every day there is time set aside to spend time in the Word and reflecting on what the staff members from the different sites wrote about in the devotional. In the past, there have been themes such as "hunger," "shelter," and "water." It is clear how those things relate to a life in extreme poverty and also those ideas can be tied to what the Lord offers us through salvation. You know . . . a nice catchy play on words so to speak. The theme for this summer was from Col 1:17 "He is before all things and in Him all things hold together." Initially it didn't seem to be as clear a connection to the life of the orphan or widow that we were serving but everyday those words became more true for me and for Tommy. I find myself resting in that promise and I could see the ways it was true (or becoming true) in the lives of those we met. It was a blessing to read through the ways that God has been faithful to the staff members as well as the people in our group as we talked through that truth.
Now this is part when I'm supposed to write what we did or what happened while we were there and I find myself searching for the words that will convey the shift that occured in our hearts. I am at a loss. I feel as if every fiber of my soul has been woven tighter and with a greater passion for the things of heaven. I guess for the sake of keeping you in the loop I will highlight a few of the moments that are etched in my mind for eternity:
1. Attending a church served at one of Casa Hogar Manatial de Amor (this is one of the children's homes that Back2Back serves). They asked the children to come up to the front and then had the members of our group lay hands on them and pray for them. I felt the Holy Spirit fall on me and I started to pray in English for one of the teenage girls. Then I started to remember some words in Spanish and I prayed those words and we both started to cry. This is the first of many indescribable moments.
2. Hearing another girl share some of her past that brought her to the children's home. We are encouraged to ask the children about their present and their future but not their past. As I spoke with one girl about her present, she volunteered some of the painful events of her history. She cried and again, so did I. Her heart was breaking for at least the thousandth time I'm sure and I held her in my arms as the tears flowed. I felt honored to be the one to comfort her but leaving that day was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I got on the bus and fell into Tommy's arms saying "I don't want to leave her." That day was probably when the greatest shift happened in my heart.
3. Seeing boys and girls hang on Tommy as they jumped rope, swam in the pool, or played games. Children of all ages, both boys and girls, seemed to be so comfortable with him. At one point he was holding twin 3 year old girls as he jumped rope. Another time, he had about 6 kids hanging on him in the pool. He played cards with a boy on his lap. He knew hardly an Spanish but they were so comfortable with him because of his kindness and gentleness and I was found myself admiring him more than ever. Everyday I learned the unique ways that Tommy serves and together, we make a great team.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
A Holy Pedicure
Several months ago I met a lady at a nail salon who has been on my heart ever since. It is worth telling the story of our brief interaction because it is another beautiful example of God's divine presence when we take the time to connect with others. I decided to get my nails done one Friday afternoon during a rare moment when I had some time to myself. I went to a nail salon nearby and was helped by a quiet lady from Vietnam. English was clearly her second language so our conversations were kept simple but her spirit was gentle and I immediately liked her. We talked about family, what else she does for work, the weather . . . nothing too monumental. I asked her about her necklace which was a beautiful piece of jade carved into a small Buddha outlined in gold. She said her mother gave it to her after she had a recent string of bad luck. Her mother told her to rub it every day and say a prayer and Buddha would help her. I asked her what kind of bad luck she had faced and she began to tell me how her family has faced recent financial hardship with her husband losing his job, her having a medical scare which resulted in a $20,000 hospital bill and no insurance, and her daughter struggling to get enough financial aid for college. I asked her a simple question about rubbing her Buddha necklace, "is it working?" Her reply with a disappointed frown was "I don't know." We sat in a few moments of silence and I prayed quietly to myself that the Lord would bridge the gap of cultural and language differences and that He could fill me with the Holy Spirit to meet her in her struggle of faith.
I hesitantly began to tell her that there is something that I have in my life that gives me peace and I can trust that I am loved and cared for even when life is hard. She responded "Is it Jesus?" I said yes and the conversation naturally flowed from there. She asked me a few questions and I could see her deep in thought as I told her how I have seen His hand in my life and in the lives of others that could not be explained by anything else other than Jesus. I saw her hesitation and I gently told her that God loves her and that I would honestly pray that her circumstances would change and that she would feel peace in her heart. I changed the subject after that . . . I didn't want to put her on the spot or make her feel uncomfortable.
