A dear friend of mine was "promoted to glory" and I have the privilege of conducting her service today.
I find that I am tired of death. Of sadness.
A very pregnant me in the end of March sat and held the hand of a soldier dying slowly over a painfully long week for his family. For months we knew this was coming but when it did it felt so slow for all of us. All were waiting for release--for peace.
When he did pass I sat with him alone in his room looking at him knowing that just his body was there and that his soul had already gone on to be with the LORD. I read scripture over him and prayed with his family and stood guard in the room alone with the person tasked with taking his body. I watched as he prepared to cover him up and take him on his way. As the body left I dropped back to stand and watch with the family eventually shuffling them away from the sight as we hugged and prayed some more. We were all waiting for release--for peace.
A few weeks later my phone rang early in the morning alerting me to the fact that my 56 year old mom was unexpectedly on a respirator (which she did not want!) and sorting through the next few days was difficult. I watched her take her last breath via facetime with a dear friend as my contractions to have baby Benjamin were already in full force. The entire time all of us felt like we were just holding our breath. Those hours we were waiting for release--for peace.
Benjamin was finally born a couple days later and the joy of finally having him born was mixed with so much raw emotion. In fact, I only stayed in the hospital one night because I could not handle being there as the emotions of losing my mom were too fresh. The wound too ripe. The joy of our new baby was being robbed from me. The midwife understood and the doctor released me, thankfully. Such a bittersweet time for me!
We came home to Andy's mom loving on us, but it was too short. She had to leave and return back to her life and it was like a wound ripped wide open in me that I did not even know was there! I love my mother-in-law so much that I don't think she will ever fully understand how much I appreciate her and how she loves my family.
I started to feel better.
And then our thrift store that we built from the ground up was completely destroyed in an awful storm. The roof ripped right off and with it--my heart. Someone on our staff said that he thought losing the store for me was like losing my firstborn child. As I reflected I realized there was some truth in that. Ouch.
In these situations and a few others there were times when I felt like there was no person to turn to. Of course, we have the LORD and I have a couple of good friends, but no one to hold me and let me cry. I needed a mom. I have learned who my true friends are and have learned again to rely on the LORD to hold me as I cry. I have learned that many on our staff are family to me and me to them and I love them dearly.
The funeral today is of a soldier who was such a committed prayer warrior for her family, for our corps and for me--a true friend. She told me things that I did not know about the spiritual life and, in her own special way, was a Godsend. I will miss combing her hair, helping her get dressed, fetching her cold tea, listening to old stories of the war and of life as a girl in England. I will miss our Friday afternoons spent in her small apartment as she was always ready to "go to battle" in her uniform. She was a dear, special lady and as I prepare for her memorial service today I now realize that I am rejoicing that a true friend has gone to be with Jesus.
No more death. No more sadness. Just release for peace.
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Some Days
Some days...
Ministry is messy.
Some times in ministry people disappoint, things happen that burden you, and you can get discouraged.
Real ministry--the kind that gives you the privilege of seeing lives transform before your very eyes--is messy.
This has been one of those weeks.
We've had people we minister to relapse (again--another over dose), nearly lose their kids, hospitalized again, lose a job, etc.
Anyone who allows themselves to truly live life with their people understands what I'm talking about and feeling.
I have had friends in this same "profession" tell me from time to time that this isn't what they "signed up for."
And my response is then go and find something else to do with your life. People need the LORD and they need us to love them and lead them to Him. It isn't about you (me) so get over yourself and get to work. Yes, we can get discouraged at times but thankfully we are not the savior.
This specific ministry--a privilege--is a calling. God ordained. And certainly not for the faint of heart.
It gets messy.
When one guy doesn't show up in the shelter by curfew so staff start calling the hospital, jail, morgue a couple of days later...only to have them re-surface with a lame excuse and looking ten years older as the last trip to their past has caught up with them for the moment...Grace.
As a loved one has another drug overdose but it "isn't their fault" again, and the same treatment is prescribed that hasn't worked the past few times... Grace.
