Ready for War

Odd title for a devotion as we approach  Advent. It's because I'm feeling the impending push upon me. Pressure. Christmas Pressure.Lights are up.Tree is up. Shopping initiated. But my heart is not ready. I can't seem to push play on my Amy Grant Christmas CD. My girls make fun of me because I always play that CD while we put the tree up and decorate. It seems unfitting now, since the baby girls have left the nest. It's sad that they are not here making fun of me! There's some empty Christmas spots this year... Jordan will not be home until January. My grown nieces and nephews will not be home for Christmas. In my heart, I know that my celebration of Christ's birth can't be situational...I need to battle this sense of loss and move on to new joys, new memories and refreshed hope. I have small kids watching...needing me to teach them how wonderful this season is and why.
      John Piper would tell me to "Make War" on my sin. My sin of self-focus. Complacency. Sadness. Lack of Joy. Perhaps people would call it "seasonal depression".  I don't think I'm alone. My delayed and different Christmas is not "real" loss...so many people are spending Christmas with out loved ones because they are now with the LORD.  In my head I understand that it's good for kids to grow up and leave...but what's in my head and what I feel with my heart are two different things. So prayerfully today, I'm taking Dr. Piper's advice. And the Apostle Paul's :) I DECLARE WAR. I will not rest in sadness. I will fight against this sin of taking my eyes off the Gift and the Giver. Our enemy longs to see the children of God focusing on themselves instead of His goodness and His gracious gift in Jesus. " Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" Eph. 6:10-12. I will stand firm. In truth. In righteousness. In faith. In Salvation. In the Word. Wearing some warm winter boots on the feet that are ready to run and share the Gospel of Peace with anyone the LORD puts in front of me. Pray for me that I will speak it boldly as I should...to the praise of His glorious grace.

Radical Service

What does radical service look like? I suppose if you went from person to person..the answer would vary.  To someone who loves nature..it may look like living a completely green lifestyle...drastically following reuse, renew and recycle rules. To someone who loves animals, it might look like running a rescue mission for animals...to the point where you might have 14 dogs on your property..spending your time, energy and resources to get them into adoptive homes. To someone else, it might look like political involvement, where much time and energy is spent trying to push forward your political ideals. To another it may look like helping people in need, in various forms, like serving in adult literacy programs, the Peace Corp, United Way or Easter Seals.  Whatever it is, if you serve with all your energy, time and resources...that's radical right? What does radical service look like for someone who loves Jesus Christ?  All these good works in our community are important for us to participate in. But what makes it different for someone who professes Christ as their Lord and Master?
     After reading "Radical", I accepted the charge to "serve in another context" than you are used to. It could be a mission trip or some other form of Christian service. The  point was to get  uncomfortable. To expose yourself to something completely outside of your comfort zone( that looks way different for each of us). For me, serving in a food pantry was not a huge stretch. As a Home Health RN, I have served people in their homes regardless of their address, tax bracket or lack of actual flooring! But what was completely uncomfortable for me was bringing my boys with me to serve.  I had to really trust that the Lord would bless us with protection while we served along side some folks who had been in trouble with the law.  I had to trust that the boys  would be ok stocking shelves in the back while I was helping customers shop in the front.  I had to trust that if I let my kids do this,  the Lord would somehow use it to train them for a life of humble service instead of creating some sort of bias against the often unkind and ungrateful people we frequently encountered.  More importantly, I would have to trust that the Lord would break my heart for hurting people and love them the way He loves me...and that I would be able to translate that into an example my kids would want to follow.

     What I learned...God can be trusted with the children He has chosen to give me!....Never judge a book by it's cover...Always take time to touch someone and pray with them...Never be afraid to speak truth in love to those who need it...You can never smile too much...When someone wants to know if you have any "good" bread, they are looking for basic white!...And never hesitate to give a reason for the Hope you profess..you may never see that person again! 

      Radical service for Jesus is evolving for me. I wish I could say that I have daily denied myself, picked up my "method of execution" and followed Him faithfully and joyfully. Sometimes it looks like that.  And other times it looks like my scared rescue dog hiding in the corner. Be patient with me...He's not finished with me yet. "being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Radical Prayer

Pray for the entire world.  Pretty daunting task. David Platt asked the readers of " Radical" to commit to this. I have to be honest..I didn't really believe I could do it. I know my limitations. I am fantastic at immediate prayer. If you call me now...I will pray with you over the phone. I'll do it in person without hesitation as well.  I am pretty consistent in praying daily for my family, friends, church, and my missionary friends. I have been taking time in homeschooling to teach the boys how to pray. But a consistent, daily labor for the world...it just seemed too much. I tried by using the suggested source at www.operationworld.org    I received a daily email reminder listing a country and a link for information and prayer needs.  What I have learned through this experience has been very insightful. I am not as good at geography as I thought I was! And I went days without opening the emails because I chose to put other things first...sometimes out of necessity, sometimes out of laziness. And that's exactly what I thought would happen. But, the LORD always does something with our attempts at obedience, doesn't He?  I've been reminded in His word what Paul said to Timothy in his 1st letter..."First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth"(2:1-4)ESV. In the Message, it says, " The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live. He wants not only us but everyone saved, you know, everyone to get to know the truth we've learned: that there's one God and only one, and one Priest-Mediator between God and us-Jesus, who offered himself in exchange for everyone held captive by sin, to set them all free".  When you pray for people, it gives you a heart for them you didn't have before. Perhaps the ability to see them the way God sees them, not  how CNN or Fox News sees them...but how God loves Iran, Pakistan and Swaziland... and wants them to know His truth. I prayed for countries I didn't even remember existed to come to the Truth and know His love!
As Samuel said in his prayer for Israel in the anointing of Saul(1Sm 12:23)..."far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you"...which was the priest's duty...and since we are "to be a holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices to the LORD" (1Pet.2:5)... it is also our duty. I never considered that  not praying could be a sin. I've always looked at it as my missed opportunity to meet with the LORD, but not a duty. Isn't apathy for the lost sinful?  As I walk into deeper relationship with Christ, He's showing me a delight in duty. Blessings that come from obedience are indeed sweet and rewarding. He's teaching me how to have His heart for the world. And now I can say in full confidence that now I know where Swaziland is ! 

Radical Perspective #1

It's been more than a year since some of my friends and I read the book "Radical:Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream" by  David Platt . The book challenged readers to pray for the world, serve in a different capacity than you have in the past, go on a foreign mission trip, and read the Bible in one year.  The "Radical Bible Reading Girlfriends Club" was founded  in an effort to help spur each other on towards achieving some of the goals outlined in the book. I have been grateful for the peer pressure! The opportunity to read the Bible in a more disciplined way this year gave me eyes to see God's amazing plan of redemption with fresh eyes. I was completely reminded of His utter holiness and righteous demands. And how relentless His pursuit is for His beloved. Our ministry of reconciliation with the world should be that passionate! I am deeply convicted of my lack of mourning for the lost and my lack of zeal to be bold and courageous.  When I finished Revelation ...my heart nearly stopped as I imagined Faithful and True coming back on His white horse. The images painted are frightening and beautiful at the same time. When He said.."It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all of this, and I will be His God and he will be my son. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars-their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death. (Rev. 20:6-8)....Wow.  What a picture! Oh that the LORD will give me courage and faith to endure and overcome until the end. I am constantly wrestling with God for more faith. I need more! Most days I feel like such an amateur. And after everything I've seen the LORD do! If I look back on the past year...remembering what my Bible reading friends and I have prayed for...how can I lack faith?