I left that day not knowing her name but having a clear picture of the look of wonder, doubt and curiosity on her face and I continued to think about her on a daily basis. I returned to get my nails done about a month later on a day when I thought she would be working. She was there and started to do my nails again. I wondered if she remembered me so asked her about her family and if she recalled us talking. Her eyes lit up and she said she did. Her next question was "did you pray for me?" I told her I had and thought about her quite often. She told me that after I met her the first day, she went home and her daughter had asked her for some paperwork to fill out some financial aid forms. She went into a closet where she kept them and as she reached for what she needed, she saw a small booklet sticking out. She told me it was a pamphlet about Jesus. She was in shock!! She had no idea how it got there. She was sure that no one else had ever been in those papers or knew where they were. She told me how she got goosebumps all over and was certain I was an angel and somehow got into her house to put it there. She actually felt a little scared. (I assured her I was not definitely not an angel and had never been in her house). I told her that I didn't know how it had happened but I know God is great and He will do anything to get your attention and prove that He is real and that Jesus is truth. She came to work the next day and told her coworkers about what had happened and they told her that she was crazy and they didn't remember me being even in the nail salon. This only made her think that I wasn't really real and that she had imagined the whole thing.
We talked some more and I answered her questions as best I could. She also told me that in her family, they think if you believe in Jesus, you literally go insane and lose your mind. I did my best to be compassionate to what she was facing as she sorted through all her doubts and questions and told her I would continue to pray for her. I haven't seen her in a few months so I wonder what has transpired in her life. I rarely talk to complete strangers about Jesus and often make an excuse of why I shouldn't (this happens more times that I would like to admit). This time I had good excuses for not bringing up the subject: she doesn't speak good English, we are from different cultures, I don't want to make her mad and then she'll mess up my nails . . . the list goes on. But for whatever reason I decided to take the risk. Not only did I get to be a part of spreading the truth about the Gospel, I also got to witness the power of the Holy Spirit in action to touch someone's heart when everything else says "this is not going to work out well." In doing so, my faith grew stronger and I am able trust with greater confidence that God gives us just what we need at the times we need it. There has never been a time when God has let me down, I just hesitate to give Him the opportunity to prove Himself faithful but when I do . . . I am so glad I did.
I hesitantly began to tell her that there is something that I have in my life that gives me peace and I can trust that I am loved and cared for even when life is hard. She responded "Is it Jesus?" I said yes and the conversation naturally flowed from there. She asked me a few questions and I could see her deep in thought as I told her how I have seen His hand in my life and in the lives of others that could not be explained by anything else other than Jesus. I saw her hesitation and I gently told her that God loves her and that I would honestly pray that her circumstances would change and that she would feel peace in her heart. I changed the subject after that . . . I didn't want to put her on the spot or make her feel uncomfortable.
I left that day not knowing her name but having a clear picture of the look of wonder, doubt and curiosity on her face and I continued to think about her on a daily basis. I returned to get my nails done about a month later on a day when I thought she would be working. She was there and started to do my nails again. I wondered if she remembered me so asked her about her family and if she recalled us talking. Her eyes lit up and she said she did. Her next question was "did you pray for me?" I told her I had and thought about her quite often. She told me that after I met her the first day, she went home and her daughter had asked her for some paperwork to fill out some financial aid forms. She went into a closet where she kept them and as she reached for what she needed, she saw a small booklet sticking out. She told me it was a pamphlet about Jesus. She was in shock!! She had no idea how it got there. She was sure that no one else had ever been in those papers or knew where they were. She told me how she got goosebumps all over and was certain I was an angel and somehow got into her house to put it there. She actually felt a little scared. (I assured her I was not definitely not an angel and had never been in her house). I told her that I didn't know how it had happened but I know God is great and He will do anything to get your attention and prove that He is real and that Jesus is truth. She came to work the next day and told her coworkers about what had happened and they told her that she was crazy and they didn't remember me being even in the nail salon. This only made her think that I wasn't really real and that she had imagined the whole thing.