As DHS comes to the house three times in one week and the cops have been there six times and everyone looks at each other not really knowing what to do because there are no easy answers or real solutions in the moment and I just stand there with them...Grace.
As a sweet little five year old tells me that she wishes I was her mommy because she doesn't have one and gets passed around from person to person to care for her as she has no stable emotional caretaker...Grace.
As a woman asks for a refund for her furniture because she didn't get approved for the apartment she thought she was going to get and is now facing homelessness until she finds something...Grace.
As an employee struggles with a very difficult personal situation and the pain and suffering in their eyes burns right through you, yet they show up and work hard every day without complaint...Grace.
As I tried to teach a Moonbeam class on the Bible tonight I ended up holding a child on my lap as they cried into my shoulders for thirty minutes starting to realize that life isn't fair.. and that how can God love them if their own parents don't want them? ...Grace.
We all have our own stories and the details do not matter but the people matter to God and should be brought before the Father who knows it all, and who tells us to love and lead anyway.
Ministry is messy.
Go get your hands dirty.
Acts 20:24;
24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
Ministry is messy.
Some times in ministry people disappoint, things happen that burden you, and you can get discouraged.
Real ministry--the kind that gives you the privilege of seeing lives transform before your very eyes--is messy.
This has been one of those weeks.
We've had people we minister to relapse (again--another over dose), nearly lose their kids, hospitalized again, lose a job, etc.
Anyone who allows themselves to truly live life with their people understands what I'm talking about and feeling.
I have had friends in this same "profession" tell me from time to time that this isn't what they "signed up for."
And my response is then go and find something else to do with your life. People need the LORD and they need us to love them and lead them to Him. It isn't about you (me) so get over yourself and get to work. Yes, we can get discouraged at times but thankfully we are not the savior.
This specific ministry--a privilege--is a calling. God ordained. And certainly not for the faint of heart.
It gets messy.
When one guy doesn't show up in the shelter by curfew so staff start calling the hospital, jail, morgue a couple of days later...only to have them re-surface with a lame excuse and looking ten years older as the last trip to their past has caught up with them for the moment...Grace.
As a loved one has another drug overdose but it "isn't their fault" again, and the same treatment is prescribed that hasn't worked the past few times... Grace.
As DHS comes to the house three times in one week and the cops have been there six times and everyone looks at each other not really knowing what to do because there are no easy answers or real solutions in the moment and I just stand there with them...Grace.
As a sweet little five year old tells me that she wishes I was her mommy because she doesn't have one and gets passed around from person to person to care for her as she has no stable emotional caretaker...Grace.
As a woman asks for a refund for her furniture because she didn't get approved for the apartment she thought she was going to get and is now facing homelessness until she finds something...Grace.
As an employee struggles with a very difficult personal situation and the pain and suffering in their eyes burns right through you, yet they show up and work hard every day without complaint...Grace.
As I tried to teach a Moonbeam class on the Bible tonight I ended up holding a child on my lap as they cried into my shoulders for thirty minutes starting to realize that life isn't fair.. and that how can God love them if their own parents don't want them? ...Grace.
We all have our own stories and the details do not matter but the people matter to God and should be brought before the Father who knows it all, and who tells us to love and lead anyway.
Ministry is messy.
Go get your hands dirty.
Acts 20:24;
24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
Thursday, January 1, 2015
A young woman
We were sitting around the tables in the fellowship hall at the corps having a hurried kettle Christmas dinner (but at least we were eating together!)...
A loud bang on the glass doors by the chapel entrance next to us.
A young lady stood there in tears with her large, but very nice, suitcase on the curb next to her. The effects of heavy meth use were already altering her appearance as her eyes were beginning to sink in, scabs were all over her arms, and her teeth were beginning to space out and rot. She was a beautiful woman despite all of this.
I crack open the door and ask her what she needs:
"I'm homeless and I don't know what to do!" "Okay." "Can I stay here? I've never been homeless before..." "Our shelter entrance is in the other parking lot here but we do not house single women without children--just families and single men. We can call Way of Hope women's shelter for you..."
Long story short this began a discussion that included several of our employees, people and agencies in town to try and get this woman some help (after most of them were closed for evening of course). Our shelter monitor, Bruce, handled her with love and respect even as her story changed five times and drama associated with it ensued.
In the long run a church put her up in a motel for the evening not knowing what would happen to her the next day.
My three interactions with her that night haunted me the whole evening. I felt convicted.
Why?
Because she needed help and not only could we not give her what she needed, what she needs does not exist here in our county. We do not have any extensive drug treatment facilities. We have some half way houses for men, but nothing for women. Not even the Army touches that in our rehabilitation centers that we send others to in Memphis and Atlanta.
Why?
She got a place to stay for the night from a well meaning church, but what about the next day?
Why?
What will happen to her and others just like her? Our jail is FILLED with people who have meth addictions. We lock them up rather than tackle the drug problem (FYI--she was already locked up and recently released which excludes her from staying at the homeless homeless women's shelter in town).
Why?
Because initially when I thought of her and her situation I came up with excuses of why she couldn't stay in our shelter. We don't house single women. She can't pass a drug test. We aren't equipped to handle her needs. She just got out of jail (even the police wouldn't come get her!) for a "not nice charge" and would jeopardize the safety of our shelter community--particularly those of our young babies. In other words = DRAMA.
But, she needs help. She needs love. She needs the LORD and she needs the Army. Shouldn't she come running to us in her time of need? Aren't we the place people come to when everyone else in their life walks out--whether they are deserving or not?
Some of my comrades wonder why there aren't people beating down their doors like in the early days of the Army...but then again we aren't necessarily in the streets trying to find people to bring to us either. Perhaps we are justified in our 150 years of service to our communities across the world, or have lost the sense that "ministry is messy" for the need to protect the larger organization, etc, etc. BUT people still need the LORD and we have a responsibility to be obedient to our calling and to love, serve, and tell them. For this we will be held accountable.
When does our list of excuses preclude us from proclaiming the Gospel? It doesn't and never will. We have a duty. Forgive me, O LORD!
We invest so much of ourselves into the "work of the ministry" but how much of ourselves is invested in actual ministry (discipleship, evangelism, Holy Ghost old school Army stuff)?
Please pause for a moment and pray for this beautiful woman, created in God's image, and so many more like her that they would find hope, healing, and true everlasting love.
I'm still grappling with this in my soul, but this is the passage the LORD continues to bring me to:
Luke 15:4-7:
4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
A loud bang on the glass doors by the chapel entrance next to us.
A young lady stood there in tears with her large, but very nice, suitcase on the curb next to her. The effects of heavy meth use were already altering her appearance as her eyes were beginning to sink in, scabs were all over her arms, and her teeth were beginning to space out and rot. She was a beautiful woman despite all of this.
I crack open the door and ask her what she needs:
"I'm homeless and I don't know what to do!" "Okay." "Can I stay here? I've never been homeless before..." "Our shelter entrance is in the other parking lot here but we do not house single women without children--just families and single men. We can call Way of Hope women's shelter for you..."
Long story short this began a discussion that included several of our employees, people and agencies in town to try and get this woman some help (after most of them were closed for evening of course). Our shelter monitor, Bruce, handled her with love and respect even as her story changed five times and drama associated with it ensued.
In the long run a church put her up in a motel for the evening not knowing what would happen to her the next day.
My three interactions with her that night haunted me the whole evening. I felt convicted.
Why?
Because she needed help and not only could we not give her what she needed, what she needs does not exist here in our county. We do not have any extensive drug treatment facilities. We have some half way houses for men, but nothing for women. Not even the Army touches that in our rehabilitation centers that we send others to in Memphis and Atlanta.
Why?
She got a place to stay for the night from a well meaning church, but what about the next day?
Why?
What will happen to her and others just like her? Our jail is FILLED with people who have meth addictions. We lock them up rather than tackle the drug problem (FYI--she was already locked up and recently released which excludes her from staying at the homeless homeless women's shelter in town).