We talked some more and I answered her questions as best I could. She also told me that in her family, they think if you believe in Jesus, you literally go insane and lose your mind. I did my best to be compassionate to what she was facing as she sorted through all her doubts and questions and told her I would continue to pray for her. I haven't seen her in a few months so I wonder what has transpired in her life. I rarely talk to complete strangers about Jesus and often make an excuse of why I shouldn't (this happens more times that I would like to admit). This time I had good excuses for not bringing up the subject: she doesn't speak good English, we are from different cultures, I don't want to make her mad and then she'll mess up my nails . . . the list goes on. But for whatever reason I decided to take the risk. Not only did I get to be a part of spreading the truth about the Gospel, I also got to witness the power of the Holy Spirit in action to touch someone's heart when everything else says "this is not going to work out well." In doing so, my faith grew stronger and I am able trust with greater confidence that God gives us just what we need at the times we need it. There has never been a time when God has let me down, I just hesitate to give Him the opportunity to prove Himself faithful but when I do . . . I am so glad I did.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Finding Freedom
Well it's been a while since I've taken the time to sit down and blog . . . probably because I haven't felt like I had anything worthwhile to say. Hopefully this will be worthwhile to someone. I have recently encountered a lot of my close sweet friends struggling with depression and anxiety so I thought I would speak from my own personal experience in hopes to offer another perspective on this complicated issue.
I began struggling with depression when I was a young teenager. . . there is no real reason why it turned into the uncontrollable beast that it was . . . no major trauma or event, it just crept up on me and that black pit of despair took root in my life for a long time. I remember talking to my youth pastor when I first began having symptoms (I was probably 13) and he told me to pray more and read the Bible more. My biblical knowledge expanded and my conversations with God were more frequent but I was still miserable. I would try to think about all the wonderful blessings in my life but that didn't remove the hopelessness I felt. Actually it probably made it worse. Not only was I depressed, but I had no logical reason for the way I was feeling. I got professional help when I was about 16 years old to please my family but it wasn't until I was in college that I finally invested myself into therapy and realized I wanted MY life to be different for ME. I also took medication for a long (long) time.
I have had people personally communicate to me that you can always pray away depression or anxiety or any other mental health issue (I also must say that I know many others who have been so supportive of me while being very understanding and open to a variety of avenues for treatment). I absolutely believe with all my heart that God frees people from a variety of afflictions and He still preforms miracles in peoples' lives on a regular basis. But sometimes healing does not happen right away and maybe for some people it never fully comes and God can guide a person to other ways which He offers relief. I know He did for me. I often compare someone who is depressed or suffering from uncontrollable anxiety who would benefit from professional help to someone who is newly diagnosed with Type II diabetes and their blood sugar levels are dangerously off the charts. At some point they might be able to control their blood sugars with diet and exercise but right now, they need professional help (medication, nutritional guidance, etc) to keep them safe and get them to a place of success. The same way prayer and faith exclusively might be a good option eventually, sometimes more needs to be done. God is still fully present in those decisions. I found so much comfort from the following anecdotal story. I'm sure you've heard it before but it's worth repeating.
There was a man caught in a flood who had a deep faith in God. As the flood waters rose, his neighbors told him, "You have to leave, the flood is going to wash everything away." Calmly, the man replied, "It's not a problem, God will save me." As the waters continued to rise to the second floor of the man's house, a boat came by with rescuers. They said, "Quickly, get in, the flood is going to wash everything away." Again the man replied, "It's not a problem, God will save me." As the flood worsened, the man was forced to climb onto the roof of his home. A helicopter came, threw down a ladder and the rescuers said, "Climb up. The flood is about to wash everything away." One more time, the man said, "It's not a problem, God will save me." Finally, the flood washed everything away, and the man drowned. When he reached heaven, he saw God. The first thing he asked was, "Lord, I was so certain you would save me, what happened?" Very perplexed, God said to the man, "I just don't know, I sent you neighbors, a boat and a helicopter to save you. What more were you looking for?"
I was able to realize that God wanted to use other people and other things (like medication) to free me from bondage. I know that once I got help and took medication, I experienced true freedom in Christ. I was able to believe in His hope and His peace the way that He promises to provide it. Before I got help, I was so trapped in my own hurt that I could not serve others and I certainly wasn't an effective for the Kingdom of God. It's like walking around with a splinter in the bottom of your foot that is infected and painful. Sure you can get from point A to point B and you can even talk to people along the way but there is a limp in your step and most of your thoughts (conscious or unconscious) revolve around that dang splinter. I am so blessed to say for now, God continues to set me free without the use of medication. That is truly only by His grace. I will absolutely testify that prayer and spending regular time in the Bible is certainly a huge part of the healing process but it took a long time to get to a place where that alone was enough. There is an undeniable correlation that when my prayer life and study time is consistent, I am filled with great peace and hope. The opposite is also true that when my time with the Lord is wavering, I can sense more self-doubt and worry creeping in.
So if this is you or someone near and dear to your heart, there is hope and sometimes (not always) it does involve talking to a professional or even taking medication. That is NOT a cop-out. It doesn't minimize God's awesomeness or limit His power to heal. Everyday we have to seek things outside of ourself to be whole. Whether it is the food we eat, the water we drink, the hug from a friend . . . these are things we cannot give ourself on our own strength. I'm not saying that every time you have a bad day or even a bad month that you run to some kind of easy fix . . . anyone who has been through counseling or taken medication knows that is not what it is. I am saying that if you are working so hard all the time trying to grasp onto some glimmer of peace that you are completely and utterly worn out only to still find yourself drowning in your hurt or consuming thoughts, that is not the way God wants us to live. I know. I've been there. There is freedom and there is hope and there is peace.
I began struggling with depression when I was a young teenager. . . there is no real reason why it turned into the uncontrollable beast that it was . . . no major trauma or event, it just crept up on me and that black pit of despair took root in my life for a long time. I remember talking to my youth pastor when I first began having symptoms (I was probably 13) and he told me to pray more and read the Bible more. My biblical knowledge expanded and my conversations with God were more frequent but I was still miserable. I would try to think about all the wonderful blessings in my life but that didn't remove the hopelessness I felt. Actually it probably made it worse. Not only was I depressed, but I had no logical reason for the way I was feeling. I got professional help when I was about 16 years old to please my family but it wasn't until I was in college that I finally invested myself into therapy and realized I wanted MY life to be different for ME. I also took medication for a long (long) time.
I have had people personally communicate to me that you can always pray away depression or anxiety or any other mental health issue (I also must say that I know many others who have been so supportive of me while being very understanding and open to a variety of avenues for treatment). I absolutely believe with all my heart that God frees people from a variety of afflictions and He still preforms miracles in peoples' lives on a regular basis. But sometimes healing does not happen right away and maybe for some people it never fully comes and God can guide a person to other ways which He offers relief. I know He did for me. I often compare someone who is depressed or suffering from uncontrollable anxiety who would benefit from professional help to someone who is newly diagnosed with Type II diabetes and their blood sugar levels are dangerously off the charts. At some point they might be able to control their blood sugars with diet and exercise but right now, they need professional help (medication, nutritional guidance, etc) to keep them safe and get them to a place of success. The same way prayer and faith exclusively might be a good option eventually, sometimes more needs to be done. God is still fully present in those decisions. I found so much comfort from the following anecdotal story. I'm sure you've heard it before but it's worth repeating.
There was a man caught in a flood who had a deep faith in God. As the flood waters rose, his neighbors told him, "You have to leave, the flood is going to wash everything away." Calmly, the man replied, "It's not a problem, God will save me." As the waters continued to rise to the second floor of the man's house, a boat came by with rescuers. They said, "Quickly, get in, the flood is going to wash everything away." Again the man replied, "It's not a problem, God will save me." As the flood worsened, the man was forced to climb onto the roof of his home. A helicopter came, threw down a ladder and the rescuers said, "Climb up. The flood is about to wash everything away." One more time, the man said, "It's not a problem, God will save me." Finally, the flood washed everything away, and the man drowned. When he reached heaven, he saw God. The first thing he asked was, "Lord, I was so certain you would save me, what happened?" Very perplexed, God said to the man, "I just don't know, I sent you neighbors, a boat and a helicopter to save you. What more were you looking for?"
I was able to realize that God wanted to use other people and other things (like medication) to free me from bondage. I know that once I got help and took medication, I experienced true freedom in Christ. I was able to believe in His hope and His peace the way that He promises to provide it. Before I got help, I was so trapped in my own hurt that I could not serve others and I certainly wasn't an effective for the Kingdom of God. It's like walking around with a splinter in the bottom of your foot that is infected and painful. Sure you can get from point A to point B and you can even talk to people along the way but there is a limp in your step and most of your thoughts (conscious or unconscious) revolve around that dang splinter. I am so blessed to say for now, God continues to set me free without the use of medication. That is truly only by His grace. I will absolutely testify that prayer and spending regular time in the Bible is certainly a huge part of the healing process but it took a long time to get to a place where that alone was enough. There is an undeniable correlation that when my prayer life and study time is consistent, I am filled with great peace and hope. The opposite is also true that when my time with the Lord is wavering, I can sense more self-doubt and worry creeping in.