Why?
Because initially when I thought of her and her situation I came up with excuses of why she couldn't stay in our shelter. We don't house single women. She can't pass a drug test. We aren't equipped to handle her needs. She just got out of jail (even the police wouldn't come get her!) for a "not nice charge" and would jeopardize the safety of our shelter community--particularly those of our young babies. In other words = DRAMA.
But, she needs help. She needs love. She needs the LORD and she needs the Army. Shouldn't she come running to us in her time of need? Aren't we the place people come to when everyone else in their life walks out--whether they are deserving or not?
Some of my comrades wonder why there aren't people beating down their doors like in the early days of the Army...but then again we aren't necessarily in the streets trying to find people to bring to us either. Perhaps we are justified in our 150 years of service to our communities across the world, or have lost the sense that "ministry is messy" for the need to protect the larger organization, etc, etc. BUT people still need the LORD and we have a responsibility to be obedient to our calling and to love, serve, and tell them. For this we will be held accountable.
When does our list of excuses preclude us from proclaiming the Gospel? It doesn't and never will. We have a duty. Forgive me, O LORD!
We invest so much of ourselves into the "work of the ministry" but how much of ourselves is invested in actual ministry (discipleship, evangelism, Holy Ghost old school Army stuff)?
Please pause for a moment and pray for this beautiful woman, created in God's image, and so many more like her that they would find hope, healing, and true everlasting love.
I'm still grappling with this in my soul, but this is the passage the LORD continues to bring me to:
Luke 15:4-7:
4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
Friday, September 26, 2014
The Face of Homelessness
Our ministry building is located off of a busy street one block away from the oldest and largest housing projects in our county, where there are 181 kids between kindergarten and fifth grade. We are flanked on the other side by an extended stay motel where 138 rooms are mostly reserved for folks who actually live there.
Homelessness is not a new phenomena to me. I was a homeless child.
But what has been new to me is where homeless people live.
When I moved to Atlanta I had no idea that people lived in extended stay motels. I had never driven on a dirt road to pick up kids for the corps in really sad trailer parks. Coming from the north where there is plenty of blight to go around, I was sheltered from some of this and these were new experiences.
Since then the LORD has birthed in me a passion for reaching out to people specifically in extended stay motels. They seem to be largely forgotten. People think of the "old drunks" under the bridges, or in the woods, or the "poor people" in the housing projects, but other faces of homelessness are largely forgotten--folks who couch surf and rotate around to family members with no permanency. People who are transient as they hop from one relationship to the next searching for a place of true belonging. We don't think of them because we choose not to see them.
A couple of weeks ago I was leaving our shelter during dinner time and as I turned out of the parking lot a young lady was singing as she was pushing a luggage cart from the extended stay across the road from us. It was loaded with the majority, if not all, of her belongings. With her (although not seen at first) was a little boy with magnificent bouncing curls about 18-24 months old helping his mama push that cart.
I was blessed in that moment. I'm sensing the money ran out to stay at the hotel across the road and they were coming to seek shelter at The Salvation Army, just a stones throw away. The "Center of Hope," a beacon for those who need it.
This morning as I left the gym I saw a school bus at a different extended stay on Church Street picking up kids to take them to school which I have seen countless times before at the hotel across the road from our offices.
I'm not sure if it is a cultural thing, or a humanity thing, but we don't want to "deal" with what we don't see. We have the luxury of not touching it or smelling it if we don't want to. Other people live--survive--in a state of chronic homelessness. It is all they know just as you may only know comfort and having a home. We have the comfort of our structured church committees with like-minded Christian friends only-- and benevolence funds-- while they have open air and true faith that God will provide.
Please open your eyes to what is around you. Let God use you.
"Let us become more aware of your presence..." as the Jesus Culture lyrics remind us and as scripture says in Titus 3:5, "He saved us, not because of righteous acts we had done, but because of his mercy..."
Homelessness is not a new phenomena to me. I was a homeless child.
But what has been new to me is where homeless people live.