So if this is you or someone near and dear to your heart, there is hope and sometimes (not always) it does involve talking to a professional or even taking medication. That is NOT a cop-out. It doesn't minimize God's awesomeness or limit His power to heal. Everyday we have to seek things outside of ourself to be whole. Whether it is the food we eat, the water we drink, the hug from a friend . . . these are things we cannot give ourself on our own strength. I'm not saying that every time you have a bad day or even a bad month that you run to some kind of easy fix . . . anyone who has been through counseling or taken medication knows that is not what it is. I am saying that if you are working so hard all the time trying to grasp onto some glimmer of peace that you are completely and utterly worn out only to still find yourself drowning in your hurt or consuming thoughts, that is not the way God wants us to live. I know. I've been there. There is freedom and there is hope and there is peace.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Christmas chaos
This is definitely the season of the wow factor. Neighbors are outdoing each other with their elaborate Christmas lights that blink in tune to Jingle Bells. Stores went from opening at 9 am to 6 am to 3 am to opening at midnight. The famous "Elf on the Shelf" is becoming increasingly more creative with his middle-of-the-night stunts. And we all seem to get caught up in this endless Christmas whirlwind no matter how hard we try to fight it.
I just often wonder what God is thinking when He sees us doing all this. Probably something along the lines of "here they go again." We have an inflatable nativity scene outside our house with an entire caucasian crew of Mary, Joseph, three wise men, and baby Jesus, all smiling, all with either bleach white scarves on their heads or brightly colored garments, some with blonde hair . . . kind of ridiculous as I think about it. I guess a mud-thatched stable with manure, stagnant water, and flies filed with a middle-Eastern family wearing dusty garments and Jesus with a poopy loin cloth wouldn't be as appealing.
Then of course there are the Santa's, the Christmas trees, the lights, the ornaments, the sales, the cookie exchanges, the egg nog . . . and we are celebrating Jesus? This is where I often become so conflicted. I love all the festivities of the season and I certainly don't want to be a "Grinch" but all this really pales in comparison to the magnitude of what happened that simple night in Bethlehem. A young virgin girl got pregnant with the Savior of all mankind. An angel came to her telling her about this and she responded "I am the Lord's servant." Seriously? No wonder God chose her. Most people would have gone screaming and crying back home to momma (I know I would have). But she accepted the challenge humbly and willingly. The Lord has given me responsibilities that are a fraction of a percent compared to Mary and I fight Him tooth and nail.
So how do we hold true to the real meaning of Christmas? I honestly don't know. Every year I try to redefine the balance of the spending, giving, wrapping, baking, decorating with the simple life-changing message of Jesus Christ coming into this world as a baby . . . a squirmy, fussy, poopy, hungry baby . . . who changed the course of history and brought grace to the world. And every year I hear so many other families trying to find that same balance but really if you live in America there probably their isn't one. Our lights are too bright, our Christmas songs too loud, our greed too overwhelming for Jesus to compete with that. He didn't 2000 years ago and He's not going to now. He came in a simple, quiet manner and that is still His style. Jesus patiently takes a quiet place in the corner and waits for us to meet Him when we are ready . . . I pray our home and our hearts are more ready this year than any other . . . and I pray the same for you.
I just often wonder what God is thinking when He sees us doing all this. Probably something along the lines of "here they go again." We have an inflatable nativity scene outside our house with an entire caucasian crew of Mary, Joseph, three wise men, and baby Jesus, all smiling, all with either bleach white scarves on their heads or brightly colored garments, some with blonde hair . . . kind of ridiculous as I think about it. I guess a mud-thatched stable with manure, stagnant water, and flies filed with a middle-Eastern family wearing dusty garments and Jesus with a poopy loin cloth wouldn't be as appealing.
Then of course there are the Santa's, the Christmas trees, the lights, the ornaments, the sales, the cookie exchanges, the egg nog . . . and we are celebrating Jesus? This is where I often become so conflicted. I love all the festivities of the season and I certainly don't want to be a "Grinch" but all this really pales in comparison to the magnitude of what happened that simple night in Bethlehem. A young virgin girl got pregnant with the Savior of all mankind. An angel came to her telling her about this and she responded "I am the Lord's servant." Seriously? No wonder God chose her. Most people would have gone screaming and crying back home to momma (I know I would have). But she accepted the challenge humbly and willingly. The Lord has given me responsibilities that are a fraction of a percent compared to Mary and I fight Him tooth and nail.
So how do we hold true to the real meaning of Christmas? I honestly don't know. Every year I try to redefine the balance of the spending, giving, wrapping, baking, decorating with the simple life-changing message of Jesus Christ coming into this world as a baby . . . a squirmy, fussy, poopy, hungry baby . . . who changed the course of history and brought grace to the world. And every year I hear so many other families trying to find that same balance but really if you live in America there probably their isn't one. Our lights are too bright, our Christmas songs too loud, our greed too overwhelming for Jesus to compete with that. He didn't 2000 years ago and He's not going to now. He came in a simple, quiet manner and that is still His style. Jesus patiently takes a quiet place in the corner and waits for us to meet Him when we are ready . . . I pray our home and our hearts are more ready this year than any other . . . and I pray the same for you.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
A Real Celebrity
This past September, I went on a short-term missions trip to Monterrey, Mexico with a small group from my brother's church. We met up with an organization called Back 2 Back Ministries who serve the people of Monterrey, Mexico as well as people in Cancun, India, and Nigeria. Their main focus is to "provide care for today and hope for tomorrow." Over the course of those few days, my heart was changed and I think about the orphans of the world on a regular basis. In Mexico, Back 2 Back Ministries assists at "homes" called Casa Hogars which function similar to an orphanage but the children are not completely abandoned. They have some degree of family but no one to care for them regularly so they live at these homes.
One of the days we were there, we got to take some children to the zoo. For many of them it was their first field trip. One of the girls who were a part of little bunch was named Alondra. She was quiet but opened up a little more as the day went on. At one point while we were on the bus, she pointed to some mountains and she told me that the United States is on the other side and one day my dad is going to take me there. I don't know anything about these kids' histories but I was pretty certain this was just a dream. I could see her wounded spirit and prayed that somehow, these moments with missions teams who come to love and serve as well as her regular care givers would one day begin to heal whatever scars remain from her past.
There was another boy named Miguel who my brother Michael met last year. Last year he was fairly new to the casa hogar and my brother tells me that Miguel barely left his side. This year he was more confident and seemed to be doing well. Miguel did continue to stick close with us when we were there and he proudly showed us the room he shares with some other boys and the bed where he sleeps. Actually he sprinted ahead to clean it up when he knew we were on our way to take a look. Miguel reminded me of my son Zion with his tender heart, a desire to please, and his sensitive soul. When my brother was saying goodbye, Miguel said to him "you are a good friend." Those words were so meaningful because really that is all we wanted to be to them. We know we cannot "fix" all that is broken but we just want to be their friends. To remind them that Jesus loves them and so do we.
I recently received the magazine that Back 2 Back Ministries publishes to let people know what they are doing at the different locations they serve. Guess who was on the cover? Alondra! I filled up with tears. I felt like I know a real celebrity. There was a spread in the middle of the magazine about her and what it is like to live a "Day in the Life of an Orphan." As I flipped through the magazine, guess who was on the last page with his sweet smile? Miguel! I know two celebrities! It was article written about how much the communication with his sponsors means to him. I was so proud of them and so excited that I knew them!
Now many of you know that I recently attended the Marine Corps Ball and Justin Timberlake sat at my table. It was definitely an amazing experience. There were so many people around our table the whole night, so many camera flashes, so much attention. And other than the 100 people that came up to get their picture take with him, he seemed like a regular guy. He told jokes (some not-so-funny ones). He took pictures for people at our table. We all laughed through out the evening. He was very respectful and gracious. It was a great night and he actually told Tommy and I that we reminded him of his friends. I was flattered.
Believe me, I got caught up in that moment with Justin Timberlake at my table but really, he doesn't need me to be his fan. He's got millions. Alondra and Miguel do. The orphans and widows and homeless do. The people of this world who have been forgotten need fans. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful for the opportunity to meet Justin Timberlake, especially as he honored the great legacy of the Marine Corps. But truthfully it doesn't hold a candle to my experience serving in Mexico. Those children changed my life. I hope and I pray that I make the most of every opportunity to be a friend to the friendless and give a voice to the forgotten.