When I moved to Atlanta I had no idea that people lived in extended stay motels. I had never driven on a dirt road to pick up kids for the corps in really sad trailer parks. Coming from the north where there is plenty of blight to go around, I was sheltered from some of this and these were new experiences.
Since then the LORD has birthed in me a passion for reaching out to people specifically in extended stay motels. They seem to be largely forgotten. People think of the "old drunks" under the bridges, or in the woods, or the "poor people" in the housing projects, but other faces of homelessness are largely forgotten--folks who couch surf and rotate around to family members with no permanency. People who are transient as they hop from one relationship to the next searching for a place of true belonging. We don't think of them because we choose not to see them.
A couple of weeks ago I was leaving our shelter during dinner time and as I turned out of the parking lot a young lady was singing as she was pushing a luggage cart from the extended stay across the road from us. It was loaded with the majority, if not all, of her belongings. With her (although not seen at first) was a little boy with magnificent bouncing curls about 18-24 months old helping his mama push that cart.
I was blessed in that moment. I'm sensing the money ran out to stay at the hotel across the road and they were coming to seek shelter at The Salvation Army, just a stones throw away. The "Center of Hope," a beacon for those who need it.
This morning as I left the gym I saw a school bus at a different extended stay on Church Street picking up kids to take them to school which I have seen countless times before at the hotel across the road from our offices.
I'm not sure if it is a cultural thing, or a humanity thing, but we don't want to "deal" with what we don't see. We have the luxury of not touching it or smelling it if we don't want to. Other people live--survive--in a state of chronic homelessness. It is all they know just as you may only know comfort and having a home. We have the comfort of our structured church committees with like-minded Christian friends only-- and benevolence funds-- while they have open air and true faith that God will provide.
Please open your eyes to what is around you. Let God use you.
"Let us become more aware of your presence..." as the Jesus Culture lyrics remind us and as scripture says in Titus 3:5, "He saved us, not because of righteous acts we had done, but because of his mercy..."
Friday, August 8, 2014
We caught the Rover
For the past several months Elijah has been asking to take a ride on the green Rover, our mass transit system here in Murfreesboro. There is a hub up the street from his school and the mornings he goes to school we always see a bus sitting there.
Today--finally--was the day to make that happen. After his nap we looked up the schedule and got Andy to drop us off at the bus stop.
What began as a joy ride for us left me in tears as I became overwhelmed with the fact that we are so abundantly blessed and in need of NOTHING.
The other passengers and driver were so super friendly but the struggles of life were real on their faces. One man told me how he was trying to get on disability, another lost their job because they had no transportation to the Nissan factory (Rover doesn't go outside of the city limits--most of the entry level jobs are in other cheaper parts of our county). We met a blind man and a cook from a hotel who was absolutely exhausted. These situations and stories aren't new to me--transportation is a HUGE struggle for the working poor in our area (the bus service stops at 6:00pm and only runs Monday-Friday within the city limits, etc) but sitting on that bus reminded me of my own childhood.
We waited for the bus with a single mom of three kids--ages 7,6 and 4--who works at the McDonald's across from the bus stop.
I don't like to speak often of my childhood as we had it pretty rough but that was my mom once upon a time. Single mom of three stair stepper kids catching the bus--everywhere. No money for a car. Shoot, half the time not enough money for the bus.
We would climb onto the bus with our grocery bags, double stroller, laundry, etc and the bus driver would usually have pity on us. If we were catching the subway we would have to climb under the turn style. Other passengers would either stare at us or turn their gaze from having to look at us. We were a mess in so many ways. When we didn't have money and the driver wouldn't take whatever my mom had we would all climb down off the bus angry and would wait for the next one. I used to think that life wasn't fair. It isn't.
I remember feeling embarrassed. I remember feeling shamed. I remember making sure my younger brother and sister were quiet, seated and that all of our gear was out of the way as my mom (always exhausted) collapsed into a seat. Oftentimes she would stand with some amount of gear so that we could sit. We would arrange things under our feet and on our laps and snuggle in to the hard, cold seats to get home.
Today riding the bus was a privilege. A joy ride for my two year old son. Something that he loved. He loved the ride, the people, and the awesome Rover coloring book he was given.
Things in life have changed and I am so extremely humbled and grateful, but also mindful of those who are where I was years ago. Tonight I think and pray for them that God would provide for their needs, that they will meet kind faces, and that they will feel true love that comes only from God.
Today--finally--was the day to make that happen. After his nap we looked up the schedule and got Andy to drop us off at the bus stop.
What began as a joy ride for us left me in tears as I became overwhelmed with the fact that we are so abundantly blessed and in need of NOTHING.
The other passengers and driver were so super friendly but the struggles of life were real on their faces. One man told me how he was trying to get on disability, another lost their job because they had no transportation to the Nissan factory (Rover doesn't go outside of the city limits--most of the entry level jobs are in other cheaper parts of our county). We met a blind man and a cook from a hotel who was absolutely exhausted. These situations and stories aren't new to me--transportation is a HUGE struggle for the working poor in our area (the bus service stops at 6:00pm and only runs Monday-Friday within the city limits, etc) but sitting on that bus reminded me of my own childhood.
We waited for the bus with a single mom of three kids--ages 7,6 and 4--who works at the McDonald's across from the bus stop.
I don't like to speak often of my childhood as we had it pretty rough but that was my mom once upon a time. Single mom of three stair stepper kids catching the bus--everywhere. No money for a car. Shoot, half the time not enough money for the bus.
We would climb onto the bus with our grocery bags, double stroller, laundry, etc and the bus driver would usually have pity on us. If we were catching the subway we would have to climb under the turn style. Other passengers would either stare at us or turn their gaze from having to look at us. We were a mess in so many ways. When we didn't have money and the driver wouldn't take whatever my mom had we would all climb down off the bus angry and would wait for the next one. I used to think that life wasn't fair. It isn't.
I remember feeling embarrassed. I remember feeling shamed. I remember making sure my younger brother and sister were quiet, seated and that all of our gear was out of the way as my mom (always exhausted) collapsed into a seat. Oftentimes she would stand with some amount of gear so that we could sit. We would arrange things under our feet and on our laps and snuggle in to the hard, cold seats to get home.
Today riding the bus was a privilege. A joy ride for my two year old son. Something that he loved. He loved the ride, the people, and the awesome Rover coloring book he was given.
Things in life have changed and I am so extremely humbled and grateful, but also mindful of those who are where I was years ago. Tonight I think and pray for them that God would provide for their needs, that they will meet kind faces, and that they will feel true love that comes only from God.
Friday, July 11, 2014
Seek
Lately I've been literally trying to live out the scripture verse that says:
"Seek the Kingdom of God, above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need." (Matthew 6:33).
But what does that look like in 2014? What does that look like in my life?
I have spent time reflecting and considering this and the LORD has been revealing some fulfilling things for my heart and soul as a result.
You see, we've had an interesting few months dealing with a situation that we never thought we would have to deal with and it has hurt us. Rather than let it get to us, we are claiming the scripture verse above.
This has been a good lesson for us to focus on the main things... "keep the main thing, the main thing!"
So this verse has played itself out in my life as I intentionally invest in the relationships that matter most to me--with my LORD, Andy and Elijah, corps families, people we minister to (i.e. everyone we come into contact with!), and friends.
When we apply scripture to our lives it comes alive with power and it is beautiful. But how often do we hear the words, recite the words, or preach the words and not actually believe it to be true? Sure, we say we believe and we may think we believe it, but somehow we rob the power out of it.
Spirit-filled living is reading the word, applying it, and believing it to come true (united and believing prayer)--waiting in expectation for it to happen.
So how do you seek first the Kingdom of God in your life, and live righteously? Literally how do you do it? Not the appearance of it by vocation, but truly?
Do it and God's power will manifest through your life and into those around you.
Still seeking,
MO
"Seek the Kingdom of God, above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need." (Matthew 6:33).
But what does that look like in 2014? What does that look like in my life?