One of the days we were there, we got to take some children to the zoo. For many of them it was their first field trip. One of the girls who were a part of little bunch was named Alondra. She was quiet but opened up a little more as the day went on. At one point while we were on the bus, she pointed to some mountains and she told me that the United States is on the other side and one day my dad is going to take me there. I don't know anything about these kids' histories but I was pretty certain this was just a dream. I could see her wounded spirit and prayed that somehow, these moments with missions teams who come to love and serve as well as her regular care givers would one day begin to heal whatever scars remain from her past.
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| Our trip to the zoo |
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| Miguel and Michael |
I recently received the magazine that Back 2 Back Ministries publishes to let people know what they are doing at the different locations they serve. Guess who was on the cover? Alondra! I filled up with tears. I felt like I know a real celebrity. There was a spread in the middle of the magazine about her and what it is like to live a "Day in the Life of an Orphan." As I flipped through the magazine, guess who was on the last page with his sweet smile? Miguel! I know two celebrities! It was article written about how much the communication with his sponsors means to him. I was so proud of them and so excited that I knew them!
Now many of you know that I recently attended the Marine Corps Ball and Justin Timberlake sat at my table. It was definitely an amazing experience. There were so many people around our table the whole night, so many camera flashes, so much attention. And other than the 100 people that came up to get their picture take with him, he seemed like a regular guy. He told jokes (some not-so-funny ones). He took pictures for people at our table. We all laughed through out the evening. He was very respectful and gracious. It was a great night and he actually told Tommy and I that we reminded him of his friends. I was flattered.
Believe me, I got caught up in that moment with Justin Timberlake at my table but really, he doesn't need me to be his fan. He's got millions. Alondra and Miguel do. The orphans and widows and homeless do. The people of this world who have been forgotten need fans. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful for the opportunity to meet Justin Timberlake, especially as he honored the great legacy of the Marine Corps. But truthfully it doesn't hold a candle to my experience serving in Mexico. Those children changed my life. I hope and I pray that I make the most of every opportunity to be a friend to the friendless and give a voice to the forgotten.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Bedtime Battle
The other day we were planning to have some family time to read the bible together with our children. It was getting late and meltdowns were fast approaching but we were trying to be optimistic. No matter what we asked Zion (our 5 year old) to do, it was met with whining, protest, or no response at all. Finally, he was issued a "time out." This was the start of the meltdown. He was sent to sit by himself in the bathroom to think about how he could have better behavior while we waited in his bedroom. I went in to talk to him but he was so upset and unable to listen to anything I was trying to say. I finally told him that it was getting too late and he was too tired so maybe we should read the bible tomorrow when we were all more rested. At this point, he was crying, stomping his feet, and screaming (which is pretty unlike him). He was literally yelling "I WANT TO READ THE BIBLE!" over and over and over. I had to leave the room before I busted out laughing. The irony of what he was saying and how he was saying it was too much for me to handle. At face value, hearing your child say that he/she wants to read the bible is awesome. However, the way he was saying it was void of love, void of self-control, void of gentleness and void of pure intent. Instead it was manipulative, rude, and self-seeking. I could have been fooled and thought something like "wow, he must really love the bible because he's so adamant about wanting to read it." I have been around kids enough to know this was not the case.
I have thought back on this evening several times and how apparent it was to me that Zion's behavior is not uncommon. I have known some adults just like this. They speak of Godly things or quote scripture or boast of their righteousness but little else in their life demonstrates a pure heart. In Galations 5 it say that the "fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control . . . some good things to keep in mind when we are looking for evidence of how a person's heart aligns with God's (or where our own heart aligns with God's). Unfortunately I can think back on times when I have "talked the talk" but my intentions have been selfish and clearly less than pure.
I pray that Zion will one day truly become this zealous for the things of God and have a sincere desire to read the bible. In the meantime, I hope that I can be wise enough to know the difference between what he says and where his heart is. I pray the same for you. That we would be discerning of what people say and of what "fruits of the Spirit" they may or may not be demonstrating . . . that we would "test all things; hold fast that which is good" (1 Thes. 5:21). More than anything, I pray that you or I are not this person.
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