I have spent time reflecting and considering this and the LORD has been revealing some fulfilling things for my heart and soul as a result.
You see, we've had an interesting few months dealing with a situation that we never thought we would have to deal with and it has hurt us. Rather than let it get to us, we are claiming the scripture verse above.
This has been a good lesson for us to focus on the main things... "keep the main thing, the main thing!"
So this verse has played itself out in my life as I intentionally invest in the relationships that matter most to me--with my LORD, Andy and Elijah, corps families, people we minister to (i.e. everyone we come into contact with!), and friends.
When we apply scripture to our lives it comes alive with power and it is beautiful. But how often do we hear the words, recite the words, or preach the words and not actually believe it to be true? Sure, we say we believe and we may think we believe it, but somehow we rob the power out of it.
Spirit-filled living is reading the word, applying it, and believing it to come true (united and believing prayer)--waiting in expectation for it to happen.
So how do you seek first the Kingdom of God in your life, and live righteously? Literally how do you do it? Not the appearance of it by vocation, but truly?
Do it and God's power will manifest through your life and into those around you.
Still seeking,
MO
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
To Understand
Eight times in Nehemiah chapter 8 the word "understood" is used.
Americans revere the Bible, but don't read it.
Christians read the Bible, but don't apply it well. As a gross generality there is no marked difference in the way a Christian lives their life than how a pre-Christian lives theirs.
Recently while attending a seminar at Gordon-Conwell seminary the topic of Biblical illiteracy was discussed and here the same topic is again in Nehemiah. Satan uses our distractions/laziness/busyness/whateverness to keep us Biblically illiterate--EVEN CHRISTIANS.
The word of God understood has the power to transform people for good. It must be read, studied, understood before its beautiful power can be unleashed in your (our) heart(s). I could stop here and preach an entire sermon....
I believe most of us are guilty when we program the time to study the Word of God out of our lives for other noble pursuits.
Our Teaching Director, Beckie, says that the natural reaction to reading the Word is guilt due to the holiness of God. Interesting to think about.
There is no replacement for studying the scriptures. Not even a well marketed, appealing looking devotional book that has sold and printed a gazillion copies at a major league Christian bookstore.
Nehemiah and Ezra organized an outdoor Bible conference and took the Word seriously. To them, it was a real treasure and they treated it as such.
They were intentional about making sure people heard and understood it.
Our language continues to change and translations and paraphrases of the Bible can become a distraction but the beautiful thing is that God's word stays the same. The message--truth--remains the same (2 Timothy 3:16)
Let us understand the power of God in our lives.
Hebrews 4:12
"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing of soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."
Americans revere the Bible, but don't read it.
Christians read the Bible, but don't apply it well. As a gross generality there is no marked difference in the way a Christian lives their life than how a pre-Christian lives theirs.
Recently while attending a seminar at Gordon-Conwell seminary the topic of Biblical illiteracy was discussed and here the same topic is again in Nehemiah. Satan uses our distractions/laziness/busyness/whateverness to keep us Biblically illiterate--EVEN CHRISTIANS.
The word of God understood has the power to transform people for good. It must be read, studied, understood before its beautiful power can be unleashed in your (our) heart(s). I could stop here and preach an entire sermon....
I believe most of us are guilty when we program the time to study the Word of God out of our lives for other noble pursuits.
Our Teaching Director, Beckie, says that the natural reaction to reading the Word is guilt due to the holiness of God. Interesting to think about.
There is no replacement for studying the scriptures. Not even a well marketed, appealing looking devotional book that has sold and printed a gazillion copies at a major league Christian bookstore.
Nehemiah and Ezra organized an outdoor Bible conference and took the Word seriously. To them, it was a real treasure and they treated it as such.
They were intentional about making sure people heard and understood it.
Our language continues to change and translations and paraphrases of the Bible can become a distraction but the beautiful thing is that God's word stays the same. The message--truth--remains the same (2 Timothy 3:16)
Let us understand the power of God in our lives.
Hebrews 4:12
"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing of soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."
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